Chapter 33

(Isabella’s POV)

Santiago continues to go with Layla on her outings. I feel it every single time they are together. It’s like we share a psychic connection. My wolf howls in my mind pained by the entire experience.

“He’s ours,” she continually cries. “He is our second chance mate. I feel it in my soul.”

I don’t have the heart to correct her or argue with her anymore. I avoid seeing Santiago as much as possible. I spend my time during the day at the library or with Ariana.

I make sure whatever route I take to wherever I must go is the opposite direction of the places that they frequent, including of course the hospital and her doctor’s office.

The thought of them together, let alone having a pup burns a hole through my chest, but there is nothing I can do about it, so I just need to get through this contract. Once Santiago’s feral issues are resolved and I resume leadership of my pack, the contract dissolves and we can go our separate ways. This makes sense, right?

Still, the thought of him makes my pulse quicken. I decide to take my anxious energy to the kitchen to find something to eat. I had my head buried in the refrigerator when a feeling of being stared at washed through me.

I stand up, close the fridge, and turn around to see Layla standing behind me with her arms crossed.

I nod. “Sorry, I was just leaving.” I try to walk by her.

She sidesteps the advance to keep me from moving. “Where do you thinking you’re going?”

My wolf growls in my mind.

“Look, we’re both living here, there is no reason to get in each other’s way.” I try again to step around her.

She pushes me back into the refrigerator. “You think just because you’re Alpha born that I’m less than you.”

I smirk. “No, I think you’re less than me because you cheated on your own mate. You’re less than me because you cheated with my mate. You’re less than me Layla, because you are the type of woman who thinks she can take whatever she wants without consequence. I’ve asked once already to let me by. The next request won’t take care with your pregnant belly when I move your ass out of my way.”

She scoffs. “I may not be Alpha born, but I’m not scared of you. Do you know what you are? Jealous.”

I laugh. “Jealous…of what?”

She uncrosses her arms to place her hands on both hips. “Me. You couldn’t satisfy Jesse. He needed me. And in addition to being sloppy seconds for Santiago, you couldn’t satisfy him either…really, I should thank you. It was your inadequacy that sent him home…thanks for that.”

“Santiago is a good man and is taking care of you for one reason and one reason only,” I say gesturing toward her stomach. “If that pup is truly his, he’ll be involved in his upbringing. But aside from that, Layla…You don’t have Santiago. He will never trust your lying, slutty ass ever again.”

Layla’s green eyes get as big as saucers, before she regains control. “I’m sure you’ve noticed all the time Santiago has been spending with me?”

I sigh, roll my eyes, and cross my arms over my chest. “And your point is?”

She steps closer to me and leans forward, rubbing the open palm of her hand on her stomach. “Once I have his child and he sees himself in our baby…reconciliation is all but guaranteed. You’ll be packless then. I saw you ousted from your own pack, Isabella. My first order of business as Santiago’s Luna, will be banishing you.”

(Santiago’s POV)

I step into the kitchen after my workout to grab a bottle of water. What I find instead is Layla cornering Isabella.

“Are you hearing what that lying she-wolf is saying to our mate,” My wolf growls.

“She’s not our mate. Enough,” I growl back.

“So you are okay with Bella avoiding us because of Layla?”

“Wait, what?” I ask incredulously.

“Listen to them! Layla is boasting about our closeness to her, all the time you’ve been spending with her! Bella has noticed and after what happened in the study, she’s giving you space! She’s avoiding us because of Layla!”

The skin on my forehead scrunches as I pinch the bridge of my nose in an effort to stave off the headache these two she-wolves are inducing. Then I hear Layla imply that we will get back together after this baby is born. Hell no, we won’t, I think to myself.

I clear my throat, pulling Bella and Layla’s attention toward me. Then I take in instinctive, protective step in front of Bella, I tilt her chin up to look at me.

Big, chocolate brown eyes with eyelashes that nearly meet her eyebrows, I muse. My fingers all but tingle at the contact with her soft satin skin. My wolf’s energy calms. Simply touching Bella practically lulls my wolf to sleep.

Layla shrieks from behind me. “Santiago, baby, how can you this to me…How can you do this right in front of me?”

I turn to her. “Baby? No.” I reach behind me and pull Bella close to my back. “You will never be Luna. That’s not happening. Seriously listen to my words, Layla, I heard what you said to Bella. And I’ll tell you again…there will be no reconciliation.” I turn back to Bella, “I am so sorry. I didn’t realize you were avoiding me because of her. I promise, I only have been accompanying her to her prenatal checkups…nothing more.”

Layla’s face fills with heat like a tea kettle reaching whistle level temperatures. Her face turns a shade of red I have never seen before, while contorting into a snarl.

I can feel my wolf’s hackles raise as he snarls, showing his hangs in the stillness of my mind.

She doesn’t say another word, just storms off in anger.

I turn back to Bella whose eyes are about as wide as they can safely stretch.

She reaches out and touches my arm. “You didn’t have to do that,” she says.

My wolf lays back down in my mind. “She’s perfect,” he says softly. “Hug her. I want to be close to her.”

“No.”

“When you die, I hope I’m reincarnated in someone with emotional intelligence.”

I opt to ignore my wolf’s whining.

“I’m sorry for taking off the other night and for being so busy with pack business, Bella. My wolf needs to be close to you. I should not have stayed away so much.”

She looks down at the floor then meets my gaze. “It’s okay Santiago. I understand. We are just a contract. You don’t have to explain anything to me.” She clears her throat before continuing. “And you certainly do not owe me an explanation for spending quality time with the mother of your child.”

Damn, how can her words burn me like this? When she brought up me being with Layla instead of her, it felt like she pours boiling acid down my throat. The sensation settles in my chest like a demon making a play for possession. I swear, I can’t read this woman half the time.

“You should act on your feelings,” my wolf says. “Her touch calms you too,”

I notice my hand has involuntarily found her waist. My fingers lightly grip her belt. As I feel myself pulling her closer, I release my hold and avert my eyes.

I take that hand and run it through my hair. “So…you’re familiar with the Alpha Ball?”

“Of course, this would have been my first year to be eligible to attend. Not now of course, given my title removal and all.”

“Would you be interested in attending it with me…as my mate?”