Chapter 24

Bella's POV

I watched as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the city. The evening breeze carried a hint of anticipation, as if it knew the secrets that were about to be unveiled. Little did I know, the tranquility of the moment would soon be shattered by the resurgence of Xander's dark past.

We had been together for months now, our love growing deeper with each passing day. But beneath the surface of our idyllic romance, shadows lurked, threatening to engulf us both. Xander had always been a man of mystery, guarded and reserved, but I never could have imagined the depths of the secrets he held.

It began innocently enough, with a cryptic message delivered to Xander's doorstep. It was a simple note, bearing the insignia of an underground secret society—a society that Xander had once been a part of. As he read the words scrawled on the paper, a flicker of fear danced in his eyes, a fear I had never seen before.

"What is it, Xander? What does the note say?" I as