How could I have not thought about this before? How blind was I to not see this a lot sooner than before?
I started the Jeep and mashed down on the accelerator.
I pulled up to Bruce’s home a few minutes later and found him outside his house. He immediately straightened and walked over to the Jeep after spotting me.
“I heard what happened back home.” He said as he searched my eyes. There was a pause before he opened his mouth to speak again. “Why did you let her go?”
I looked away from his gaze as my hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Why did I let her go?
It was a question even I didn’t know how to answer. I know I said it was for her own good but what about mine? What about the pain I felt without her by my side? What about how lost I felt right now? Did I not care about my own feelings?
“My life is in a mess right now Bruce. Weird things are happening, things that make no sense. Isabella was only getting tied up in it all. She was hurting and I was too stupid to see it. I’d broken her by the time I realized just how much she meant to me. I want to make things right before I bring her back to me.”
Yes, bring her back to me. Knowing that I was eventually going to bring her home was what had me going right now.
“I want you to do something for me.” I told him. “I trust you and I can’t think of anyone better than you to do this for me.”
His brows furrowed as he leaned against the Jeep. “Tell me, you know I’ll do anything as long as I’m able to do it.”
I sighed and faced the front, staring at nothing. “There is something that has been bothering me. Maggie’s story is too perfectly planned out for me to believe everything that she’s saying to me. She doesn’t act like someone who was held against her will. If what she says is true then why haven’t anyone shown up as yet to take her back from me? If she escaped from her captors, how could she be so calm?” I asked him. “Why isn’t she asking me to find those people and make up for all of the time we’ve lost? She doesn’t seem scared or bothered about any of that and that’s not normal to me.”
Bruce nodded. “I also don’t think her story is completely true. There may be some truth to it but she’s definitely lying to us about something.”
“I want you to find out anything you can about her. Still search around and find anyone who’s seen her around any of these years. Someone must know something. Any information would be helpful to us. Let me know if you need any help, I’ll be happy to leave my home and come aid in this.”
I didn’t want to stay in there, it felt empty. But I also couldn’t go missing for too long either. Maggie would grow suspicious and want to know what I was up to. I didn’t want her to suspect anything.
I had to do my investigation without her knowing.
I needed to get to the bottom of this and I needed to do it fast because I couldn’t last too long without Isabella. The faster I cleared this entire thing up; the faster I could bring her back to me.
***ISABELLA***
It was the next day, only one day away from Hunter and I felt like my life was falling apart. I felt like I had no reason to live, like I had nothing to look forward to. I missed so many things about the man that I was so deeply in love with. now I wasn’t sure that I’d done the right thing by leaving. Should I have fought for him? Should I have stayed there and waited for him to finally look my way? I didn’t like the idea that I’d given up and practically taken a loss against Maggie. She didn’t deserve Hunter. She didn’t look like someone that was crazily in love with him. I would know because I was the one that couldn’t live without him.
But yet you’re here …Away from the man that you claim to love.
I felt like I was going round and round in my thoughts. I couldn’t decide whether or not I’d taken the right decision. Should the right decision hurt so much? I couldn’t even imagine death being this bad.
I wiped at the tear on my left cheek. I couldn’t remember ever crying as much as I did between yesterday and today. I didn’t want to cry this much but every time I thought about what I’d left behind it was like a stab to my heart.
I looked forward to seeing Hunter every day, even though it wasn’t always happy moments, I still looked forward to being next to him. He made me feel things that no one in this world would ever be able to make me feel again. He was the one true joy in my life. The man had the ability to turn my life upside down in the best way possible.
I sighed and picked myself off the bed. If I stayed here in this room I would not be able to take my mind off Hunter. I needed to try and focus on something else. I was surprised that no one had entered the room to find out how I was doing as yet for the morning. It made me wonder if everything was alright. I wouldn’t find out if I stayed locked up in here. I moved towards the bathroom and picked up a towel.
After showering and trying my best to not look like I’d been crying the entire night, I finally took the next step and made my way down the stairs.
I followed the voices and found everyone seated in the living room. I paused at the tension in the room. It was never good when the mood in a home was this bad. My sisters along with their mates and Lucas were seated on the sofa facing each other and they seemed to be deep in discussion. Whatever it was, it had caught their attention so strongly that no one sensed my presence as yet. There was this worried look on each of their faces and my sisters looked distraught.
What exactly was happening? Everyone seemed okay yesterday, at least after I’d stopped bawling. So then what could have happened in such a short space of time?
“What’s wrong?” I asked, I needed to find out what had everyone like this.
All eyes turned to me and everyone tried to mask the worry on their faces but it was already too late. I’d already seen enough to know that something was seriously wrong.
“It’s really nothing for you to be concerned about.” Eden told me as she rushed to my side. “We can go fix you something to eat while the men finish up the conversation in here.”
I shook my head at her. “You don’t have to keep anything from me. I need things to keep my mind away from Hunter.” I explained. “Please.” I added when no one said anything.
Lucy sighed. “The Blackners visited us earlier today. They want Lucas to join them from today onwards. We tried to keep him away for as long as we could but they’re insisting that his time is up.” She explained.
Those damn Blackners again? first they destroyed Esma’s life and now they were doing the same to Lucas!
What would happen when Lucas’s real mate showed up? I didn’t want to think about it. He sacrificed himself for Eden’s happiness and I would forever be grateful to him for that. Lucas was a good man; he didn’t deserve this at all.
I looked his way and he didn’t look like his jolly self at all, there were so many thoughts running through his head and I could see that as clear as day. Anyone who knew Lucas could tell that he wasn’t okay. He caught me looking at him and his frown immediately turned into a warm smile.
“Let’s not burden Isabella with my sad stories.” He said as he got up from the chair. “It’s nothing serious, those Blackners look like they need someone like me in their lives to lively it up a bit.” He said with a wink sent in Lucy’s direction. “Don’t you agree sis-in-law?”
She laughed. “I actually do agree with you on that Lucas.”
He smiled and grabbed an apple from the tray to the left of him. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.” He teased.
“We won’t.” Maya mumbled before she gave him a tight hug. “Be safe while you’re there brother.”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply