*Blurb* Isabella Knight has always been strong-willed and independent. She has a soft spot for animals and is fiercely protective of those she loves. Her seemingly normal human life ends when she meets the dastardly handsome and broody Alpha werewolf– Alexander Blackwood. At first they try to fight off their growing attraction to each other but later on they can't deny the feelings between them. Then Isabella finds out that Alexander has been keeping a secret from her– they are fated mates. She tries to distance herself from Alexander but circumstances force them together. A devastating attack makes Isabella realise that she has to work together with Alexander to save those she cares about. But will she be able to accept the bond between her and Alexander?
Chapter 1 The beginning
I've always enjoyed walking through Clybourne Park on my way to the small clinic I work at. Even though Celeste would give me shit for it my daily walks have always brought me a sense of calm I could never find anywhere else. Celeste sometime swears I must have been an animal in my past life with the way I've always love being in the wild. I see Mr Dayton sitting on the park bench feeding the pigeons, just like he does every morning. “Hello Mr Dayton” I call out to him just like I do every morning. “Hello Isabella, and please it's George" he reminds me once again. “Sure Mr. Dayton.
You feeding the pigeons again” “You little brat.” he says feigning annoyance at me not calling him by his name. “You know you enjoy my company” I reply in a playful manner. “I guess I should be grateful that you wanna have anything to do with an old man like me" “You're not that old. Besides you're more fun than people my age" “Yeah Yeah, you better go before you're late for work" he shushes me away in that fatherly way of his. “Don't forget we have bingo this weekend, and this time I'm gonna beat you're ass old man” I say while jogging on my way to work. “You wish kiddo” he replies while giving me that fatherly smile of his. Seeing Mr. Dayton everyday was one on my many daily rituals. Ever since he lost his wife a year ago he always comes to the park to feed the pigeons. He says he does it to get out of the house but I know he does it because that's what she loved to do when she was alive. So I took it upon myself to always look out for him which isn't difficult since he's basically been like a father to me ever since my parents died when I was 18. I see the clinic up ahead and quickly jog to the door. Just as I'm about to open it I immediately feel a chill crawl up my spine. I get the distinct feeling that I'm being watched by someone so I look behind me but see no one in the empty street. I shrug it off instead thinking today is going to be a slow day as there aren't people around. But for a moment I swear I saw glowing yellow eyes stare right at me. ⚫⚫⚫ I get settled at my desk when I'm suddenly startled by my best friend Celeste who jumps out of nowhere. “What's wrong with you, you look a bit off today,” she says without a beat like she hadn't just tried to scare me to death. “Gee I wonder why!” I retort. “Oh lighten up! You know you secretly enjoy it when I spook you,” she replies in that knowing grin of hers. “I can promise you, no one in the history of planet earth enjoys being scared to death” “Whatever you say Miss Boring,” she gives a mocking salute. “Anyway make sure you have something sexy to wear tonight, because we're going out!,” she yells like we aren't at work. “Would you keep it down Celeste, I haven't had my morning coffee yet,” says Dr. Arnold our boss and the owner of the clinic we work at. “I refuse to call that thing you drink coffee, honestly can't men not be predictable with their drink of choice. Who takes their coffee black,” she replies in an exasperated manner. “It's what's kept me going for twenty years so it's coffee to me,” he says as he waves her off eager to go into his office. “Hmm Men!” she sighs and then turns to me. “Anyway, we are going to the club at seven. No excuses!,” she looks at me in a tone that says I'm not backing down. “Fine! it's not like I have a choice or anything,” I give in knowing that she would drag me to the club if she had to. “Great! I'll pick you up at seven. Bye,” she turns around and skips to her station like she wasn't about to just threaten me to go with her. Honestly some times I think she's bipolar or something. I refocus my thoughts back to work, hoping that will alleviate the dread I feel about going out tonight. I turn on my computer and check my schedule for today. Ready to begin working my mind goes back to the chill I felt in the morning, wondering whether someone was watching me or if I was simply imagining it. I start on my duties for the day with my thoughts filled with glowing yellow eyes following me. ⚫⚫⚫ I get home finally after a surprisingly hectic day at work. Thankfully I only had to deal with one rude customer, a condescending middle aged man who wouldn't stop screaming for Dr. Arnold when it wasn'seven time for his appointment. It really took everything in me not to punch him in the face for being a dick. Lucky for him Celeste was dealing with another customer because I'm sure she would have introduced her heels to his balls. She found out later on and got pissed at me for not punching him. I tried to use it to get out of going out tonight but obviously she didn't have that. I put my bag on the kitchen counter then drop myself on the sofa. I feel so tired I think I might book a massage session in the near future. “Snow!,” I call it to my cat too tired to look for him. Somehow he always finds a way to hide in my tiny apartment. She finally struts out of my bed room without a care in the world, walks up to me and then jumps on my lap. All my troubles immediately melt away as she cuddles up to me. So I pick her up and start giving her kisses. “I missed you too sweety,” I say as I give her more kisses. I found snow a year ago during winter, shivering and covered in snow. If I hadn't found her I dread what would have happened to her. Which was probably why I named her snow even though she had black fur. Ever since then, me and her have basically been inseparable. Suddenly without warning, I get that same chill up my spine and feel like I'm being watched. Snow must have felt the same thing because she starts to hiss. The dread in my stomach grows as I wonder if someone is in my apartment. The feeling suddenly disappears as I hear several knocks at my door. I put snow on the floor and walk to the door praying that a serial killer isn't on my doorstep. I slowly unlock the door and turn the door handle when Celeste abruptly barges inside my apartment. “What the hell Isabella, I've been knocking forever,” she says even though she only knocked for about 10 seconds. “You can try all you want but whether you like it or not we're gonna get some dick tonight,” she finishes while pointing her finger at me. “First of all, Eww. Secondly, I wasn't trying to get out of going out tonight. I thought I felt someone watching me,” I reply. “Unless you're some sort of secret celebrity I doubt anyone would bother stalking you, you barely even go out if I might add” she says in a nonchalant tone. “Wow, what a way to boost my confidence,” I reply in a dry tone. “Enough with that, thank heavens I decided to stop over. You haven't even had a shower”. “Well I was about to before you barged in like a crazy person” “If I hadn't barged in, you would be in your pajamas binge watching Supernatural, Again!" “What can I say, Dean Winchester is hot” “And married if I might add. So go get a shower and let me work my Magic on you. Gosh we're gonna be the hottest people tonight!,” she says in that sing song voice of hers while clapping like she didn't just ruin my Dean Winchester fantasy. She then proceeds to push me in the shower yelling about how we're gonna get laid tonight. ⚫⚫⚫