Chapter 5. His Visit

* Isabella *

The following day came fast just like a blink of an eye. I woke up early to get ready for my morning run around the backyard of the Bannister mansion. It feels good to have peace and maintain the quiet and safe surroundings of our lands. My father loves this place despite it being far from the City proper of the North. I guess old men love nature and the slow life away from the busy streets of the City.

I was about to get back to the house when along the road my phone rang. "Hello?"

"Miss Bannister, sorry to disturb your morning run but your father asked me to call you."

It was Martha on the other side of the line using the phone of the house. "What is it, Martha? Did the guest arrive?"

"Yes, Miss Bannister, and your father wants you to come back quick and meet with them in the library."

I turned the phone off and ran fast towards the backside of the mansion. He came earlier than usual, I let out a harsh breath after arriving at the gates which the guard opened promptly. "Thank you, Phil!"

The old man nodded and smiled at me. He has been the mansion's guard ever since I was a child, my father employed him and helped out his family which is why he remained loyal to us. I heard that his children are already living in the City but Phil only takes one day off every week to go home with them.

My feet followed the path at the back of the mansion and open the door of the kitchen. "Hello there Miss Bannister, welcome back!"

Susan who is in charge of the kitchen greeted me as I passed by. "Hello Susan, I am in a hurry now that my father is talking to the guest that we have been waiting for since yesterday."

She smiled at me. "Oh, the tall handsome fellow that arrived! No wonder they remained in the library and only ordered coffee from Martha. Well, then let me know when you want to eat OK?"

I nodded and walked towards the door of the kitchen which leads to the living room and into the grand staircase. The library is close as I passed by but I know that my father and that Alpha Charles is inside. I hurriedly took a shower and dressed up in a crop top and high-waisted leggings. After I made sure that my hair was no longer dripping wet with water, I got out of the room and walked to the library. I did three warning knocks and then got inside.

My father is facing the door while the guests are on sideways sitting on the opposite couch.

 "Good morning Dad! Our visitors have arrived earlier than expected."

I walk confidently to my father's side and kiss him on the cheek. "Good morning Isabella, I believe you met Alpha Charles the other night in the City?"

The smile on my father's lips is comforting as he glances towards them. My eyes move around and notice Alpha Charles whose eyes are on me. He looked intimidating like the first time I saw him, the authority in his eyes made my heart skip and I didn't like how he looked at me like I was one of his slaves. Slave? What am I thinking?

"Oh yes, welcome to the Bannister mansion Alpha Charles."

I stand beside my father and cross my arms above my chest. His eyes traveled from my face down to my neck and lower to my waist. I feel my cheeks burn and my gaze studies him as well, from the shirt that he is wearing which stretches out to accommodate his thick muscles, and his jeans how they hug his thighs and legs. 

"Thank you, Miss Bannister. By the way, this is Beta Lohan my first in command."

His voice was deep and ethereal which put me back to reality, a muscle in his jaw flexed when I looked back at his eyes.

"Good morning Miss Bannister. Nice meeting you.

Beta Lohan stood up from his seat so I walked towards him and offered my hand aware of the Alpha's eyes in my every move. I heard him grunt or am I just imagining it when Beta Lohan shook my hand. I took a single seat in front of my father's desk waiting for the reason for their visit. My father clears his throat.

"Alpha Charles has brought the renewal of our agreement to keep the peace with each other's territory. Now that I am about to inform everyone about making you the leader of the Bannister group you should sign the papers dear."

 I look at the documents on my father's table.

"I need time to think about signing the documents Dad. Now that it isn't yet recognized throughout the family that I will be the leader, we should wait."

My father looked at me. "Then we must hold a meeting with the family soon."

Alpha Charles took our attention when he cleared his throat and looked at me. "You can sign it now or I am leaving Miss Bannister, I am busy and have a lot of things in my hand. These documents are just my father's wishes, for me it is not necessary as long as we are not hurting each other. The rogues are our problem and anyone from the Cold Mountain pack is forbidden to hurt humans."

My brows furrowed as I met his gaze. Does Alphas have to act like they own the time and leave even in the middle of a conversation?

I meet his gaze no matter how uncomfortable it is to stare at his penetrating eyes. "Then thank you for your time Mister Vernice, I think we won't have any problem as long as our goal is the same. Just like you said, I also do not want to hurt the wolves from the Cold Mountain pack."

We both know that my words came out just to let him hear what she wanted. Deep in my heart, I wish that these wolves didn't exist and that they didn't come into the Bannister lands. I have more than enough supply of silver bullets and blades to eliminate them. Yet I could not imagine myself fighting an Alpha, he is just unusually powerful that his presence alone is impossible to dominate.

"Mister Bannister, I hope to talk to you again whenever my father is not satisfied with the result of this meeting. And to your daughter as the new leader, I admire her courage but I hope you should all be careful. Your lands are one of the farthest from my territory, to get help from me would be difficult."

I raised my brow. "And who says I am asking for your help Alpha Charles, nor I am going to need it? Thanks for the concern but we are living in peace out here and are capable of defending ourselves."

"Isabella!"

My father stood up from his seat and looked at me with a worried expression on his face. Alpha Charles stands up, towering above me. Making my knees and toes curl so that I thank God I am seated on the couch otherwise I might have fallen to my knees from the way his eyes glare at me.

"Forgive my daughter, Alpha Charles, she's young and not experienced enough in negotiations. I hope to see you again when the papers are signed, just like your father's request from you all of this symbol of peace is necessary and I will be sure to let her understand these things."

My head immediately turned towards my father. What is he saying? Yet I don't want to argue with my father in front of these wolves. I smiled at the back of my head, did I hit the nerve of the Alpha? Well, good for him. I never like men who are domineering and the arrogant wolf is the most domineering person I have ever met.

"We'll see Mister Bannister. We are leaving now, have a good day."

I was aware of his eyes that ran through my figure before he turned away from us. It took me a few moments before watching their backs as they got out of our door. He has the nerve to walk out like he owns this place. My father took the glass of water in front of him and drank.

"You don't have to act like that in front of Alpha Charles Isabella. He was being respectful and kind despite his power to dominate us."

"What!? Dad, you can't say that. They are in our lands, we own this place so he has no right to act like Mister High and Mighty Wolf. I don't like him."

To my surprise, my father let out an amused laugh. "This is the first time I saw you annoyed and somehow I am feeling different. The Alpha of the Cold Mountain pack is not yet mated Isabella, and he is so good-looking that all girls and she-wolves swoon over him. I hope you don't hate him just because your heart melts by the way he looks at you."

"Dad!?"