The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 14

~ISABELLA~

“Why did you say that?” I demanded. Hunter’s forehead creased as he gazed at me with frustrated eyes. He was clearly confused by my question. I pressed my hands against his bare chest and angrily shoved hard against it. I tried to ignore the spark that rocked my body the moment my hands touched his smooth skin. He didn’t move an inch however; he was like a marble rock beneath my touch.

I knew that Hunter was too strong for me, he wouldn’t move unless he actually wanted to but still I couldn’t stop trying.

“Stop that.” He said as he gripped my wrists with both hands.

“No!” I shouted. “I don’t understand what you want from me Hunter. I can’t keep up with your mood swings. One minute you’re all warm and caring and fighting for me and the next you’re running from me like I’m the last person you want to be around.”

I don’t know why I can’t stop shouting and hitting at his chest but nothing will stop me from saying what I have to tell him today.

“If you feel all of these things, if you trust me like you say that you do. Then why, why do you keep pulling away from me? Why do you act like being around me is the most painful experience ever?” I demanded from him.

His jaw clenched and once more his cold exterior that I was already so used to took over all of his other emotions.

I was prepared for when he loosened his grip on me and let go this time. I was getting used to this kind of behavior from him. He was running from any sort of commitment with me. Whenever important things came up that could address our relationship he would disappear. This time was no different and I’d had enough of it.

“Right.” I muttered as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hot and cold. That’s what you are Hunter. Run from me. Run from this. It’s what you’re good at doing.”

He stiffened after hearing the words from my mouth. He was already turning to leave but my words made him pause. I waited for him to say something but none of that happened. Instead, he just stood there. I could tell that he was angry however, his stiff back and shoulders was enough of a hint for me.

When I thought that he’d never turn and say something, he finally did.

He was facing me now and there was a vulnerable look in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. Hunter Miller was not one to ever be vulnerable, I’ve never known him to be this way and it was a great surprise for me.

He advanced on me slowly and I closed my eyes when I felt him close in on me. I couldn’t explain any of this. I couldn’t explain what it felt like to be this close to him. I always got lost in his scent and the way his hands felt on my body. This time he wasn’t touching me however. But still my body kept burning as though his hands were on me.

“Look at me.”

I slowly did as he asked and immediately I was pulled in by the beautiful pool of grey in his eyes. His chest moved in rhythm with mine as I waited for him to say something else.

“Do you know why I act the way that I do?” He asked in a harsh whisper. My lips parted and I couldn’t help but arch my back to get closer to him. I tried to keep up with his words from the pounding in my chest. “Do you know what it feels like to love someone with everything in you and have that person ripped from your heart and your life in a matter of a few seconds? Do you know what it feels like to be the one left behind to suffer? Do you know what it feels like to blame yourself every second of the day? To know that you could have stopped it, to know that you should have stopped it! DO YOU?”

I peered up at him, unable to speak. There was so much pain and hurt in his eyes that travelled all the way to my heart. His hurt was mine. I felt it like I was the one going through it all. I felt tears prick at my eyes and I had to fight to catch my breath. The pain was almost unbearable and it wasn’t even mine!

“DO YOU ISABELLA?” He demanded from me after grabbing onto my shoulders. I gasped as he dropped his voice to a whisper and gently shook my body. “Do you?”

I tried to move my mouth to say something . . . anything. But my voice wouldn’t work, I was suddenly mute.

“You don’t.” He whispered. “If you did you wouldn’t have asked me those questions. You wouldn’t have because you would have already known that I almost experienced that same pain today.”

My eyes widened. What was he talking about? What same pain? He couldn’t possibly talking about–

“If anything had happened to you today, how would I have ever been able to forgive myself this time? How would I live with myself knowing that I couldn’t protect you in my own home? HOW?” He demanded from me. “You ask these questions and expect answers. Don’t you? Well this is my answer and now you know . . . so don’t ever ask me again.”

I wanted to say something, anything to make his pain go away but I didn’t know what words could possible make him feel better and forget all of the hurt and pain.

This was the first time Hunter had confessed anything this strongly to me. This was the first time he’d ever opened up about the pain he feels inside. And it was the first time he’d openly agreed to being worried about me.

I saw the flash of regret on his face a few seconds later and I already knew what he was regretting. He’d opened up to me and he was not happy about it.

He shook his head and let go of me abruptly. I shivered from the loss of his warmth.

Without another word he was storming back inside the house. I leaned back against the wall and hugged myself.

Hunter’s confession was hard for me to stomach. He was so caught up with his past that he wasn’t willing to give his future a chance . . . Wasn’t willing to give us a chance. The messed up part about this entire thing was that I couldn’t be mad at him. His pain was only natural. She was his first love and he’d lost her.

I looked up at the sky and gazed at the clouds. I still couldn’t find it in myself to not feel jealous. I knew that I wasn’t around when she was there but a part of me wished that I was. I wanted to be his first love, that way he wouldn’t be in pain right now and I wouldn’t feel so alone and heartbroken.

I was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man that was still in love with his dead mate. The sad part of it all was that I wanted this from the beginning. I knew that Hunter was damaged but that didn’t stop me from wanting him. I wanted this marriage and a small part of me wanted it to work. But that couldn’t happen until Hunter was willing to get over Maggie, until he was willing to accept that she was gone and that he wasn’t the one behind her death.

I wanted to be the one to help him move on, to help him forget. But I could only do that if he allowed me into his life.

I tightened my palm into a fist. I would not give up, not yet, not ever. I would do what I had to do to make this work, to bring back the Hunter that I knew was still inside there somewhere.

As I walked back into the house, I could feel many eyes on me. I hadn’t realized until now that many of the servants must have witnessed the entire scene outside.

I couldn’t imagine what these people would think. I hadn’t been here longer than a week and already there were so many unrelated incidents between Hunter and me.

I walked up the stairs and straight into our room. I found Hunter in there throwing clothes on the floor. Some of which were mine.

Fear immediately made its way into my heart. What was he doing? Was he thinking of separating us after what had just happened?

“Why are you packing my clothes into that suitcase?” I asked hesitantly.

He didn’t answer me as he continued to throw more dresses in.

I felt my heartbeat increase with each passing second. Why wasn’t he answering me?

“Hunter!” I shouted to try and get his attention. He finally paused with a dress in hand and peered up at me with emotionless eyes.

“Why are you packing away my clothes?” I asked again, this time I was unable to hide the fear in my voice. “Are you planning on sending me somewhere?”

I held my breath as I waited for him to finally answer me.

What if he was sending me away?

What would I do then?