The Alpha's Substitute Bride

Chapter 8

~HUNTER~

My hands shook as I crushed the picture frame with my fingers. It took me a while to recover from the shock of what I'd just been doing. I tried to move but I couldn't. I stared at my hands like they weren't mine. The picture of Maggie was staring me straight in the face. Her bright smile was directed at me but the look in her eyes made me feel guilty. It made me feel like she was looking down and seeing that I was ready to replace her with someone else. My mind completely shut down at those dreaded words.

Replace her.

Damn it!

What was I thinking?

I wasn't thinking . . . that was it. The moment Isabella started to move against me I'd lost all control. Everything about her had drawn me in and completely trapped me. When I'd seen her laying there on the bed all flushed and beautiful, my only thought was to kiss her and make her mine.

I wanted to mark her so badly it hurt. I was so close to it. There was a small bruise on her neck as proof. A reminder that I'd almost bonded to her without a single thought about Maggie.

Oh God, Maggie.

What was I doing? Maggie was the only woman for me, the only woman I would ever allow myself to have. I needed to clear my head before I did something that I couldn’t undo.

Isabella was quiet. I had no idea what she was thinking and I didn't have the strength to ask. I was disappointed and angry with myself. Everything I stood for, everything I've worked so hard for, all of it was almost destroyed because of one woman.

I needed to get out of here. Isabella's sweet womanly scent was all around me and it did nothing to help the strong need to claim her.

What was it about Isabella Cross that made it so easy for me to forget about the pain and want to move forward? I didn’t know the answer to that question. What I did know however, was that I couldn’t let those emotions get to me anymore than it already had.

Without another thought, I rushed out of the room.

I barged into the study and poured myself a drink. I needed to forget about her, forget about the way she made me feel. I needed to do anything to go back to normal. These feelings were dangerous; I had to keep them away from me.

I held my head and let out a deep breath. Isabella’s taste was still in my mouth and I shuddered at the memory of it all.

I stared at the drink in my hand and was unable to take any of it. I couldn't remember the last time I'd ever felt so confused and conflicted.

This was the very reason I never wanted to marry Isabella. From the moment I met her I knew that she would turn my life upside down. It turns out that I was absolutely right.

When I'd lost Maggie, I made a promise to myself. I would never love another woman again. I made that promise for two reasons. The first one being that I didn't want someone to replace her; I wanted to punish myself for losing her. I should have been there that day. I should have protected her. I'd reached too late; her life had already left her body when I'd gotten there. She was already gone.

The second reason was that I didn't ever want to experience pain like that again. I'd fallen for Maggie so easily and I'd lost her just as easily.

Now Isabella was tempting me to break that promise. It took all of my self-control to not give into the temptation. If I hadn't seen that picture earlier tonight then there was no telling what would have happened in there. I shook my head and tried my best to get her image out of my head. It hadn’t even been an entire day with us alone in my home and I was already losing my mind.

I felt someone's presence behind me and didn't look back. It wasn't important as long as it wasn't Isabella.

"Hunter," Alice whispered as she approached me. I felt my body tense when her hands found my chest. Without thinking twice, I grabbed her hand and pried it off my body.

I turned around to face her. She was dressed in a black crop top and shorts. There was no doubt in my mind that she'd come here to seduce me.

When I'd brought Isabella back, I'd done everything so quickly that Alice had totally slipped my mind. I didn't think much of it before but now I knew that with Isabella in my bed and mind, there was no way I would be able to bed another woman.

I couldn't even look at Alice. Looking at anyone else made me feel sick to the stomach. The drink was still in my hand, completely untouched, the same way Alice would remain tonight.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her voice deep with concern.

"Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing," she whispered. "I know tonight must have been very difficult for you. I heard from someone that something happened at the dinner. I don't want to bring it up. But I want you to know that I'm here to help, like I've always been. Let me take care of you Hunter."

She reached for me again and I caught her hands before it got to me. "We need to talk Alice . . . this isn't working out."

Her eyes widened and she stared at me completely dumbstruck. "What do you mean this isn't working out?" She asked. "What exactly is it that you're referring to?"

I sighed and finally took a sip out of the drink. "I do not want a mistress anymore. I don't need one."

She gasped and held her chest like it was the end of the world. "You can't be serious. It's been years Hunter; you've known me for years. I did this for you all along. Why are you denying me now?"

I gazed at her. "My mind has already been made up. But because of everything you've done in the past and how well you know everything around the house, I'm not asking you to leave. I need someone to plan events and supervise the rest of servants. You've done it before already and you have the experience that I'm looking for."

She gaped at me. "I cannot believe this. You've never turned me down before. What exactly has changed?" She demanded.

Isabella.

I frowned. I didn't even have to think about that response. My body and mind were in synch when it concerned her.

. . . . . . . . . . .

~ISABELLA~

I couldn't sleep. Hunter had left the room like his life had depended on it. I didn't want to admit it but I was worried about him.

Even though I was jealous of the connection that he had with his past wife, I couldn't deny the fact that the woman was now dead and Hunter was left to pick up the pieces. He was obviously struggling. I had no idea what it felt like to lose your mate. But I could only imagine the pain that came along with it.

Sighing, I picked myself off the bed and wrapped the robe around my body tightly. Maybe it would be a good idea for me to check on him. I wasn't sure where he'd went but I should be able to find him if I looked hard enough.

I shuddered as my feet touched the cold ground and I quickly wrapped the robe tighter around me.

Luckily, I found a maid cleaning the mess that was made earlier from the guests Hunter had invited over. She bowed her head as soon as she saw me.

"Can you please tell me where I can find Hunter?"

Her eyes widened. "Is he not with you ma'am?"

I shook my head. "He was . . . but he sort of left in a hurry and I'm unsure where to look for him."

"Oh." She whispered deep in thought. "I think it's a good idea to look for him in his study. He goes there a lot."

I smiled. "Thank you so much."

The young girl blushed and nodded her head. "It was my pleasure."

I followed her instructions and found the door she'd mentioned. It was already slightly opened making me believe that he was indeed in there. I paused at the doorway, not sure on what I would say if I did see him inside. I knew that I wanted to offer my sympathy. I could ask if he wanted to talk about it. Sometimes it was good to talk about the things that were hurting you. If I kept thinking about all of these things, I would never actually make it inside. I peeked into the room, hoping to see him.

All thoughts flew straight out of my head at what I saw next. Alice had her arms wrapped around Hunter and it looked like he was also holding onto her.

I leaned back against the wall with my hand over my chest.

Was this why he'd left our room in such a hurry? In order to come here and be with his mistress? I felt anger course through my veins. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this angry about something.

How stupid was I to believe that he was hurting and in pain? Why did I even want to come here and comfort him? He seemed to be doing perfectly fine with his God damn mistress.

I flinched when the door closed and Alice walked out. Her eyes found me and she had a smirk on her face. I wanted to slap the look right out of her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I should be asking you that question." I snapped.

She laughed. "I can see you got to see the last bit of our show."

I narrowed my eyes. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

She straightened her back and played with her hair. "Let's just say I was able to satisfy your husband when you couldn't."

I felt the rage within me intensify at her words.

"I told you already Isabella. You can't replace me. He's always going to run to me. He's been doing it since the death of his first wife." She teased.

I couldn't stay here and listen to any more of this. I could hear Alice laughing behind me as I made my way back to the room. I was so angry that I could barely see anything in front of me, the anger clouded my vision and my heart.

If Hunter and his mistress wanted to play this dangerous game, then I could play as well.

I wouldn't rest until I got back at Hunter for tonight.

Wouldn't rest. . .