Isabella's Pov.

Nathan licked the blood until my hand was almost cleaned, his tongue warm and rough against my skin.

"Does it hurt much?" he asked softly, examining the cuts more closely.

I shook my head, watching his gentle movements. Then he helped me to stand up and glared at me with those intense dark eyes.

"You shouldn't have been so careless," he said, his voice carrying both concern and frustration.

He leaned closer to my face, and I could feel his breath on my cheek. Suddenly he kissed me, but it felt more like he was tasting the dripping bloodstains that had smeared on my lips.

"I can still taste the copper," he murmured against my mouth, his voice husky.

He teasingly and softly grazed my lips with his teeth, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're so reckless sometimes," he whispered, his fingers tracing my jawline.

Then, he pulled his head back only to say, "let's go now."

His tone had shifted to something more business-like, which confused me completely.

I narrowed my eyes, feeling lost and frustrated.

"Go where? I mean, I was waiting for you for more than a week. And I thought maybe you had forgotten about me completely."

My voice cracked a little at the end because the uncertainty had been eating me alive.

"I kept thinking you might not come back at all," I added quietly, looking down at my feet.

My cheeks reddened when his eyes locked into mine cheerfully, which made me embarrassed beyond belief.

The way he looked at me felt like he could see right through all my defenses.

He smiled that crooked smile of his and asked me, "So, were you really waiting for me? But I told you clearly that I wasn't coming back anytime soon."

He tilted his head, studying my face carefully.

"I thought you would have moved on by now, found something better to do with your time."

I had no idea if he was testing me, or if he was genuinely confused and didn't expect me to wait for him like some lovesick puppy.

Dammit, he was my mate after all, so why would I leave and never wait for him to return?

I pulled my hand from his grip and stepped back, trying to put some distance between us.

I said as plainly as I could manage,

"I lost my virginity to you, and you offered me a house and food and clothes.

So, I had to wait and pay back my debt to you somehow."

The words felt hollow even as I spoke them, but I needed some kind of shield against his intensity.

He raised his brows, and suddenly looked so angry from my words, as if I had insulted him or questioned his honor or something equally serious.

His jaw clenched tight, and I could see the muscle twitching there.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully,

"I didn't ask you to pay me anything back, Isabella. I didn't do any of that to get something in return from you."

His voice was getting louder, more frustrated.

"Do you really think so little of me that you believe I would expect payment for caring about you?"

"But I just thought that maybe you expected something, and I didn't want to be ungrateful," I started to explain, but my words were getting tangled up.

He covered my mouth with his large hands, preventing me from saying any future words that might dig this hole deeper.

"Stop, Isabella. Just stop talking for a minute.

Let's go now because I want you to show me your mother's house."

His tone was firm, but more calmly said than before.

"I need to see where you came from, understand what you've been through."

I had no idea why he wanted to go there of all places.

But from my side, hell dammit, I would never go back there again if I had any choice in the matter.

My mom was so crazy and unpredictable; she might rip my neck off my body just for showing up with Nathan!

I shook my head vigorously, disagreeing with the idea completely.

"No, sorry, I can't go back there. You don't understand what she's like when she's angry."

I could feel panic rising in my chest just thinking about facing her again.

"She'll go completely insane if she sees me with you."

He didn't ask why or try to understand my fears.

He just dragged me out of the lake house by force, his grip firm on my wrist.

I thought he was going to kick me out of the house for not obeying him and being defiant.

I was scared at that moment because I had no place to go if he decided he was done with me.

"Please, Nathan, you don't know what you're asking," I pleaded as he pulled me along.

He suddenly stopped and placed his hands on both my shoulders, forcing me to look directly at him.

"Look at me! What do you think of me?"

His eyes were searching mine intently, like this answer was the most important thing in the world to him.

I blinked, completely confused by the sudden change in direction.

"What do you mean by that, Alpha? I don't understand what you're asking me."

My heart was beating fast because his intensity was almost overwhelming.

He repeated the question more nicely this time, his voice softer but still urgent.

"Do you see me as an asshole! A weak wolf or something pathetic like that?"

His hands tightened slightly on my shoulders.

"Because I need to know how you really see me, Isabella."

I shook my head immediately, meaning every word.

"Of course not. You're the strongest person I know, and you've been nothing but kind to me."

I looked into his eyes, hoping he could see the sincerity there.

"I think you're amazing, actually."

"Okay, good. Thank you for saying that."

He seemed to relax slightly at my words.

"Now show me your mother's house," he almost yelled angrily at the last part, his patience clearly running thin.

I had no idea why this was so important to him, but something in his expression told me not to argue anymore.

So I just led him there, my stomach churning with every step we took.

We walked in silence, and his Beta Ethan wasn't there to provide backup or support.

No one was by our side to help if things went badly.

That freaked me out more than I could express because I knew what was waiting for us.

My mother and her boyfriend and three other wolves, my relatives who lived in the house, were all unpredictable and violent.

They might actually try to beat Nathan, even though he was an Alpha.

That's why I stopped him by the door, grabbing his arm desperately.

"Please, we need to go back right now. They might kill us both. They are so strong and they don't respect anyone. And they've been drinking all day, which makes them even more dangerous."

Before Nathan could respond, we heard my mother's voice thundering by the door, saying with pure venom,

"I smell the little bitch! My precious daughter Isabella is here. Let's make her life a living hell now."

Her voice was slurred from alcohol, which made her even more unpredictable.

"Come out here, you ungrateful little whore!"

The moment they opened the door, Alpha Nathan growled low and deep, a sound that made my bones vibrate.

He immediately shifted into his wolf form, revealing a massive black beast with dark eyes that seemed to glow with fury.

His size was incredible, easily twice as large as any wolf I'd ever seen before.

The transformation was swift and terrifying, and I could feel the raw power radiating from him.

All my family members shivered and tried to run inside, stumbling over each other in their panic.

"Oh shit, it's an Alpha!" my mother's boyfriend screamed, his face going white as a sheet.

But when Alpha Nathan stomped inside, his massive paws shaking the entire house, they all immediately knelt and bowed, begging him desperately.

"Please Alpha, forgive us. Please, we're sorry. We didn't do anything wrong. Please don't hurt us."

Their voices were high and whiny with terror, completely different from their usual arrogant tones.

But they all earned a few punches here and there when Nathan shifted back to human form, his fists connecting with jaws and stomachs.

"This is for every time you hurt her," he growled, landing another blow.

Then he turned back to his human shape, breathing hard from the exertion and anger.

I was there in the back, only a watcher to this incredible display of protection.

I was shocked but happy at the same time, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

I had no idea that he cared about me that much, that he would risk a fight for my honor.

Or maybe, as he had told me earlier, I was under his protection like everyone else in his Pack.

So, I supposed I wasn't really special to him, just another responsibility.

He uttered in a graving tone before turning to leave, his voice carrying the promise of death.

"Try to come close to Isabella again, and I will make sure to eat you alive! Every last one of you. Got that clear?"

He looked each of them in the eye, making sure his message was understood.

"She's under my protection now, and anyone who touches her answers to me."

They nodded mutely, too terrified to speak a single word.

Although they were whining in pain from their various aches and bruises, they didn't dare move an inch or try to say anything else.

The Alpha looked like a monster in that moment, scary as hell and completely in control.

His presence filled the entire room with an aura of danger and power.

I bet everyone in the territory respects him after seeing displays like this!

He pulled my hand gently, and when he felt how cold my fingers were, he asked me with genuine concern.

"Are you okay? Don't tell me that I scared you with all of that!"

His voice had completely changed, becoming soft and worried.

"I never want you to be afraid of me, Isabella."

I smiled and hugged him immediately, pressing my face against his chest.

"No, you didn't scare me at all. I'm just thankful for being under your protection, for having someone who actually cares."

I pulled back to look at him.

"I mean, you do protect all the Pack members, don't you?"

He cupped my cheeks in his warm hands and said with a genuine grin.

"Yes, I do protect all of my Pack members, that's my duty as Alpha. But you're special, Isabella. You're different from everyone else."

His thumbs stroked my cheekbones gently.

"Now let's go home. I need to discuss something important with you."

As a naturally nosy person, I impatiently bombarded him with questions all the way back.

"So, tell me, please. What's the matter? What do you want to discuss?"

I practically bounced beside him as we walked.

"Tell me what happened this week while you were gone? Tell me if you missed me or not? Tell me everything about where you went and what you did and why you came back and..."

I was talking so fast the words were tumbling over each other.

At my last question about missing me, he suddenly attacked my lips with his warm ones, not giving me any space to breathe properly.

The kiss was intense and desperate, as if he had been thirsty for this contact and had waited eagerly for this exact moment.

His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer against him.

After a couple of minutes that felt like hours, he finally pulled back and said breathlessly,

"I missed you every single day, and now I'm here for you because I can't stay away anymore. I do have an offer to make you."

I didn't ask him what it was this time, somehow sensing that patience would be rewarded.

I waited silently until we were getting close to the lake house, enjoying the comfortable silence between us.

He suddenly stopped walking and said,

"Get on my back, Isabella."

"What?" I gasped, completely shocked by the unexpected request.

I stared at him like he'd lost his mind.

"You want me to what now?"

He gestured to me with his head, a playful smile crossing his face.

"I'm going to give you a piggyback ride! It's only a few more meters to the house anyway. Get on my back now. Jump up."

His eyes were sparkling with mischief, and I could see he was enjoying my surprise.

I did as he asked, laughing as I jumped onto his back.

He placed both hands securely on my thighs, his touch sending electric sparks through me.

We both laughed as I settled against him, and I blushed when I wrapped my arms around his strong neck.

His scent was intoxicating, filling my senses completely.

His body was so warm and solid beneath me that I wanted to kiss every inch of him.

And that's exactly what I decided to do, giving in to the impulse completely.

I started with his cheeks, pressing soft kisses there, then moved to his ear and showered his manly neck with gentle kisses.

I even kissed his Adam's apple, feeling it bob as he swallowed hard.

"You're driving me crazy," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

He didn't say anything else in response, but his body definitely reacted to my attention.

His hands squeezed my thighs possessively, and I could feel his muscles tense beneath me.

He tightened his grip on my legs, and then he kicked the door of the house open with more force than necessary.

He didn't put me down right away like I expected.

Instead, he walked straight to the bedroom and placed me gently on the bed, his movements careful and deliberate.

Then he stood there staring at me as if he had something incredibly significant weighing on his mind, something he needed to get off his shoulders.

He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he gathered his courage.

Then he suddenly said,

"I want you in my life, forever Isabella. Not just as someone under my protection, but as my partner, my mate, my everything."

His eyes were intense and serious, searching my face for any reaction.

"What!" I gasped, my heart stopping completely at his words.