The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 12

~ISABELLA~

I watched as Hunter threw a bunch of bags inside his Jeep. I felt an ache in my chest watching him get ready to leave for an entire day. I wasn’t used to his home and now that he wouldn’t be here with me I felt a lot more uncomfortable than I already did. But more than any of that, I was worried for him. I knew the kind of work Hunter did.

It was dangerous and I could be saying goodbye to him forever without even knowing it.

The thought of that made me feel a lot worse than before. My reaction to Hunter, my feelings, the way my heart skipped a beat whenever he touched me, all of it gave me reason to believe that he was more to me than just my husband. I saw the way both my sisters acted towards their men and I felt like I was the same way when it came to Hunter . . . In fact, I believed that what I felt for him was even stronger.

These feelings that I felt for Hunter were what one would feel for their mate. But how could that be? Hunter’s true mate was dead and I could see in his eyes that part of him died with her. Then how could I feel exactly what a mate felt? Even if it were possible that I was his mate, a second chance mate, then why did he not share the same feelings as I did?

I saw the way he acted. He always wanted to get away from me. He acted like the sight of me brought him pain. That shouldn’t be the way in which he acts if I truly was his second chance mate. This left me to believe that I was just infatuated with the man. He did possess qualities to make a woman fall deeply for him. I was sure that if half of the women saw a gentle side to him opposed to his cold exterior, a lot of them would be head over heels in love with him.

“He will be back tomorrow.” Bruce said besides me. “You don’t have to look this worried.”

I glanced at the man with burning red cheeks. I hadn’t even realized that he was watching me while I basically stared at Hunter. “Will he be safe?”

Bruce looked taken aback by my question. “It’s Hunter Miller, the man can take care of himself Isabella. You obviously haven’t seen him in a fight as yet. Your husband is capable of taking down more than twenty men at the same time. I’ve seen him do it already, trust me, you have nothing to worry about.”

Hunter turned and saw Bruce speaking to me. His eyes narrowed as he slammed the Jeep door shut.

“Get some bags in.” He shouted at Bruce.

“I gotta say Isabella. Since you entered our lives, Hunter has been on my case recently. It may have something to do with that little flirt session you had going on earlier today.”

I flushed at his words. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed. “I know what you’re doing and it’s for a good cause, by all means go ahead.”

“Bruce.” Hunter growled.

Bruce threw his hands in the air and finally did as Hunter asked.

I studied Bruce’s words more closely. He knew what I was doing? Was it that obvious that I was trying to gain Hunter’s attention and make him jealous?

How many people in the house saw it already?

I lifted my gaze to where Hunter stood. His black hair glistened under the sun as he turned to me. I kept my head held high and tried to act the least bit bothered by him. His eyes briefly touched me before he started to fish in his pants for his keys. I felt a tug of my heart at the reminder that he was leaving for a day.

Before I could stop myself I was walking towards him. I saw the way his body became aware of my close proximity. His shoulders tensed and his lips pressed into a tight line.

I stopped a few inches away from him and he chose that moment to look down at me.

“I want to go with you.” I said before I could stop myself.

Hunter froze and I could tell that he wasn’t happy with my request.

“No.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes. “I said that I want to go, I do not want to stay here without you.”

“You’re not coming anywhere with me Isabella, it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” I asked. “Do you forget that I’m from the council? I know what dangerous is like Hunter. I can take care of myself.”

“It’s still a no.”

I felt my temper rise at his constant dismissals. “Fine. Do as you please but don’t expect me to waiting home here for you when you do decide to return home.”

Hunter slammed the Jeep door so hard that some of the birds around us flew off in fear. He grabbed my waist with both hands and slammed me against the vehicle with his body. “What did you just say to me?”

“You heard me the first time—”

I gasped as he covered my lips with a searing k**s. My body melted and molded against his body like it was waiting for this k**s for years. I gripped his leather jacket and held onto it as he continued to suck on my bottom l*p while pressing his body against mine. I didn’t know why this felt so much like home, I never wanted it to stop.

I whimpered as he broke the k**s. We were both panting when our gazes locked and I swore I felt an invisible shield that bounded us together. I shivered at the look in his eyes and continued to hold onto his jacket like my life depended on it.

“You’ll be here when I get back.” He insisted. “Promise me that.”

I frowned at him, surprised by how worried he actually seemed by my words. What could it be that scared him so much about me leaving when he wasn’t here?

“Promise me!” He demanded while tightening his hold on my shoulders.

The desperation in his voice was hard to ignore. I was already giving in before I even knew what was happening.

“I promise.” I heard myself whisper.

I couldn’t explain it but my body wanted to do anything to ease his distress. I wanted to curse my weakness for this man.

It simply wasn’t fair!

His body seemed to calm down after hearing of my promise and he slowly let go of me against my body’s wishes.

I stepped away from the vehicle and watched with a heavy heart as he jumped into the jeep. I couldn’t do anything but watch as he drove away from me.

Sigh, I was already sad and he’d only just left.

It was about to be a very long night.

. . . . . . . . .

It was the next day and I was becoming anxious. Hunter should have been home by now. Even the maids said that he usually came back around this time.

What if something happened to him while he was out?

Damn it! I should have gone with him, that way I wouldn’t be losing my mind at home.

I needed to replace something around the house that could keep me busy, anything at all to help with my anxiousness.

Just as I was about to reach for the handle, there was a loud knock on the door. I rushed to open it hoping to replace Hunter on the other side. I was severely disappointed however. The person standing in front of me was the last person I wanted to see right now.

“Don’t you have some kind of house planning to do or something?” I asked her the moment her wicked eyes landed on me. I knew exactly how badly my words would affect her. After all, Hunter did confess that he’d stopped her from being his mistress. At first it was hard for me to believe but now I was positive that he’d really done so.

She narrowed her eyes before trying to compose herself.

“Did Hunter not tell you?” Alice asked.

“Tell me what?” I demanded, annoyed that she was even talking to me.

“Hunter decided to share you with another man. That’s why he left you here yesterday and isn’t home as yet.”

I gasped at the woman; I think she’d finally lost it. I always knew something was wrong with her but now I was one hundred percent sure that she was psycho.

“You need to get out of my room now.” I screamed her.

“I don’t think so.” She snapped. “Derick, she’s all ready for you.”

My eyes widened as a tall, muscular man entered the room. I felt chills all over my body as the man eyed me like a piece of candy. The look he gave me made me feel sick to the stomach.

“What the hell is going on here?” I shouted as I looked from Alice to Derick.

“I told you, Hunter wants you to have a little fun while he’s gone. Derick here is going to help you with that.”

“If you take another step towards me I’m going to dig your eyes out!” I threatened him.

The scary man looked like my words were a turn on for him instead of a threat and it made me even more worried than before.

I screamed as he lunged for me and threw me onto the bed with his body on top of mine.

Before I had a chance to throw his body off me, a loud menacing growl tore through the room and shook the walls like an earthquake.

My eyes snapped to the source of the sound to replace Hunter at the door looking ready to murder someone.

The look in his eyes was so lethal that every bone in my body trembled with fear for what was about to take place.