Chapter 38

(Isabella’s POV)

Electricity jolted through my core at the sudden contact with Santiago’s body. Heat surged further with his kiss. The moment it deepened, desire and hunger for him swallowed me whole.

Yet again, he could have had me, right then. My soaked panties prove my body’s betrayal and giving in to Santiago’s touch. What’s worse, though, is knowing he knows that.

Layla's interruption was no innocent coincidence. I swear, I'm beginning to think this woman only wants to take from me. She didn’t want Jesse; she only wanted to prove she could take him from me.

She doesn’t want Santiago…she’s only back in his life because she wants to fuck with me.

I’m overstimulated. It’s all just too much. The other night at the Alpha Ball, dancing with him and being in his arms, I almost forgot we aren’t actual mates!

Then, Layla calls, and he takes off without a single thought to me at all.

Did he offer to let me go with him? No. Did he offer to take me home? No. Did he offer to leave his car or send one back to pick me up? No.

He rushed off to her side, leaving me to walk back in the middle of the fucking night through rogue territory. And as if that weren’t bad enough, Jesse damn near killed me yet again and he gets way with it!

Then I come back here, and Santiago expects me to act as though nothing has happened at all. How does Layla have this effect on men!

She was in his bed! Why does that hurt me so bad?

Why does this feel like the situation with Jesse all over again?

“Because you refuse to admit that you have fallen in love with Santiago. Suppressing the fact that he is our second chance mate doesn’t make it any less true, Isabella. Saying that this situation is just simply contractual doesn’t make it so,” my wolf says.

“Fine,” I say. “But, even if for the sake of argument, I let myself feel these things, Santiago has been adamant that we are contractual. That there will be no emotional or physical connection,” I say.

“He’s fighting it too,” she says. “You need to be consistent and make the first move.”

“I did! How do you keep managing to forget the humiliation in his study? He acted repulsed and rejected us. Then he avoided us like we were plagued!”

“Stubborn. You both have that in common.”

I bolt as far away from Santiago as I can get. When I’m near him, my legs feel wobbly and my head fuzzy. Nothing makes sense.

“Why did you push him away?” my wolf asks

“You’ve yearned for his touch, and he willingly, delightfully kissed you!” She falls backward dramatically inside my mind.

“I don’t know. Everything felt right…too right…and then I heard Layla. No matter what, he will always ditch me to go running to her. It feels too much like what we just went through with Jesse.”

“Bella, he wants you. I sense it. He is different than Jesse.”

I stop moving once I get to the courtyard. I hear Santiago jogging up behind me.

“Bella, stop. We need to talk…now,” he says with a low growl.

I spin around a little too fast and get lightheaded. I start to topple over, and he catches me. I look up to meet his gaze. He’s staring at me.

There’s a film of cold sweat across his forehead. His jaw clenches.

“You need to be careful. I don’t want you to tear your stitches. Let me take you to the pack hospital for an assessment?”

I look away. “No. I’m fine.

His hands are still on my waist. It feels almost like the other night. They radiate warmth through my clothes, and for just a moment, I let myself indulge in the fantasy of what it might feel like to lose the barriers between us and feel his skin flush against mine.

My mouth waters at the thought…then my mind drifts off to our kiss. His lips are soft…wet..

Santiago clears his throat. “Bella, are you okay?”

My vision refocuses, and I nod. “Yes. Listen, you and Layla need your space. Now that you two are on the road to rebuilding your marriage, me being here is just a third wheel situation.”

“There is no reconciliation. We are not rebuilding anything,” he says with furrowed brows.

I take a step backward out of his grasp and reach. “You don’t need me to live here anymore. This part of our contract is complete. So obviously, we can end our living arrangement.”

Santiago growls low from his chest. His hands ball up into fists at his side. The muscle in his jaw ticks as his lips spread into a tight, thin line. “No, I disagree. Our contract includes this living arrangement.”

I straighten my posture, look him deadpan in his icy blue eyes, “Layla is trouble. And I refuse to share space with her any longer.”

He smirks, and as condescending as that is, damn, he wears it well. “All this time…I thought you were more confident than this. Isabella, you’re jealous.”

“I’m what? No. Listen to me, she is manipulating you. If we’re being honest…she’s making a fool out of you.”

He steps back into my space and pulls me close to him. “If you want to end our living arrangement and nullify our contract…simply figure out how to solve the 'going feral' issue and I’ll be happy to oblige, abolishing our agreement.”

He studies me after unleashing his words as if he expects a reaction. At this moment, my mind and body can only be described as chaotic.

Thoughts race through my head in quick succession.

I want him. But I shouldn’t. Being close to him shouldn’t make me dizzy, but it does.

Being in his arms…kissing him shouldn’t feel so good. It shouldn’t make me want him more.

Fucking Layla! Why is that woman hellbent on following me and taking everything away from me?

Life as a rogue is starting to make sense! And, Jesse…he gets a free pass for assault. I come back after almost dying, and I’m the bad guy! What the actual fuck!

“Bella,” my wolf says calmly bringing me out of my thoughts. “Breathe. You’ve been through more trauma than anyone should ever have to endure.”

Tears build up until I can’t hold them anymore.

“I can’t stay here,” I tell her.

“Santiago is fighting the same battle you are, Bella. Layla is manipulative. He’s trying to do the noble thing in case the pup she carries is his. I’m telling you…I sense his wolf. They want us like we want them. Layla doesn’t matter.”

I vehemently shake my head. My heart pounds inside my chest. His words stab me in the gut like a silver-bladed dagger, knocking the air out of my lungs.

I feel as though I’m gasping for air. Suddenly, my legs feel too heavy to lift. The world is spinning, and I can’t focus on Santiago’s form anymore.

I look up at him, and it’s like we are surrounded by fog.

One moment, the sensation of falling envelopes me. Next, Santiago’s sculpted arms cradle my body.

“I’ve got you, Bella.”

“Where are you taking me?” I ask as he carries me bridal style out of the courtyard.

“The pack hospital.”