“It would be an absolute honor to give my daughter as the mate of the alpha. I would not settle for any less for my beautiful little girl.” There were tears in her father’s eyes, and Tamara could feel herself getting happy for him. The old man deserved to see some happiness. He had been through so much. “Tamara, will you accept the alpha’s offer?”
Tamara looked back and forth between her childhood friend and the father she loved so much. She only had one more qualm when it came to becoming the alpha’s mate. “Father, are you going to be alright if I go?” she asked, placing his hand inside of hers. He was getting old and would soon need help.
“Tamara, I will be fine. This is your destiny. Take it,” he pleaded with her.
Isaiah spoke up as well. “Your father will be more than provided for, and I insist that you take one day a week to spend time with him. That is, if you accept my offer. I do not want to push anything on you.”
Tamara knew that was the final nail in her coffin, knowing it would mean her father would be more than cared for in his old age. “Yes, Isaiah, I will accept,” she told him, prompting a cheer from her father. It was not the moment she had expected when she was younger. She wanted to run into a man’s arms and cry because she was so in love with the man. Instead, she took joy in the triumph of her father and let Isaiah clasp her hands.
“May I take her on a walk, so we can talk about things, sir?” Isaiah asked. Tamara rolled her eyes at the formality of it all. She had gone on hundreds of walks with Isaiah before. Her father, having given permission, sent them off on a walk. Isaiah led Tamara out towards the woods, though he did not go in the direction of their spot. He instead, took her the other way, into the thick brush behind her house; one of the most isolated of the pack’s homes. The property was actually the closest to the lands the coven owned.
“So, what’s left to talk about?” Tamara asked trying to sound interested and not bitter.
“I wanted to talk about how this is going to work,” he said, letting his emotions begin to leak out. He was afraid he might cry, but he couldn’t yet. He had to be strong for her or there was no reason to bring her into this. He had to be a strong alpha right now. He had to be ready for her in his life, even if they did not love each other. It was necessary because they would have to rule together and raise children together.
Isaiah waited for a comment from Tamara, but she said nothing as they walked along, the leaves on the ground making a loud crunching sound. It was so quiet out towards her home, how had he forgotten that? It was almost eerie. “You know how my father did things with women before my mother.” Tamara nodded. She knew very well where this was going, as if it was her get out of jail free card. He didn't understand what it was like for a woman that used to be the alpha's mate, but she wasn't about to explain it to him either. “If you want, this does not have to be forever. You can be free at the end of ten years. You can move on, free to love who you wish.”
Tamara did not know how to respond because she knew Isaiah was trying to be kind like always. That was his motivation in most things; to soften the blow. It was like what he was doing with that witch girl. It sucked that she had been attacked and bitten, so he was going to help her through her first change. He didn't realize his kindness did little but make people feel loyal to him, even if it tore them up on the inside.
“I don’t know about that, Isaiah. The thought of co-parenting our children with some other woman you have to have more children with; I don't think I could do that. This is hard, but it’s my duty, so I will do it. But I cannot say one way or the other what I am going to feel ten years from now. I hope you can understand that.” It was the nicest way she could put it. There were worse men to be tied to in that pack than Isaiah, that was for certain. She would get over it one day, and then who knew what could come between them? She couldn’t imagine making babies with him and not sharing any feelings. Maybe it would be okay, but not if she did all this just to lose him to one woman and then another.
“That's fair, Tamara. We can play it by ear if we have to. I just don't want to ruin your whole life,” Isaiah explained.
Tamara stopped walking and wrapped her hands around his neck in a friendly hug like she used to do when they were kids. “You’re not.” Then, she walked away, back to her house. She knew Isaiah would announce it soon, and then they would become mates in front of the whole pack. She had little time to be a bachelorette, and she was going to spend it like she had spent every night before; caring for her father.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Isaiah stood before the pack yet again, just as he had before, but this time, he was right in front of the cabin, which was in the middle of a renovation. He let Annalise go crazy, giving her the card information to pay for whatever she thought Tamara might like. He could tell she was not only getting bored but feeling left out now that he had been spending time preparing to take a mate. That one that would be cramping up the cabin even more than it already was. Hector would be sharing a room with a new guard of Tamara’s choosing while Annalise would still be living there. Tamara would be in the master with him once it was completely redesigned. Annalise had promised him it would look nothing like his father’s death bed when she was done with it, and he trusted her.
“I have an announcement that I believe will make the pack rejoice,” he began, looking out over the crowd as a human this time. “Many of you have wanted me to choose a mate because you fear for the pack. I do not fear for the pack, but I do respect the pack. That is why I have listened to your wishes. I have chosen a mate, and tonight, we will partake in the traditional ceremony, to bring us together as alpha and mate, for all to see.”
The crowd cheered happily. Isaiah knew he had given them just what they wanted. He couldn’t help but feed off of all that energy. He was excited to finally be doing things right for once. At least, that was what it felt like. Praise was a nice change from all the hatred he had received, since becoming the alpha.
Everyone dispersed. The crowd left rejoicing and also wondering who he might have chosen. There were excited whispers running through the scores of people as they went on their way for the day to get ready for that evening's event.
Isaiah rocked back on his feet and looked back at the cabin, wondering what it looked like inside. He had mostly stayed away for the past week because Annalise had wanted it to be a surprise. He had been sleeping in his old room with his brothers, having fun being bachelors. Or at least, that was what he thought it would be like. Orson had been happy to run with him as a wolf and go into the city with him for some fun. Roman had remained strangely distant and even moody when they tried to talk. Isaiah hoped that he could get to the bottom of things with Roman before the ceremony. Right now, he wanted to make sure the cabin would be ready for Tamara to move in. She would be bringing her stuff by later that night, and he didn't want her to walk into something that was torn up and unfinished.
Isaiah came in the door and found Hector and Annalise vegging out on the couch; a couch that didn't look anything like the one he had before. The whole living room had a black and red theme with modern furniture, including a bigger and better television. All of the relics were removed, and it smelled much better than the dusty mist that had hung in the air before. He guessed it was thanks to the candles he saw burning on the high counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.
“Welcome home,” Annalise said with that cheeky smile of hers. He was going to miss that when she was gone. In fact, he had missed it that whole week when he had been playing bachelor with his brothers. He hated that there was still some connection there with Tamara coming into the picture now. There was nothing that he could do about what he was feeling inside, no matter how confusing it seemed. He would just have to hope it would fade over time as his loyalty and care for Tamara grew.
“This is amazing,” he told her, looking around. The only thing that remained unchanged so far was the outdated kitchen, but he remembered Annalise mentioning that it had character. Now
that everything else was different, he could see what she meant. It had a rustic and nostalgic feel that made him think back to his childhood. Tamara would love that aspect as well. He knew it. She was always reminiscing. It was her favorite pastime.
“You should see the rest of the place,” Hector commented, while reaching his hand over into a shared bag of chips. The two of them ate so much junk and never seemed to gain a pound. It was like Orson with his smoking and drinking; he didn’t seem to be any worse for the wear. Isaiah shook his head at the sight of them and went on into the rest of the house, starting with all the guest bedrooms that once belonged to the three brothers. They all looked like bona fide guest rooms, and Orson’s was no longer creepy, but filled with shades of yellow. It made him chuckle a bit.
Then, he made his way to the other side of the cabin where the master bedroom stood against the backyard, overlooking the little garden his father had insisted on maintaining after his mother’s death.
He was stunned as he looked at the space. It was nothing like what he had last seen when his father laid there dying. Even the bed had been replaced. Everything was done in white linens with a baby blue color accenting the room in places. The bathroom was set up as a his and hers space. Isaiah felt a tear come to his eyes as he realized all the work and heart she had put into it despite all the trouble he had put her through and how much she cared about him. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him that wasn't one of his brothers. He had to tell her. He wasn’t sure how, but he just did.
He turned around, sniffling like a little baby to see that she was there in the doorway watching him. “Is it that bad?” Annalise asked jokingly, but a smile didn't cross her face. It was the look of a woman who knew she was saying goodbye to something that she never had in the first place. Maybe the whole process had been therapeutic to her, so she could leave there when it was all said and done and find a nice witch boy to be with. The best part about that scenario was that he didn't need to see it.
“It’s perfect,” he whispered, trying not to outright cry in front of her. He couldn't stand to do that, especially knowing he was going to let her go. “I don’t know how to thank you for this or what to say,” he told her as she came into the room. A chill passed over him as Annalise stood beside him, looking at him sideways before surveying the room like an artist would study their work for flaws after the fact.
“You don't have to say anything, Isaiah, you have already done so much.” Annalise’s voice reminded him of Minnie Mouse sometimes with its cute, high pitch and yet it didn't make her seem too much like a child. She reached out, grabbed his hand and held it, surprising him. He knew it was the most they would ever touch again, and it was just what he needed from her; to know that she would be alright and that she would never forget him. That was what the gesture meant to him anyway.
“I think she is going to love it,” Isaiah whispered, feeling like they were alone there in the dark, ready to spill their secrets to each other. Isaiah was so close to letting it slip, but he let the moment pass him by for the sake of both of them.
“I hope so. That was what I was going for. Plus, it’s not creepy anymore.” She let go at the sound of footsteps as if they were doing something wrong. It left Isaiah feeling cold as he turned to look at Hector in the doorway.
“See what I mean? This place is totally different now. Tamara is going to flip,” Hector commented. They both laughed at his teenager lingo, and Isaiah was positive now that there would be no kissing Annalise in his future. He was showing his age more each day. It was just hard to tell when you looked at him and his muscular body.
They all left the room together as if nothing had just happened. The spell was broken, and there was nothing but the air of friends as they made it back to the living room. Isaiah was going to sit down and enjoy whatever the two had been watching before he arrived, but the door suddenly swung open to reveal a werewolf he didn't expect. It was a pack member named Lacy, and she happened to be one of the women he had eliminated from his list of eligible pack members early on. She was the same age as Orson, but he had always thought of her as younger. She was very quiet in human form. But when she changed, she was strong and fierce. Maybe that was why she was there now. Tamara must have chosen her to be the second guard. She was tough but would never get in the way.
“Are you Tamara’s guard?” Isaiah asked her, looking down at the bag in her hand. Lacy nodded but nothing more. He stood up and led her to Orson’s room, noticing that he officially had a full house now. All the bedrooms would be full by that night. He would never be truly alone again, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. Did it ever drive his father crazy or did that old man crave the company?
He left her to unpack and went back to take his seat on the couch, knowing it may be the last day like that. He did not know what to expect of life with a mate, especially having Tamara as a mate. What routine would she want? What would she expect from him? Isaiah had no idea because outside of being friends, he knew little about her everyday life. It made him feel silly for being so sure of her in the first place because he should have known more. He had been so blind to her as a woman and only saw her as a buddy or a family member. Now, she would really be a family member but in a different way. He hoped he had not made the wrong choice.
Isaiah found himself knocking on the door of the very same bachelor pad he had been staying in for the past week just about an hour before the ceremony. He could not go forward with any of it until he knew what had gotten into Roman. He kept banging on the door, though, and got no answer, so he barged in to find an agitated Roman looking lost as he roamed around the place. Orson was nowhere in sight, so at least that meant they could talk in peace.
“Hey, brother, what is going on? I don't like the way things have been between us for the past week, and I need to know I have my brother through this.” The whole time Isaiah was speaking, Roman had ignored him, still looking frantic without a purpose. But at the last part, Roman looked up at him and scoffed. It was not like Roman at all to have attitude like that. He was always the one who was put together. Tamara had even been to speak with him a few times, but she had told Isaiah she had no clue what could be wrong. He didn't even mention anything to her about it. That made the whole thing even more worrisome.
“Don’t you have a mating ceremony to get to, Isaiah?” Roman asked, finally settling down into the recliner and leaning it back. He looked so much like their father when he did that, it was frightening. Isaiah felt for a moment like he was looking at a ghost. But it was Orson that held their father's anger, not Roman.
“I have some time. I wanted to come and see you and settle this. Your support means everything to me right now. Am I giving you too much to do?” Isaiah asked, sitting down on the edge of the arm so that his brother would have to acknowledge him.
“Not at all. Besides, who else would head this investigation if it wasn’t me? You know as well as I do that not enough of the pack is interested in clearing our name for the sake of one witch to find a replacement. It's not that at all. I love the work. You know that.” Roman pulled his pocket knife out and began twirling it between his two index fingers, his gaze hardcore focused on the subtle movements. His nerves were on edge, and Isaiah had no idea why.
Roman knew he was being unfair with his anger. Isaiah was doing his best at being alpha. He didn’t have time for trivial issues like Isaiah’s. He just needed some space to get over it. At least, that was what he kept telling himself so that he didn't go insane.
“Then what is it? What have I done?” Isaiah insisted, pushing Roman until he had to at least say something. He had always been good at maintaining a calm exterior, holding back all his emotions for the sake of others. Something about all the mounting pressures and emotions lately had him overflowing to where he couldn't keep the lid on it any more.
“Tamara told me what you said; the offer you gave her about allowing her to leave you in ten years. Don’t get mad at her for it, she came to me for
advice about making her decision.” Isaiah looked at his brother in confusion and horror. He had not meant for that offer to backfire like that. He had been trying to be fair to Tamara. “Since when do you believe in changing mates every ten years, Isaiah? That doesn’t sound like you. You both deserve life-long love, even if it takes a long time to get there with each other.”
Isaiah was surprised that this is what had angered his brother. “Roman, I don’t think you get it,” he tried to explain, standing up defensively. “I offered her the choice because I feel bad for even asking her this in the first place. She will sacrifice so much to be my mate, and I wanted to make sure she knew that if she wanted out to find true love after a time, I would let her out. I never said it was what I wanted or believed in.”
Roman glared up at his older brother. Had they really been friends with Tamara for so many years just for Isaiah not to know her at all? “It sounds like you have a lot to learn about your new mate,” Roman commented in a calmer voice, standing up to slap his brother on the back. His arm barely flopped against it with little conviction. “Now, how about you get back home. We both have a ceremony to get ready for.” Roman left the room, not wanting the conversation to go on any longer. He needed to go to a place of peace and calm himself before he watched his brother and best friend joined in the mating ceremony.
Isaiah let himself out, staring after his brother and wondering if they had really solved anything. Maybe he was just looking out for Tamara like they had always done. They had been like the brothers she never had. Isaiah would have to make sure he didn't let Tamara or Roman down.
CHAPTER NINE
Tamara looked at the cabin as she waited for her father to catch up. He had insisted on coming over with her to drop off her things, all of which had been packed nice and neatly into a few pieces of luggage. It was strange, thinking her entire accumulation of life was packed up in just those three bags. Wasn't there anything else? But when she thought about it, no there wasn’t. Her life had revolved around four people; her father and the Young brothers. There had never been a reason to acquire too many things, nor had she had the money for it. It was like coming full circle to end up living in that cabin, the mate of one of the Young brothers. Even if she wasn't madly in love with him, she did care about him and his brothers deeply. This way, she would always be close to them. No other woman would come between them now.
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