RISK

12

Isabella lazily wakes up from her nap, yawning and turning onto her back. She stares at the ceiling, not realizing her lips are slowly forming a small smile. Thoughts of Xander and the moments they shared earlier that day flood her mind. She pulls her blanket over her body, remembering how it felt to have his hands running over her skin. Isabella didn't know she was the physical touch type, but she just wants to be wrapped in his arms. They work so well together. He brings out a little confidence in her, and she brings out a warmth in him. She didn't want him to go, just as much as he wanted to stay. She wonders what he had to do, what made him have to leave.

Xander closes his office door, letting out a breath of relief. He finally managed to escape the mass amount of questions his pack was asking about his newly found mate. Because Xander never expressed interest in having a mate prior to this, everyone was shocked. They know she must be special if she turned the Alpha's mind so quickly. They wanted every detail about her, details Xander himself did not even know yet. When he came to the fact that she is human, the pack reacted mostly with curiosity. They don't mind of course, but a human mate is rare. A human mate is different.

He leans back in his desk chair, closing his eyes, thinking about his afternoon with her. How lovely it was to feel her skin. Trailing his fingertips softly up and down her canvas, until small goosebumps formed on her skin. Feeling her smile against his lips, as their lips joined. He could hold her and protect forever...and he will. Anything to ensure he gets the girl. The only girl he wants.

Xander's blissful thoughts are interrupted when the door opens aggressively, revealing an assertive Josh.

"Rouges in the woods behind the main line."

Xander rises from his seat, "What? How the hell did they get that far past the border?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Xander joins the rest of the pack members who are eligible to fight, as they run in unity out of the pack house. Shift after shift, everyone changes into their wolf form. The woods become a sea of wolves, as the pack floods the surrounding area. Xander's eyes darken and he can feel himself going into his fighting headspace. He picks up on a familiar wonderful scent as he gets closer to the main line.

Isabella. She lives on the mainline.

He growls at the thought of any rogue getting close to her. But it's not possible, right? There is no way for anyone outside the pack to know of her existence, let alone where she lives. Nonetheless, he can't help but worry that's where they are headed. This is what Xander has been trying to avoid his whole life. His mate being in danger because of him, because of his title, his lifestyle.

Xander picks up on yet another scent. A familiar one. Familiar, but not good. Vulgar actually. Within a second, he recognizes the scent of the Alpha he met with a little bit ago. He denied the Alpha's alliance proposition, which led the Alpha to insult Xander's pack. Xander remembers the rude things he said about his parents. Things escalated when he had the nerve to say Xander most likely found his mate but is too ashamed to tell anyone. He said she must be too unattractive and unintelligent.

Xander's Alpha blood boils. His eyes land and lock on the wolf he's been dreaming of hurting since that very day. Without stopping, Xander continues running, gaining full speed. Every time his paws meet with the grass covered woods, his adrenaline increases. Time stands still as he tackles the wolf onto the ground, biting into his flesh. The wolf throws Xander off of him, ready to make his next attack.

"So, we meet again?" The wolf mind links to Xander.

"Octavius, what the hell are you doing on my land?"

"Well, you denied my alliance. So why would I play nice?"

Xander is unfazed when he feels Octavius bite into his leg. He flips them over, getting the upper hand.

"Why play at all? What do you want from my pack?" Xander ask.

"I don't want anything from your pack. I want your pack."

Packs cannot run without an Alpha or Luna. If one pack kills both the Alpha and Luna of another pack, that other pack is forced to be under their ruling. If Octavius' pack kills Xander and Isabella, Xander's pack will become Octavius'.

"That's not going to happen." Xander growls.

"It won't be hard. We only need to get rid of you. I actually benefit from you being mateless."

Xander lets out a small sigh of relief. Octavius doesn't know about Isabella.

Xander smirks, "You're not strong enough for that. Even with the help of your weak pack members, mine would overthrow yours in a second."

"It's fascinating that you think we're so weak. Amusing actually. You don't think we have tricks up our sleeves? How do you think we got past your borders, without your pack even knowing?"

Xander doesn't have time to consider how that was possible before Octavius makes an attack to his side. He grunts, landing on the ground in pain.

Isabella rises out of her bed, walking towards her window. Realizing it's getting dark, she begins to close her curtains when something in the distance catches her attention. She focuses on the woods behind her house, trying to make out the unfamiliar figures. Eventually, the girl identifies them as animals, wolf like, but she didn't know wolves could be that big, that scary. She takes in a sharp breath when one of them attacks the other, rolling onto the ground. She sees fur tinted red by blood, and teeth as sharp as ice. Isabella doesn't realize she has been holding her breath. It's as if she's scared they'll hear her if she breathes. Goosebumps form on her skin, and not the good ones Xander gives her. The sight scares Isabella, and she finally looks away, closing her curtains. She reminds herself that that's what wild animals do. They fight like that. They're dangerous, and as long as she stays away, she will be ok.

Octavius jumps on top of Xander restraining him from getting up,"We're done here. Don't underestimate us, Alexander." He runs off before Xander can even get off the ground.

Xander gets chills hearing his full name come from Octavius' lips. Only Isabella calls him that.

<>

Xander is relieved to get the report that none of his pack mates we seriously injured during the attack. He makes the decision that he won't tell anyone about the discussion he had with Octavius. He doesn't need anyone to worry, especially not about him. He's supposed to be protecting the pack, not the other way around. For now, Xander will ensure they increase border security. They don't need an incident like this happening again. It's extremely rare for a pack to not know when intruders have crossed their border. He doesn't know how no one saw or felt the break in, but he must figure it out. Until then, he's not sure if his pack is truly safe.

His mind is still dark, as he's finding it difficult to come out of his fighting mindset. He remembers to think about his mate, and quickly, light overcomes dark. His body relaxes as he thinks of her, warmth consuming him. As long as Octavius remains believing Isabella doesn't exist, he has no chance of overthrowing Xander's pack. And Xander is going to do whatever is possible to make sure that never happens.