RISK

18

I don't usually write authors notes but I just want to say sorry this chapter is short. Obviously I haven't updated in a while. I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. Thanks for bearing with me.

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Isabella collapses onto the couch, her legs giving in due to exhaustion.

"My legs are done. We're gonna have to see the rest tomorrow." Isabella laughs.

Xander smiles at his mate. "No need," Xander says, "We're back where we started." He points to the room down the hallway him, his parents, and Isabella were in moments ago, where they explained their whole world to her.

"Oh, thanks goodness. This place is a maze. I already know I'll be getting lost. But thanks for the tour." She smiles.

He smiles back at her. "You're welcome."

Xander sits next to Isabella on the couch, and wraps his hand in hers. She smiles, looking down at their hands, then up at Xander. Their eyes meet and she feels something she's never felt before. In the back of her mid she hears a faint noise. Her eyebrows furrow together in confusion, trying to concentrate on this unfamiliar noise inside of her head. Right before she was about to give up, she makes the noise out to be a whisper.  Mate.

Suddenly, Isabella gasps, hearing another persons voice inside of her head. She shakes her head. She convinces herself she must have hit her head when she fainted, and is just recovering.

"Are you ok?" Xander asks concerned.

It takes her a moment to answer. "I'm ok," she nods, "but I should probably get home. My dad's probably waiting for me." Isabella decides the best thing for her right now is to get some rest.

"Ok," Xander nods, "I'll drive you." Xander gets up and Isabella follows his lead. As they're walking, he gives her hand a tight squeeze and she smiles, looking up at him. He stops walking, and rest s hand on her cheek. Isabella leans into his touch, closing her eyes in content. Without thinking, he leans down and pressed a light kiss to her lips. She smiles, returning the kiss. Butterflies fly in the pit of her stomach. She's kissed Xander before, but it's starting to feel better...like something is stronger.

"Now let's get you home safe." He smiles down at her. She nods, following his lead once again.

Isabella waves to Xander as she walks to her front door. She unlocks it, comes inside, and watches him from her window as he drives off.

"Hey, honey." Her dad says coming downstairs.

"Hey, dad." She gives him a welcoming hug.

"How was your day?" He ask.

She smiles, "It was...different." She says summing up the day she had, filled with new information.

"Something to do with that boy who just dropped you off?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Xander, dad. His name is Xander. And we just had a good day." She shrugs, not wanting to say too much.

"He treats you well? He makes you happy?" He asks his daughter.

"Yes, and yes. You have nothing to worry about."

"Ok," he nods, "I do want to meet him soon."

Isabella nods, "you will! Don't worry." She kisses her dad on the check and goes upstairs to her room. Isabella walks towards her window, ready to close her blinds as the sun is down for the night. Before she closes it, she suddenly remembers the wolves who were fighting outside her window just a few days before. She ask herself if those were werewolves. They had to be. That would explain their height. But why were they fighting? When they were on a date, Xander promised that wolves aren't dangerous. She makes a mental note to ask him next time she sees him. Once again, thoughts of Xander fill her mind. She thinks about his touch, his lips, his eyes...his different world. A world she didn't even know existed. A world he's willing to share with her. She wonders how different this world will make their relationship. Now she knows werewolves exist, but how much of Xander's daily life revolved around that part of him? He goes to school, has a family and friends, all of that seems normal. Their relationship will probably be like any other normal relationship, she assures herself.

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Sorry again that it's so short! I'll make it up to ya'll with a long chapter next. I hope you're all doing well x