The Alpha Female

Chapter 8

"Isabelle" The voice echoed through her head. She rolled away from the voice burying her face in her fluffy pillows. "Isabelle" it called for her again.

"Go away." She grumbled sleepily pulling on her blanket tighter around herself. 

There was a loud sigh. "Isabelle." It called again. "It's Trevor. Wake up."

Trevor never called her by her first name and by the sound of his voice he was close to desperation. Slowly, Isabelle lifted her head and scratched the sleep away from her eyes. Trevor's red head was leaning towards her his face full of worry.

"It's Damien." He said a few seconds later as he paced around her room.

Isabelle rolled her eyes irritatedly. "What about him?" She bit out angrily still remembering their fight.

"He's badly injured. Right after you left, he went running out of the pack territory to chase after the rogue that got away." Isabelle sat up at an instant, fight forgotten. She looked at Trevor anxiously, a part of her not wanting to know what was about to be said. "He was ambushed by half a dozen rogues. Thankfully, Max and Timothy came just in time but Damien's badly injured. He's with Sofia's father right now."  

That was all Isabelle had to hear before she shot up from her bed and went running towards the pack infirmary not caring if the only thing she was wearing was a pair of panties and a big shirt. Arriving at the pack infirmary, there was a group of people just outside the doors. They were all speaking in hush words. It was only when Isabelle came bursting through did they stop parting a way for her to pass.

"Isabelle!" Isabelle twirled so fast that she almost lost her balance.

"Max, Tim!" She croaked looking at both of her brothers. They looked tired, bloody and battered but aside from that nothing else. "How is he? What happened?"

Her two brothers wrapped their arms around her and they both buried their face in her hair. "Damien being Damien. He threw himself into the uncharted lands without any backup of any sort." Timothy explained, his grip around her back tightening pulling their little sister closer to them.

"Is he-" Isabelle was cut off by Max who was whispering sweet nothings to her. It was then did she realize that it was bad, really bad.

"He's not healing." Timothy said in almost a snarl.

Guilt was biting down at Isabelle as she remembered her last words to him. Why did she have to be so mean to her brother? He was only trying to protect her. Where was their father when they needed him? She knew though that the Alpha had a meeting with other packs. If he had been here, he could do something. He would know what to do.

Max continued to whisper comforting things to her. Isabelle was fully aware that the crowd that had gathered were all watching the three siblings. Timothy was silent while he stiffly held her close to him. For a bunch of big broad men, you'd think they'd put a brave face on but they didn't care at that moment. They were on full brother mode to soothe and protect their little sister.

They were like that for a few minutes until Sofia's father walked out from the front door of the infirmary with Sofia just behind him. Sofia looked ashen that it was scaring Isabelle. The boys didn't let go of Isabelle deciding to approach the pack doctor with their arms around their sister.

A horrific silence beheld the gathered pack members and the Alpha's family. Everyone quietly waiting for the pack doctor's report. His face was contorted as if it pained him to give them such news. "I tried everything." He said in a low murmur, his eyes looking down at at the ground and his head dipping low.

Gasps erupted through the crowd, some holding each other but all their eyes soon found the three unmoving figures of the Alpha's children. It was the packs joke when they said that the three boys shared the same soul. For there has never been a closer bond than El Bridge brothers. They talked the same, moved the same and even thought of the same things. Now as the pack members looked into Max and Tim's eyes, it seemed as if they already knew the report. Their hallow eyes were distant and hard while they held onto their sister.

Isabelle found herself in a trance. She felt everything go in slow motion. She could see the pack doctor's mouth moving yet she couldn't hear him. She could feel her brothers telling her something but again she couldn't hear them.

Damien, her brother, her over protective brother that would watch her twenty four seven. The brother that once slept outside her room when they were attacked by another pack just to make sure she was safe. Damien, the boy that pulled her back to their territory when she accidentally crossed it. The boy that came bursting into her high school to threaten every single male student. Growling threateningly in anger, that if anyone even as much as touch a single strand of Isabelle's hair that they would answer to him and her other brothers.

Damien, the brother that found her when she first had her menstruation and he screamed bloody murder, carrying her all the way to the infirmary as he chanted a 'you'll be okay it's okay'. She remembered him pacing around the infirmary room whispering repeatedly to himself an 'oh my goddess , oh my goddess, oh my goddess.' He was also the brother who ran to the nearest human settlement in the middle of the night when she had period cramps. The brother that would always do the grocery shopping for the family.

Her breath caught in her throat when she pushed her way towards the infirmary. He was still alive, thank the Moon Goddess. Damien's eyes immediately found her. He gave her a weak toothy grin. "Hey, baby girl." Damien greeted trying to force his voice to even out. Isabelle tried to ignore how he looked as though he was torn apart. "Come over here for me, will you?" He waved her over to the hospital bed he was in.

Isabelle nodded weakly making her way towards him. Up close, he was much worse. Huge cuts were all over him, deep bite marks were all around his body and he was pale, his colour almost matching the white pillow.

"Are you okay?" Damien asked his voice weak and timid. It was so not like him. Isabelle's could feel her breathing become erratic. The sight of her proud knight in shining armour looked as though he wouldn't be able to fight anymore. "Were you hurt from earlier?"  It was so much like him, always putting her first.

Isabelle only shook her head scared that she wouldn't be able to find her voice. 

"Good." Damien said looking much happier now that he knew she was unharmed. "Where's Max and Tim? I don't think-"

"Don't." She choked out, her eyes starting to blur with unshed tears. "Don't say that."

Damien merely smiled at her, placing a shaking hand on her cheek. He felt cold. "You're strong. You've always have been." He said ignoring her words. "Don't forget that." Isabelle's breathing hitched as she tried to push away the tears.

"I'm sorry for-" Isabelle started but was stopped when he gripped her hand tightly. 

Damien shook his head. "It was wrong for me to do that to you. You did nothing wrong." He said shakily taking a few deep breathes. "I need to speak with Max and Tim. Can you call them for me?"

She nodded desperately shouting Max and Tim's name. They were at her side within a second. "Hey, bro." They both greeted at the same time. Isabelle could notice the edge in their voice.

"Take care of her." Damien told them, giving Max and Tim one of his famous hard commanding looks. He closed his eyes then like staying awake was such an effort. "Dad's going to kill me." He wheezed laughing. The boys coursed in the laughter. It was obvious they were trying to pull it together for Damien.

It was only when his grip on her hand loosened when Isabelle realized she was crying. Her brothers brought her closer hugging her as she cried into their chests. Max continued whispering to her again while Tim just held her tight.

-

The following hours after that were a blur. The siblings were hauled out of the infirmary by Isabelle's guards saying that the Alpha had just arrived and he had just heard. The Alpha didn't waste his time. Elliot came rushing towards his children checking for injuries and double checking on his daughter to make sure.

Isabelle still hasn't stopped crying. She hated how weak she looked being sandwiched by her tall broad brothers. When the Alpha was sure his remaining children were unharmed, he shakily made his way to the infirmary. A loud painful howl echoed through the area. Their father stalked out heartbroken and made a run for the woods. He shifted in mid air not caring to strip his clothes.

Isabelle remained sandwiched between her brothers until Sofia made her way towards her. The brothers unwillingly let go of her for the first time in hours. Thankfully, both didn't leave her side. The two girls cried quietly to themselves for a few minutes in front of the grieve struck pack members.  

At the back of Isabelle's mind, she knew Gavin was somewhere close. Although she was thankful he was giving her some space, she craved for the comfort he brought when he was close. It was only when Nathan came to hug her, did Gavin show himself. Sofia who finally let go of Isabelle, pushed Isabelle towards Gavin who to everyone's surprise was looking at her with sorrow and wrapped his stuff strong arms around her.

Isabelle stood there for a few seconds feeling awkward sniffling like a little child when she couldn't help it anymore, she wrapped her own arms around him. He tensed at her touch unable to resist the mate bond. Gavin relaxed into her and started tracing soothing circles on her back.

"I'm here."

-

The whole pack was quiet throughout the day and the following day after that. All of the members seemed to be grieving over the loss of one of the Alpha's children. Max and Tim had finally taken to locking themselves up their rooms only opening it for Isabelle who pass them food or to hug them close.

The funeral was today and everyone looked dejected. Their father came home the other day red eyed and on rage. He kept himself locked inside of his study. Once, when Isabelle couldn't sleep, she heard her father in front of Damien's room. He pounded on it and cried out.

It was just as horrible as when their mother died. Isabelle couldn't remember much of it for she was only a little girl but she imagined it was similar to this. None of her brothers talk about it but from what the pack whisper about, something broke inside the Alpha. He became much stricter and more protective over his family.

Isabelle stood in front of the mirror looking at her reflection. If she was being honest, she looked like a walking corpse. Isabelle could hear her brothers in the other room shuffling around and she sighed. Isabelle planned on skipping the funeral for it hurt too much but she couldn't do that to Damien.

The funeral was like any other werewolf funeral. It was composed of two men digging a hole at the pack's growing graveyard and would then place Damien's body down. Her father stood in front while both of her brothers were at her sides. It was raining hard and people pulled out umbrellas. At first, she couldn't care less for the rain. She loved it even but a growling Gavin made her go under one. Isabelle was too weak to argue.

The crowd lessened after a while, leaving only the close family friends and of course the Alpha's family. Gavin was soaking wet behind her but didn't complain. It was when both her brothers fell to their knees when she kissed them both before leaving them to grieve. They needed their space.

Isabelle went straight to her room after that laying down on her bed regardless if her clothes were dripping wet from the rain. She could tell Gavin was standing right outside her door trying to come close to her as he thought possible. It was his own way of showing his support and affection.

In normal circumstances, she would have smiled at him for this since Gavin almost never showed much of his emotions to her but today her mind was filled with Damien and his death. It was past midnight when she woke from her restless sleep. Isabelle could hear shouting coming from the ground floor. Quietly, she made her way down. Soundlessly sitting down on the floor just beside the stair case, Isabelle could hear both Gavin and her father arguing.

"You will not take my daughter back with you!" Her father shouted angrily. She could hear him pacing around.

"I'm not leaving without her." Gavin replies with his voice commanding and threatening.

There was silence until her father's voice rose. "You have no right to take her away!"

"She is my mate. Mine. You don't have a choice." Gavin's voice was clipped and condecending like he was trying to stay calm though the anger could be easily detected. 

"The hell I don't!" Her father snapped testily. It was strange to hear her father like this especially towards Gavin who looked as if he could easily snap her father's neck in two.

"Can you stop me?" Gavin said while lifting an eyebrow threateningly and crossing his arms across his chest.

"Gavin, I can protect my daughter fine. I've been doing it since she was born." Her father shot back. He was sounding more and more at edge as he dismissed Gavin's threatening voice. "My pack is strong, Gavin. Believe it or not."

"Are you saying that my pack isn't capable of protecting her?" Gavin growled back, all the effort to stay calm was gone.

There was a loud sigh. "I have just lost one child I will not lose another." She could picture her father flinch as he said those words.     

"Let her come with me and you won't have that problem." Gavin snarled angrily. She could sense Gavin trying to hold down his wolf.

"No." Her father growled, slamming a hand down a table.

"Do not forget who you're talking to, Elliot. I will take her whether you allow her or not." Gavin said with his voice booming. Isabelle could picture his gold eyes turning pitch black with anger. 

"She's my daughter!" Her father shouted sounding desperate. Elliot knew he would lose to a fight with Gavin. 

"And she's my mate. She could have died yesterday! I won't risk that again. I will not sit by and watch as she gets mauled over by rogues because of your pack." Gavin took a deep breath. It was obvious he was trying to pull himself together and not accidentally kill his mate's father. "She's leaving with me and that's final." 

They were about to throw harsh words at each other when Isabelle climbed down the stairs, a passive look on her face. Gavin's head snapped towards her. Just as she suspected Gavin's eyes were pitch black with rage but the moment he caught sight of her his features soften drastically. She had that effect on him.

She took a seat at the kitchen counter giving her father a look that said she's heard their whole conversation. Taking a deep breath, she took her father's hand in her own before looking him in the eyes. "Dad, I think you should let me go."