Chapter 10

(Isabella’s POV)

I’m speechless. My eyes widen as my mouth opens and shuts at his words. Why would he say such a thing, just to help me?

What is this emotion I feel when I’m close to this man?

My knees are weak, the butterflies in my stomach flap wildly. When he called me his second chance, my pulse felt like I just shifted back to my human form after a marathon run in the forest.

Instinctively, I reach for his arm, pausing for a heartbeat before looking straight at Layla.

Why would she have ever given him up…for Jesse?

Even through this shirt, my fingers feel the definition of his carefully crafted muscles. A Greek god, I muse.

My eyes flutter closed for just a second as I take in his sandalwood scent. The sensation in my belly escalates from butterflies to what feels like my wolf prancing around and wagging her tail.

Layla’s face contorts into a snarl and turns blood red. She grabs Santiago’s sleeve and tries to pull him away from me.

He doesn’t budge.

When that doesn’t work, she lunges at me with her claws fully extended. My wolf prepares to shift.

Before I can react at all, Santiago steps in front of me, blocking my face and body from Layla’s reach.

“I’m your mate, you shouldn’t treat me this way!” Layla says, seemingly louder than she intends.

When that doesn’t work, she reaches for his arm again, claws retracted…gently.

Santiago shakes off her hand. “We are already divorced. As far as I’m concerned, you need to stay away from me. There is no relationship between us anymore.”

“You can’t possibly want her over me,” Layla says, gesturing to me. “I’m still your mate, divorce or not.”

Jesse’s smile falters. In fact, it he straight up frowns. “What are you talking about? We’re about to get engaged,” he says.

My wolf inside my mind comments, Hmm, the one she loves is Santiago.

Now is not the time, I remind her.

This one is ours, shift and let me have her.

Absolutely not, ma’am. Take a wolf nap…or maybe a cold shower.

All I can do is stare at Layla with wide eyes. I didn’t expect her to react this way. Clearly, Jesse is just as surprised.

“You know, Layla. Perhaps, you and Jesse should deal with your own relationship before worrying about ours.”

I surprise myself by grabbing Santiago on my own and kissing him in front of them. I’m relieved that he plays along and kisses me back.

My arms wrap around his neck as my fingers run through his hair.

His hands pull my waist to his body. My breasts are pressed firmly against him. He proceeds to wrap his arms around me, lifting me just slightly off my feet so I can reach him better.

His lips intertwine with mine. Jolts of electricity rip through my core as I part my own lips, allowing his tongue entry to my mouth. He does the same.

I could easily forget Layla and Jesse are even here.

Layla stomps off in a huff with Jesse chasing after her.

As soon as we are in the clear. I immediately let go of Santiago.

The distance between us feels like we’re miles away from where we were at lunch with an atmosphere that seems heavy and thick. Suddenly, we are back to awkward.

I decide to ask about his and Layla’s history together.

“I discovered that she’s my fated mate at just eighteen years old. It seemed only natural to enter into marriage. I never contemplated divorcing a fated mate before, always respected her. She still chose the ultimate betrayal. So, I chose divorce.”

He notes that he never loved her, only accepted her as his mate.

How odd. Most werewolves fall deeply with their fated mate, but he only accepted her and did the noble thing – married her, rather than just reject.

He explains how he caught her cheating with Jesse. How every time they were together, the pain sunk through the mate bond.

He hired a private investigator who found what he describes as interesting and disturbing lies.

“I don’t mean to be nosey, but with the divorce and everything you found out, why didn’t you reject her and break the bond?”

His eyes soften for just a moment, a fleeting one. “I did,” he whispers. Our bond never felt particularly strong. Neither of us reacted the way I would have expected; not even close to what happened when I saw you reject Jesse.”

“Wow, still…she doesn’t seem to want the divorce,” I muse.

“Her betrayal of me and our bond is a fact; one she obviously can’t deny. I could never accept someone who is unfaithful.”

He turns to face me and cups my face in his hand. “You should remember that, Isabella. I don’t hesitate to retaliate.”

On the last word his gaze softens and trails back to my lips. He slowly pulls his hand away, running it through my hair on descent back to his side.

I hold his stare as I answer. “I will follow our agreement,” I say.

His manners show arrogance, but I’m not sure that is who this man is. I’m starting to think he wears it as a mask to hide pain…a lot of pain.

There’s just something lonely and heartbroken in those icy blue eyes of his…I don’t know if it’s his or just his wolf’s pain that I’m picking up on.

Santiago offers to take a walk and then maybe have dinner together. I agree.

“I noticed that you seem to enjoy the view of the river and cherry blossom trees at lunch, would you like to walk down that way?”

I smile, “Yes, I’d really like that.”

The sunset has the sky looking like a watercolor set splattered across a bright blue canvas. A dozen or more rays from the golden sun set low on the horizon look like flames dancing across white water moving down stream.

Soft foam splashes gently over exposed rock, around the golden light sprinkling butterfly kisses on the water.

The wind catches my hair. It feels cool on the back of my neck.

Pink cherry blossom leaves cover the grass beneath the trees for as far out as I can see. It looks like a soft, plush blanket.

“After dinner, I can take you home if you like,” he says as we walk through the park.

“I appreciate that, but I need to stop at the paparazzi offices and see if I can negotiate a way to pay them for sharing evidence of Jesse’s affair.

“I understand your desperation, but I’ll remind you if the paparazzi really have any valuable information, they would have sold it already. What you really should do is hire a private investigator.”

I nod in agreement. “The problem is I was forced out of my marriage with nothing. I have no money to hire one.”

My wolf suggests, You can ask Santiago for help. Afterall, he is your date!

Are you panting? I ask her. Shut up. We are not on a date!

I do proceed to ask Santiago, “Can you help me find a private investigator to help gather evidence against Jesse?”

“I can help you, but you’ll spend the night with me,” he says.