5.Books and Boys

The night seemed to drag as William and Austyn snored together. The pullout couch was comfortable, but I missed my bed. The window in the room kept my boredness away for quite some time as I watched the never-ending snow fall. However, I couldn’t fall asleep. Maybe it was the fact I couldn’t stop being on edge about this whole situation, or maybe it was the grey eyes that kept flashing in my thoughts, but I couldn’t relax.

Deciding on a walk, I gathered my book and quietly made my way down the long hallway; the chandelier lights above were now dimmed, and quietness fell throughout the house. My footsteps seemed loud.

Settling down on the couch I had sat on earlier, I let out a heavy sigh and opened my book.

*The sun set with colors of yellows, pinks, and distant purples as we walked hand in hand through the trees; around us birds flew into their homes for the night and I couldn’t help the smile which painted my face.

We stopped, and I was pulled into his chest, his scent gathering around me and reminding me I was in the safest place in the world. Nothing could get me here. Nothing could find me here.

His lips brushed against mine, sparks flying, and I welcomed the warmth of him into my mouth. Our lips moved slowly at first, my hands moving up into his small curls, fingers gripping lightly, and deepening the kiss, his hands moved down to my hips.

Tightly, he pulled my waist close to his, and I could feel just how excited he was, the hardness sending sensations of-*

“Couldn’t sleep?” A deep voice lunged me out of my book and closing the pages with a loud umph, I looked up to see Isaiah, who smiled at me.

“What are you doing here?” I sat up, feet drawing together, and pulling my book to my chest, I scooted over; Isaiah took the invitation and sat down, his arm going over the back of the couch and he smirked.

“Can I not be in my own house?”

My eyes bugged. “You own this house?!” Holy shit this guy must be loaded.

Isaiah let out a laugh. “I said live, not own.”

I smiled and drew my breath back in. “I guess that does make more sense given tonight's events,” Recalling how the stranger had busted in earlier, I could only imagine what kind of job he had to afford to own such a lavish home… If he owned this anyway.

Isaiah’s eyes looked down. “Through the trees, aye?”

“Huh?”

“Your book,” He pointed towards my book, and I immediately flushed; the cover faced him, which had a very shirtless man embracing a very not-so-covered woman.

“Oh,” I spat out a little too loud of a laugh, and my hands covered the book. “Yeah, I like to read.” Duh Valerie. “I- I couldn’t sleep so I came out and tried to calm my nerves which apparently isn’t helping because I’m still awake,” The words jumbled out of me but Isaiah didn’t seem to mind.

“That’s alright, Valerie, I couldn’t sleep either. My nerves also got shot tonight with everything that happened,”

Am I being… Understood?

“Is he your brother? That guy that came in and yelled at you?” The one I couldn’t stop thinking about for some reason, his tall and built presence was enough to drive me into thoughts that only my books give me.

Isaiah’s presence immediately changed, and he shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “No, thank goodness. He’s… Well… Um… Kallen is kind of like my boss,”

Kallen… Now knowing a name to put to the beautiful, sculpted face, I smiled lightly, yet thinking about Isaiah’s answer, I twisted my face into confusion. “Boss? Aren’t you like, I don’t know, seventeen?” Like me?

He nodded and thought for a moment. “I am seventeen, but it’s complicated. I live under his roof, so I follow his rules.”

“Where’s your parents?” The question drooled out of me before I could think. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be intrusive,”

“My parents died when I was younger,” Pain painted his face. “Kallen’s family made sure that I had a place to live, a school to go to, and food to fill my stomach. I owe him more than my life,”

“Oh.” What do you say to something like that? “I’m sorry, Isaiah, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No,” He shrugged and took a deep breath. “It was a long time ago, it’s… easier to talk about now.” Silence moved its way in between us and biting my lip, I looked anywhere but the guy in front of me. Who knew he carried such heaviness at such a young age.

“Isaiah?” A girl's voice broke the silence between us. A small framed girl, maybe around thirteen, came bouncing in; she too had bright green eyes and brown hair like Isaiah. “Who is this?”

Isaiah reached out for the girl who instantly took his hand, eyeing me carefully as she walked closer to Isaiah. “This is Valerie, my friend from school.”

Friend?

“Hi,” I smiled towards the girl. “What’s your name?”

Not answering, she sat down next to Isaiah, who pushed at her shoulder with his own. “Don’t be rude,” He scolded.

The girl looked me up and down for a moment more before speaking. “I’m Heather,”

“My sister,” Isaiah smiled, finishing for her. “My sister, who isn’t supposed to be up at this hour yet for some odd reason, she is,”

Heather's lips curved and she looked towards her brother, the both of them looking so similar that it was crazy they weren’t the same person; Heather had a dusting of freckles on her bubbly cheeks but she was beautiful - I couldn’t imagine how young she was when their parents passed.

“Well excuse me, Mr. I-think-I-am-the-alpha,”

There’s that word again: Alpha.

Before I could even ask what it meant, Isaiah stood with his hand in his sisters and bid me a goodnight; the both of them leaving me in the darkened living room with only my book as my company.