* Isabella *
There is almost a thousand acres of land which belongs to the leader of the Bannister and about a quarter is inhabited and well develop by my father and uncle. After the recent meeting with the Alpha of the Cold mountain pack my father called out my cousins and other relatives together with the people who works at the ranch and the farm.
"Today I would like to announce the new leader of the Bannister hunters! None other than, my only child! Isabella Abegail Bannister!"
My Aunt and Uncle clap their hands as both of them stand up from their chairs to give me a formal greetings. It was a brief introduction from my father since it is pre determine that I would replace him of the title.
"Congratulations Isabella! I know you can make it, you have the blood of your father running through your veins! We are here to give you our full support just like how we supported my brother!"
The smile on my uncle's lips might look genuine but I could see the disappointment deep inside of him. My Aunt Sandra, did not even smile which I could understand.
"Congratulations Isabella." Her voice lack of warmth when you greet someone of a good achievement. She wanted my uncle to take my father's place or even my cousin Richard.
"Thank you Uncle Rodolf and Aunt Sandra. Thank you all! It was a pleasure to take the responsibility on my father's shoulders. As we all know, he needs to take care of himself and relax. Now that the leadership is under my name, I would like to inform everyone that whatever your concerns in the Bannister lands we can sort it out. I am always here to listen, and I will ensure that our safety is always the priority. Thank you all for coming, food is ready! We can have a feast tonight and also unlimited drinks!"
My cousins from the back cheered and shouted my name. I look at them with a smile, while hoping to see the face of my boyfriend in the crowd but he just texted me that he has an urgent job to do. My father is so proud of me as he talk to the old employees of the farm while I walk towards my cousins. I could still hear my Aunt talk behind my back.
"How nice it must be, to take the leadership without hard work."
My Uncle stopped her from saying things out loud but I know he also dislike the title under my name.
"Congratulations Isabella!
Richard was the first one to stand up from his chair and greet me followed with a bear hug. I like how genuine he is to me, despite his parents. "Where is Bernard? I thought he wouldn't missed the occasion."
I let go of him and shrug my shoulders. "He said that he has evening duty this week and will come to greet me tomorrow."
"Oh! I see. Too bad, he's not seeing how bad ass girlfriend you are! Taking over as the head of the Bannister hunters? I mean how cool is that?"
"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes upward and greeted my other cousins.
"Congratulations Isabella!"
Sheena, Richard's younger sister gives me a hug together with my friend. "Come on everyone! Let's eat and drink. My father spend a considerable amount just for us to enjoy tonight and this is not happening everyday."
"Maybe that would change now that you are the new leader Isabella, I mean maybe Uncle Lorenzo would let us party now that you are the leader."
I grinned to Richards thoughts, he is not as matured as I am Afterall. "I don't think so my dear cousin, I wouldn't want that either. I have more things to do with the people in the farm and also keeping us all safe. The few businesses that my father own in the City as well those are in my shoulders now."
"Oh, well then. Good luck to you my dear cousin. I hope Bernard will help you with those and maybe he will if you two marry each other."
The smile faded from my lips, I haven't thought about marriage yet. And with Bernard? It is a fact that we are in relationship however, I am more focus in the Bannister lands while Bernard is a cop in the City.
"Well see about that, right now it is too early to tell."
We started to enjoy the night when all of a sudden someone from the guest screamed. "Wolves!?"
I furrowed my brows and look around us, then the music in the air stopped playing. The growling of the wolves coming from the entrance of our gates. The thick railings showed three of them outside showing their fangs. My father runs towards me holding his shotgun with silver bullets.
"Mister Bannister! Hear me out! We did not come here to fight, we are from the Southlands!"
"Dad! Don't go near the gates let me handle this."
I remained calm as I take my small gun strap around my leg. They have their eyes blazing with anger as they look at us and the people in our farm shook in fear and some are already fainted.
"What do you want? I am Isabella Bannister the new leader of the hunters. State your reason for coming here before we put silver bullets against your skull!"
The hunters in our group gathered all together beside me, each one of us is armed by silver bullet as we waited in silence for the wolves to talk. One of them is bigger than the rest as he walk near the gate and look at me.
"This land belongs to us. It is not a part of the North anymore, you can all leave in peace and go back to the City where human are more protected. The Alpha of the South is giving you a month to get out of this lands!"
My father gritted his teeth. As he holds the big gun with both his hands aiming for them outside the gates.
"No! That is bullshit! This land belongs to the Bannister family ever since I took over from my great grand father and our ancestors live here!" Leave now! Before we start firing you with silver bullets!"
I place my hand against my father's shoulders.
"You are wrong Mister Bannister! And this is none negotiable, you stayed in this lands longer than necessary when this aren't yours. It belongs to the South now! We would come back after a week and see what is your decision, but be wise or the blood of your people will be spilled and this will end up badly for all of you!"
The shocked at everybody's eyes remained, even when the wolves have already leave. My cousins are all holding their guns but the workers of the Bannister lands did not own any.
Father looks at me with his eyes full of anger and hatred towards the wolves of the South. They are not rogues who are suffering from hunger and lack the ability to fight strongly to us. The wolves from the South are strong, same like the cold mountain pack. They have a good leader and they are warriors too.
"Dad, please don't think too much about it. We can get through this, if they want a fight! We will give them that. We are ready, this lands is ours! This is the North."
I look at him deep in the eyes but the next thing my father did is unexpected. He clutches his chest and painfully called my name.
"Isabella..."
"Dad? What's wrong? Are you in pain? Oh my God please, tell me what can I do?"
I hold him as he is about to fall down but my father is heavier than me so we both sat on the ground. He couldn't talk anymore as he struggles to breath. My Uncle went to help us and took him to stand but he suddenly collapsed. "Lorenzo!?"
"Dad!?" I shouted to the top of my lungs, not believing what has happened. Richard reach for his phone and just like a slow motion. I watch them carry my father into the car and then pushed me inside the passengers.
"Isabella! Snap out of it, we will take Uncle Lorenzo to the hospital. Be strong maybe he is just having an attacked and he will soon recover. Tears fell down my cheeks as we followed the car of my Uncle who's taking my father into the nearest hospital.
"He can't die Richard! My father will soon recover, we have to defend our lands. I need him!"
So many things running inside my head as we drove to the hospital. The fear of losing my father is already gripping my heart.
* Isabella *It was all so sudden, I was not ready. Losing my father hurt so much that it felt as though a big part of me died. I know that he was ill, yet I did not expect that he would leave me in just a matter of hours after we brought him to the family's private cemetery. I should have known that my father's heart and his body had become weak because of old age. The first time we brought him to the hospital was the sign that he was in a fragile condition."Goodbye, Dad. This will be the last time I see you but I know that you will always be here for me even though I can't see you. You will always be in my heart, remember that I love you more than anyone in this world. I promise to get stronger and keep our legacy, I promise to protect the people living in our lands and to fight the wolves that hurt your feelings."I felt the hands of my cousin on my shoulder as I threw the stem of a rose into my father's coffin that was slowly going down the six-foot hole. "Isabella, let me stay
* Isabella *The new day comes just like any other normal day in the Bannister mansion. Yet my heart is still filled with sorrow and grief from the loss of my father. My Dad, who tough me everything I needed to know to be a good hunter. So I enhanced my skills more on daily training with the hunters in the Bannister mansion. We need to be always ready when the wolves of the South come back. Richard is staying by my side as we keep our lands safe and going."Miss Bannister!"I stop the treadmill and turn around to face one of the hunters asking for my attention. "Yes, what's the matter, Dino?"Richard who was holding the weights on both his hands stopped and walked towards us. "Miss Bannister, guests are asking to come in. They said they are a friend of Mister Bannister and they wanted to visit his grave and talk to you.""Where are they from? Did you ask their identity?"I glance at the door of the training room at the back of the mansion. "Yes, Miss Bannister. He is Alpha Charles Ver
* Isabella *They left after a few minutes of staying beside my father's grave and I felt a feeling of uneasiness lifted from my heart. I wonder why the presence of Alpha Charles makes me so aware of him that I can't stay still knowing that he is around. It could be because I am not comfortable with them, as I blame the death of my father on their kind. The darkness of the clouds above me as I stood on the balcony of my room accompanied my grieving heart. "Isabella?"I turned around to see Richard walking towards me. The room where he stays is next to me and we share the same balcony. "You couldn't sleep too?"He nodded and let a tiny smile hover around his lips. "The wolves are not pleased because you have been obvious about your feelings towards them my dear. Alpha Charles is smirking every time he looks at you. You could be wrong about them you know?"I sighed. "I don't need their help, Richard, I could be civil if I happen to bump into them but unlike my father. I don't want to e
* Isabella *I woke up to the sound of the cars on the road and the rumbling of the engines of the motorcycles. My eyes opened and I looked around me, it was a relief to find my cousin Richard sitting on the long couch with his eyes closed and then the luggage on the floor. I got up and observed the room. The window is covered by a thin white curtain that runs from the wall to the floor. It must be a three-star hotel based on the simple design, but it is a blessing that the room is neat and the sheets smell of fabric conditioner."Richard?"He started to move, I was grateful that he was still with me. My thoughts went back to the time I listened to Bernard's story."Thank God you are awake Isabella. I was worried about you, Martha just left to buy us some food for dinner. Are you hungry?""How is everyone Richard, have you contacted Uncle Rodolf?"His expression dimmed and he looked away from me. I know that as much as I fear the worst had already happened."I could not get a hold of
* Isabella *"Welcome to the Alpha house of the North Miss Bannister! This is a surprise; you should have informed me so that my son was here to greet you."The old man walks down the stairs at a fast pace followed by the butler of the house who looks at us with a question written all over his face. Two servants greeted us at the entrance of the Alpha house aside from the guards standing on the gates. As expected of the father of the Alpha, he exudes power and authority unmatched by humans like us."Oh, it is alright Mister Vernice. There is an urgent matter that I must discuss with you or with your son. Regardless of who among you would help me in this desperate time."His eyes turned wide and the gasp coming from my cousin Richard made me look behind me. He bowed his head to the old man when he stood in front of us."Please let us all be seated first. And I wanted to know everything that's on your mind Miss Bannister, I could feel that something terrible must have happened that you
* Isabella *I closed my eyes while lying down in the comfort of the queen-sized bed that was given to me in the Cold Mountain pack Alpha house. Mister Vernice has been generous enough to let me occupy the room next to his son. I would have said no and chosen the common guest room but I thought perhaps it would be easier to talk to Alpha Charles this way. The behavior I showed him when his last visit to the Bannister lands is making me feel nervous. What if he disliked my presence in his home? Remembering the assurance of his father that he would help me convince his son made me slightly comfortable. I could not remember for how long I had slept during the night but as I opened my eyes, a strong presence inside my room made me feel surprised."Good morning Miss Bannister!"His well-modulated voice and the good scent of aftershave and soap coming from his figure assaulted my nostrils. I sit up as I realize his cold eyes surveying me on top of the bed."Good morning Mister Vernice. I d
* Isabella *But my strength is no match against him as I stare deep into his brown orbs and notice the sarcasm plastered on his red lips. He challenged me with his hard chest that did not even move an inch even when I have used every ounce of strength that is left in my body. He remained close to me with his fingers dug into my shoulders."I am not going to be a normal human being anymore! Not when my father died because of the wolves from the South. If you don't want to help me then I have another plan!"The smirk on his lips faded and his eyes lit with fire as he brought me even closer to him. My heart is turning wild inside my chest."And what is your other plan, Isabella? Do you think that I care about what you would do if you came here and talked to my father? Good luck with your plan to take your lands back, however, the Alpha of the Cold Mountain pack and the warriors will not help you. You should know better than to put the lives of the people you love in danger just because
* Isabella *The old man waited until the servant who brought us the steaming hot coffee in the cup left. I smelled the aroma of the drink and held the cup to get a taste, it felt like home but my troubled mind refused to believe that. I watched the old man take a sip from his cup and carefully place back the cup on the saucer. He meets my gaze."My son does not want to help you however if you do what I tell you to, you could turn the tables around."I blinked my lashes and cleared my throat."I am listening Mister Vernice."He nodded and continued the conversation. "Our race as white wolves is extinct, my son refused to take a mate because she-wolves are nothing more than his playmates. They jump into his bed with just a snap of his finger."My eyes widened. "You see Miss Bannister, if you want his help then you need to offer him something in return. You are young and beautiful, I would bet my life that he is not immune to your charms. I noticed how he eyed on your back when you were