Chapter 16 Isla
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Isla
*BENJAMIN*
Her name is Isla. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. The sun shines on her hair, making it sparkle slightly. Next to her, there is another girl with shoulder-length hair in pastel pink. She looks relieved to see us, instantly walking towards Nova and me.
“Hi,” she says. “You are Benjamin, right? I saw you once. I am Charlie!”
“Charlie!” I smile at her. “Silas’s niece, right?”
“Exactly,” she grins, turning towards Nova. “And you are?”
“Nova,” Nova says. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Charlie bends forward slightly. “Is she with you?” she whispers to us.
“Who?” Nova blinks before her gaze falls on Isla, who is still rooted to her place and hasn’t moved at all. “Oh, yes. Please tell me she didn’t give you any trouble?”
“Not really,” Charlie confides. “I don’t think she deemed me worthy to be in her presence.”
“Well, she will have to suck it up,” Nova says with finality in her voice. “Isla,” she calls out again, this time with more authority in her voice. “Come and join us. Benjamin wants to show us around.”
Isla frowns but doesn’t seem to dare argue with Nova.
She doesn’t talk much with us, just casts some annoyed glances towards Nova when she isn’t looking and some dirty ones at me.
Man, she really doesn’t like me much, and I don’t know how to change that.
I wish she would give me a chance. She doesn’t seem to be particularly kind, but I don’t know her and don’t know the things that bother her.
Maybe it’s just her own protective shield.
I want to look behind it and get to know her.
Charlie, on the other hand, is a lively, fun person, immediately getting along with Nova. They obviously share a lot, though Charlie is more of a tomboy than Nova. To my surprise, she also engages with me. “You know who I am?” I ask her bluntly.
“Yeah,” she says and shrugs. “Uncle Silas told me. And?”
“Nothing,” I mutter, confused.
Nova rolls her eyes at me. “You really need someone to pat your head constantly, don’t you?” she teases.
“Don’t worry, some girls find that cute,” Charlie tells me.
“Yeah?” I ask, not sure if I believe her. I hate my own insecurities, and I doubt many women find it appealing.
“Ella, my aunt, said that some people have that protective instinct in them,” Charlie explains.
“You do awaken my motherly instincts,” Nova agrees.
“That doesn’t sound appealing,” I point out. “I mean, who wants to bang someone who they think of as their innocent child or brother?”
I hold my breath the moment I’ve said it, hoping I didn’t overstep, but to my surprise, Charlie and Nova burst into laughter. Isla doesn’t react at all, but at least she doesn’t glare at me either.
“It’s really nothing bad,” Nova reassures me. “I told you, you are cute.”
“Yes,” Charlie agrees. “And you are pretty good-looking, too.”
“Are you two teasing me?” I ask, feeling flustered again.
“We mean it,” Nova says. “Don’t worry. You are fine. If you wanted, I could play wingman, or rather, wingwoman for you.”
At that, Isla’s eyes darken. Nova, who caught her gaze, furrows her brows. “Is something wrong?” she asks Isla.
“Everything’s okay,” Isla mutters.
My heart skips a beat. She didn’t like Nova offering to hit me up with someone, did she? Maybe there is still hope left. I wish I had my wolf to discuss this with, but as usual, he is silent, just sometimes stirring slightly.
“Nova!” Cassian calls from afar. “Can you join us for a moment? Marc wants to introduce you to some processes concerning the pack.”
“Coming!” Nova yells back.
“I am coming, too,” Charlie says. “I want to say hello to Uncle Marc. I will join you and Isla later, Benji.”
Again, my heart skips a beat. They are both leaving, meaning I am alone with my mate without anyone watching us or listening to what we talk about.
I wait for Charlie and Nova to run off before turning to Isla, deciding to at least show my dedication and resolution.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” I offer.
“There is a beautiful sunflower field close by.”
Isla nods. “Yes,” she says.
I can’t believe my luck. I never thought she would agree. I make sure to lead her along a path that passes by the most beautiful places. I wonder if I should say something or start a conversation, but I am terrified of messing this up.
To my surprise, it’s Isla who disrupts the silence between us. “The scenery is beautiful,” she says, sounding genuine. “Alpha Cassian and Nova told me that there are a lot of fields and hills here. I didn’t quite believe it would be this picturesque.”
“That’s why it’s called Sunset Hills,” I explain. “It’s supposed to symbolize tomorrow, a bright future, with sunny hills and luscious fields.”
Isla nods, looking around in awe. She has been so hostile towards me ever since I met her, so I am genuinely surprised by her sudden change of mood. Maybe she is warming to me and the idea of being my mate?
We stop in front of the sunflower field, probably the most beautiful spot we have in the pack.
Sheila is the one who plans out the flower fields here, together with one of the vampires.
Their goal is to make it beautiful and romantic, and have some flowers throughout the whole year.
The pack members are allowed to come and pick flowers to their liking to take them home, as long as they don’t overdo it.
“Amazing,” Isla exclaims. “It’s like a sea of yellow flowers.”
“I am glad you like it,” I say, turning to finally look at her.
Isla sighs. “Okay,” she says. “I have to tell you something.”
I swallow thickly, not sure what to make of her tone. “I will listen,” I promise.
“Last night, I was with someone else.”
My chest clenches at her revelation. “I know,” I admit. “I felt it. I kept telling myself it was a panic attack or something, but I knew.”
“It didn’t feel right,” she admits quietly. “I know you will think I am a terrible person, but I can’t be your mate. This place isn’t bad, but it’s not for me. And you are surprisingly nice, but I don’t think we would fit.”
“You haven’t given us a chance,” I tell her.
“I want something else,” she says bluntly. “I want a mate who can provide me with the life I want to live, with comfort and a bit of luxury. He doesn’t need to be a ranked member, but at least an elite warrior.”
I am not sure what to say. I do have money from my inheritance from my dad, but I don’t want to go back to that type of life, and I swore to myself to use this money wisely.
I would be willing to try everything for Isla, but I am who I am.
“I am Benjamin Morris,” I say. “With my past and history.
This is who I am. I am willing to try to change as much as-“
“No,” Isla interrupts me. “I don’t want that. Sorry, but I don’t want you, Benjamin.”
“Did you even try to consider me?” I ask her. “At least for a moment?”
“I did,” she says. “But I am sorry, I don’t want this life. I want more, I want someone better.” She looks at me. “I, Isla Davis, reject you, Benjamin Morris, as my mate.”
I feel my heart break, but maybe I deserve this.
This is my karma. For a moment, I consider denying her the rejection, but who am I to force her to stay with me when she doesn’t want to?
I look away from her. This is the second time; the second time I have broken a mate bond.
I doubt there will be a third chance for me.
This is the price I have to pay for being me.
“I, Benjamin Morris, accept your rejection.”
The pain of breaking the bond a second time has numbed everything around me.
I don’t know how I managed to drag myself away from the sunflower field and into the forest, but once there, all my strength gives in.
I don’t even know what happened to Isla, just that the pain she felt shocked her, too.
Fortunately, she left me alone, though, so I can be alone in my misery and not embarrass myself further.
I lay down on the cool ground of the forest, feeling how my consciousness gets dragged down and exhaustion settles in.
My dream drags me through my past and makes me see my father and what he did to me, how he always beat me without any mercy.
If I were lucky, he would only leave bruises; if he was in a bad mood, he would draw blood.
I dream about how I found a picture of my mom once, just to have Dad rip it apart.
Good thing I ripped the heart out of your mother’s chest before she could coddle you.
This last memory is horrifying enough to wake me up with a gasp. My heart beats so fast I feel my head getting dizzy. My palms are sweaty, while my whole body trembles.
“Careful,” I hear a voice next to me. “Don’t push yourself. Just take some slow, deep breaths.”
I whip my head around to come eye to eye with Marcellus. Before I can jump up, he raises his hands and skids further away from me. “I am not going to touch you. I won’t even look at you if that’s what you want,” he reassures me. “Please believe me. Let me help you.”
My chest feels so tight, it makes breathing difficult. All I can do is cower on the ground, my thoughts reeling and spinning in my head. My poor mother. She never had a chance. I never even met her. Why was he so cruel? Why did he have to kill her? He took everything from me, even my mom!
Can you hear me?
I startle at hearing Marcellus’s voice in my head.
He doesn’t use a mind link a lot with me.
To my surprise, I feel yet another presence, a calming and comforting one.
My wolf stirs slightly in my mind, and for a split second, I feel nothing but relief.
I thought I had lost him. I thought being rejected and losing our mate for a second time would make him fully turn his back on me.
“It’s okay,” Marcellus says quietly. “My wolf is reaching out to yours. Just keep breathing. Can I come closer?”
I nod.