Page 10 of Resisting Fate

I look out the window and notice the sun has barely started to rise.

When I glance at the clock above the stove, I see that it’s four in the morning.

“Wow, I didn’t realise it was so early,” I say softly.

“It’s nice. I love the mornings when no one else is awake but the wolves who are on patrol. The fresh morning air mixed with the ground is still slightly damp from the night, the birds are chirping, and the breeze is light. There’s nothing quite like it,” he says. I walk over to the patio doors as he speaks, but I turn to look at him and notice that, as he’s talking, he has a peaceful look on his face.

“I never heard someone explain it like that,” I say softly.

His face loses its peacefulness, and he looks back down at the food. I hate that I took away that look from his face. I have never seen him look or speak that way before.

I take a couple steps outside taking in the morning just like he suggested. I close my eyes.

He’s right. I hate that he’s right, but this is perfect.

How had I never noticed that before?

I sit down on the steps, sip my coffee, and look over at the small lake behind his house.

This is truly a beautiful sight.

“Breakfast is ready,” he says minutes later, breaking the silence.

I start to get up but, when I turn to look back at him, he’s holding both plates in his hands and passes one to me. He goes back in for a moment to grab his coffee and sits beside me as we eat in silence.

“Do you want me to take you back to Scott’s?” he asks after we are done eating, and we head inside to grab another cup of coffee.

“It’s early. I don’t want to wake them,” I tell him honestly.

“You could stay here until you are ready to leave. There’s no rush. I can give you a tour,” he says, sounding unsure.

“Sure, why do you have such a big house anyways?” I ask as we walk towards the hallway on the main floor. I can do this; I can make small talk with him.

“Well, I had the house I lived in with my parents torn down. They had enough money in their bank accounts that I could afford a new home. I had always loved this place. When you are training during the day, I fix it up or decorate it. I guess I hope to have a big family one day and fill it with the love that I never had. My parents were abusive and cold. That’s not an environment I want any of my pups to grow up in,” he tells me with sadness in his tone.

My heart breaks at his words. “Wow, I didn’t know life was like that for you.”

He nods his head in understanding. “Yeah, no one knew but Penelope. That’s why I tried to hold onto what we had for so long.”

“I get it. Well not completely because my parents weren’t assholes, but I could see why you would want to hold onto the only good thing you have,” I admit.

He doesn’t respond to my words, but we walk into a room that is used as an office. The books that are on the bookshelf look quite old, which seems out of character for him to have.

The next room is a theatre of sorts. There is a bunch of huge recliners in there with a big screen that practically takes up the whole wall. Behind the chairs is a booth that holds a ton of junk food that I immediately want to eat up.

I reluctantly leave the room with Isaac chuckling behind me. “We can watch a movie after the tour.”

“Yes, please,” I say with a sigh.

This house is bigger than I thought. He even has an indoor pool and sauna. The basement has a gym. When I tell him that it looks like Scott’s, he admits to getting Scott to help design and organise the basement so he can train down here.

That brought a smile to my face. The pack is taking Scott more seriously now, which is something I had always hoped for.

Upstairs held a bunch of rooms, but the only one that was furnished was the master which was where we had slept.

There is still a lot that needs to be done with this house, but it really had the potential to become something special.

After I see the rest of the house, I practically skip back to the theatre room. Isaac chuckles at my enthusiasm.

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