Rightfully Hers

VI

Picture of Isabelle's bedroom above. You don't have to picture it like that if it's not to your liking.

ISABELLE

This was a mistake.

I should have let her go out with Julian, it would have given me time to think about what I'd say. Now, with her sitting on my bed with that bewildered look on her face, I was beginning to regret my decision. Extremely.

She didn't allow her gaze to search my room like I expected her to, she didn't even look at me. Her dark locks fell over her shoulders and she kept her eyes locked on my hardwood floors. I missed her chocolate eyes, and yet I was positive I wouldn't be able to think with them on me.

I began to pace back and forth in front of her, yet my steps failed to capture her attention in the slightest. She looked pained almost, and I felt horrible being the reason behind it. I wanted to be the reason behind that rare smile of hers, the genuine one, or the reason for a laugh to escape the lips I desired so badly. 

"You're my mate," I blurted suddenly. My voice, unlike my pacing, managed to grasp her attention. She glanced up at me, her dark locks falling back over her muscular shoulders, and her look of bewilderment turned into a sullen expression. 

"I know," she mumbled back, not daring to let her eyes meet mine.

I paused. I'd assumed she knew to an extent, but perhaps she wasn't sure. It never occurred to me that she was fully aware that we were mates and yet, would continuously distance herself from me. I found myself frowning in distaste.

"You know?" I couldn't help but ask.

She nodded, but continued to keep her eyes directed at anything but me. "I don't..." She paused, searching for a word of some sort, and then continued. "I don't feel the same as you. When you find out, about the... the mate connection, I don't have the same response as you. But I- hunters- we have a high sense of awareness. I know."

I repeated, "You know?"

She glanced up again, now looking confused. Her deep gaze searched my face, perhaps for answers, but there weren't any. I was positive I was just as confused as she was.

"Yes," she nodded slowly, "that's what I said..."

"So," I began, my feet moving on their own now, pacing again, "you knew we were mates, and yet, you distance yourself whenever you can? I don't understand."

She now took the time to glance around my room, taking in everything from my bed sheets to the chandelier that hung above her head. Her eyes, the ones I was so addicted to, drank in all the details of her surroundings. 

I stood there, now still, and watched her glance around quietly. She was clearly avoiding the question, but I became quickly distracted watching her glance around casually.

I'd imagined her in my bedroom countless times, yet never in this scenario. It wasn't difficult to realize how I imagined her; hair fanning across my pillows, face flushed, that damn striped shirt - as well as many other items of clothing, including mine- disregarded on the floor. Yet here she was, glancing around like she'd never seen a bedroom quite like it, her clothes attached to her body still.

"Jada." I allowed her name to pass between my lips softly, but sternly. She straightened out and tilted her head curiously, eyes meeting mine once again. "Why are you distancing yourself?"

"I leave soon," she whispered, but she didn't sound sure of herself. "This is a mission. I leave soon."

"You don't have to leave soon," I responded back, surprised by the confidence in my voice. "You don't have to leave at all if you don't want to. There will always be room here for you." I took a step closer. "With me..."