Bella's POV"Peron, how's business going now?" I asked, watching him come in with a loose tie and stressed face. "Bella, it's a mess," Peron sighed, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. "I don't even know where to begin. The clients are pulling out, and the deals are falling apart. It's like everything is going downhill, and I can't seem to catch a break."I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to convey reassurance. "Peron, we'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this."He managed a weak smile, appreciating the support. "I hope so, Bella. I really do."Later that evening, I prepared a comforting dinner for Peron, hoping to alleviate some of the stress he carried. As he finished his meal, exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders. Guiding him to bed, I whispered soothing words, promising that things would improve.The following morning, with Peron off to work, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I hailed a cab and headed towards the temporar
Bella's POVThe air felt heavy with the unspoken tension as Max and I stood there, his eyes searching mine for answers. "Bella," he hesitated, "do you regret that kiss?"I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze. The truth hung in the air, but I couldn't bring myself to voice it. "I... I need some time to think," I finally mumbled, breaking eye contact and walking away."I'll be at home later," I called over my shoulder, not daring to look back. The weight of Max's unspoken question lingered with each step. As I walked down the quiet street, my mind raced with conflicting emotions.Lost in my thoughts, I collided with someone. Startled, I looked up to see Selena, my cousin, holding a picture in her hand. It took me a moment to realize it was a photo of me kissing him – a moment that should have remained private, luckily his face didn't show and mine didn't too. But still, she saw it and that was a problem.Selena's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Caught you in the act, Bella. This could
Peron's POV"ARGGHHHH," I yelled pushing everything on my table to the floor. "What is going on? Why is everything going downhill? Who is doing this?" I groaned almost tearing my clothes like a mad man. I stormed out of my office, my mind a turbulent storm of frustration and confusion. The news about other businesses vanishing hit me like a sledgehammer, shattering the illusion of stability I had worked so hard to build. The once bustling street now seemed desolate, mirroring the chaos in my mind.Without a clear thought, I found myself in the driver's seat of my car, the engine roaring to life as I sped away from the crumbling remnants of my business. The familiar hum of the engine served as a stark contrast to the clamor of thoughts raging in my head. I needed solace, an escape from the maddening reality.The neon lights of a nearby bar beckoned me like a lighthouse guiding a lost ship. I parked haphazardly, stumbling out of the car and into the dimly lit establishment. The air was
Bella's POV I gently guided Peron into the house, his steps faltering as he leaned heavily on me. "I'm sorry," I told Max through mind link. "Please help us." I continued supporting Peron, guiding him towards a chair. "And you think he'll help you?" My wolf hissed in my head, still upset about Peron's punch on Max. "He was drunk. Max is bigger than that. He should understand," I replied, easing Peron into the chair. The air was tense, both inside my head and in the room. Kira, sensing the unease, inquired, "What happened?" She glanced at Peron, who was visibly intoxicated. "Drunk and needs to get sober, quickly," I muttered, deciding to address the immediate concern. I excused myself and headed to the kitchen, intent on preparing some soup. As I moved pots and pans around, I couldn't shake off the disturbing incident. In the kitchen, I set the soup to simmer, the aroma wafting through the air. My thoughts, however, were elsewhere. What had triggered Peron's sudden binge drinking,
Peron's POVAs I slowly opened my eyes, the piercing light from the morning sun felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my brain. A groan escaped my lips as I realized the throbbing headache that accompanied my awakening. The room swirled around me, and I tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Mass drinking, I thought and regret washed over me.I fumbled for my phone on the bedside table, hoping to find some sort of relief or explanation for the company's current state. As the device illuminated, I squinted at the screen, expecting to see messages from my men or some crucial information. Yet, to my dismay, the screen displayed nothing but the usual notifications and mundane updates."No useful messages," I muttered, my disappointment evident in my voice. My team was supposed to keep me informed, especially after a night like that. I shook my head, attempting to shake off the remnants of the headache, and decided to face the day ahead.Dragging myself out of bed,
Elizabeth's POV"So I'm just a side piece, huh?" I hissed walking away to find a cab. "Does he think I'm a slave or what? Making sure Bella is okay? If she dies, I don't give two fucks!" I mumbled, trying to stop a cab but none would wait. After waiting for almost ten minutes, one finally waited and I got him."Miss Elizabeth," the man in the front seat called, handing me an envelope. "We've been watching you.'"Watching me? You are you?" I growled, trying to open the door but it was locked and I could not unlock it manually either."Relax, Miss Elizabeth," the man said with an eerie calmness. "We're not here to harm you. In fact, we believe you have the potential to work with us."I eyed the mysterious man with suspicion, sliding into the cab's back seat. "Work with you? Who are you, and why have you been watching me?""We are an organization with interests that align with yours," he replied cryptically. "We know about your connection with Bella, and we need someone on the inside to
Bella's POV As I stepped through the front door, cradling my newborn son Cayden in my arms, I was greeted by an unexpected sight – a woman bustling about the living room, dusting shelves and arranging flowers. Confusion etched across my face as I realized we didn't have a maid before. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Emily, your new maid," she said with a warm smile, briefly pausing from her duties. Perplexed, I fumbled for my phone and dialed Peron. "Peron, there's a new maid here, and I didn't know we were hiring," I questioned, my voice filled with curiosity. Peron's voice crackled through the phone, "Oh, Bella, that's Emily. She used to work there until she fell ill. She's recovered now and wants to resume her duties." A wave of understanding washed over me. "Oh, I see. Well, welcome back, Emily," I said, trying to mask my surprise. As I ended the call, I couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances that led Emily back to our doorstep, especially in this troubled time. "Thank you, ma'am
Bella's POV My heart pounded in my chest as I read the ominous message about Emily's true identity. Determination overcame fear as I swiftly got out of bed, leaving Cayden peacefully sleeping beside me. I made my way down the hallway to check on Emily, but as I approached her supposed quarters, Peron emerged from the shadows. "Bella, what are you doing?" he asked, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Peron, did you see where Emily went?" I questioned, urgency lacing my words. He hesitated, "I thought I saw her running away quickly. Why?" My stomach tightened. "Peron, Emily is not who she claims to be. We need to find her." His eyes widened in realization. "What do you mean, Bella?" "She's a fake, Peron. Someone sent me a message warning me about her. We need to act quickly," I explained, urgency driving my actions. "Someone? Who?" "That doesn't matter, Peron. We have to find her and ask her who sent her here!" I said. Peron's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "Let's fi
~Isabella~ A few months later… “Max stop. We're going to be late for our own ceremony!” I begged, feeling a fire being ignited inside of me. “They should understand that their Alpha and Luna need some intimate time,” he responded, still planting kisses on every part of me that was bare. “Isn't that what the honeymoon is for? And again, we have a lot of time to have sex, why are you rushing?” I chuckled, closing my eyes as I felt him suck at a particular spot, a hickey already in the making. “Yes, according to her, we do have a lot of time to spend together now that we are forever bonded. But trust me, what you'd witness at our honeymoon or in the future is little compared to this,” he chuckled, and stopped, now standing behind me, making me feel how hard he is for me. “It's been so hard to control myself from having you, Isa. So get ready, tonight, you're mine to devour, your legs are to tremble and ache for me. Your lips are to pleasure me and your vocal cords, to sing my name o
Alpha Max’s POVI didn't know how long I was out but I found myself pushed to the bare ground by the water current. I opened my eyes, scanning my surroundings to know if I was in the afterlife or the mortal realm, and to my surprise, I was in the mortal realm.Did she not take my life to save Bella's?“Moon goddess?” I called out over and over again but no response was heard and it broke my heart to see that she deceived me. “At least she gave me a few moments to spend with my mate,” I sighed, grabbing myself up, changing into my wolf then dashing to the woods till I arrived at the hospital in my soaked attire.Arriving at Bella's room, I sat beside her, grabbing her hands and caressing them slowly. “I'd give my life for you, Bella. I just don't know why she wouldn't take it,” I sobbed, crying on my mate's hand. “Please don't leave me. I really can't do this without you,” I begged, silently praying to the Moon Goddess to also perform a miracle but I waited for five minutes, ten minu
Alpha Max's POV“You lied, didn't you?!” I growled, squeezing his jaw with so much intensity I could feel him straining to break free to avoid having a broken jaw. “She's getting worse!” I spat, tossing his head back, not caring if it hit the tree or not.“Alpha I swear! I didn't think she'd be injected with the real poison! I wouldn't dare hurt the Luna, please, believe me!” Jake begged but all for what? All his begs would not bring my Bella back, would it?“Don't bother begging me. Consider your title withdrawn and from now on, you and your whole generation are…” I was cut off by my wolf's painful tone which almost made me bend over and clench my heart in agony.“She's slipping away, Max,” he whispered. “We can't lose her. Not again,” he begged and despite my calm demeanor, sweats were forming on my forehead. I immediately knew science was useless at this point, and I had to find another way to save my mate.“I'll deal with you later,” I hissed at Jake and ordered some of my men to
Alpha Max's POV “Bella don't,” I quickly warned, my gaze fixed on Jake and Cayden. No matter how I tried to reach him through the mind link, I couldn't. It was like there was a barrier or something. Instead, I requested backup from my men and they reassured me that they would come here soon. “I'll inject myself instead,” I proposed but Luna Irene just shook her head and then chuckled lightly. “It's Bella I want… not you,” she said and motioned to the syringe on the floor. “The pain you’d feel from losing your beloved mate is enough for me,” she added then faced Bella. “Pick it up, Bella,” she said and Bella nodded, bending down and then picking it up. “Luna Irene please,” I started begging. “Don't do this.” I pleaded but it all fell on deaf ears. “If you're trying to stall, know that the timer is ticking,” she chuckled, and it only intensified the pain Bella and I felt since we were already connected. Even Alpha Callum, in his weakened, stroke-like state, could only beg and sh
Bella's POV As he left the room, I exchanged a worried glance with Max, who seemed to share my concerns about what lay ahead. "I'll handle Louis," Max assured, and I helped him to the bed. Together, we made calls to Peron and his men. We told Peron to be watchful as Louis might vent his anger on anyone or anything and he wasn't exempted. After that, we told the men to watch Louis and hold him if he tried anything stupid. Once we were done, I heard Max wince and although it was faint, my heart still broke knowing he was in pain because of me. Like that wasn't enough, I noticed his shirt was stained with blood and that only meant one thing, his wounds reopened once again because of me. “Max,” I began to sob, seeing him trying to fight the pain. “Let me call the doctor,” I sobbed, about to leave but Dessa stopped me. “There's little the doctor can do, Bella. They need us. His wolf needs us,” she pleaded and I just remained there like a statue. Although I knew it might happen soon,
Bella's POV Seeing as he was still alive, I called some men. "Take Alpha Callum to the hospital. He needs medical attention." “Yes Luna,” they chanted, taking both my parents away. "You did what you had to do, Bella,” Max coaxed, patting my back and I just wrapped my hands around him.. “I'm sorry,” I cried, apologizing because he almost died, and lost his father because of me. “I'm sorry.” Max, his strength unwavering despite the pain, gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "You don't have to apologize, Bella. You saved us. I'm grateful that it's finally over and we know the real truth." The mixture of gratitude and concern in Max's eyes offered a reassuring anchor amid the storm of emotions I was facing in me. "Get yourself together. Think about our son, Cayden. He needs his mom," Max urged. Nodding through tears, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. Cayden's innocent face flashed in my mind, a reminder that the fight was not just for me
Bella's POV Max, blood staining his side from the earlier gunshot, stood defiant. "I won't let you harm her, Irene." "Shut up!" She fired at him when we weren't looking. "I'll kill her and there's nothing you,.or anyone would do about it. This foolish girl ruined my life." "Irene stop," I heard Alpha Callum grunt but she wasn't having it. Finally, she spoke, her voice a haunting whisper. "You want to know why, don't you?" Luna Irene's gaze shifted to all those present, her words a chilling revelation. "The truth behind the years of deception and hatred." Max, though injured, stood firm, urging her to reveal the hidden layers of her torment. Luna Irene took a deep breath, as if preparing to expose the deepest recesses of her soul. "It started long before Isabella was born," she began, her eyes reflecting the pain of a buried past. "I was to be mated to another Alpha, the man I loved, the man who stole my heart. But then, circumstances changed." Luna Irene's narrative unfolded lik
Bella's POV “Bella run,” he choked, with blood all over but I was too shocked to move an inch. Did my mom just try to kill me? All of a sudden, Max and his men rushed in, some went to my dad, and some went to my mom, who was still trying to reach her gun. “What's going on?” My voice broke as I tried to comprehend what was happening. “That was a mistake right? She tried to shoot him instead, right?” I asked, wanting to rush to my mother but Max stopped me, holding me tight, and I immediately burst into tears. “It's a lie! She wouldn't have! She loves me! My mother wouldn't do that!” I yelled crying and hitting Max's chest to let me go and help my mother. “You can't die now, Irene,” I heard my father's voice and I turned around to see him, removing the bullet in her. “She has to know the truth! Bella has to.” He coughed. The world blurred as Max held me firmly, restraining my desperate attempt to reach my mother. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the image of Luna Irene lying
Bella's POV The hospital room was a sterile cocoon, isolating us from the outside world. Luna Irene, weakened but resilient, squeezed my hands in acknowledgment of the pact we had just made. As the doctor approached, gently urging us to give her some time to rest, Max and I exchanged a knowing glance. "We'll be outside," Max said, standing up and gesturing for me to follow him. Once in the hallway, away from prying ears, Max spoke first. "Bella, I think your mother is right. Callum won't stop until he gets what he wants. We need to plan carefully." My mind raced with conflicting thoughts, torn between the values I held and the harsh reality that demanded action. "I can't believe it has come to this," I murmured, more to myself than to Max. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Sometimes, circumstances force us to make choices we never thought we'd face. It doesn't define who we are; it's about survival." I nodded, absorbing his words. "We need to act fast, Max. Every momen