CHAPTER 43

Beatrice’s POV

After Xander left, the hotel suite felt strangely still.

It was strange not to have his presence.

I sat up in bed, extending my limbs, my muscles still sore from the insanity of last night. I played it back in my head: the masked intruder at the party, the howling fear, the total impotence until Xander arrived.

He had burst in like a force of nature, his posture imposing, his voice cutting with unmistakable authority.

And then, without missing a beat, he had ordered the man’s termination.

A shiver ran down my spine.

It wasn’t merely the brutality of it. It was how easily he did it.

No hesitation. No second thoughts.

My entire life I’d been surrounded by people who had wielded power carelessly—Alpha Lee, Kai, the other high-ranking wolves who looked at omegas like me as things. But Xander was different. His power wasn’t a performance, something to be put on display.

It was real.

And for the first time in my life, I felt safe in somebody’s arms.

I snapped out of it and shook my head. Enough.

I couldn’t afford to get sucked into whatever the hell Xander Thane was. He was powerful, yes. Dangerous, definitely. But he wasn’t someone I could learn to depend on.

I had already made that mistake before — with Kai.

I wouldn’t make it again.

I sighed and drove my fingers through my tangled hair, groping blindly for my phone on the nightstand. My chest instantly constricted at the sight of a missed call from Sarah flashing on the screen.

The triplets.

I dialed her number with anxiety bubbling in my stomach.

It rang twice before she answered.

“Beatrice?” Sarah sounded surprised.

I smiled, relief swelling in my chest. “Morning, Sarah. I just wanted to check on the kids.”

“Oh, they’re fine,” she replied quickly. “More than fine, actually. But Beatrice, you didn’t even call last night. I was worried.”

Guilt settled over me. I had wanted to call before I left for the party, but then everything had spiraled out of control.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “Things got… complicated.”

Sarah sighed at the other end. “I figured. You never miss a check-in.”

"Where are they now?" I was gripping the phone tighter, I asked.

There was a moment of silence on the line. Then Sarah’s voice softened.

"They’re... gone."

My heart stopped.

"What do you mean, gone?" My voice shrilled with panic. "Gone where?"

Sarah was quick to reassure me, “Not gone, Beatrice. Just… not at the house."

I felt my pulse thumping through my eardrums. I had entrusted my babies to Sarah, and she was the only person I would trust with my babies. But then again — why weren’t they home?

“They left a note for you,” Sarah said softly. “They said to tell you they miss their mom.

At her words, the tightness in my chest loosened.

“They’re just staying with some trusted people,” she said, her voice calm. "But they’re safe, Beatrice. And they can’t wait to see you.” I was like what the fuck is going on with this Sarah?

And then she just laughed and said, they’re in school.

The relief that washed over me, my fingers loosening from the sheets.

I let out a shaky breath and shut my eyes. "I miss them too. But within a relatively short time, everything will return to normal.”

Sarah hummed in agreement. "They’ll be thrilled. You said four days, right?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "I’ll be home in four days."

Sarah chuckled softly. "I’ll tell them. They’ll be so excited."

A smile entered my lips gladly. My kids were my entire world. Feeling that they were safe, even if not in the same physical space, strengthened my resolve to press on.

I sighed in relief. "Thank you, Sarah. I mean it. For everything."

“Sure,” she replied without attorney. “You know I would do anything for them.”

I nodded, though she couldn’t see me. Sarah had supported me through it all: my pregnancy, the long, painful nights spent running, the days when I wasn’t sure I would survive.

I could never repay her for all she had done for me.

Her voice softened. “So… how’s it going over there?”

I hesitated. There was so much I wanted to express. But where would I even start?

Then, as I exhaled deeply, I confessed, “A lot. One of the masked party guests attempted to harass me, last night.”

Sarah let out a gasp that was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear.

"What?! " she practically shrieked.

I sighed, and rubbed my forehead. "It’s okay now. Xander was there."

There was a long pause. “Xander,” she repeated slowly, suspicion coloring her voice. "As in Xander Thane?"

"Yes," I muttered.

Another silence. Then Sarah laughed.

It wasn’t a happy laugh. It was a knowing laugh.

“Oh, Beatrice,” she drawled, a note of amusement entering her tone. "You’re in deep, aren’t you?"

I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?

“You’re talking about Xander as if he’s your knight in shining armor,” Sarah teased. "I mean, really. The big bad Lycan King, coming in to rescue his damsel in distress?”

“I am NOT a damsel in distress,” I protested.

“Uh-huh,” she said, not quite convinced. “But I suppose he killed the guy, right?”

I hesitated. "Not exactly. But he did order his death."

Sarah whistled. "Damn."

I clamped my lips, at a loss for what to say. Xander’s had been swift, brutal and absolute. And yet… I refused to be afraid.

Sarah must have sensed my inner turmoil because she sighed. "Bea, just… be careful, okay? Xander is dangerous. Just because he’s helping you doesn’t mean he won’t also hurt you."

I swallowed hard. "I know."

Did I, though?

Because every time I was close to him, every time I saw that unshakeable power in his eyes, a tiny piece of me questioned—was Xander truly my savior… or was he just another tempest on the horizon ready to ruin me?

As Sarah was about to say more, a deep voice broke my reverie.

"You're up."

I jumped my head up, startled.

Xander leaned in the doorway of the bedroom, his black T-shirt clinging to his wide chest, his dark hair damp from a recent shower. His fiery golden eyes met my own.

He was just as imposing as he’d been the night before, but there was something inscrutable in his gaze.

“I’ll call you later,” I mumbled to Sarah, hanging up the phone abruptly.

Xander’s face stayed blank as he took a step forward. "You didn’t wash up yet?"

“I was checking on my kids,” I said in my own defense.

There was a flicker in his eyes, but no comment. Instead, his eyes passed over my face, and for a moment he appeared … pensively.

Then, out of the blue, he said, “You look terrible.”

I blinked.

Excuse me?

He went on as if I’d just asked him for a weather report. "Your face looks pale. Your hair is a mess. You should clean up."

Shock rippled through me.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

And did he actually just say that to my face?

“You —” I began, but then I paused.

Sarah’s warning echoed in my ears. Xander is dangerous. Just because he’s been a help doesn’t mean he won’t be a harm as well.

If he wasn't him, I would have thrown something at him. But this was Xander Thane.

The strongest Lycan in the world.

And I was savvy enough not to tempt fate.

So instead I put one foot in front of the other and breathed and said: “Thank you for your honesty, Your Majesty.”

Xander was surprised and raised his eyebrows.

Then, all of a sudden, he smiled.

A small, slight smirk that probably was just barely there, but a smirk anyhow.

“Move quickly,” he said, facing the door. “We have business to take care of today.”

Then he went on his way.

I let out a sharp breath, dragging a hand down my face.

What the fuck was I supposed to do with him.

With no alternative, I climbed out of bed and into the bathroom. As soon as I saw my reflection, I flinched.

Okay. Maybe Xander was not completely in the wrong.

I did look awful.

My dark hair was matted, and my skin was pale, and faint bruises were forming around my wrists from our fight last night.

I twisted on the sink, throwing cold water on my face. The sting helped wake me up.

I called her again — Sarah. She answered and we went on with the conversation.

“Anyway,” I said, wanting to change the subject, “I was thinking of going swimming today.”

Sarah gasped. “No way! You hate swimming.”

“I don’t hate it,” I grumbled. “I just… I never really got to celebrate it.”

“Well, watch out,” Sarah advised. “I swear to God, of all the things going on, if something happens, Xander might kill somebody.”

I laughed her off, as if her words meant nothing.

Then, I ended the call, stood up, took a long shower and threw on a comfy swimsuit and some kind of robe on top. Since Xander was still out, I wanted to go to the hotel’s private swimming pool.

As soon as I pulled up, the staff were bowing deeply as they welcomed me.

“Good morning, Miss Beatrice.”

Their respect still seemed … wrong. I wasn’t accustomed to receiving props, but definitely not like this, royal style.

I smiled politely and walked up to Pearl, one of the attendants who had been nice to me since i arrived here.

Hey Beatrice, said pearl.

“How’s your morning?” I asked.

I shook my head. “I just came to swim.”

Pearl nodded quickly. “oh"

I took a step under the warm water and allowed it to wash over my skin, fresh mint and lavender scent lingering in the air.

Perhaps today brings a rare calm.

But on my way back toward the pool, my foot slipped.

The next moment, I felt myself going down.

My stomach plummeted as my body collided with the cold water.

Oh God.

Panic exploded in my chest.

The water flooded over, dragging me down.

I kicked and thrashed around, but I panicked and that made it worse.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t think.

I did the only thing that my instincts told me to do.

I screamed.

All of a sudden, I heard footsteps slamming down on the floor.

Then, a deafening splash.

I saw a blurred figure dive into the pool, slicing the water with animal precision.

Xander.

Before long, his muscular arms encircled me.

He lifted me up above the surface of the water. I gasped, wheezing as he tightened his grip against his chest.

The whole pool area had gone quiet.

No one dared to speak.

No one even moved.

Because they were seeing the impossible for the first time —

The great Lycan King, Xander Thane, acting as if a lowly omega’s life was worth something.

But he held me like a vice, his face shadowy with an emotion I didn’t dare name.

Fear?

Rage?

Possession?

He lifted me out of the water, his strength unforced.