Chapter 1. The Birthday Girl

*Isabella*

"Oh, They are so lovely Bernard! Thank you."

I smiled widely at the beautiful fresh red roses wrapped neatly in a printed thick wrapping paper. The bouquet I did not expect to receive today since we had no plan on celebrating my twenty-third birthday. However, Bernard had a surprise appearance early in the morning. The smile on his lips warmed my heart. I bet that he came here first before going to his work.

"Happy birthday my dear Isabella."

He lowered his head to give me a peck on the cheek which I accepted gladly. I turned around to find an empty antique flower vase sitting above the long wooden table in the living room. Then I carefully place the flowers inside, removing the wrapper and folding them before throwing them quickly at the nearest bin.

"Thank you, Bernard! You are the first person to greet me today."

I walk gracefully towards him, aware of his eyes looking at the very tight black denim that I wore with a matching tank top in the same color. The obvious admiration reflecting from his eyes boosts the confidence that I feel.

"I don't understand why you choose not to celebrate Isabella. We should go out to dance and dine tonight together with our friends."

I shake my head slowly and encourage him to take a seat on the soft long couch in front of us. As soon as he sat down, I sighed and took the seat beside him. Bernard has been my boyfriend for almost six months now, but he was an avid suitor for many years before finally my father agreed that we date. He is a decent man coming from a family who works in the police department.

"Well, I am thankful to have come this age, my dear. But parties are not a priority right now and my father is thinking of putting me as the new head of the clan."

His worried frown appeared on his forehead when he looked at me. "Is your Dad seriously giving you such a difficult job? I mean you have strong male cousins, why don't they take over? You are a woman, Isabella, you are maybe well trained and strong as a Bannister but hunting wolves does not suit an elegant and beautiful woman like you. You are my princess!"

I leaned my back on the couch while Bernard held my hand and brought it to his lips. The feeling of his soft mouth touching my skin feels familiar to me. However, it is cold. Unlike how it's described in the romantic books that are sitting in my late mother's library, ours is a love with nothing more than just a brief kiss here and there. And it makes me wonder more often, why I never had jitters flying around my stomach. It's not like he is not sexy, Bernard is a good-looking young man with a body that's maintained with good exercise and a face that is above average.

"Bernard, you know that my father is the current head of the clan right now and I don't have any other siblings. His sole successor is only me, and I am more than capable of handling this job more than any Bannister could."

There is a hint of gladness in my voice, taking over the family as the head is something like a big achievement for me. I heard him sigh before we heard the footsteps of my father coming from the grand staircase of our mansion. My eyes immediately moved towards the staircase, and I saw my father looking down toward us.

"Good morning, Bernard!"

Bernard promptly stood up straight and bowed his head to greet my father with a smile on his lips. He looks reliable and proud wearing his usual police uniform. He stands a few inches taller than me, however our height gets even when I wear heels which he often disapproves of. I'm glad that my father is beginning to like him.

"Good morning Mr. Bannister, nice to see you this morning sir."

My father walked slowly on the stairs while supporting his weight with a silver cane. His hair is almost all greyish but still, he is better looking than most men his age.

"Ah, I guess I know the reason why you are here early. Today is Isabella's birthday, however, I regret to inform you that parties and gatherings are not going to be allowed in the mansion after the incident which happened last year."

I rolled my eyes upward. My last birthday left a negative experience for my father that until now he could not get over. An accident happened when one of the guests invited a wolf which turned ballistic in the middle of drinking too much alcohol. It was unexpected that caused an accident at the Bannister mansion, even rendering an injury to my father's leg. After that, I accepted the fact that there would be no more parties or gatherings in this huge empty house.

We rarely accept wolves as guests in this mansion, even though we are at peace with them. There are still bad wolves roaming around, the ones that they call rogues. The last wolf guest was not a rogue but a member of the Cold Mountain pack, and he did get a punishment from his Alpha for sure. My father hated me after that, trust is something he is difficult to give and I have almost ruined it. That is why I am still surprised that he vouchs for me as the new head of the Bannister family.

"I do understand Mister Bannister, sir. If that is your decision then Isabella and I would accept it wholeheartedly."

Bernard smiled as he looked at my father. One thing that is good about him is being respectful to my father. My father raised one brow and stopped in front of the grand staircase, his eyes surveyed me and a smile hovered on his pale lips.

"I'm not saying that you two could not celebrate alone. I had a reservation in one of the famous restaurants in the city, you can take my daughter for a fancy dinner Bernard, and you two can dance and listen to a sweet melody, and enjoy the night."

My eyes turned wide as I got up and took long strides to hug my father. "Oh, Dad! You are so sweet, thank you so much. I thought we were not celebrating, you can come with us too Dad."

He gently kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. "Happy birthday sweetie, I don't want to bother you both from your romantic evening. You two enjoy tonight."

Bernard cleared his throat. "Thank you Mister Bannister I will be sure to get off work earlier and pick up Isabella at seven pm sharp. I will take my leave now."

I whispered the words take care in my mouth while meeting Bernard's eyes.

My father nodded at him and we both watched him walk out of the entrance of our mansion. "He is a good man sweetheart and I can see that he loves you dearly. I won't regret the day I accepted him to be your boyfriend."

I smiled proudly and looked up at my father. "Yes, he is, thank you, Dad. I am grateful for the dinner reservation."

He let go of me gently and sat on the single couch. "That is nothing, sweetie, I was worried about what happened last year that is why I refuse to have a party in the mansion. And I am getting older every day I want to live in a peaceful and quiet house but you are still young and you might get bored."

The smile painted on my lips grows wider. This is one of those days that my father is being generous to me and it will be a waste not to take advantage of the opportunity. "Shall I go bring you a cup of coffee Dad?"

I asked him with a smile. He shakes his head and leans his back on the couch. "No, please call Martha and let her make us a good breakfast instead."

"Oh, I am not hungry Dad, I just had coffee with Bernard and I have to leave to visit one of the salons. My birthday dinner will be tonight and I want to look beautiful."

"You are already beautiful Isabella."

I winked at him and turned my back heading towards the kitchen where I found Martha and asked her to make breakfast for my father. This is a good day for me, I have to get ready for my birthday.