The Alpha Female

Chapter 9

Isabelle looked back to see how Gavin took it. His reaction was priceless. Gavin looked as though he was so surprised that he couldn't fully comprehend what was happening. He never thought that Isabelle would actually come with him willingly. She looked back at her father then whose eyes were wide with shock.

"What?" Her father managed to say.

Isabelle took another deep breath before she said it again. "I think you should let me go with Gavin."

"But why?" He asked shock still creeping through his wrinkled face. "If you're worried about protection-"

Isabelle shook her head at him. "It's not about the protection, dad."

"Then why-" He started but was caught off by the look she was giving him.

Isabelle didn't know herself but for some reason it seemed as though Gavin really did need her to be beside him and he's been gone from his pack for so long now. All of it was for her and he hasn't even complained. Not even once. She knows he's wanted to but he didn't. She needed him as well. By the sound of Gavin's voice earlier during his argument with her father, he was desperate to keep her safe. He was bothered by the rogue's attack on her and Gavin wasn't risking it anymore.

Truth be told, they might have the most awkward relationship but it was theirs. The thought of him leaving pained Isabelle so much that she didn't think she could take it. "I know it's sudden and I know you didn't expect me to come with him but he's my mate." She said like her explanation made sense to everything.

Her father's face contorted. He couldn't believe his own daughter would leave with a man like Gavin Bancroft. A killer and a man that thirsted for power. She couldn't believe herself too. Gavin was an enemy Alpha for Moon Goddess' sake but she's tired of it all. She's tried so hard to ignore their connection and it was killing her. Apart from that, she truly did want to go with him. Isabelle would never say admit it out loud but having Gavin close was like an entirely new feeling of being complete.

"He hasn't even claimed you yet." Her father tried to reason effectively hitting a nerve.

Isabelle could feel Gavin tense and start to get angry again but she beat him to answering her father. "Do you really want him to do that right now? Under your own roof?" She said challengingly with a raised eyebrow. Her father's jaw clenched. 

"You're tired." Her father breathed out in frustration. "We will talk about this in the morning." He stated before turning to leave.

Isabelle blew out a breath suddenly exhausted by her father's reasoning. She silently wondered if this is what her family and Gavin felt when she was being difficult and would reason out about anything and everything. 

"Why?" Gavin asked after a long silence. His voice was raspy and hoarse. Isabelle turned to face her mate to find the same expression on his face. It was like he truly didn't believe she would come with him.

Isabelle shrugged. "Someone had to take the step forward if we want this relationship to work." She muttered sounding bitter. Her father telling her she was still unclaimed hit a nerve. Why didn't Gavin claim her? Normally, new mates would jump excitedly to claim one another the moment they find out they're mates. Yet, here was Gavin doing nothing to claim her like resisting her was the easiest thing in the world. Heck, he hasn't even tried to claim her be it with force or not. There was seriously something wrong with her if Gavin didn't want to claim her.

"You think I don't want to claim you?" Gavin growled his voice lacing with irritation. He was glaring at her coldly.

"I know you don't want to." Isabelle said simply. "Other mates claim each other as soon as possible. Yet you look like you don't even care if you claimed me or not." She said bluntly crossing her arms around her chest. The last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions that it made her temper all fiery.

It startled her when Gavin was in front of her in an instant. He slammed both of his arms down the table behind her, a vicious growl vibrated through his throat. Isabelle could see his face hardening drastically. "It is taking me everything not to claim you right here, right now." He snarled his gold eyes meeting her grey ones. "I'm at war with my own damn wolf because of you and then you say that?" He snapped his hot breath tickling the sides of her neck.

"No one asked for you to resist." She meant for it to sound cool and nonchalant but it came out as a breathless whisper.  

Gavin's eyes widened darkly at what she said. For a second, she thought he would actually claim her right there and then but he pulled away looking shaken. "I'm doing this for you." He said huskily. Gavin's now dark eyes filled with what looked like desire and lust. Isabelle suddenly felt a rush of disappointment.

"Fine. I'll find someone else to claim me instead." Isabelle barked angrily hopping down from her chair and stalking away towards the door. She didn't get far. Gavin entrapped her with his arms to the wall keeping her in place.

"Don't. You. Dare." Gavin snarled his eyes now pitch black with anger. Gavin's face was only inches away from hers and Isabelle could almost feel the anticipation gnawing at her. Isabelle fought back a whimper feeling her wolf cower somewhere deep in her mind. "I don't think I made myself clear when I said that you are mine and mine alone." He backed away from her then breathing hard. She tried to reach for him but Gavin backed away even further. A pang of pain hit her right in the chest.

-

That night, Gavin left her in the kitchen for a well needed run. Isabelle couldn't sleep that night, thinking of Gavin and how close they were. Isabelle didn't realize how badly she pushed him until she saw him the next day. Gavin stood far away from her as she and her father spat words at each other back and forth for hours. He didn't even look at her though he did wordlessly take her to school. The only time Gavin did look at her was when Nathan came to check up on her.  

The glares and snarls Gavin sent Nathan could have killed. Thankfully, Nathan backed off before anything bad could happen.

By the end of the day, Isabelle was able to talk her father into allowing her leave with Gavin. In one condition, of course. The condition was for them to on the weekend which was five days away. Gavin wasn't happy about it but didn't comment. That was yet another week of him being away from his pack.

The week went faster than Isabelle would have liked. Isabelle sat down at her last class for the week and it was Math. Out of habit, she turned her head towards the window that overlooked the parking lot. There, in his usual spot was her handsome mate standing stiffly, a steely expression on his face.

Over the week, Isabelle has tried to apologize but it didn't work at all. Gavin would just move away from her whenever she was near. It crushed Isabelle. She didn't know what else to do. On the ride home, she finally decided to act. Isabelle would be leaving her family with this man and she wouldn't be able to stand it if he kept on avoiding or ignoring her.

"Gavin, if you don't forgive me right now I won't come back with you." Isabelle finally said. Thankfully, her voice wasn't as weak as she felt. What was she doing threatening the most powerful man in the world? Gavin's head snapped toward he, a hard look on his face. She almost wanted to take it back. Gavin looked as though he was going to say something nasty but instead faced the road again. "Fine, be that way." Isabelle said glaring at the side of his face before she turned away and looked out the window.

It was only when they arrived at her house and Isabelle was about to go down from the car when she heard Gavin muffle a soft 'Okay'. Isabelle knew that was the best reply she was going to get from him and she didn't mind.