ISOBEL
Alpha Francis stood outside the room to give me some privacy as I quickly got dressed as I was excited to leave the suffocating room.
The night air was cool and relaxing as I walked beside Alpha Francis through the park. It felt good to finally be out of that room, and away from the suffocating air that seemed to make me over think everything.
I still didn't understand why Mason forced me to come with him. It wasn't like I had done anything for him so far, or did he just bring me with him so I'd see how he had women around him at all time?
I shook my head and I tried to brush off the thought and enjoy my time outside. The party was still going on and I could hear the music in the distance, but I decided not to pay attention to it. It was none of my business and I couldn't care less.
Alpha Francis and I walked through the pack and I couldn't help but notice how he kept his hands in his pockets and he slowly walked beside me like he was nervous. I looked around to admire the surroundings. The pack was different from ours. It felt livelier and more free.
There were people out even when it was so late. Some of them were sitting and talking while others were strolling around just like we were. The pack felt so peaceful like they had nothing to fear but I couldn't truly enjoy it all as my mind was a mess.
"I hope you don't mind me taking you away from your room and denying you sleep," Francis said in a light tone.
"No, of course not," I quickly replied. "I wasn't even sleeping. Infact, I was so bored and there was no one to talk to, so I'm grateful that you came."
He chuckled deeply. "I thought so. You looked lonely at the party and then, you left without Mason and he won't be available tonight because of…" he drawled as if he had just realized himself and so he was searching for an excuse, "…duties. He has some duties to attend to."
I froze and I unconsciously clenched my fist before I quickly composed myself. "It's none of my business," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
"Of course not," he quickly agreed, but then he said, "It seems like you know about what happened. I'm sure it was surprising to you."
He wasn't asking a question but the way he said the words made me feel like I owed him a response but I didn't answer. I didn't trust myself and what I'd say. I tried so much to push the thought out of my mind, but now, he was making me to think about it again. I didn't like it.
Francis suddenly stopped walking and turned to me. "You don't have to pretend, you know."
I frowned and raised my eyebrow. "Pretend? What do you mean?"
"That it doesn't bother you." He looked at me with so much intensity that it felt like he was studying me to see every hint of emotion I showed. Then he continued, "Mason may not care about you, but it's obviously that you care about him, even if it's just a little."
I opened my mouth to deny his, but for some reason, I couldn't form words. What would I even say? That I didn't care about him? That I wasn't bothered by the fact that my mate had taken another woman and walked away with her like I didn't exist?
Francis took a step closer to me and he lowered his voice. "You don't have to waste your time on him, you know."
I took a step back and I felt my body tense up. "What are you talking about?"
He slightly tilted his head and watched me. "Mason is never going to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. That's just who he is. You don't have to wait for him to decide if he wants you or not. There are other ways to…" he paused as if he was looking for the right words, then he smiled. "…to move on."
I swallowed hard and it suddenly felt like I had made a mistake by following him and coming out here. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't understand. I had thought this was just a simple walk, and a way to clear my head, but now I wasn't so sure.
"I don't need to move on," I said seriously. "Mason and I have nothing to do with each other."
"Then why are you so tense?" he raised his brow in question.
I just stared at him, unable to come up with an answer. Francis quietly laugh and shook his head. "You remind me of someone."
"Who?" I asked, even though I wasn't sure if I wanted to know.
He slightly leaned in and he lowered his voice. "A woman who spent too much time waiting for a man who didn't deserve her."
I clenched my jaw. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but I don't like it at all"
Francis straightened his back and took one step back, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to—,"
Before he could finish his sentence, I heard a very familiar voice call my name and I froze, "Isobel."
Francis and I turned at the same time, we saw Mason standing a few feet away. His face was blank as always, but his eyes were dark like he was angry.
He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to be with the blonde lady. I felt my heart race as he walked towards us like a predator.
Francis smiled and greeted him when he was close. "Mason," he greeted casually like he hadn't just been saying what I thought he was saying. Then he sighed and shook his head. "You really have a bad timing."