Chapter 10. When Everything is Lost

* 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 my parents, Isabella. But Bernard said that the wolves of the South would kill them if they stayed!"

"Oh! God! What about the other hunters? Did the wolves kill them too?"

Richard closed his eyes and then opened them again. "Some have already fled from the Bannister lands cousin, while the others are missing and I can't contact them. We have no one else for nor Isabella, just the three of us."

I stood up from the bed and looked through the glass window. "I'm sorry that I picked a shabby hotel room. I was afraid to get attention and who knows, maybe the wolves from the South are after us."

The fear in Richard's voice had me thinking. I could not blame myself for what happened but there could be something that I needed to do. If the hunters are finished and are afraid to fight then I have no other choice. A few knocks on the door made us glance towards it. Richard stands up.

"It could be Martha."

I'm glad that she came with us. Martha must be the one who changed my sleepwear into pants and a short-sleeved blouse.

"Mister Bannister, I bought some bread with ham and cheese sir. And some water as well."

My stomach almost growls as I hear her mention food. It was yesterday since I last ate. Richard nodded. I turned around to smile at the old woman.

"Thank you, Martha, let us eat now. We have a long journey ahead of us and we need our strength."

"Ok, Miss Bannister."

She set up the disposable plates and cups then we all sat in the chairs around the small table. None of us spoke until we finished our food. I did not eat much, just enough to satisfy my hunger and then I checked the bathroom inside the hotel. It was clean so I decided to get a quick shower. After I changed clothes Richard went to the bathroom to change as well. We could have taken separate rooms but I am sure that Richard would have been worried so I let him be.

"Miss Bannister, shall I get our things ready?"

I nodded. "Let me help you Martha, and try calling me Isabella from now onwards."

The old woman shakes his head. "No, that would be inappropriate Miss Bannister."

I sighed and looked at her in the eyes. "We could be the last of the Bannister mansion. Please, Martha, you are like a part of my family."

The old woman held my hand and slowly nodded. "If that is what you want Isabella."

I smiled at her. "The same goes for Richard, call him by his first name. It would be safer if the people around us did not hear the word Bannister."

We took all our luggage down into my father's SUV. I was glad that Richard chose to bring this car out of the cars that we had in the garage. It was my father's favorite, and all our things would fit inside. "If you feel sleepy on the road, let me know Richard so that I can drive and you too could get some rest."

"Yes, but you have not told me yet where we are heading?"

I sighed and put on the seatbelt around me. "We are going to the Cold Mountain pack of the North, I want to speak with Alpha Charles and his father."

Richard looks at me. "Are you sure about this?"

I meet his gaze. "Yes, so we need to hit the road before I change my mind."

Richard started the engine and we left the hotel in the middle of the night. The road was dark and there were fewer cars in the city. Which was better for the three of us, I am still doubting myself if it is a good decision to ask for the help of the Cold Mountain pack. However, I don't have a choice at the moment. They are the only choice I have, so I have to eat my pride and talk to them.

Martha was already sleeping at the back while Richard and I stayed awake taking the long road to the lands owned by the Cold Mountain pack. It took us almost three hours to reach the private lands. "Is this land already owned by the Cold Mountain pack?"

Richard nodded. "Yes, but we have to drive an hour more until we reach the tall gates."

I looked around and then into the wristwatch that I wore. It is almost five a.m. and if an hour means we would get there around six a.m. They said that wolves get up early, so I hope that they are awake by the time we get there. I feel the loud beating of my heart and the anxiousness that I'm having from the thoughts of the wolves not wanting to help me.

When I look back at the last conversation I had with the Vernices, it left me wanting to kick myself and jump out of the car. But so much has happened that I need to forget all about that.

"I think we are here."

The view of the great gates has made me uncomfortable in my seat. There were two big men in combat pants and plain black shirts who approached our vehicle. I rolled down the window beside my seat immediately.

"Good morning gentlemen! My name is Isabella Abegail Bannister. I am here to speak with Mister Vernice or Alpha Charles Vernice."

The two men look at me, both of them taking a good look at our vehicle and one of them even sniffs around. Just like how a dog does, however, no one would dare to mention the word dog facing them and looking at how they are like the famous athletes from the magazine cover.

"Alright, Miss Bannister, your last name is pretty common from the last visitors of the Alpha house. However, you need to wait until I get a confirmation from our Alpha."

"Oh, he was not expecting me. But there is something urgent that I must discuss with him."

The man smirked and closed his eyes for a few moments. When he opened them again, he looked at me.

"Alpha Charles is not in the Alpha house at the moment but you can speak with his father."

He signalled the guardhouse to open the gates and let us in then to Richard to start driving inside the gate. I let out a deep calming breath, it was a relief that I spoke with his father instead of Alpha Charles. I have a feeling that he wouldn't like the idea of my presence in their huge mansion, the same feeling I gave them when they were at mine.

"That was a relief, those guards are surely intimidating."

Richard mumbles as I look at his drive. "Yes, and I could not imagine looking at them in their wolf forms."

I look at them behind us and notice how their eyes are still watching the back of our vehicles. They did not even touch the SUV or open it, but I am quite sure of the fact that they are aware that I don't bring danger inside their lands. The wolves have a very strong sense of smell and their eyes are thorough. Martha woke up from the backseat and smiled at me. She did not object to the idea of us coming here and she was more relaxed than before when we were still at the Hotel.