005... Adulthood

“Excuse me?” Isabella gasped staggering back because surely he wasn't serious.

But he looked serious. She could see it in his eyes, how serious and intent he was.

This was a man on a mission.

“Of course,” Jay responded, staring at her as if she's the one being ridiculous, “I have found you now, Bella thanks to the goddess. You must come home without haste.”

“Surely you don't expect me to just pack my bags and follow you, do you?”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because, it doesn't work that way. I have a life here, I have a home here - a family. I can't just abandon all those in the blink of an eye.”

Her brother blinked at her, “But your rightful place is in Nightingale. That's where you belong. That is where your true family is.”

“We are her true family here.” The Luna chimed in but her husband placed a hand on her lap, giving her a warning look.

“Listen,” not knowing what to do with her hands other than fidget, Isabella took her brother's in hers and squeezed them lightly, “I understand you. I do. And you have no idea how happy I am that you found me - that I found you. But this is just way too soon, and too much to process. You have to understand that.”

She saw her brother open his mouth to protest but he closed it again, his brow furrowed and he looked genuinely confused.

“I do not understand.” Well at least he was honest. She appreciated that, “you do not know what we have had to endure without…”

“And you do not know what I've had to suffer,” her voice rose with the last word, “I am the victim here, and all I expect from you is to understand. But if you don't want to, that's on you. You cannot just show up all of a sudden out of nowhere, and expect me to toss the past thirteen years of my life behind to follow you.”

She dropped his hands angrily, turned around and left the hall without turning around.

Goodness!

By the time Isabella got to her room, her head was already spinning, with fatigue plus the turbulence of thoughts flowing through her mind.

It was all too much. She thought with a grimace as she lay down on her bed, her gaze transfixed on the ceiling above her.

It was all too much. And in just a few hours.

She didn't know how to feel.

Happy? This was supposed to be a good thing - it is a good thing.

Or sad? Because even though this wasn't her true home she has grown to love it here. Grown to love the people in it, and she couldn't imagine just putting all those behind her.

So it was really just a mixture of both feelings - but sadness definitely was coming in greater proportion.

A light knock interrupted Isabella's thoughts, and she sat up from the bed, already knowing who it was before she answered, “come in!”

The door gently creaked open and the Luna walked in with a worried look on her face - which of course she tried to mask and neutralise with a smile.

“How are you dear?” She asked and sat on the bed, placing a hand on Isabella's leg.

A sigh, “I am fine, thank you for asking.”

“Cut that polite nonsense with me. I want to know how you are really doing because I understand how overwhelming everything must be.”

By ‘everything’ Isabella knew she wasn't just addressing her brother.

Her eighteenth birthday was one thing she had always looked forward to and now looks the hot mess it has turned into.

Definitely not the big ‘transition to adulthood,’ she was looking forward to. Although one would say that the hardships and jot mess are the realest welcome to adulthood that she could get.

Perhaps to show her that she wasn't a child anymore and she was prone to get hurt - over and over.

Be it by her mate ejecting her or her second chance mate just flat out ignoring her.

A sigh left her lips as she tactfully avoided the Luna's pointed gaze.

“Talk to me, dear child.”

But she had nothing to say.

“I - I am just confused.”

The Luna smiled, stroking her leg “I understand, Bella. I know how you will feel even though I can't say for sure that I have ever been in your shoes. Isa -” she peered into Isabella's eyes, “I would love to tell you to follow your heart and do what it tells you to do. But the truth is, there comes a time in life when you have to entirely let go of emotions and make the most logical decision. Not from the heart, but from your head.”

She sighed, her fingers drumming patterns on Isabella's leg, “You have a responsibility. We understand sentiments - of course we do. But when you have a responsibility the adult thing to do - is to follow it through.”

Isabella released a shuddering breath and she could feel tears filling her eyes as she stared back at the older woman - the woman who had been her mother for more than a decade.

How hard would it be to let go of emotions?

Definitely very hard.

“I know,” she murmured, her voice coming out as a whimper, “But it's hard.”

“That's the thing about adulthood. Hard decisions honey. Now, I'll leave you to rest and just think about everything. In all, do not pressure yourself.”

When the Luna left after giving her a kiss, she didn't rest in any way. Even if she wanted to, her kind was too preoccupied by a million thoughts for her to rest - for her to calm down.

She thought about many things.

The responsibility she has obviously been bestowed with.

She thought about this home and her rightful home - the idea of leaving this place where her heart was for a duty.

But most especially, she thought about Sean. Her mate - who simply wants nothing to do with her.

Sean had mentioned a rejection. What would that mean for her?

When - if - she eventually decides that she wants to leave, what would be their fate?

A shudder wrecked through her body and just like that, the tears started flowing freely down her cheeks.

She did not try to stop them.

Didn't even try.

Not even with the door opened and her brother walking in with his head bowed.

“Oh Isa-” he gasped, rushing towards her but she shook her head, wiping her face with her palm.

“I'm fine, I'm fine.”

Jay stood by the bed, hesitating as if wondering what to do before perching on the bed, with his fingers twisted together.

“I'm sorry I brought this on you, Isabella. And I'm sorry about how overwhelming it must be. I wasn't thinking from your perspective and that's selfish of me.”

“It's alright Jay - Jay.”

He smiled - a smile that was rather forced and the worry in his eyes caught Isabella's attention and made her curious.

“There's something you aren't telling me, right?” He averted his gaze, “come on! Spit it out.”

“Isabella - the reason I insisted on your return is because…well Nightingale pack isn't the way you remember it anymore.”

To be fair, Isabella doesn't remember much about her former pack.

Jay continued, “after our parents - well before they died they did a good job in getting rid of the threat though it cost them their lives. However - however after their death, something we didn't expect happened.”

“What?”

“Our step mother - father's second wife, took over her pack with brothers and sons. They didn't make the community better, or stronger. They steal from the people, turn then to slaves or for their own greed.”

That sounded horrible. Although he was not being descriptive Isabella knows quite well what bar leadership can do in a community.

“The people are starting to cry out for a new Alpha. They are starting to cry out - for their rightful Alpha.”

“Jay…”

“You are our rightful leader, Isabella and the fate and life's of several people lies in your hands.”