Malcolm McLean

Several weeks passed and it seemed everything was starting to settle down. Alexine had just taken her first step out of the bedroom, although she is stuck onto Isabella's side. Damon seemed to hover close by everywhere that Alexine was at.

Isabella will be coming to bed late at night, tired and exhausted. She was spending a lot of time helping Alexine learn to become more independent. Isabella said it will be a slow progression. It also seems like Alexine was starting to notice Damon and the way he lingers around them. She no longer cowers for him and at times even looks to him for answers.

Watching and seeing Alexine it makes me wonder if Isabella suffered through the same thing. Was she just as traumatized and how did she overcome it?

It late into the night and Isabella was already fast asleep and snuggled up to my side. It feels right to have her here in my arms. It was hard for me to let go of what she did in the past but I now know the reasons behind it.

From the moment I met Bella, I knew she was the one. I fell in love so hard and so fast that I didn't have time to blink. She is everything to me and just the thought of her leaving me had my heart twisting in agony.

I am in love with her and this female lycan has me wrapped around her fingers like bubble gum. I'm stuck to her and can't get enough of her.

It was getting late and I knew I should fall asleep soon but sleep didn't come. Although I am feeling completely comfortable holding Isabella to sleep and satisfied where I am, a part of me was feeling off. It was like I forgot something that I should have remembered.

Shrugging aside the thought, I closed my eyes. I waited for sleep to come and eventually it did.

When I woke up again, it was morning and the sun was already shining through the window. Isabella was no longer sleeping by my side and I was again alone. The selfish part of me wished that Alexine will get better soon. I needed Isabella back and it was getting a little irritating to wake up alone. It was depressing and I needed her to make me happy.

Growling at my selfish thoughts, I tossed aside the silk covers before getting out of bed. I took a quick shower and pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Running a hair through my hair carelessly I walked out of the bedroom to search for Damon.

I knew where Isabella was. Every morning she and Alexine will head outside and do a little walk around the courtyard. It was a small little exercise to remind Alexine she wasn't trapped. When they were done, Isabella will bring her back in for breakfast with everyone else.

By the looks of it, I had slept past breakfast and close to lunch. Isabella and Alexine should be in the library. I found Damon sitting in the great hall staring into the fireplace. Fireplaces are constantly being heated due to the drop in temperature.

I fell into a sofa across from his. He glanced my way and noticed the look of irritation on my face. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. I rubbed my forehead and leaned forward slightly to look at Damon.

"How is the progress with Alexine?" I asked.

"She's doing fine," Damon answered, feeling my frustration but not understanding why.

"Have you talked to her?" I prodded further, my voice increasingly hinting my rising irritation.

"What is it that has you grumpy this morning, mate? I'm sure it does not have to do with my relationship with Alexine."

"As a matter of fact it does, I need Isabella back." I snapped.

Damon chuckled, "You are acting like a child wanting his toy."

"This isn't funny, Damon. It's been weeks." I muttered and leaned back into the chair, feeling exhausted with all that is happening.

"Alexine is doing well, a lot better than from the first day. She talks to me here and there but she still doesn't trust me like how she trusts Izzy." Damon replied. "You can't force a person to heal. It takes time, Malcolm."

Pressing between my eyebrows, I felt the pulsing in my temples go away slightly. "I know and I sound like a fucking selfish bastard."

"You do. A complete asshole." Damon added.

I removed my hands to glare at him and he proceeded to chuckle again.

"Don't worry so much. I'm sure you will get Izzy back soon." Damon reassured me. "Izzy has you completely wrapped around her finger."

I groaned, "I know."

A scream came from Uncle Alastair's bedroom. Damon and I shot out of our seats and went running towards the air splitting scream. The door was closed and locked. Damon pounded and called out Uncle Alastair's name but nothing.

Damon turned to look at me and I lifted my feet, kicking the doors down. I saw Uncle Alastair dead on the bed. His skin was cold but what got the hairs on the back of my neck rising was the look in his eyes. It looked like he saw something that both surprised him and frightened him.

A small little whimper from behind me had me lashing around to the bedroom door. Prisilla clung to the door frame with tears in her eyes. She looked terrified.

"I saw him like this. I don't know what happened but it scared me and I couldn't stop myself from screaming." She cried and flung herself into my arms. I wrapped one arm around her reluctantly before looking at Damon for help.

Damon moved forward and tried to remove Prisilla's body from mine but she held onto me with a death grip. She sobbed and hid her face in my chest. I rolled my eyes at Prisilla. If it was any other female lycan I wouldn't but with Prisilla-she never cries for another. She's selfish and only wants what she wants. She doesn't care who she hurts in the process.

"Prisilla, let me go," I said through clenched teeth.

"But I'm so scared, Malcolm. Please hold me. Wrap your arms around me. Please. I'm begging you. The image of him-I can't erase it! You have to help me get over this." She pleaded and shook in my arms.

I rolled my eyes again.

"Prisilla, you'll be fine. Now, let me go." I wrapped my hands on her arms to remove her but she surprised me by pushing me back. Without knowing what she was going to do, I went flailing back until my back hit against the wall.

"Malcolm, please." She wept.

I mouthed a 'help me' to Damon but movement at the bedroom door caught our attention. Alexine and Isabella along with several other lycan members peeked inside. Horrified gasps followed from the witnesses. Whispers started rising and soon everyone was talking at once. Isabella looked at me and then down at Prisilla before her jaw ticked and her eyes glared at me.

Prisilla heard the crowd. She whipped around and looked at the audience. I pushed Prisilla off me finally and ordered everyone away that I'll take care in the investigation. Isabella wrapped her arms around Alexine and walked away from the room, not giving me another look. I knew I had a lot of explaining to do.

I turned to Prisilla. "It was you who screamed?"

She nodded. "I swear I found him like this b-but..."

"But what?" Damon asked.

"I also saw this." She dug out of her pocket my father's ring that he had given my mother. She handed it to me. "I don't know why he had it. It was in his hands. He was holding onto it when I saw him."

"Then why did you take it?" Damon asked curiously.

Her eyes widened before she began crying. "Well, you can't expect me to leave something like that behind! I knew how precious it was to Malcolm. I saw the ring on an old painted picture of Malcolm's parents."

My hands closed around the ring and I looked up at her for a second. Her eyes were bloodshot red from the crying.

"I know my uncle had an interest in you. I know you had a relationship with him." I pointed out.

"What? No! I only slept with him when he asked of me. I would hardly call that a relationship!" She denied immediately.

"Did you come by his bedroom last night?" I asked.

"Of course not!" She looked angry and glared up at me.

"And this can be verified by?" Damon pushed further.

"You can ask any of the females that share the same room as me. They can verify that I was asleep the whole night." She insisted confidently.

I nodded to Damon to go and question the females that reside in the same corridor as her. When Damon was gone, I turned back to Prisilla.

"Did you see anyone suspicious last night?" I asked.

She sniffled and her eyes wandered slightly as she thought about her answer. She turned away from me but I stopped her by turning her back around.

"Did you see anyone suspicious last night?" I repeated.

"Well, I don't think it could be her. I only got up once in the middle of the night for a cup of warm milk. Honestly, it might not even have been her." Prisilla shook her head not looking at me still.

"Who?" I questioned.

Prisilla bit her bottom lips before looking up at me with worried eyes. "I saw Isabella come out of his bedroom last night."

My blood ran cold and my heart ached. I felt angry and saw red but my vision quickly cleared when one strong voice rang in my head telling me to keep calm and think thoroughly. It couldn't have been Isabella. I know her. She's not this kind of person. It doesn't make sense as to why she will come out of my uncle's bedroom. They don't get along and it was clear my uncle didn't like her at all.

"Are you lying to me?" I said roughly, my hand tightening around her arms.

"I'm serious! How can I lie to you? Don't you trust me?" She screamed and tried to yank her arm away from me.

I scoffed a little. "Not really."

Her eyes widened and then she burst into another fit of tears. "God, why do you always take her side? I know you love her and I had given up on you. Do you know what it is like to see the male you love holding another? Loving another? I watch you two every day and I'm hurt but I'm learning to move on."

"I am not going to make a decision based off of one person. I need evidence and until then you are to remain in my office." I said before dragging her off.

I ordered a guard to bring the body out back for burial tomorrow. I also asked another guard to find Isabella and bring her to the office. I needed to clear this up and I needed the truth. Three male lycans dead will surely bring the King to my doorsteps by tomorrow.