Heart of a rogue

* Chapter 16

"Isaac is at home," my mother replied, her tone softening slightly as she met my gaze. "He's been eager to see you, Lucy. I think he'll be relieved that you're here."

I nodded, a sense of relief flooding through me at the news. Despite the tension between us, Isaac had always been a source of support and understanding during my youth. I couldn't wait to see him, but I was also nervous as hell.

"Thank you," I murmured, offering my mother a small smile. "I'll go find him then."

"You know the way," my mother said, gesturing in the direction of our childhood home.

Just as I was about to set off, I heard Declan's voice behind me. "We'll rest for today," he said to my father, his tone firm yet gentle. "But tomorrow, we'll start talking. There's a lot to discuss."

My father nodded "Of course," he replied, ''We'll let you settle down for a moment, Silva will guide you towards the guest houses."

As I walked, the anticipation of seeing Isaac again filled me with a renewed sense of purpose. He was my little brother, my confidant, and my closest ally growing up. Despite the circumstances that had driven us apart, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for leaving him alone with our parents.

A pang of apprehension gnawed at my insides as I neared our childhood home. Memories surfaces of my childhood, a horrible time in my memories.

What would Isaac think of my sudden return? Would he be angry, hurt, or relieved to see me? The thought of facing his reaction filled me with a mix of dread and longing.

I had missed him more than words could express, and yet, I couldn't deny the twinge of fear that lingered in the depths of my heart. What if he blamed me for leaving him behind? What if he resented me for escaping while he remained trapped in our parents' grasp?

As I reached our family home, I took a moment to steady my nerves before stepping inside. The familiar scent of home enveloped me, mingling with memories of laughter and tears, joy and pain. With a deep breath, I pushed open the door and entered, my heart pounding in my chest.

And there he was, standing in the center of the room, his back turned to me as he gazed out the window. Isaac had grown so much since the last time I had seen him, his once boyish features now replaced by the rugged strength of a true heir to an Alpha. His frame was tall and muscled, his presence commanding and assured.

For a moment, I simply stood there, taking in the sight of him, the way the sunlight danced across his features, casting shadows that accentuated the strength in his jawline and the determination in his eyes. There was a sense of pride swelling within me as I looked upon my little brother, amazed at the man he had become.

"Isaac," I called out softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's me, Lucy."

He turned then, his expression unreadable as his gaze met mine. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, followed by a flash of emotion that I couldn't quite decipher. And then, without a word, he crossed the room in long strides, closing the distance between us in an instant.

As he drew near, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the guardedness in his stance. But as he reached out to envelop me in a tight embrace, all of my fears and uncertainties melted away. In that moment, as we stood locked in each other's arms, I knew that no matter what had happened in the past, Isaac would always be my ally, and my friend.

"Lucy," Isaac breathed, his voice thick with emotion as he held me close. "I can't believe you're here."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I returned his embrace, feeling the weight of years of separation melt away in an instant. "I missed you, little menace," I murmured, my voice catching in my throat. "More than you'll ever know."

He pulled back slightly, his gaze searching mine as if trying to unravel the depths of my soul. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of hurt and longing. "I have heard a lot about you since you left."

For a moment, I struggled to find the words to explain, to convey the turmoil that had driven me away all those years ago.

"Isaac," I began, my voice trembling with emotion as I looked into his eyes. "I was selfish. I had to get out of this house. It never felt like a home to me, only a cage."

He listened intently, his expression a mix of confusion and empathy as he reached out to grasp my hand in his own. "Lucy," he murmured softly, his voice filled with understanding. "I know. I'm so sorry." He had it rough too, but my parents were never as strict with him as they were with me. He was the golden child, the male to an heir line. 

Tears welled up in my eyes as I shook my head, feeling the weight of years of pent-up emotion threatening to overwhelm me. "I'm sorry for leaving you," I whispered, my voice choked with regret. "But I had no choice. I had to leave to find my own happiness, to choose my own path."

Isaac's grip on my hand tightened, his eyes filled with compassion as he pulled me into a comforting embrace again. "You don't have to apologize," he said gently. "You did what you had to do. And look at you now, strong and independent." He said after pulling back from our hug. 

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I wiped away the tears that stained my cheeks. ''Me? Look at you, silly.'' I paused. "Becoming a rogue was the best thing I ever did," I admitted, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "It was the only way I could truly be free, to find myself and forge my own destiny."

Isaac's lips quirked into a mischievous grin as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, sis, I always suspected you left just to avoid doing the dishes," he joked, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a laugh at his ridiculous suggestion. "Oh, please," I retorted, shaking my head in mock indignation. "If only it were that simple. No, I left to escape the never-ending cycle of parental 'bullshit.'"

Isaac's laughter mingled with mine, the shared humor easing the tension that had lingered between us. For a moment, it felt as if we were kids again, trading jokes and teasing each other mercilessly.

"Well, you certainly made a dramatic exit," Isaac teased, nudging me playfully with his elbow. "But hey, at least you left me with plenty of material for therapy for abandonment issues."

I chuckled softly, a wry grin playing at the corners of my lips. "Yeah, well, I've got so many issues, I'm pretty sure even therapy's throwing in the towel," I joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Isaac let out a hearty laugh, his shoulders shaking with amusement. "You and me both, Lucy," he quipped, his tone filled with mock seriousness. "But hey, at least we're entertaining, right?"

''We sure are...'' 

As Isaac and I shared a laugh, a sense of relief washed over me like a warm embrace, soothing the knots of worry that had twisted in my stomach since the moment I had arrived. It was a relief to find that despite the years of separation and the weight of our shared burdens, our bond remained unbroken, our connection as strong as ever.

Deep down, I had been afraid—afraid that Isaac would be angry with me for leaving him behind, for abandoning him to face our parents alone. The guilt had gnawed at me, a constant companion on my journey back home. But as I looked into his eyes, filled with understanding and acceptance, those fears melted away, replaced by a profound sense of gratitude.

Gratitude that despite everything, Isaac still saw me as his sister, his ally, and his friend. Grateful that he didn't hold my past mistakes against me, but instead embraced me with open arms, ready to pick up right where we had left off.