Chapter seven

NEW FAMILY

Isabella pov

“I'm leaving.” I suddenly announced to Alpha Asher, standing by the door handle, my face frowning a little.

“No, you can't leave, at least stay a little longer, you've been down for a while now.He replied, walking closer to me while pocketing his phone.

‘Okay, I will let the carriage driver take you home.” He said barely above a whisper, I bowed my head, avoiding a direct contact with him.

“Nevermind, alpha, I can find my way home.”

I stood by the door, my hand grasping the handle as I announced my departure, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside me. Alpha Asher's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing as he replied, "No, you can't leave, at least stay a little longer, you've been down for a while now." His words were laced with concern, but there was an underlying tone that made me wonder if he was genuinely worried about my well-being or just didn't want me to leave his side.

As he walked closer, his movements fluid and confident, I felt my heart skip a beat. I bit my lip, trying to school my features into a mask of indifference, but my frown deepened. "Okay, I will let the carriage driver take you home," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as he pocketed his phone. I shook my head, avoiding direct eye contact. "Never mind, alpha, I can find my way home," I said, trying to sound dismissive.

A hint of amusement danced in his eyes, and he chuckled low in his throat. "Don't be ridiculous, Isabella. You're not going anywhere alone this late." His words were firm, brooking no argument, and I felt a spark of irritation ignite within me. He wasn't giving me a choice, and that realization made my heart flutter in a mix of emotions.

"I'm not a child, alpha," I retorted, my voice laced with a touch of sass. "I can take care of myself." But he just smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and took my hand, leading me to the carriage. "You're going to be my Luna soon, Isabella. I won't have you walking alone at night," he said, his voice firm.

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, but a part of me was thrilled at the prospect of being his Luna. As we drove through the moonlit streets, I couldn't help but wonder if Enzo was indeed in my present life, watching over me. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I pushed it aside, focusing on the alpha beside me.

When we reached my house, I bid the driver farewell and stepped down, only to be startled by Mae, my friend, who was lounging against the doorframe, a mischievous grin on her face. "Well, well, well, look who's home early," she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I shot her a look, feeling a mixture of relief and amusement. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.

Mae pushed off from the doorframe and sauntered towards me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I could ask you the same thing," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "What's going on between you and the alpha?"

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, and I looked away, trying to play it cool. "Nothing," I said, too quickly.

Mae laughed, a throaty sound. "Save it, Izzy. I've seen the way he looks at you. That man is smitten."

I shook my head, feeling a mixture of emotions swirl inside me. Smitten? Was that what this was? I wasn't sure, but I knew one thing – I was in for a wild ride with Alpha Asher, and I wasn't sure if I was ready.

"Let's go inside," I said, pushing open the door. "I have a feeling it's going to be a long night."

Mae followed me in, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I'm ready when you are, Izzy. Spill the beans."

I felt a jolt of surprise at Mae's words, my heart skipping a beat as I processed the information. "Ehen, your mother was asking about you." The casual tone belied the turmoil brewing inside me. My mind immediately jumped to one person. “Helen?” Was it her? I wondered, a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. But I pushed the thought aside, telling myself it couldn't be. Helen can't be here in my present life.

Mae's curious gaze was on me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she asked, "Who's Helen?" Her voice was laced with a mixture of concern and curiosity. I felt a pang of nostalgia wash over me, memories of my past life flooding back. Helen, my stepmother, the woman who had made my life a living hell. I hadn't thought about her in a while, but the mention of my mother brought it all back.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "No one," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "Just someone from my past." But Mae wasn't buying it. She knew me too well, and her eyes sparkled with determination as she asked, "What's going on, Izzy? You've been acting strange for hours now. Is everything okay?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but just then, my mother – or rather, the woman I called Mother in this life – rushed out of the house, tears streaming down her face. "Isabella, my baby!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. She flung her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I felt a surge of love and warmth, but it was tinged with a sense of unease. Everything about this felt... off.

As she hugged me, I patted her back awkwardly, trying to reassure her. "Mom, I'm fine," I said softly, trying to calm her down. But my mind was racing. Why was she so worried? And who was she, really? I had so many questions, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the present moment.

My mother's tears eventually subsided, and she pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed as she gazed at me. "I've been so worried about you," she said, her voice still shaking. "You didn't come home, and I didn't know where you were." I felt a pang of guilt, realizing I had been so caught up in my own problems that I hadn't thought about how my absence might affect her.

Mae hovered around us, a concerned expression on her face. "Mom, I'm sorry," I said, trying to placate her. "I didn't mean to worry you." But as I looked into her eyes, I felt a shiver run down my spine. There was something there, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

My mother smiled weakly, her eyes still shining with tears. "Just be careful, okay? I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. I loved this woman, this mother of mine in this life, but there was a part of me that felt like I was living in a dream, like nothing was quite real.

As we stepped inside the house, Mae closed the door behind us, her eyes still fixed on me with concern. "Izzy, seriously, what's going on?" she asked, her voice low. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. How could I explain the strange feelings I had, the sense of disconnection from this life?

But before I could respond, my mother spoke up, her voice firm. "Mae, dear, can you give us some space? I need to talk to Isabella alone." Mae nodded, through her eyes lingered on me, filled with unspoken questions. As she walked away, I felt a sense of trepidation. What did my mother want to talk to me about? And why did I feel like my world was about to be turned upside down?

The door closed behind Mae, and my mother turned to me, her eyes serious. "Isabella, we need to talk." I felt a shiver run down my spine, a sense of foreboding settling in.

I flung myself onto the bed, relaxing into the softness of the mattress as my mother tried to talk to me. But before she could say anything else, the door swung open and a man walked in. He was tall, with a strong jawline and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. I stared at him, my mind blank.

"Child, where have you been?" he asked, his voice deep and authoritative. I felt a jolt of surprise, my eyes widening as I stared at him like a moron. Dad? Did I have a dad? I called him "Dad" tentatively, the word feeling strange on my lips.

The man's expression didn't change, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Yes, child, what's with the look?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and warmth. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I composed myself, forcing a smile onto my face.

"I...I didn't expect you to be here," I stammered, trying to sound normal. My mother's eyes darted between us, a small smile playing on her lips. "Your father was worried about you," she said, her voice soft.

I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. I didn't remember having a dad in this life, or at least, I didn't remember him being around. My memories of my family were hazy, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

My father walked closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "We're glad you're home safe," he said, his voice firm but gentle. I nodded again, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him, even though I barely knew him.

As he stood there, I couldn't help but notice the way he looked at me – with a mixture of love and concern. It was a look I had seen before, but it felt...new. Like I was seeing it for the first time.

My mother cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Why don't we talk about this in the morning?" she suggested, her eyes darting between my father and me. "It's been a long day, and we can all use some rest."

He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Get some rest, child," he said, his voice soft. "We'll talk in the morning." I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

As they turned to leave, I called out, "Dad?" He turned back, a questioning look on his face. "Yes?" I asked, hesitating. "Do...do I call you Dad?" I asked, feeling a bit silly. My father's expression changed from questioning to amused, and he chuckled. "What sort of question is that?" he asked, his voice laced with laughter.

My mother intervened, her voice filled with concern. "Isabella, what's going on? You're starting to worry us." I quickly stood up, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. I rushed to them, throwing my arms around them in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry, I was just teasing with the question," I said, trying to reassure them.

They hugged me back, their warmth and love enveloping me. My father kissed my forehead, and my mother kissed my cheek.

"Get some rest, sweetie," my mother said softly. "We'll talk in the morning." My father nodded in agreement, and they turned off the light, closing the door behind them.

As soon as they left, I rushed to the bedside lamp and turned it on, bathing the room in warm light. I stood there, frozen, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I was surprised by the whole drama, and a part of me felt like I was living in a dream.

I walked to the mirror and stared at my reflection, my eyes searching for answers. Second chance with new parents? The thought echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was what it felt like to have a real family. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of hope and possibility. Maybe this life would be different, maybe I would get to experience the love and support of a family.