The Possesive Alpha

Chapter 28

Isabelle’s Perspective

As I sat on the bed, my fingers scrolled through the text on the device. My heart was pounding in my chest as I read through the messages. I had to be careful—if Luca caught me, things wouldn’t end well. Just then, the door swung open, and Luca walked in. My body tensed as I quickly threw the device behind the side table, hoping he didn’t notice. “Babe, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you coming downstairs?” he asked, his voice calm but firm. I swallowed hard, trying to control my breathing. “Umm… I just came out of the bathroom. I was about to come down, but then you walked in,” I said, forcing a smile. My heart was still racing, but I hoped he wouldn’t notice anything unusual. Luca stared at me for a moment, his dark eyes scanning my face. But then, he simply nodded. “Okay, come on. Let’s go downstairs together,” he said. I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank God he didn’t notice anything. As we walked downstairs, I could hear laughter and the sound of voices coming from the backyard. When we reached the back door, I saw a bonfire crackling in the middle of the yard, surrounded by people chatting and eating. The warm glow of the fire lit up their faces. I turned to Luca. “I didn’t know we were going to have a bonfire,” I said, slightly surprised.

“Yeah, it was a sudden plan,” he replied. “Camellia thought it would be a good idea. They all want to know you better.” I nodded slowly, unsure of how I felt about that. Before I could think too much, Luca grabbed my hand and led me outside. The fresh air hit my face as we stepped into the yard. It felt nice after being inside for so long. “Isabelle, come sit with us,” Aurora called, motioning to an empty spot near her. I forced a smile. “Yeah, sure.” I walked over and sat down, feeling the warmth of the fire on my skin. The smell of barbecue filled the air, and I noticed everyone was eating. Just as I reached for a plate, Camellia spoke up. “So, Isabelle, tell us about yourself. What did you do before coming here?” she asked, her tone casual, but I could sense the curiosity behind her words. I raised an eyebrow. “You mean before I got kidnapped, right?” I said, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Luca chuckled. “Yeah, Belle, tell them about yourself.” I took a deep breath and picked at my food with my fork. “Well, before coming here, I had just started college. I was doing my bachelor’s in business because my goal was to open my own company after graduation. I had so many plans, but… you know, fate had something else in store for me,” I said bitterly. Aurora smiled softly. “You can continue your studies here. There are good colleges and universities in Colombia, and Luca can get you into any university you want.” I clenched my jaw. “It’s not about that. I got into a top-ranked college in New York because of my hard work and good grades. I don’t want someone’s help to get into a good school,” I snapped. Luca’s expression hardened. “Isabelle, you have to live here whether you like it or not.” I glared at him, my anger boiling inside me. How could they just decide my life for me? “Yeah, I know that very well, Luca,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. Sensing the tension, Amelia spoke up. “How about we play truth or dare?” she suggested with a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood. I groaned internally. Seriously? Did they think playing a game would fix everything? Ugh. I was already annoyed, and now this?

The last time I played truth or dare, my ex cheated on me, and I got kidnapped. Who knows what disaster this game would bring now? The bottle spun, and my stomach twisted when it stopped on Luca. I felt a cold sweat forming on my forehead. Eric smirked. “Truth or dare?” he asked. Luca leaned forward, a devilish smile playing on his lips. “Dare,” he said confidently. “You know I’m always up for a challenge.” I sucked in a sharp breath. Those were the same words Ryan had said before he cheated on me—with Camellia. Eric’s smirk widened. “Okay, I dare you to kiss Isabelle in front of everyone.” My body stiffened. I snapped my head toward Eric, glaring at him. This idiot. “No thanks, Eric. I don’t want to kiss him,” I said sharply. Luca stood up, his eyes locked onto mine. “Hey, what are you doing? Why are you coming closer?” I asked, my eyes widening. “Just wait and watch,” he murmured. Before I could react, he leaned in and kissed me—on the cheek. His lips lingered for a second before he pulled back, his breath warm against my skin. Then, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Babe, I know how to give you respect. I don’t want to do something in public. But if I want to kiss you on the lips… I can do it anytime, in private.” I swallowed, my heart pounding.