Chapter 6 - Heartbeat Jab

Izzy focuses on the punching bag hanging from the ceiling. She raises her fists and begins to jab, the rhythm of her punches matching the beat of her heart.

Despite the frustrating situation with her three mates, she can’t deny that she is a bit grateful that they didn’t place strict rules on the setup — which is new, knowing that Alpha Landon loves rules.

Still, six days. Six days will be lost to her. She should have insisted for only a day each to her mates. It’s as if she is going with the flow — submitting her will to the pack and the Moon Goddess. She is certain, it’s all because of the mate bond! She is becoming more pliant to all their demands! She didn’t even shut Carter up as harshly, unlike before!

Then, there is a laugh. She pauses and turns to the source of the voice. It’s Aria, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

“That punching bag won’t last long, you know,” she comments.

Izzy shakes her head and continues with the punches. “What are you doing here, Aria?”

“What’s wrong with checking up on my friend after meeting her three mates?”

“Well, thank you, but I know that the regular check-ups have always been done by Chloe.”

Aria chuckles. “I just notice that you’ve been avoiding Miles for days. So, I hope you don’t plan to continue avoiding him, especially now that he’s your mate.”

Izzy let out a sigh, pausing her punches. Like her, Aria always has a soft spot for Miles, as if he is their little brother.

“I just...” she starts, her voice tight. “I don’t know what to say to him.”

“You don’t have to focus on what to say,” Aria replies. “Just be kind to him.”

Izzy shakes her head. “It’s not that simple,” she says. “He betrayed my trust, and I don’t know how to treat him now.”

Aria pushes herself off the wall and walks over to her. “You have to treat him like a person with feelings, Izzy,” she replies. “That’s all there really is to it. Besides, I really can’t understand why you see him as a little brother. He’s bigger than any of us. He’s a beta, for Goddess’s sake, despite being originally an outsider.”

“It’s not just about how he looks.”

“It’s about how he acts around you, huh?” Aria asks. “Maybe, just maybe, he’s like that because he wants to be spoiled by your attention? If you give him time without him begging for it, I’m sure he won’t act that way with you.”

She rolls her eyes at her. Surely, that’s not the reason for it.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your situation,” Aria says, shrugging her shoulders. “If it’s me, I will thoroughly enjoy those gorgeous men.”

She scowls. “Let me ask, Aria. Have you and Carter hit it off before?”

Aria smirks at her. “Are you jealous now? You didn’t care before.”

“Honestly, the mate bond is causing a pang in my chest right now, but no, I don’t think this is authentic jealousy. I am just curious how adventurous your sexual escapades are.”

“Well, the answer is yes. Try him. He’s excellent in bed. Although, I hate it when he slips up and calls me in a different name,” she says and then laughs as she leaves.

*************

The cool morning air flows throughout the forest, filled with the fresh scent of dew-dampened leaves and earth. Izzy Garcia pants as she runs, her muscles complaining at the exertion. Her long, wavy chestnut hair streams out behind her, whipping against her back, which makes her think that she should have carried an extra hair tie with her.

Lately, running is the only thing that makes her feel free, untethered from all the rules within her pack. The sounds of birds chirping and squirrels rustling in the bushes provide a soothing melody to her ears as she runs faster, wanting to feel the wind on her face and the dirt beneath her feet.

Today and tomorrow, she is expected to spend time with Miles in her room in the huge pack house. She feels uncertain about it and so, she is planning to escape the spending-time-with-her-mates event by pretending that she is working really hard on her job.

Huffing for breath, Izzy slows down and leans against a tree, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her eyes roam over the expanse of the forest before her, taking in the beauty of nature. 

She pulls her phone out, checking the time. It’s almost noon. It’s also about time she returns to the pack house. The remaining hour before the start of her work shift is just enough for lunch and a bath. She won’t have time to spend on Miles.

Izzy sprints through the last stretch of her run, using the familiar trail leading back to their pack house. As she draws nearer, she forgets herself and finds herself smiling at the prospect of facing Miles.

She pauses and hits her cheeks. Why is she excited about meeting him?! Definitely, this is because of the mate bond!

And so, she takes a deep breath, calming herself down. She walks towards the pack house, a step at a time. Suddenly, the scent of grilled steak assaults her nose, reminding her of her empty stomach. The pack house she shared with the unmated werewolves is just a few minutes away, and her mouth waters at the thought of food. As she approaches the house, she hears laughter and the clink of glasses.

Izzy pushes the door open, feeling slightly out of place among the lively crowd. Inside, the house is full of people: family, friends, and pack members alike. Her mouth waters even more at the sight of the feast laid out on the table — grilled steak and roasted vegetables.

Then the sight of Miles, with his warm brown eyes and messy blond hair, catches her off guard.

‘My god,’ she thinks, realizing how handsome he looks in a collared shirt and jeans that accentuated his broad shoulders.

She groans, ‘This is definitely the mate bond!’

He then spots her and he smiles awkwardly. She feels another strange jolt — something that she dismisses as soon as she felt it.

“Hi,” Miles greets. “I hope this is fine?”

“What’s the celebration about?” she asks, trying not to meet his eyes.

“Ahm,” he trails off as he scratches the side of his neck. “Well, becoming your mate seems like an event worth celebrating.”

Izzy forces herself to look at Miles. “Not if there are three mates. It is not normal,” she answers, sighing as if the conversation tires her out. “Besides, it is still not final.”

“Hmmm, not final, huh,” he mumbles. “I am not planning to reject the mate bond though, no matter how many times you ask me. I’ll definitely take my chances.”