Sold To The Alpha
A Lost Princess Chapter 26

Laying on her covers staring at the ceiling, Isabella's mind was a sea of uncertainty. The moment she had shared with Rowan had thrown her overboard and she couldn't replace a life raft to cling too.

He had come to her door a few times that day, knocking gently and calling her name but leaving again when she had refused to answer. She couldn't answer him, what could she say to him? He was the man who had stolen her from her friends and family, but she couldn't deny that she had felt something during that kiss.

Rolling over she growled annoyed as the chain around her ankle clanged against the wooden frame of her bed. A soft knock sounded from her door before Graham's voice called softly through the wood, 'Isabella? May I come in? I have your lunch' he said quietly. Sighing, Isabella drew herself up into a seated position before raising her voice, 'Come in G'

The door swung open to reveal the Graham's tall frame, his brow furrowed as he looked at her concerned.

Placing the tray on to the bed in front of her, he sat gingerly across from Isabella as she picked up the knife and fork and started to play with the green beans, pushing them round her plate absent-mindedly.

'Everything OK?' he asked, his eyes roaming her face searching for a sign that she was fine.

Hitching a smile onto her face, Isabella replied, 'Yeah, of course G, everything is fine, just really tired, that work out yesterday was a lot of work, my wolf was shattered'.

Watching her carefully, Graham placed his hand on hers, 'you can talk to me Bella, you know that right?'

Smiling back at him, Isabella nodded, 'I know, but honestly, I'm fine, just stuff on my mind. I am being held captive by some crazy bloke who doesn't want me to know his name, I think that entitles me to a little bit of moodiness' she added with a cheeky grin. Holding up his hands, Graham returned her smile 'Yeah OK, I'll give you that' he laughed, relaxing as she finally lifted her fork to her mouth and started to eat.

Chewing the food, Isabella studied the man in front of her, from his greying hair, to the scar, to his eyes that held a sadness, swallowing she asked, 'so, what is this meal you have prepared today Mr chef?'

Grinning, Graham replied, 'ahh its one of my Ma's special recipes, her famous Beef Wellington, served with green beans and a creamy mashed potato'

Stuffing another mouthful in, Isabella mumbled 'it's so good, if you ever decide to get out of the kidnapping game, you should seriously consider opening a restaurant, I'd eat there' she added with a giggle.

Bowing his head in mock acceptance, Graham replied, 'you are too kind madam, a compliment from you is praise indeed.' as Isabella giggled uncontrollably.

Scraping her plate clean, she dropped the knife and fork onto the tray with a clatter before laying back against the headboard with a satisfied groan.

'For a crazy weirdo you sure do make a mean meal' she moaned rubbing her stomach contentedly.

Picking the tray up, Graham gave her a small smile, 'For a hot headed teenage kidnap victim, you sure do make a good house guest' he replied with a wink.

Stepping toward the door, he hesitated as his hand reached for the door handle before turning slowly back toward the young girl who was still watching him, 'my name is Graham' he muttered and then quickly left, shutting the door behind him, leaving Isabella sat open mouthed staring at the place he had just vacated.

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'How is she doing?' Rowan asked agitated as Graham walked into the kitchen, placing the empty plate into the sink before taking a seat opposite at the wooden table.

'She's OK' Graham replied, 'says she's just tired from yesterday's training, eyeing the collector sternly he added, 'I know you want to bring out her abilities, just like I do, but you need to be careful not to over tax her, we don't want to burn her out as then she is no use to anyone'

Letting his eyes wander to the stairs that led from the kitchen to the first floor, Rowan dragged his fingers through his hair, sighing deeply, 'Yeah, I know G, but she's special, you know? there's something amazing about her and it pisses me off that her parents have been hiding it rather than helping her replace it.' he growled angrily.

Raising an eyebrow, Graham fixed his companion with a steely stare, 'You are not getting too emotional about her are you Rowan? Remember our objective, I paid you well, I expect results. he added cagily.

Raising a hand, Rowan waved it dismissively, 'I know what needs to be done G, don't you worry, you'll have your little warrior ready and willing when you are, but you need to do your bit and get her thoughts straight'.

Graham glared at the collector angrily, 'I have a plan for that Rowan, you just concentrate on getting her to her peak, and draw out that wolfs power. We are running out of time, we can't sit here forever waiting, they will be looking for her and we need to make sure they don't replace her before we are ready for them.'

Nodding curtly, Rowan scraped back his chair noisily, stomping from the room and up the stairs, the creaking of a door opening a few moments later was the only sound until silence filled the house.

Tap tap tap 'Bella? May I come in please?' Rowan called standing outside the door, his head pressed against the wood as he tried to hear her through the barrier. 'Please Bella? I just want to talk to you' he said desperately, as he rubbed his fingers across his eyes. No sound came from the room and he turned dejectedly to walk away, taking a few steps before he heard her voice call out to him.

'OK' she said quietly, her voice muffled by the solid wood of the door.

His heart jumping slightly, Rowan hurried back and opened the door gently, peeking in to see her sat on the bed, her knees tucked under her chin and her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to protect her body from everything around her. Stepping in quietly, his eyes roamed over her face as she stared dully out of the balcony windows, watching the trees swaying slowly in the breeze.

'Sit over there' she said softly, indicating the chair near the door, not looking up as he quickly made his way over there and sat down facing her.

'What do you want to talk about?' she finally asked, her face blank, refusing to look in his direction.

'Umm I wanted to talk about yesterday' Rowan began, his voice shaking as he studied the young girl in front of him, so strong and independent, yet so vulnerable and innocent.

'What about it?' Isabella asked tonelessly.

'I wanted to know.. umm... well I wanted to ask... 'Rowan began, falling over his words as he tried to verbalise the torment that was going on inside of him.

'You need to complete a sentence if you wish to receive an answer' Isabella replied, cutting off his rambling. A spark of her feistiness glimmering though and causing Rowan to smile despite himself.

'Yes, I suppose I do' he conceded before taking a deep breath, 'Isabella, I wanted to know how you felt about what happened between us' he blurted out, inspecting his fingers suddenly, not wanting to see her facial expression. Isabella sat motionless for a moment, the silence hanging so heavily that Rowan was fearful that she would never answer.

Finally she muttered, 'I don't know how I feel about it, you are the man who stole me, you called me weak, you tell me my family don't want me as the Alpha, don't think I'm worthy..' Isabella trailed off as tears glistened in her eyes before wiping them angrily and continuing, 'but I can't say I didn't feel something Rowan, what that was I don't know but it was something!' she admitted.

'But all this is insignificant as what we both do know is that we are not Mates' she finished, raising her eyes to his.

Meeting her gaze, Rowan shuffled forward in his chair, fighting the urge to go over to her and hold her, 'Have you found your mate Bella?' he asked trying to mask the pain in his voice.

Shaking her head Isabella mumbled, 'not yet', not that I was given much of a chance too' she huffed.

Ignoring her barb, Rowan caressed her face with his gaze, taking in the contours of her body, 'I haven't found mine either, some werewolves never do, that doesn't mean they have to live alone!

Meeting his gaze, Isabella growled lightly, 'I have no choice in who I live with right now do I?' she asked pointedly.

Dropping her gaze Rowan sighed, 'but one day you will princess, and I just want to say that.. well I hope that when you have that choice, you will remember that I will be at the sidelines if you care to look toward me.' he said quietly before standing up and leaving the room.