Page 24 of The Alpha's Bullied Pregnant Mate

“Oh,” Isla said. Explains why you’re sitting here, talking to me. “Nice to meet you Elsa, I’m Isla. I’m sorry for snapping at you the way I did, but I’m not having the best morning so far.”

“Please, nothing to apologize for,” Elsa said. “The pleasure is all mine Isla. You’re the first wolf I’ve met in this horrid town that seems to have blood flowing though her veins.”

Isla laughed. “It really does feel like that more often than you’d expect.”

Elsa smiled and nodded. She eyed a couple who were a few seats ahead. After a long pause, she said. “You’re not so bad.”

Isla raised a brow. “I’m sorry?”

She nodded at the couple she had been staring at. “I sat behind those two clowns and listened to them say the most horrible things about the woman who got on the train, wearing a yellow head warmer. I was a bit disgusted, and I wanted to find out if you were as bad as they said.”

Isla smiled. “And?”

Elsa shrugged. “Like I said, you are not so bad... So… Why do they hate you so much?”

Isla laughed and shook her head. “It started in high school…”

Chapter 10 - Fannar

The sound of his phone ringing jolted Fannar out of his thoughts.For the last ten minutes, he’d been sitting inside his car parked outside his house. He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly he had been thinking about, but it had left him very unsettled.

He glanced at the screen in his car. Mom. A part of him wanted to ignore the call. This wasn’t the time at all to speak to her. The dinner last night had been a disaster and she was probably calling about setting him up with someone else.

Everything had been going smoothly until Carla had come. He still couldn’t understand why Carla and the rest of the town disliked Isla so much. What’s worse, he had a direct hand in how Isla was treated by the pack, even though he didn’t remember some of those things.

Regardless, he’d grown up. Why couldn’t they do the same? Isla was strange, no doubt, but she was still a part of them. A part of Frost Peak. Moreover, she wasn’t so bad. From the conversations they’d had, he was convinced she was one of the most interesting women he had ever met.

Even better, his mother like her. At least she looked like she did, before Carla came and sent everything to hell. Fannar sighed and pushed the green button on the screen. There was no point guessing and assuming.

“Hey, mom.”

“Fannar darling.” Mrs. Agdluak’s clear voice rang through the car. “Looks like you took your precious time to answer, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry, I was just in the middle of something.”

“Yes, yes. I’m quite sure you were,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Anyways, you have nothing to worry about, my dear. I don’t plan to take too much of your time. Last night, your woman seemed in some sort of distress. Understandable, given all that nasty business with Carla, but I wanted to ask how she was doing?”

Fannar ground his jaw. “She’s great, mom, thanks for checking. A little stung, but nothing she can’t shake off or get over.”

“Good, good.”

There was a pause and Fannar struggled to control his temper. He was still angry with his mother, but he knew she was only looking out for him. And yet, he burned inside all the same.

“I’m sorry, you know,” she said after a pause. “Carla always seemed so sweet and so charming, and I didn’t think she had such meanness in her. However, I must applaud Isla’s composure and evident self control in the situation. I was half waiting for a nasty brawl to break out on our dining table, and I dare say Carla was pushing for one herself.

“Isla must have been itching for an answer, and yet, she somehow managed to remain in full control. I’m truly impressed by that young woman. Fannar, I’d love for you to extend my deepest apologies to her, and, if you don’t mind, I’d love to meet her again.”

Fannar listened with pleasant surprise as his mother spoke highly of Isla. This wasn’t what he had been expecting from this call and it had caught him by surprise. He could feel his anger and annoyance reducing as he listened to her speak.

“You have nothing to apologize for, mom,” he said. “An honest mistake. And yes, I think Isla would love to meet you again. I’d let you know when would be a good time?”

“You do that, my boy. Would I be seeing you any time soon?”

“You will, mom.” Fannar chuckled. “Turns out I don’t need to run and hide from you anymore. I’d come by the palace tomorrow.”

She laughed. “Finally, you admit that your sudden disappearances haven’t been entirely incidental. I wonder what convinced you to finally tell it true. Anyways, I have to go now. Say hello to your lady love for me, will you?”

“Sure thing. Love you, mom.”

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