Big Bad Alphas

Chapter 11

Sitting in the center of the living room, I look around the walls at the family pictures and smile. I especially enjoy the picture of Eric when he was a toddler. There are no pictures of him as a child at the pack house. "They're in here," I hear Evangeline's voice from further in the house.

I glance to Eric, who is standing off to the side, seeming rather uncomfortable. His gaze is glued to a random spot on the wall.

"Sebastian, this is Isabella." Turning to the hallway, I see Evangeline standing beside the man from the pictures. He looks like an older, different version of Eric.

Immediately I stand up and reach my hand out. He shakes it. "Hello, it's nice to meet you finally."

He smiles in a fatherly way. "Yes, of course, I was wondering if Eric was ever going to bring you over."

Eric walks over and joins the cluster. Surprisingly, more footsteps come from down the hall before a man comes into view. "Isabella, this is Sebastian's brother and Eric's uncle, Henry."

Henry slips past Evangeline and Sebastian then gives me a big, welcoming hug. "Welcome to the family," he says and smiles. "How this one managed to get you in fascinating. I guess we'll just have to thank the moon goddess." He looks back at Evangeline, and she nods.

Evangeline asks me plenty of questions, which I am happy to answer, though as usual, I speed over the topic of my father. Throughout the pleasant conversation, Eric's quiet and closed-up mood continues to confuse me. I would expect him to be comfortable around his family, and after a few more minutes of talk, I notice similar signs from his father. I must be missing something here. "So, Isabella, I've been itching to know what happened to your arms." Evangeline gently takes my hand in hers to maneuver my forearm into her view.

"Just a little tree climbing accident, nothing too serious," I tell her, trying to make her believe it was no big deal. I wonder if she knew about Eric and Olivia's drama.

After another hour, Eric decides that it is time to go despite Evangeline's arguing. I say my goodbyes while making plans with Evangeline to come over again tomorrow, as she insists on making my lunch, giving us more time to talk. Excited, I think of all the questions I can ask her about Eric since he will not be there.

Once we are outside and away from his family, I turn to him while we make our way back. "Is something wrong?"

"No," he says vaguely and keeps his gaze front and center. I stop in my tracks, and he glances back at me before stopping himself. "What is it?"

"I'm not going to act like I didn't notice your mood change. You don't have to tell me what is going on between you and your father, but eventually, before you die of old age, I would like to know," I tell him. "I am not pushing you, only telling you that I have noticed the tension between you two."

His crossed arms fall apart. "Before I die? It looks like I have some time then," Eric lightly jokes, and we continue.

Once back at the house, Marina greets us as soon as we walk in the door. "Isabella, a young girl called asking for you. I-I asked her name, but she only said that she needed to talk with you. She sounded upset."

My heart sinks, and I immediately take the phone from Marina. Dialing the house phone number, I pray that everything is okay—that she is safe. When I hear the phone pick up relief fills me. "Kendra? Kendra is everything all right?"

I take a seat on the couch. "Isabella," I hear her mumble with a weak voice followed by a sniffle. "Please come home."

"What's wrong?" I ask urgently. "Is everything okay? Are you okay?"