Isabella's Dilemma: Wolf Secrets Book 1 Read online

“No alpha would allow a pregnant female to be a Soldier. Your new life as my mate will involve fucking me at least twice a day and caring for our children. Problem solved.”

  Jackson smiled happily at his mate, proud that he had solved her first problem.

  Izzy was certain she popped a blood vessel. She knew the mating bond was a powerful one, because it kept her from strangling her mate. To say that she was livid was an understatement. She rolled off the bed and gathered her clothes.

  “You! I can’t be-lieve—What absolute...gall!”

  Enraged, she couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” Jackson asked, genuinely surprised at the intense stinky-sweet smell of her anger.

  “What’s wrong? What’s WRONG? ARGH!”

  She marched into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She needed to take a shower, needed to wash his scent off. Izzy realized she had come full circle. She ran from her father, who thought her only purpose in life was to be a sex toy for the highest bidding alpha. She was disappointed to learn that her mate was no different. Although she could run from her father, fleeing Jackson was impossible. Now that he had claimed her, he would follow her wherever she went, insisting on mating with her.

  She recalled a legend all young wolves were told by older Pack members. The cautionary tale was about how dangerous a mated wolf could be if his mate rejected him. As far as Izzy knew, it only happened once in the history of werewolves. The female and everyone near her were killed by her enraged mate. The male, overcome with grief, killed himself. She wanted to avoid that kind of tragedy.

  The hot water helped ease her anger and by the time her shower had finished, most of her anger had dissipated. She dressed and checked her wounded wrists. They looked slightly better than they had earlier and she rewrapped them before leaving the bathroom.

  Jackson, who was sitting on the bed contemplating his mate’s mood swing, stood suddenly and asked gently, “Is it that time of the month?”

  Her rage returned and she growled at him, baring her sharp canines briefly. She cursed the mating instinct that kept her from giving Jackson a well-deserved ass kicking.

  Deciding to ignore him, Izzy snatched the box of envelopes and marker from the nightstand and went back into the bathroom. She labeled one envelope ‘ASSHOLE’ then crossed it off and wrote ‘Jackson Clodpoll’ then slipped his toothbrush into the envelope. She stuck the envelope in the back of the box and shoved the marker into the back pocket of her jeans.

  She opened the door and Jackson called out worriedly, “Honey?...Isabella?...Sweetheart?”

  She ignored him as she walked past him and left the cabin. Jackson finished dressing quickly and chased after Izzy.

  Izzy marched out of Jackson’s cabin and headed straight for the center of town. She ignored the wolves that glared and hissed at her. Izzy happened to glance at the surrounding forest and saw Harley among the trees. He raised a brow questioningly and she nodded. She changed direction, marching directly toward him, unconcerned that Clodpoll wolves tracked her movement.

  “You need to get me out of here, right now, Harley.”

  “Shit, I’ve never seen you this pissed before.”

  He sniffed, puzzled at the discrepancy between what his eyes and his nose were telling him. Izzy was mated. Her mate had claimed her, yet she was enraged.

  “What happened, Iz?”

  “That arrogant son of a bitch wants me to be a housewife. Me! A fucking HOUSEWIFE!” she yelled, clenching her fists.

  “What about Minerv—”

  “Get the fuck away from my mate, wolf,” Jackson snarled.

  His wolf eyes flashed and his claws extended. He wasn’t going to give up his mate, not without a fight. He didn’t care whether he had to kill all of her ex-lovers. He would do whatever it takes to keep his mate at his side and in his bed.

  Izzy moved swiftly, placing herself between Jackson and Harley.

  “I already told you, Jackson, this has nothing to do with Harley.”

  “Then why are you here with him?”

  “Why? Because he understands me, Jackson. You don’t.”

  “That’s because you won’t give me a chance. You ran away instead of staying and talking with me. You ran to him.”

  He pointed at Harley, retracting his claws. Izzy opened her mouth to protest and realized that he was right. She had run away from Jackson, but only because she was too furious to talk with him.

  A muffled yet familiar ringtone interrupted her thoughts and she turned to Harley.

  “Shit, I forgot.”

  He removed the cell phone from his back pocket and offered it to her. She gave him the box of envelopes and accepted her cell phone.

  “I’ve got your wallet, too.”

  Izzy answered the phone as she took her wallet from Harley. Slipping the generic man’s wallet into her back pocket, she walked into the woods as she listened to the voice on the other end.

  “Jackson, I have no interest in taking Izzy away from you. You are correct in assuming we were once lovers.”

  Jackson growled and released his claws.

  Harley shook his head and kept a relaxed stance.

  “Are you more interested in fucking your mate or fucking with me?”

  Jackson blinked, surprised at Harley’s question.

  “I want my mate. I want to fuck her. Often.”

  Harley snorted at Jackson’s revelation. What wolf didn’t want to fuck his mate every chance he could?

  “I want...I want a family with her,” Jackson confessed.

  “Family? I see...You do know that she’s a Soldier, right?”

  “Whoever heard of a female Soldier?”

  “You’re right, Jackson, a female has no business being anything other than a fuck toy.”

  “That’s not what she is!” Jackson protested.

  “Oh? What is she then?”

  “She’s my mate, the future mother of my children.”

  “I see.”

  Harley frowned thoughtfully.

  “So you expect her to leave her Pack and give up her position to be your mate?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “And what are you giving up in return?”

  “Me?”

  Jackson raised his brows in surprise. He hadn’t thought about what he was asking her to give up so she could be his mate. He just assumed she would be willing to change her life to stay with him.

  “What does Izzy want from this relationship?”

  “Um....”

  He hadn’t thought about that either. What did Izzy want?

  While Jackson thought about what Izzy wanted and expected out of their relationship, she stepped out of the woods. She glanced at Jackson then Harley. She wrinkled her brow in confusion. Knowing Jackson was insanely jealous, she had expected them to be fighting when she got back. She shook her head.

  Typical Harley. That man could defuse any situation.

  “So, you boys done with your pissing contest?” she asked as she crossed her arms.

  “No need, Izzy. You’re his mate. Besides, he already claimed you. Only a fool would fight a mated male for his female. Do I strike you as a fool?”

  Izzy smiled and shook her head.

  “We might be mated, but I can’t stay here.”

  “You’re right, it’s too dangerous for you,” Harley agreed.

  “My pack won’t hurt her. At tonight’s pack meeting we will speak to Damian and finally settle this issue.”

  Harley and Izzy exchanged worried glances, several questions running through their minds. Izzy was still seeking the second rapist. Would Damian help or would he adamantly deny his Pack’s involvement? If so, then what would he do with Izzy? Would he still allow her to gather DNA evidence from his wolves?

  “Mates don’t keep secrets from each other, Izzy. What aren’t you telling me?” Jackson asked his mate.

  Izzy glanced around, making sure no other wolves were in sight. She sniffed several times,
as did Harley. Neither could scent another wolf nearby.

  “There were two wolves, Jackson.”

  At first Jackson didn’t understand.

  “What do you mean, two wolves?” he asked.

  “There were two wolves who raped those women. Thor was one of them.”

  “Who is the other?”

  “We don’t know. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Why...you’re...here?”

  Jackson’s mind felt sluggish.

  “I’m a Hoyden Soldier, Jackson, and a damn good one. Did you really think those imbeciles could have captured me if I didn’t want to be caught?”

  Dumbfounded, Jackson said nothing.

  “This was all part of a plan to get me here. Aleksandr figured your clan would kill one of the male Soldiers outright, but would bring me here to face Damian. He needed me brought to your Pack.”

  “Why? Why is it so important that you come here?”

  “I was sent to gather DNA evidence. My job was to collect as many DNA samples from the wolves as I could and give it to Harley. He was going to take it back to the lab for analysis.”

  “DNA sample? Why would you think one of our wolves had anything to do with those attacks?”

  “According to the evidence from the rape kit, the two rapists were closely related. They could be brothers or cousins.”

  “What the fuck?”

  He glanced at Harley then back to Izzy.

  “You mean to tell me that two of my pack mates are rapists?”

  “Yes, Jackson. That’s what I’m telling you.”

  “I….” Jackson fell silent, having no idea what to say.

  “Aleksandr didn’t tell Damian because he wasn’t sure whether he could trust Damian.”

  “Damian is my Alpha. He has my undying loyalty. I know that he will do what’s best for this Pack. We need to tell him,” Jackson insisted.

  Izzy ran her fingers through her short hair as she contemplated Jackson’s request. She glanced over at Harley.

  “Your call, Iz. I’m just the delivery boy.”

  A moment later Izzy made her decision.

  “OK, Jackson. You know your alpha better than we do. We’ll tell him what we know and I hope he will help us find the second rapist.”

  The three of them walked back toward town, heading to the Alpha House. Damian was in a meeting, so they decided to go to the Mess Hall for a late lunch.

  Chapter 6

  Izzy glanced around the Mess Hall. The room consisted of a dozen tables equally spaced apart, reminding her of a school cafeteria. Each table had two benches on each side. A handful of wolves sat at the tables, finishing their meal. Along the back of the cafeteria was a buffet. The three wolves walked to the buffet, picked up a tray and plate and began walking down the line, selecting various items for their lunch. At the end of the line, they selected their drinks and utensils wrapped in paper napkins and headed to an empty table. Izzy sat with Jackson on her right. Harley sat across from the couple and they began eating.

  Though it was cafeteria food, it was tasty. Needing to touch his mate, Jackson slipped his arm around Izzy, pulling her closer. A group of young male wolves came into the Mess Hall, heading straight to their table. They made a show of sniffing around Izzy then one of them snorted and said, “You must be desperate for pussy if you fucked the bitch that murdered your brother.”

  Jackson growled and turned around, ready to attack the young male. Izzy grasped his arm, stopping him.

  “What’s the matter, kid? Jealous that he’s getting some and you’re not?” Izzy asked with a sweet smile.

  “Kid? I’m a grown man! I get lots of pussy. Whenever I want,” he insisted.

  Izzy laughed replying sarcastically, “Sure you do. That’s why you’re here talking with us.”

  His friends laughed at her response.

  “Oh, Slam!”

  “When was the last time you talked with a girl?” another asked suddenly.

  Furious at his friends, the young wolf turned around and stormed out of the Mess Hall. Harley and Izzy chuckled and Jackson turned around to face her. He smiled at his mate.

  “Those young men are ignorant. They have never experienced the compulsion to claim their mate and have no idea how difficult it is to resist.”

  Jackson turned to face the wolf that spoke.

  “Have you decided to allow her to work in the cafeteria with the other women? Or perhaps you will allow her to be a maid?”

  Izzy turned to face the wolf that addressed Jackson. Two other males stood beside him and she could barely see the three females standing behind them.

  “Humph. I see you allow your female to wear pants. You know this isn’t allowed. She must wear dresses like our other females,” another wolf grumbled.

  “Excuse me?” Izzy said as she turned, placing one leg on the other side of the bench so she was straddling it.

  Sensing danger, Jackson slipped his arm around Izzy’s waist, keeping her from rising.

  “Your woman insults you by sitting that way. She looks like a harlot! You must punish her, Jackson.”

  “Yes, strip her and punish her, right here,” the third wolf said as he reached for his belt.

  Izzy didn’t miss the way his eyes lit up or the drool that began dripping from his mouth. She recoiled from his disgusting face and turned to the others. She pushed Jackson’s hand away from her waist and stood. Jackson quickly stood behind her, ready to fight for his mate if needed. She stepped over the bench and faced the three men.

  “First of all, I don’t need Jackson’s permission to do a damn thing. I am a Soldier of the Hoyden Werewolf pack. My Alpha, Aleksandr is the only male that can command me. As for the way I dress, or how I sit, I’m a Soldier and it’s none of your fucking business. I’m sorry your women are not capable of being anything other than a cook. In my Pack, our women are capable of being much more. They own stores, are police officers, teachers, lawyers and doctors.”

  They were shocked speechless at Izzy’s declaration.

  “How-how dare you speak to me that way!” one of the males said, highly offended.

  The three females stepped around their males so they could see Izzy. They were in their late twenties and one of them asked, “Are you really a Soldier in the Hoyden pack?”

  Izzy raised the sleeve of her left arm to show them the intricate tattoo declaring her to be a Soldier of the Hoyden Wolf Pack.

  “It’s true. You are a Soldier.”

  The female turned to the others and said, “I’ve heard of Aleksandr, he is a fierce warrior and even my Alpha feared him. She must be an exceptional warrior for Aleksandr to make her a Soldier.”

  The three women looked at Izzy with awe. The males behind them exchanged glances, realizing Izzy really was a female Soldier. They frowned as they realized having Izzy in their pack would be a challenge to the status quo. They didn’t want their females to start questioning their low position in the pack.

  “Aleksandr trained me himself,” Izzy said proudly.

  The women crowded her.

  “I remember that in my Pack, we also had female doctors and police officers.”

  “In mine, too. But we aren’t allowed to do any of those things in this Pack.”

  “Tell me more about the Hoyden Pack. I’ve heard such stories. Is he as fierce as they say?” The women sat at the table, eager to learn more about Izzy and her Pack.

  The males, furious that Izzy was already influencing their women, stormed off, heading to the Alpha House to complain to Damian.

  Izzy spent the next hour eating her lunch and chatting with her newfound friends. As she suspected, Damian refused to let the women in his pack have any distinguishing rank or job. They were relegated to menial tasks in the kitchen, Laundromat, and provided maid service, cleaning the single males’ cabins weekly.

  When Damian finished his meeting, he sent for Jackson and Izzy. They excused themselves and left Harley and the women in the Mess Hall. On their way to the Alpha H
ouse, Jackson took Izzy’s hand, squeezing it gently.

  “Those women accepted you.”

  “But their males did not.”

  “Good. The last thing I want is a group of males being friendly with you.”

  He couldn’t keep his jealousy out of his voice and Izzy laughed.

  “Don’t be silly, Jackson. Those men are mated. They aren’t interested in me...although one of those men was a little too excited at the thought of seeing you strip me so you could punish me.”

  She stopped walking and tugged on Jackson’s hand. He turned around to face Izzy.

  “Let me be clear, Jackson. If you ever hit me—”

  “I wouldn’t do that, Izzy. Never. They punish their women to keep them in line.”

  Izzy raised a brow.

  “Do you think you’re going to keep me ‘in line’?” Izzy asked.

  “I seriously doubt it,” Jackson replied drily.

  Izzy chuckled and he pulled her against him then kissed her gently. He caressed her cheek as he said, “You are a Soldier, Bella, so you understand that you must choose your battles.”

  Nodding, Izzy slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back, rubbing against him. Jackson released her mouth so he could nibble on her neck.

  “Soon, my Love. Soon,” he promised as he squeezed her ass.

  The more time I spend with him, the more I want him. We need to figure out our relationship before we have sex again.

  Reluctantly Jackson released her. Clasping her hand, he led her to the Alpha House. They were sent into the living room where Damian stood in front of the blazing fire, his back to them.

  Izzy glanced around at the Alpha House. This Alpha House was a large log cabin that reminded her of a lodge. Animal heads were stuffed and mounted on the walls. She noted several deer, a bear and at least two large cats. She shuddered. Being part animal, she was surprised that Damian would mount the heads of other animals. It seemed wrong.

  “Tyler said you wished to see me?’ Damian asked as he turned around.

  “Yes, sir. Izzy is my mate. I’ve claimed her.”

  “Hmm. This is a highly unusual situation, Jackson. However, from what I understand, the impulse to claim your mate is irresistible. How unfortunate that your mate is also your brother’s murderer.”