Chapter Eighty-Two

Jasmine’s POV

Considering how worried I had been about her being accepted into my pack, Isla had fit in quite well.

She and Lena had finally started to get along, seeing that they had some things in common.

I would even go as far as saying that they had become close friends.

Well, as close as one could be as a friend to someone who was used to being alone and valued her alone time over all else.

Isla and Lena could not be more different if they were light and day.

With Isla’s cool beauty and reserved demeanor, and Lena’s bright attitude and attractive features, they were very different.

But somehow, thanks to efforts from mostly Lena who was determined to find something in common with my cousin, they had become good friends.

Isla still disappeared to my garden or Nana’s garden whenever Lena became too much for her to cope with, but other than that, she seemed to have gotten used to Lena’s company and even seemed to have grown fond of her.

Nana and Gaia had also grown fond of Isla. Gaia had adored her love for silence and Nana had come to love her quiet personality.

She even went as far as to say that it was a welcome change from Lena’s personality, a statement I found amusing since Lena was simply the younger version of her.

She also once told me that Isla reminded her of Regan in a way, but no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not see it.

Lena, Isla, Amy and I spent a lot of time with each other.

Amy had naturally been drawn to Isla since they both had a similar temperament and were both of a quiet nature. Isla had grown fond of Amy almost immediately after making her acquaintance.

“She understands the value of silence”, she had once said when I had commented on her growing fondness of Amy.

It had made me very happy that she had come to feel at home in my pack.

However, the one thing Isla could not seem to get comfortable with, no matter how much I clearly saw she tried, was the attention of the male wolves in our pack, mostly the unmated ones.

As she had began to grow comfortable in the pack, she had gradually stopped the habit of always hiding her beautiful face behind her hair.

She had started to wear her hair in braids that Lena always loved making, saying how beautiful and long her hair was.

This meant that Isla’s enchanting beauty became clear for all to see and admire. All, included the unmated male werewolves in my pack.

There would often be commotions whenever she walked into a room or complete silence from the unmated werewolves. And as much as I would have loved to l help, knowing how I comfort it made her, there wasn’t much I could do.

Even though she started to act as though she was used to it as time passed, I could still tell that their obvious admiration bothered her.

What worried me more was that it seemed more like their attentions reminded her of a horrible memory, and I did not have it in me to ask, knowing it might cause her more pain.

I did notice, however, that she seemed more comfortable with it whenever she was in the company of me or they rest of the she-wolves she had grown fond of.

That was another thing I noticed.

Isla always stayed away from male wolves. Whether mated or unmated, she made sure to keep things strictly formal and restricted her interactions with them.

No matter who they were.

I had hoped she would get along with Regan and Luke upon their return, but observing her constant cold interactions with Alpha Gaius and my Gamma, who were always nothing but kind to her, that hope slowly faded away.

I would be lucky if she even looked fully at them.

I had just been on my way back from the stream with the girls when one of my warriors came up to us.

“Luna”, he said, bowing in respect.

“What is it?” I asked gently, nodding for him to speak.

“A message from the Alpha”, he said. “I have delivered it to your study”, he reported.

I nodded, wondering why he did not simply mind link me to tell me that, when I saw him glance behind me, where the girls were.

I did not need to look over my shoulder to see who he was looking at. The flush of color on his face already told me who it was.

“Thank you”, I said to bring his focus back to me. “You may leave”, I ordered.

He bowed again, stealing one last look at Isla before he walked away.

The ladies and I resumed our walk, now moving towards the pack house.

“Does it ever amaze you?” I heard Lena ask Isla. “The attention from male werewolves”, she said to clarify.

Even though I was walking ahead, I could tell what Isla’s response would be before hearing it.

“No”, she said in her calm voice. “Honestly, I could do without it”, she said, trying to make light of it.

“Truly?” Lena asked innocently. “You do not take even a little pride in being so beautiful that men can hardly take their eyes off you?” She asked.

Lena was silent for a moment before responding.

“I am aware that it may be the greatest wish of some females”, she said. “And o suppose I could have come to appreciate it”, she paused before continuing. “If it did not bring me so much suffering”, she revealed.

I knew her merely talking about it meant that she had come to trust us all.

“Suffering?” It was young Amy who asked, sounding confused. “But how can being so beautiful bring you suffering?”, she asked sweetly.

For a moment, I was sure that Isla would simply change the topic of conversation. But to my great surprise, she did not.

“Well”, she began, our steps slowing to allow the moment. “After I lost my parents, I was taken”, she said. “I was not the only child taken, we were quite a few. I was sold to a coven of witches once they learnt I was one”, she shared. “The head witch, he took a liking to me because he thought I was beautiful, which was why he had bought me. I thought I would be treated as his daughter since he had none”, she said and went silent for a while. “I was wrong”, she finally said.

Unconsciously, we had all come to a stop and were looking at her as she stared at nothing in particular.

“His son had also grown fond of me because he thought I was very beautiful”, she said. “I had thought him handsome and kind, and again, I was wrong. I had thought myself in love with him but”, she shook her head, a sad smile on her lips. “It was not so. Once I came of age, he asked his father’s permission to marry me. His father refused of course, saying he did not have to marry me in order to have me”, she said. “And he went ahead to show him what he meant”.

No matter how hard I fought it, tears were already rolling down my cheeks.

Lena let out a sob before moving to wrap her arms around Isla on a hug, holding her tightly.

Isla simply smiled, no sign of tears in her eyes.

Amy looked on sadly but I was sure she did not understand exactly what Isla was talking about.

As Lena pulled away, Isla continued.

“I soon caused a rift between the father and son because both wanted to keep me for themselves and the other would never allow it”, she went on. “So, the head witch’s wife took it upon herself to bring peace between them. She sold me away when they went on a journey”, she said. “And my experiences from then on were not any better so…”, she trailed off and looked back at Lena and Amy with a sad smile. “Beauty isn’t always a good thing”, she said.

Lena linked her arm through hers, bringing her head to rest on her shoulder in and act of comfort.

Surprisingly, Isla rested her head on Lena’s, giving her arm a gentle pat as though it was Lena who needed to be comforted.

Amy hugged her other free arm while I stood watching, wiping away at me tears with a smile.

She looked at me, her smile no longer sad, and I nodded, proud that she had been brave enough to share that.

Knowing she would not be comfortable with staying that way for long, I spoke up.

“We should hurry”, I said, making Lena and Amy pull away from hugging Isla’s arm and earning a smile of gratitude from her.

“I am eager to read the message Regan has sent”, I said, stretching my hand out to Amy.

When she took my hand, I linked our arms and pulled her along as we made our way to the pack house.

When we got there, I quickly made it into the study.

I had not been complaining lying about being eager to read the letter from my mate.

As we entered, I released Amy’s hand and rushed towards the desk to pick up the letter laying on it, before tearing it open and eagerly reading the content.

As I read, a wide smile spread across my face.

“What has you smiling so widely?” Lena asked as she walked in, arm in arm with Isla.

“They’ll be home soon!” I announced in excitement.

“Truly?” Lena asked, releasing her hold on Isla’s arm and making her way over to take the letter from me and read it herself.

While she did so, Amy turned to me.

“So Emry will be home soon?” She asked, a bright smile on her face.

“Who is Emry?” Isla asked calmly as she took her seat on one of the chair in the study.

“My brother”, Amy answered, making her way over to her to sit beside her on another chair. “He is the youngest warrior to embark on a journey with the Alpha”, she said, the pride in her voice easy to hear.

“Oh?” Isla said, obviously indulging her. “He sounds very brave”, she commented.

Amy nodded.

“He is”, she agreed.

“I cannot believe they are finally coming home!” Lena cried out in excitement, obviously done with reading the letter, before Amy could say anything more. “It seems like ages since I saw them last”, she said, putting her arm around my shoulders to give me a gentle squeeze.

“It feels like forever”, I agreed. “I cannot wait to have them home”, I said.

“I know Regan will be beside himself with happiness when he hears our little one’s heartbeat”, she said, placing her hand gently on my stomach.

I laughed in excitement, seeing his face already in my mind.

“He will be so happy”, I agreed. “And Luke!” I cried out in happiness. “How I have missed him. I will try my best to convince him to still train with me each morning. I miss our training sessions”, I told her.

“Well, you can kiss those farewell, Dearest”, she said. “Because there is no way Regan would ever allow that happen again, especially now that you are carrying his son”, she told me and went on as I poured in disappointment. “But I agree, it would be wonderful to have Luke home”, she said. “It is amusing to watch how easily he can tease you and make you upset”, she said with a laugh.

I frowned.

“I do not get upset”, I argued, knowing it was not true. “Luke has simply mastered the art of getting under one’s skin. It is not my fault he is terribly clever”, I said in my defense.

“Whatever you say, Dearest”, Lena said rather than argue with me. “All the same, it would be wonderful to have them home”.

“That I agree”, I said, unable to help the wide smile on my face as I turned towards Isla and Amy who watched us in amused silence.