Big Bad Alphas

   "Isabella," a familiar voice calls, and I turn back to see Evangeline running towards me. "Wait."

   I stop and secure my towel, "I'm sorry, I have to leave."

   She catches up to me. "Just relax, you're too worked up, too irrational."

   "I can't stay here."

   She reaches out to me. "Just come with me, get some clothes and calm down."

   I shake my head, hating the fact that I have to refuse her. "I'm sorry—"

   "He doesn't have to know. Please, just come stay with me for the night. Eric doesn't have to know that you're with me." My eyes drift off. Evangeline seems desperate in her task to keep me on pack land. "Just sleep on it."

    I follow her back towards her house and enter with hesitation. She leads me upstairs and brings me clothes, reminding me of a mother, one I never had. I change and follow her back downstairs. Sebastian, her mate, is not here, and she sets me on the couch before bringing me a glass of water. I sip it, sit back, breathe, and take another sip.

   "Thank you, for the hospitality," I mumble, feeling worn out and depressed.

   She looks at me worriedly. "All I'm asking is that you sleep on it, okay?"

   I nod, for her, and she sits down with me.

   "What caused this, Isabella?" Evangeline asks carefully.

   I set down my water and take a few deep breaths. "I used to be the strong one, you know," the thought makes me almost laugh at myself. "I used to never show the weak side of me, for my sister, and she saw it tonight. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I can hardly think straight sometimes."

a Luna—that I can't be. I tried running away once or twice—ran out in a towel too—and I thought I was losing my mind. Being mated to an Alpha, being a Luna, taking care of your sister; none of it is easy. Just stop, take a breath, and remember

I have to grasp on

forgiving. Don't be turned away by the Alpha reactions, just sit down, the two

  I bite the inside of my cheeks and swipe the falling hairs from my face. "Lately, that's all I've been doing. I don't know why. I just—I act on

making me look up to her, again, the mother I never had. My mother never talked to me about feelings, as my father's death destroyed hers. "Take a day or two, stay here, collect your thoughts, organize your mind, and when you're ready, talk with him. Now isn't the time

  I shake my head. "Marina—I've asked

watch over your sister for the day. And when you're ready, you can explain to Kendra too on why you needed

Evangeline, completely open for her

well-being.  I wish I had someone to talk to me when I was younger and going through the same

feelings and actions, relating them to her past ones and talking about ways to fix them. Conversing with her is a tremendous help, making me feel more like the old, stable me

currently, and I wonder if he is thinking about me. I want to be better for him, for my sister, for Caroline, the pack, Evangeline, and my future. My thoughts of not wanting a mate anymore seem unreal now, and after a full day of healing, I truly, and utterly miss Eric. We agreed on another day away, yet sleeping the

walk through the forest, and like before; I noticed my surroundings more thoroughly. In my head, I described it all to myself, and I wanted to share this with

the day, Caroline comes through the door after

"How are you feeling? I've

"Eric's been quiet the past two days.

fold my hands together, feeling excited to see him tomorrow. "How is everything?

prepared now, after changing everything around. There have been a few rogue and member sightings around the borders. We

safety and talks about Lucas for a solid while. I enjoy hearing about their happiness. Caroline deserves someone good, someone whiling to give up anything for her. She tells me that he will be joining our pack since Alpha Kenn practically removed him from his. I wonder what Alpha Kenn thinks about Lucas' abandoning if he knows that he

"How is Kendra?"

but Marina is

smile. "Good. Tell her I'll

thought you were coming back