Saving Isadore [MxM] (An Alpha's Fight Book 1)

Chapter 23

AARON ¤ POV

I was being courted by an alpha. For the first time ever. And it was bewildering, fascinating and absolutely the best feeling in the world. It was as though someone had thrust me back through time, and I was now in an old fashioned, royal romance novel, being escorted around by a kind, attentive, somewhat bashful alpha prince.

Admittedly, I'd never thought I could be attracted to boys like Isadore, soft boys, boys who were outwardly vulnerable, gently spoken and reserved. I was naturally loud and so, I gravitated towards louder love interests in the past, always someone who could one up me and create just as much chaos. But Isadore was different and his soft and gentle was just as attractive - even more so.

My heart was pounding in ways it had never done so before, beating against my rib cage, trying to get closer to Isadore. Scarily enough, I think those feelings were slowly turning from adoration into something more. Something that made me feel like I wouldn't be able to settle for less than Isadore for the rest of my life. Terrifying, yet equally exhilarating.

Isadore looked the part of a prince. He had his hair immaculately styled, with intricate braids woven through loose hair all the way to a low ponytail that swayed with the breeze around his waist. His light brown skin was smooth, those hazel eyes bright against his dark green shirt. He was smiling, flushed pink colour at his cheeks, his coy demeanour making my heart flutter.

I held his strong hand as we walked the trails through the meadows, letting him lead me. The hand of an alpha I had thought I was afraid of, was now holding me with the gentlest grip. He made sure to pull me closer into his body when we passed other families on the trail, and watched me carefully when we walked over the little connecting bridges crossing the streams from the lake - as if he was ready to spring into action and catch me if I tripped.

Being treated like someone worthy of being protected was new and I didn't hate it at all. Landon's idea of a date was to bring me next door and grope me in his room while we played video games. Even if we did get outside, it was to play football with our other friends or eat fast food. At the time, I hadn't cared, I liked sexual contact, I liked football and video games. But his lack of effort, his lack of care really was a reflection of the person he was on the inside. Isadore's outward actions reflected a pure, selfless being, one intent on loving.

We walked and talked, the long grasses and wildflowers swaying side to side in the wind. The sun shone down on us, the sky blue, the sound of children laughing and playing, along with other adults enjoying the weather, surrounding us. I found out more about Isadore, more about who he was as a person and it felt good. For now, our attraction to one another was mostly physical and idealised, but as I got to know him, his little quirks and the things that made him light up, that attraction grew deeper.

I was shocked to find out that he didn't watch any television. When he explained to me that it was because of his trigger and most shows wouldn't disclose mild violence beforehand since shifter society was sort of violent as a given, I understood. It made it harder to relate to him on a pop culture level since he didn't recognise the actors I'd mention or the TV series that were popular to our year group, but oddly, I didn't mind. He seemed embarrassed and I had to reassure him that although it set him aside, it wasn't at all a flaw. Most of what was on TV was crap anyway.

However, I did enjoy movies and watching them was something I wanted to do with him in the future. I made a mental note to watch any movie or show first before watching them with him to make sure there was nothing upsetting. That way we could do it together and have fun without any worries on his end. I could just imagine it - cuddled together in my dark room with his arms around me, a movie playing on my laptop at our feet.