Page 18 of The Alpha's Bullied Pregnant Mate

“My darling! I’m so delighted to see that you could make it on such short notice. Thank you for coming. Oh my, are you a beauty. Please, come in, come in.”

She held onto Isla’s arm and led her into the living room. She leaned in to whisper in Isla’s ear. “I’m sorry love, but I don’t believe I caught your name the last time.”

“I’m Isla.”

“Isla… What a remarkable name.” She straightened and gestured towards the older man. “This is Jon, my late husband’s younger brother and Fannar’s uncle. And my daughter, Anna, Fannar’s younger sister. Jon, Anna, this is Isla, the remarkable woman I was just speaking to you about, and Fannar’s partner.”

“Nice to meet you,” Isla said. She turned to the matron. “You have a wonderful home.”

The woman chuckled. “Oh please. It’s too big and too old. Rich with history and memories, Fannar says, but I just say that’s a load of crap. It certainly didn’t stop him from moving out, did it? Anyways, I thank you, Isla. You’re too kind.”

Fannar flanked Isla. “I told you, mom. I moved out cos I needed my own space.”

“Oh, I know what you said. And I insist that you only sought a way to get away from me, your mother, but that’s a matter for another time, I suppose. Come, Isla. Dinner has been served. You will join us? Yes, I suppose you will.”

She led the way out of the room and Isla followed quietly behind her, Fannar just a step behind her. His sister and uncle brought up the rear.There was silent anticipation among the group as they made their way down a fancy hallway with tapestry hung on the walls. The former Luna wasn’t exaggerating. The alpha palace was impossibly massive.

Fannar walked beside Isla. “Hey, babe. Are you okay?”

Isla looked up and smiled. “I’m alright. Just taking it all in.”

They got to the dining room and Isla caught herself staring with open-mouthed wonder. It was a massive room with a high, vaulted ceiling. Chandeliers hung down from the ceiling, bathing the room with golden light from a million light bulbs.

It all seemed a little too grand for Isla. She knew that the alpha’s family was wealthy, but she’d never experienced it before. It was a numbing experience, the sheer opulence of everything she’d seen since she stepped into the palace, the lavishness of it all. It was hard not to feel insecure among this household.

The matron sat at the head of the table, her brother-in-law and daughter to her left, Fannar and Isla to her right. The next few minutes passed quietly as food was dished from the wide array on the table.

“So, Isla. What do you do?”

Isla took her time chewing the morsel in her mouth, thinking of how to answer the woman. “I work in the library. There’s no specific role, but I’m both the curator and librarian. I make suggestions for books that can be added, and I try to keep our volumes up to date.”

The former Luna beamed. “That sounds interesting! Do you love what you do?”

Isla smiled. “I do. I’ve always loved books. However, I believe there’s more I can do.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I promise you will be the first to know as soon as I’m certain.”

Fannar’s mother nodded. “I’d love that.” She watched Isla silently for a long moment and Isla tried not to wilt under the scrutiny. “I’m sorry, but I have to admit I don’t know much about you. In fact, until some days ago, I don’t think I’d ever seen you before.”

“I’m something of an introvert. I assure you I was born and brought up in this very town.”

“That’s understandable, but I still don’t know enough about you, for instance, who’s your father? Your surname? Where do you stay?”

“My family lives near the abandoned iron mines. My surname is Moon, and ironically, my father, Gabriel Moon, works here in this palace.”

The matron’s eyes flew open. “Gabriel is your father? Oh dear! Why didn’t you say something sooner? You’re practically family! But of course, you’re his infamous daughter he always talks about. We always asked him to bring you, you know? He said you never agreed.”

Isla chuckled nervously. “I guess I was always just too shy.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Mrs. Agdluak said. “Anyways, you’re here now. And hopefully not for the last time? Wow! Now I’m upset Gabriel didn’t try harder to bring you here sooner. You’re a rather charming young woman.”

Isla smiled and this time, she didn’t need to force it. “Thank you. In my father’s defense, he did try. Time and time again. Short of binding me and dragging me here, there was nothing he didn’t try to bring me here.”

“I suppose I should cut the poor man some slack,” the older woman teased. “Well, be sure to pass my regards the next time you see him, please?”

“Of course.”

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