The Highlander's Alpha: A Highlander Werewolf Romance (3 page)

“Take one of the servants with you.”

“I’ve lived here for nearly twenty-five years. I know my way around.”

“A servant and be back before dark, I have been hearing wolves lately.”

Isabelle nodded and headed to the library to get her book before heading outside and disappearing to her hiding place. She felt Terry following behind her and smiled, as he veered off in the opposite direction when they were out of view of the estate.

Isabelle had been going on adventures around the estate since she was a small child. Terry was the one who showed her all of the hiding spots on the grounds. When she turned fifteen, he would take her out, but leave her be, so he could go see his wife over at the kitchen.

Between the gardens and the pool, there was a small river that ran the length of the property. Almost a mile down the river, there was a small cave that she had found when she was a small girl. She remembered on her eighteenth birthday, she came down to the stables to meet with Paul, the stable boy. Paul was the one to take her innocence. They had been out on a ride together and he had kissed her. Isabelle, at the time, hadn’t had any experience with men and welcomed his advances. She lost her virginity on the grassy ground behind the estate.

Isabelle was not a whore though, far from it. She had only had relations with three men in her life. Although her father believed it to be more, she usually preferred to read books than have sex with men.

She sat on the grass by the river and slipped her shoes off before dipping her feet into the cool, running water. Now that her father had forbidden her to be with Adam, it fuelled her desire for him more.

She fell back on the grass and looked at the clouds above her, as she thought about Adam and his golden eyes. Whenever he was near, she became frustrated and desire pooled in her body. She quickly sat up, as her mind filled with images of her and Adam naked on his bed.

It had been almost a year since she had slept with a man, much to her father’s assumptions. She shook her head and picked her book up again. If she was distracted by her book, then she wouldn’t think of Adam and his golden eyes.

Isabelle got so lost in her book she didn’t realize the sun was setting until she had to squint to read. She closed it and rubbed her arms, it had gotten chilly all of a sudden. She stood and headed back towards the estate.

She met Terry halfway and they walked in silence to the house. They were nearing the door when something white dashed out in front of them. Terry pushed her behind him and she almost screamed in fear at the pale wolf growling at him.

She thought her father was going to delusional when he said that he was hearing wolves. To her dismay, he was right. Standing in front of her and Terry was a full-grown, white wolf. Something seemed familiar about the white beast, but she wasn’t quite sure what it was. She was grateful when the wolf loped off towards the forest.

Isabelle rushed inside and headed straight to her bedroom. She briefly thought about how she wished she was able to help Janet with her romance, but once her father had said no, she dared not argue with him. She disrobed for bed and climbed in with a deep sigh.

Her father forbade her to see Adam and that made her desire for him much worse. There was something about the man’s golden eyes and the way he walked that made her curious as to how he would challenge her in bed. She laid her head to rest and pondered over the likelihood that she would find a suitable count.

****

“Count Silver, may I enter?” Isabelle knocked quietly on Adam’s door and waited a few moments before the heavy oak swung open and Adam pulled her inside. She was pressed against the door seconds later and Adam framed her face with his hands.

“You should not be here, Isabelle.”

“I could not stay away from you.”

“I have been thinking of you for a while.” Adam licked his lips before bending down and placing gentle kisses down her neck. Isabelle tilted her head to the side and moaned her consent, as his hand trailed from her face to the swell of her breast.

Adam chuckled quietly before he placed two hands in the front of her nightgown and ripped it open. She gasped in surprise as the buttons tore, leaving her naked and vulnerable to Adam’s golden gaze. Adam tossed the remains of the nightgown away before he ran his hands down her ribs to her hips.

“You have a beautiful figure, Isabelle.”

“Oh, Adam,” Isabelle said, as she allowed her hands to leave the door and wrap around his neck. Adam made a growling noise before he placed his hands on the back of her thighs and hoisted her up against him. Out of reflex Isabelle wrapped her legs around his waist and leaned her upper body against the door.

Adam bent his head down and Isabelle felt her cheeks flush in pleasure, as he drew one of her nipples into her mouth. Pleasure flooded her body and her stomach clenched.

“I’ve been waiting to get you into my bed,” Adam said, as he lifted her away from the door and carried her to his bed. Then, he tossed her onto it. Her body jolted a few times, but his body weight above hers soon set her still.

“Are we going to get in trouble for this?” Isabelle questioned, as Adam pulled his undergarments off and tossed them to the side. Then, he positioned himself above her.

“Fear not. I will not let any harm come to you.”

“It is my father I am worried about.”

“Your father is no match for me, love,” Adam said, as he bent down and kissed her. Although she was about to reply, she sighed in happiness. Adam smelled like grass and smoked wood, but the taste of him was much more alluring than the scent.

Adam was an excellent kisser. He made desire flood her body, only using his lips on hers. Isabelle felt Adam’s hand move from the bed before it dipped between her thighs. She willingly spread her legs apart for him, she knew it was not lady-like, but she felt far from a lady at this moment in time.

“You’re ready for me already,” Adam said, as he slid his fingers through her wet folds, and then dipped one inside her. Isabelle moaned ever so quietly. Then, she felt Adam smile against her neck before he removed his fingers and placed himself against her entrance.

“Are you ready for me, Isabelle?”

“I am.”

“Wake up, Isabelle.”

“Pardon?” 

“I said wake up, Isabelle.”

Isabelle jolted awake and removed her hands from between her thighs. She flopped back onto the bed and groaned in frustration. It was all a dream. She hadn’t been in Adam’s arms or bed at all. It was all just a very frustrating, wet dream.

“I am awake, Janet.”

“Lord Royce demands you dress in your best dress today.”

“Why so?”

“He says there are people you shall meet.”

It had been a week since the untimely meeting with the wolf on the property and she thought about it every day since. There was something so familiar about it, but she just couldn’t seem to pinpoint what it was.

“Lady Royce, you need to dress appropriately,” Janet said, as she pulled the covers from her and tugged her out of the bed. Isabelle groaned, as Janet styled her hair and helped her into the corseted dress.

“Well, let us meet these people then,” Isabelle said, as she took a deep breath and pasted a smile on her face before exiting her bedroom. She met her father in the ballroom and curtseyed at the available men in the room.

“Isabelle, I would like you to meet Count Draco Davis. He has travelled from France to meet with you today, my dear.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Count.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Royce.” Draco bowed and kissed her gloved hand with a smile.

“Isabelle, this way, please.” Her father gently placed his hand on her shoulder and steered her towards the patio doors with a nod at the men around them.

“Yes, Father?”

“You are to choose one of these counts to take you for a meal at their home by the end of the evening.”

“But, Father-“

“There will be no arguments. Your twenty-fifth birthday is this Friday and you are required to have a husband. I cannot have people thinking you are not worthy of love.”

“Of course, Father,” Isabelle said, as she nodded and returned back to the ballroom full of men. She was greeted by Draco once again and pasted a smile on her face. She wasn’t all that interested in how large Draco’s father’s estate was and how he was to inherit it ever so soon.

She was more interested in the look Adam was giving the other counts in the room. He would glare at anyone who even so much as glanced at her. The counts would bow and introduce themselves, but then they would disappear after a few moments for some reason.

She was required to have at least one dance with all the eligible men in the room and her feet were sore by the time she was finished.

“Father, may I dance with Adam just once? He is, after all, an eligible count,” Isabelle begged her father, as she gazed over at Adam. The man stood up straighter, as if he’d heard his name and raised his chin.

“I realize he is an eligible count, but I’ve said no to you and him.”

“Edward, your daughter actually wants to dance with one of these men. Allow her to,” said an elderly man who rested his hand on her father’s shoulder with a smile.

“Thank you...”

“I am Lord William Davis, Draco’s father.” Lord Davis bowed and kissed her hand before turning to her father again.

“He is of low birth, William.”

“As was Gladys, Edward,” Lord Davis said, referring to her mother with a fond smile. Then, he took a seat on one of the many chairs lining the sides of the ballroom.

“It is more acceptable for a lord to wed a lesser lady.”

“Edward, allow your daughter her dance.”

“Please, Father.”

Adam had made his way over to them by now and was standing slightly off to the side of her father. He bowed at Isabelle when she turned to him and she returned the gesture with a small smile. Adam glanced at her father once more before taking Isabelle’s hand into his own. They made their way onto the floor and Isabelle placed her hands in the appropriate places and her smile blossomed as Adam led her around the floor.

“Come to my room tonight,” she whispered into Adam’s neck.

“Your father would have me castrated for such a deed,” Adam replied, as his hand slid lower on her back and dipped her gently.

“He is not to know.”

“He is the lord of this estate. I am most certain he will find out.”

“Do you not desire me?” she asked, thinking that maybe she was wrong and Adam did not actually want her. Maybe she was imagining all of the glances and the flustered feelings. Worse than that, maybe Adam was teasing her and did not find her desirable at all.

“I desire you with my entire being. I imagine you spread across my bed nightly, Lady Royce.”

“Call me Isabelle, Lady Royce is too formal,” Isabelle said, as she allowed her hand to travel down Adam’s spine. Then, she grinned as he dipped her again.

“Come to my room tonight, Isabelle.”

“I shall be there at midnight.”

“Until then, my beauty.” Adam pulled her up, stroked his hand down her cheek and bowed at her once again. She felt her face flush, as a round of applause echoed through the ballroom. She curtseyed and headed towards her father once again.

“Who are you choosing, Isabelle?”