Page 60 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“If you remove his head it will kill him,” I said.

“We understand that,” Maximus mumbled.

Isabel rose from the chair with a long-suffering sigh. “Follow me.”

She breezed past me and out of the library. We walked along a hallway until Isabel stopped and opened a door. Inside sat a luxurious bed draped in dark fabrics. Isabel walked inside and opened another door.

“Bathroom in here. Clothes in the wardrobe. Come back to the library when you’re finished.”

“Isabel, wait,” I said, grabbing her arm. “Sorry. I’m sorry I left to talk to the pack.”

“I hope you found what you were looking for with them,” she said avoiding looking into my eyes.

“Isabel.” I sighed her name as I stroked my thumb over the soft flesh of her inner arm. “I found that with you.”

“I hardly think that’s true considering you gave me an orgasm and then left,” she said with venom in her voice.

“I messed up.”

She tugged her arm out of my grip. “You did.”

“I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Make all the promises you like. I don’t care what you do.” She stormed from the room and slammed the door behind her.

Shit. I’d messed things up between us. I should have bitten her earlier when we were in the infirmary bed, but that hadn’t felt like the right place to claim my mate. No, it needed to be somewhere special. A place that was ours.

I stripped out of my filthy and smelly clothes, turned on the taps to the shower, and stepped under the stream of hot water. When was the last time I’d showered? I should have thought about cleaning myself before claiming Isabel as my mate, anyway. She wouldn’t want me when I stunk, but I’d thought she wouldn’t want me when I was in my half-shifted form, yet she had. That was when we’d first connected. As I lathered up with soap, I concentrated on my form until I shifted underthe spray of the water. It was easier this time thinking about how much Isabel seemed to like me in this beast shape. I scrubbed my fur clean, contemplating staying in this form but then I shifted back to human. She needed to get to know me in all my forms. Plus, she was annoyed with me. Maybe my more handsome shape would win her over.

Finished with the shower, I dried myself with the luxurious cotton towel that seemed made from the softest material I’d ever touched. Isabel loved the finer things in life, unlike me who’d had to scrape for every morsel of food and piece of clothing. Maybe I shouldn’t claim her as my mate. My inner beast snapped at me. No, that wasn’t an option. I’d never leave Isabel further than the forest. With the threat of Silas hanging over her head, I was a fool to even go that far. From now on I’d stick to her side. Day. Night. Every second.

I strode from the room determined to find her, but my lack of clothes might be a problem or a solution if I wanted to look at it that way. A wardrobe sat in the bedroom. What were the odds I’d find men’s clothes inside that fit me? I opened the wardrobe doors and found two women’s dresses, two men’s shirts, and two men’s pants. A strange collection to have in one place. I took down the black pants and tried them on. They fit even if they were a little loose around the waist. At least I had pants. That was something. I drew a shirt from the hanger next and shrugged it on. It was massive, but I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows and tucked the ends into the pants. This would have to do and at least I looked and smelled more presentable.

Following the sound of raised voices, I made my way back to the library. The vampires stopped their heated discussion and looked at me like I was a different person. I might look different but I was the same as I’d always been.

“Isabel, can I talk to you in private please?”

She folded her arms and looked less likely to speak to me by the minute.

Maximus rose from his chair. “You try talking to her. She’s impossible.”

“I am not,” Isabel said.

Lucian patted her shoulder. “You are. We’re not using you as bait to kill Silas and there is no more to discuss on that matter.”

Every drop of blood in my body cooled. Isabel wanted to use herself as bait. No way. Not while I was around. I held out my arm.

“Can we take a walk outside?”

She eyed my hand, then pushed herself to her feet without my help. “Fine. I need to get away from these overprotective vampires.” She huffed.

I followed her out of the library and through the castle to the back entrance. When she was cursed, she hadn’t been able to use it in her ghostly form. Now she marched outside with a regal air. As if she’d settle for a pauper like me. She had all the wealth she’d ever want and yet there was a lot I’d offer her. Love. Loyalty. To start with.

She drifted around the fountain trailing her fingers through the water. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I shouldn’t have left you after we were intimate.”

She laughed hollowly with no genuine humor behind it.

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