Heartbreak

Chapter One 

/-Isla-/

Alpha Roman Kane.

I have never wanted any man as much as I wanted him. Never craved the touch of any man as much as I craved him.

I wanted him to pin me to the wall, push up my skirt and fuck the daylights out of me.

I wanted him to hate seeing me with other men as much as I hated seeing him with other women. Burn with the same jealousy I did when others looked at him. When I couldn't call him my man.

My need for him was like a cancer, spreading through my body. Corrupting and eating me alive until I slowly lost myself.

I stared at my reflection in the glass, sucking in a deep breath. Today marked the sixteenth year of my existence. I was practically an adult, who was old enough to take responsibility for my feelings.

I had to have Alpha Roman to myself. I just had to.

"Isla. Seriously. Stop staring."

Elsie’s voice came as she nudged my elbow, her brows pulled together in that worried way of hers.

"I’m not staring," I mumbled, but my eyes drifted back anyway.

Roman stood near the fence, talking to a few of the older werewolves. His arms were crossed over his chest as he listened to them talk. Suddenly, his mouth pulled into this small, distracted smile.

That handsome smile that made my legs grow weak all the time.

"You’re staring so hard, it’s a miracle you haven’t set him on fire yet," Elsie frowned at me. “You shouldn’t be looking at your stepuncle like that.”

I forced my eyes away, heat creeping up my neck. "It’s not like that."

Elsie shot me a look. "Come on, Isla. I know you’ve been mooning over him since forever. And it’s not right! That man is your father’s stepbrother. I honestly don't think this is love, Isla. You probably feel attached to him because he has been there for you and your mother since your father died three years ago. You are still young anyway. You don't need a man twice your age…”

“Elsie…”

“Give it two years,” she cut me short. “You'll turn eighteen, find your mate and everything else would be in the past! You're an Alpha princess, Isla. Many wolves will be dying to have you!”

“I know what I want, Elsie and I'm going to get it!”

Seeing that there was nothing that could change my mind at this point, she gave up.

We returned our attention to the party which was all glitter and laughter. Wolves from neighboring packs had come to celebrate my sixteenth birthday but Roman had suddenly disappeared from sight. 

My mother, Zelda, soon walked up to us, beaming with pride. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Isla. You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I kissed her cheek and then looked around. “Have you seen Roman?”

Her expression flickered and then she tilted her head. “He’s out back. He said he needed some air.”

“Okay.”

She narrowed her eyes a little, like she was trying to read something in my face. “Isla…”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve always told you. Be careful,” she said simply. “With Roman.”

“Mom…” I drawled.

“I’m just looking out for you,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “He’s been good to us, but I know men like him don’t do anything without a reason.”

“I’ll be fine, Mom.”

Was she seriously warning me against the love of my life?

I laughed and walked away. Elsie followed closely as we went out the back door and stepped into the balcony.

My entire being stiffened when I was greeted by the most unpleasant sight. My heart shattered to a million pieces and the tears began to form rapidly.

He was doing it again. Kissing another random woman. On my birthday! I balled my fists tight as I burned with jealousy.

“Isla, let's just go. He's busy,” Elsie whispered but I ignored her and stepped forward.

“Alpha,” I called and they pulled away from each other. Roman’s mesmerizing seafoam eyes rested on me. He dismissed the woman immediately and walked to me.

“Hey there, my little fairy,” he stopped in front of me and pinched my nose teasingly. I pushed his hand away.

He was treating me like a kid again and I hated it.

“What's wrong? You seem upset,” his eyes softened with worry as he looked at me. I glanced at Elsie who immediately turned away and exited the balcony.

“Who was she?” I couldn't contain my jealousy any further. “The lady you were kissing.”

“Oh, that,” he chuckled. “Aren't you nosy, little one?”

“Stop. Calling. Me. That.” I seethed. “I'm sixteen! I'm practically an adult.”

Amusement flickered in his eyes.

“Of course,” he snorted. “That was Manda, a friend of mine.”

My chest tightened. “Your mate?”

“No, she's just someone I like to share a bed with. She makes me feel good,” he answered, then cursed. “Fuck, your mother's going to kill me if she heard me tell you that.”

“You don't need her,” I blurted, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Manda, I mean. I… I…” I trailed off, careful not to reveal my feelings. 

“Isla?” Elsie called behind me. “Your mom’s looking for you.”

I knew that was her way to get me out of there and I just rolled with it because I could feel the tears of heartbreak stinging my eyes. 

I let Elsie pull me away and tug me toward the party, but my chest still felt tight. I sat through the party but my mind couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d witnessed. And before it was over, I got out of there. 

I climbed the stairs two at a time and didn’t stop until I was back in my room, shutting the door quietly behind me.

My chest felt hollow. Anger, jealousy and everything I was feeling sat heavy in my ribs as I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the door.

That’s when I heard the flipping of a book and I instantly looked up, my eyes wide. I immediately saw a figure standing by the window and I recognized him to be my stepuncle.

“Roman?” I called in a small voice, pushing myself off the door and taking slow steps towards him. What was he doing in my room and what was that book in his hand?

My eyes grew wide as I glanced at my bed and to my horror, my diary wasn’t there. 

Oh, no! 

I rushed towards him, trying to snatch the book from him but he held it up higher so that I wouldn’t reach it.

"Don’t," I said, my chest tight with panic. "Please. Roman, give it back."

He ignored me and turned to another page, his expression unreadable.

My diary was the only place safe enough to bleed out the raw truth. No one could know exactly how, at sixteen, I was already drowning in feelings too big for my age and far too twisted to admit. Like a stupid little girl, I let my heart spill on those pages, thinking they were safe and now the object of my affections was reading them.

“Roman…” I whispered, unsure whether I wanted to beg him not to see it or to tell him to leave. But it was too late.

He’d read everything.

Everything I had been too terrified to say out loud.

His jaw clenched. 

I opened my mouth, but no words came. Heat rushed to my face as shame curled in my stomach.

“I didn’t mean to invade your privacy,” he said, voice calm but there was something else in them. Pity? “I found it by accident.”

“Is this true?” 

I wanted to die.

Tears burned the back of my eyes. I couldn't deny it. Dammit, I couldn't even get a word out. 

He exhaled slowly, deducing the answer from my silence, “Isla… you’re young. I think you've got it all wrong. This is just admiration, attachment. It’ll pass, trust me. You don't want me the way you think you do.”

“It’s not just admiration!” I choked out. “I’m not stupid. I know what I want. It’s real. I…”

He held up a hand. “Enough.”

I flinched at the finality in his voice. He wasn’t yelling, but it hurt all the same.

His gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. “I care about you, Isla. More than you know. But this? It can never happen. We're practically family. So I'll do you a favour and pretend this never happened.”

“No, you can't…”

“From now on, we are going to stay away from each other. That should give you time to sort yourself out. Please understand.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as he walked out of the room.