Chapter 8: Eight

Levi POV

The door slammed open without any warning and I turned to see the intruder.

“What the hell Zoe, the door is there for a reason!” I yelled at the blonde who stood in front of me, glaring daggers.

It was hard to tell if her glare wasn’t aimed at me though. Her face usually conveyed anger well enough, but today it looked as if she had just lost the fight with her favorite person or something equally ridiculous.

“What is wrong with you?” She glared even more fiercely.

“What do you mean”

“You know exactly what is wrong with me and we both know it so answer my damn question!” Zoe always had her temper in check, flaring up like this was not normal.

“Can you stop speaking in parables and tell me why you look so angry?” I asked cautiously.

I didn’t know that she could get this mad. This seemed to be a new level of annoyance for her. It could have been the pregnancy hormones.

“You are supposed to stay away from Isabell, what the fuck are you doing? I caught your scent on her, what is wrong with you Levi?” Zoe screamed at the top of her lungs. She looked like she was about ready to explode.

I didn't say a word, I just stared, there was nothing I could say to make her think differently because it was the truth.

“You are not going to say anything?” She snapped.

I still kept silent. I knew that it would just escalate into another argument which would eventually cause us both to snap.

“You know you can't complicate things, there has never been a werewolf and a human together.

I don't want you hurting Isabell, she's not your mate! She is a human girl and…”

“Oh for the sake of the Moon Goddess, stop Zoe! you think I don't know this? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me? for my wolf? To be away from Isabell? To keep from touching her, tasting her... to keep from wanting to mark her when I know she's not mine” I sighed. The frustration, the fear, everything boiled inside me now.

Zoe opened her mouth to speak but no words came out and for the first time I noticed how her features relaxed when I spoke of Isabell.

“I… I didn't think of it like that….” Her voice trailed off. Her eyes were filled with regret. The anger faded from her face leaving behind an emotion that scared me, fear.

“But this can all be dangerous for her, I need you to stay away until she leaves, she's my best friend, please”

“Fine”

I couldn't bring myself to say anything else, I just wanted her to leave.

When Zoe left and I went down for dinner, my eyes didn't linger on Isabell, the urge to claim her was becoming stronger and stronger, I could barely keep from biting into Isabell as soon as she walked through the door and took her seat across from me.

I acted unbothered by her mere closeness, I was going to keep my words to Zoe.

“How are you enjoying your stay so far Isabell?” Jack casually asked. The table had been too quiet.

Isabell’s eyes quickly flicker to me and for a split second, I thought I had imagined it , before returning back to their original spot on Jack.

“It’s wonderful, thank you Jack. It feels like forever since Zoe and I got to spend time together”

Jack nodded his head and continued eating his meal. I waited for him to continue talking but he just sat there quietly. After about 15 minutes, I started feeling uneasy.

“You are welcome to stay as long as you want” Zoe squeezed her hand affectionately and the both women smiled, I looked away.

When dinner was over, the kids ran up to me “The bike is broken? Uncle Levi” They all whined.

“What? Really?” I asked, feigning ignorance, I knew it was broken. I was supposed to fix it today.

“Help us fix it, uncle Levi!” They all echoed in their weird synchronization.

“And what do I get in return?” I laughed. Their faces turned sour and they crossed their arms over their chests, lips pouting.

I stared at Isabell who sat at the farthest end with Zoe, she glowed as she laughed about something.

“Are you done with the bike, Uncle Levi?” One of the kids suddenly asked, jolting me out of my thoughts. Isabell's eyes met mine. Her eyes were glued to mine, as though they could reach the bottom of my soul.

“Uncle Levi!!” Both children screamed, a reminder that I was slow.

Isabell let out a little cough and picked up the bottle water beside her. I could not tell if the cough was real or it was just her way of reminding herself of whatever decision she had made about me.

“Yes kids, Uncle Levi to the rescue once again! So who wants to go first?” I asked as I focused on the kids faces, I didn't want to get lost in Isabell's eyes again.

“Aunt Isabell! Aunt Isabell! Aunt Isabell!” The kids chanted repeatedly.

Isabell laughed nervously, “I don't know how to ride a bike, kids”

“I'll teach you,” I offered before thinking, and then regretted it afterwards and immediately Zoe’s eyes met mine, “I mean I can show you how to.It's pretty easy” I coughed.

“Alright.” Isabell agreed, eyeing me skeptically.

"There," I had put my arms around her once we made it outside, and I lifted her onto the bike, holding her on a bit longer than I should have.

“Thank you," she said softly, her eyes narrowed at me.

“So it's pretty easy, just make sure you're grabbing th…”

She didn't wait for my instructions, she had began to paddle away, not with the skills of a beginner even though it was still rusty, and when she tried to take the little curve by the street, her name fell from my mouth before I could stop myself.

“Isabell!”