Big Bad Alphas

Walking up to the house, I glance behind me at the two guards waiting in the car before ringing the doorbell. An array of speedy footsteps and squeak-like cheers erupts from the other side, and I spot Kendra peeking through the side window. I smile and wave. The door is swinging open in a matter of seconds.

"Isabella!" She shouts and clings onto me. My arms wrap around her, a barrier between her and the world. "I'm so excited!"

I squat down and brush the stray hairs from her beautiful face. "Did you do your hair yourself?"

"Yes, Moms with the Luna. She told me not to open the door unless it's you. I brushed it and tied it up like you used to," she explains and twirls the crooked pigtails between her fingers.

"Alright. How about I braid it? My friend Caroline taught me how to do a Dutch braid, can I show you?"

Kendra's eyes beam.

The house is the same. Nothing has moved beside shifted magazines on the coffee table and a new living chair beside the couch. Kendra leads me upstairs as if I am in a strangers house, and we sit on her bed while I weave the strands of her hair together. Glancing to the side, I see her packed bag. "You know, I was thinking that we could leave tomorrow. We can have a sleepover here."

"Why can't we go?"

"We can, I'm just a little tired that's all. If we leave tomorrow I'll have plenty of energy and we can do stuff all day."

Kendra's head bobs in all directions, making the braiding more difficult than it was on Caroline. "Like what?"

"Well we can get you unpacked, we can say hi to Caroline, my friend, we can go swimming in the lake if you like."

"I want to swim."

tie the braid at the end and hop off

clothing I left behind in my bedroom along with some other things. Being in my room, staring at my white sheets, gazing

and apologize. "We're staying the night. I-I

she ignores me. Finally, I catch a glimpse of my mother in the distance, walking with my old Luna. Kendra

hear, not like when Eric says my name. "I thought you two would be gone

staying the night

Luna smiles at me, shifting the mood. "Well, it's lovely to see you again, especially since you

mutter and look around the

"How is your mate,

over the pit of my stomach as I glance back at her. "He's good. Everything

"That's nice to hear. Causing no problems I expect? Attacking any other

My brows furrow together. "No. Not attacking any other lands, Luna. We should go, it's almost time for dinner and I was going to

wanting the meal right away

"Go on," my mother releases us. "I'll be home late tonight. We have

"What's

"He has bronchitis I'm afraid," the Luna informs me, "it's taken a toll on him, so I've volunteered to manage the pack

Kendra herself. She sits up on the kitchen counter and watches me cook, just like we used to. Her little fingers dip into the pancake mix and I watch her as she oddly tastes it. "I like it,"

breakfast for dinner. I grab the house phone and wander into the hallway while she munches away. Holding the device up to my ear, I lean against the wall as it

"Isabella?" His calming, smooth voice comes through

morning. Kendra is just too tired and I

There's a short pause. "Alright, let