Her Unwanted Mate

Chapter 8…

Isabella’s P.O.V. You know the feeling when you’re too happy, but still have that voice in the back of your mind that keeps nagging about how it’s too good to be true.

How it feels like the calm before the storm arrives, like a beautiful dream before the harsh reality hits you right in the head and knocks you out.

That is exactly how I’m feeling right now. I am ecstatic about finding my mate but at the same time I feel dejected due to Caleb’s reaction. I know he will come around and accept it but the heartbroken look in his eyes it just makes me feel like a shitty friend.

If he even wants to be friends with me anymore.

With self pity in my mind, I turn to go back to cooking some snacks for my siblings with some coffee and warm milk, set it on the dining table and call them down.

The boys are still not accustomed to walk down the stairs, so they sit on a step and slowly slide to the next one, which takes a lot of time to reach downstairs.

The Girls come downstairs and settle in their seats and start downing the fries and smileys. The boys reach the dining area and come running towards me. I help them get settled in their seats and place their share in front of them.

Everyone is busy eating when Iris asks, “So you found your mate, huh?”

I stop eating and look at her with a puzzled reaction and ask, “Were you eavesdropping Iris?”

She shakes her head and says, “Of course not, you were loud enough” I narrow my eyes at her to which she continues, “Okay fine, I was on my way to the kitchen when I heard it. You guys seemed to have an intense conversation so I went back upstairs and waited till you called us down.”

I nodded and went back to sipping my coffee. “So about this mate, who is he? Is he hot? Please tell me, I have a hot brother-in-law?” inquires Iris.

As the words leave her mouth, my hand movement freezes and I end up burning my mouth. Before even registering my words, I shout, “What the Fu… Hell Iris? Brother-in-law?”

She just babbles, “Oh come on, you’re saying this as if you weren’t dying to meet him and get marked and make babies.”

I turn towards my brothers to see, all three of them are staring at me. I can’t say anything to her in front of them, they learn words very quickly. Last time, Iris dropped a glass and broke it, the only word she said was “Shit.” And they heard it. For the whole day, after every few minutes, they would say the same word again and again. That day on, we avoid using words in front of them. I mean, we never know where they might end up using it.

I just smile at them; Mia notices the situation and handles it by asking, “What is his name?”

“Mason.” I reply.

“What rank is he?” she interrogates.

I know they are going to freak out, like Ryan did when he heard, who Mason is. So I just avoid it now and plan on doing it later, during or maybe after dinner when I inform others as well. Thinking about it, I say, “I’ll tell you everything after dinner.”

One thing about Mia is that, she knows when someone is trying to avoid a particular situation and she does not settle her ass down till she gets to know the reason behind it. Hence, when she looks at me suspiciously, I know I’m screwed.

Once everyone is done with their food; the twins clean it up and put things back in their place after washing them. I plan to call everyone home for dinner and tell them together about it, so that no one will be left behind.

I take my phone, open up our group chat and start typing.

Me: Hey guys, care to join us for dinner tonight?

After a few minutes, Rose replies.

Rose: What happened girl? Is everything all right?

Matt: On a Monday night?

Rose: Seriously babe, that’s the only thing that came up in your mind when she said dinner?

Me: Aren’t you guys’ together right now?

Rose: No. I’m at my parents place, had to visit mom. I wanted her Chicken Wings recipe.

Me: Okay. So, you guys coming?

Matt: Sure.

Rose: I’ll come to your place, as soon as I’m done from here.

Me: What about Ryan and Caleb?

Ryan: I just read the word Dinner in this whole conversation. So I’m in.

Me: Where is Caleb?

Matt: I think he is sleeping. I saw him come home about an hour ago.

Me: Will you please bring him with you? I need to talk to you’ll about something really important.

Matt: Okay.

Me: See you’ll at 8. Bye.

I closed the group chat and texted Caleb personally.

Me: Hey. I know you’re not sleeping and I also know that you are pissed at me. Maybe you don’t even want to see my face again, but can you please come for dinner tonight. Let me explain everything and if after that you feel like you don’t want me to be a part of your life. I promise I won’t interfere. Please Caleb.

I wait for his reply, a few minutes pass, still no reply. I close my phone and move to the kitchen to start preparing the dinner. It’s already past 6.30pm, so I hardly have an hour and half for getting things done.

I cook Home-style Chicken Noodles with Pan-friend vegetable chilly. It’s already 8, when I call my sisters to help me set table for dinner. They both come running downstairs and start placing plates and glasses. Till they are getting it done, I start frying some chicken nuggets for my brothers with some plain salted pan-fried noodles.

As I turn the gas off, I hear Ryan’s voice from the living area shouting, “How are my Twin Tornado’s?”

I hear Iris grumble, “Go away Ry. Who called you here?”

“I don’t need an invitation to come to my own house IRIS” says Ryan.

I enter the Living area to see, Mia jumping in Ryan’s arms and shouting, “I missed you Bro.”

“I missed you too my favorite girl” replies Ryan, still holding Mia in his arms.

“And I thought I was your favorite girl” I shout.

Ryan makes way towards me and engulfs me in a bear hug and says, “You’ll always be my favorite girl princess.”

He notices my tensed shoulder and slowly mumbles, “Everything will be fine and don’t forget, No matter what, I’ll be there for you.”

“I know Chandler.” I reply sarcastically, comparing him to one of the characters from our favorite show, to lighten up his mood.

He laughs while saying, “You better do Pheebs.”

We are busy laughing at each other’s lame ass joke to notice that Rose has entered the house and is looking at us, as if she is offended by our behavior.

I and Ryan just open our arms for her to join us, to which she gives a million dollar smile and comes running in our arms. We are happy in our bubble until Rose realizes that there is something that Ryan knows and she doesn’t, she slowly moves away and asks me, “So what does he know that I don’t?”

I stiffen at her question.

Oh Boy. How am I supposed to tell her this?

I don’t want one more person pissed at me. I already have Caleb for that. I look towards Ryan to ask for help, he just shrugs and says, “This is your problem to deal with. I’m not telling her” and leaves us alone.

I’m going to kill him for ditching me in such a situation.

She looks at me, waiting for me to tell her, what she has been dying to hear since her 18th birthday. “Um. The reason why I called you guys here today is … that… I…”

“What happened Bella? You are scaring me now” she asks in a panicked manner.

I can see her mind running in all direction, trying to identify the reason behind my uneasiness. I finally get it out, in order to bring her out of this discomfort and whisper, “I found my mate.”

It seems that I whispered so slowly that she couldn’t understand a word, which makes her more restless and shout, “Speak up woman. You know how much I hate the mumbling.”

I compose myself and hold her arms with my hands to stabilize her movement. I can hear all her thoughts about what is bothering me, whether it’s the b***h or someone at college, whether the triplets are okay.

This is the reason I love this b***h just as much as my own sisters. She loves me like we are soul sisters. I smile at her thoughts and now she looks confused, “Why the hell are you smiling b***h. If you don’t tell me what the matter is, I will smack…”

Before she can complete her sentence, I shout, “I found my mate.”

Her expression changes from confused to shock to ecstatic in a matter of few seconds and she jumps on me, her arms choking me, making me gasp for air. She realizes it and loosens her hold and then starts blabbering, “Oh my god. I knew this year was going to be Uh-mazing. Can you believe this? You found your mate. My Best friend found her mate. Oh my god. I am so happy, I could throw a party right now right here and tell everyone, MY BEST FRIEND FOUND HER MATE. Yes.”

“NO. You are not going to do any such thing or else I’m kicking your ass” I shout.

She pouts and says, “Fine, bitch.” then gives me a Cheshire cat smile.

Oh No. I know that smile.

“How about we ditch this dinner and you tell me everything about it?” wiggling her eyes.

“Stop wiggling your eyes woman and No we are not ditching this dinner for it” I tell her.

Seeing her pout again, I continue, “This is the reason why I called everyone for this dinner in the first place.”

“And here I thought you are treating us with dinner because you love us” says Matt, who just entered the house with Caleb right behind him.

I smile looking at Caleb, at least he is going to give me a chance to explain them everything. I release a breath feeling relieved; I don’t know I’ve been holding it for so long.

“Of course I love you guys, more than you people can guess.” I meet Caleb’s eyes when I say this; he ignores me and goes upstairs to see my brothers.

His cold behavior is eating me out alive, Rose notices me discomfort and says, “Give him some time, he will come around.”

I nod and tell them to get settled for dinner. I place food on the table for everyone and call out my sisters for the same. Slowly, I make way towards my brothers’ room, peeking inside I see Caleb is sitting on the floor, playing with them.

I clear my throat and see Caleb’s back stiffen a little. I address to my brothers’, “Come on babies let’s go downstairs, it’s time for dinner.” I turn towards Caleb to tell him the same but he ignores me and moves downstairs, leaving me standing there with the boys.

The boys see the exchange and stare at me weirdly.

That’s exactly my thought. Even I don’t know what’s happening.

I gesture them with my hands to come and they start running towards me with their tiny feet. I pick Theo up in my arms and slowly walk downstairs with Winston and Lucas on either side.

When I reach the table, I look at Caleb and see guilt on his face, for not helping me get the boys down. I just give him a smile, which brings him back to reality and the saddened look is back on his face.

Everyone is settled, already and waiting for me to join, while I settle my brothers’ in their chairs. I place their plates in front of them with their water sippers and move towards me seat, which is between Ryan and Caleb.

Talk about awkward.

Caleb gets uncomfortable when I settle myself down, while he shifts in his seat, as if to leave. I place my hand on his, which is placed on his lap; this brings his attention to me. I just mouth, “Please” on reading my lips, his shoulder slump; he raises his hand to brush my cheeks in order to wipe the tears which I didn’t even realize were falling.

Everyone is looking at our exchange, but no one dares to say a word and continue eating their meal. I put some food in Caleb’s plate and gesture him to eat it. He slowly takes a fork and starts eating it as I do the same.

The meal is almost done, when Matt says, “So what tensed you so much, that you had to call a family meeting? I think, you finding your mate is not the real problem here.”

I feel Caleb turn stiff again; I just lace my fingers with his and rub circles to calm him down. After a few seconds, it works and he goes back to eating. I don’t know why, but while I am holding his hand, all I want is, it to be Mason’s. I don’t know why, but holding Caleb’s hand, I feel like something is missing.

I bring my thoughts back towards Matt’s question and answer, “How about we finish with our dinner first and then discuss it.” I slowly gesture him towards Caleb and he understands, because we both know, he won’t eat it and will leave empty stomach if we discuss it now.

We all continue to munch it down, once everyone is done; I take their dishes and move towards the kitchen. Soon enough, the girls join me and so does rose. Ryan helps cleaning the table and Matt takes the tub of Ice cream out from the freezer adds some spoons to in and takes it to the living area. I take the boys upstairs and clean them up before settling them in their beds and putting them to sleep. Kissing their heads, I make my way downstairs preparing myself to face the reality.

Matt is settled in the love seat with Rose in his lap, the twins are settled on the recliner chair whereas Ryan and Caleb are settled on the couch. I make my way to them and settle between them.

Caleb is still not his own self yet, whereas Ryan is restless thinking about their reactions. I clear my throat and say, “As you all know, I found my Mate today.”

I can feel Caleb’s labored breathing, as if every word that I say is slicing his heart into small pieces. It pains me to see him I like. I hold his hand; he tries to free it but ends submitting to it, while I rub circles on it.

Matt says, “Yes we all know that Bella. We want to know, the part that is bothering you”

Rose suddenly looks panicked and jumps out of Matt’s lap and asks, “Did that d**k, reject you?”

Caleb turns to look at me with hope in his eyes. I deny it with the shake of my head and see him slump even more in the couch, I turn to Rose and say, “No, he didn’t”

“Then what is it? You are scaring us now” says Rose.

I slump my shoulders down and think to myself that it will be better if the truth is out in the open. So I’m just going to throw it out, like you rip a bandage.

“It’s the pack he belongs to” I mumble.

“He does not belong to our pack?” asks Matt.

I just shake my head to answer it with a No. Seeing this, he asks, “Which pack does he belong to then?”

I gulp and say, “The Blood Moon Pack”

“WHAT” is the only word that all of them shout except for Ryan. Even Caleb shouts it, surprised that my mate belongs to a pack which is labeled as the most ruthless pack to exist in the history of werewolves.

I just look at them and continue, “That’s not the thing that I or we should be worried about.”

Everyone is confused at my comeback, that’s when Iris asks, “What did you say his Rank is?”

I look at Ryan and he just nods to tell me that he is right here. Looking at everyone, one last time, before I speak out loud the only thought, the only words that have been going through my mind since the time I heard it.

I don’t look at anyone when I say it, scared to see their expressions or reactions. I just close my eyes and say it out loud, “He is the ALPHA.”