Bella's POVBeads of sweat immediately formed on my forehead, and I calmed myself, not wanting my reaction to give the truth away."No, Jessica, I'm not pregnant," I replied, trying to sound as confident as possible, despite the unease inside me.Jessica raised an eyebrow skeptically, noticing my subtle hesitation. "Hmm, alright. Are you sure, Bella? Remember that lying to me won't do you any good." She leaned back in her bed, observing my reaction carefully.Jessica raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced. "Really? Then why were you holding your stomach when you almost fell earlier? It looked like a protective instinct for a pregnant lady, don't you think?"I bit my lip, not knowing how she saw that. "I- I-" I stammered, searching for a plausible explanation. "It was a stomach ache. I ate something that didn't agree with me. It's like a habit, you know? It doesn't mean anything."Jessica seemed to contemplate my response for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll give you the benef
Bella's POVWith a deep breath, I gave her an answer. "Fine, Tiana. Tell me your plan."Tiana sat me down on her bed and then explained her plan to me, starting from how I'll leave the pack house, to where I'll go and how she'll handle Alpha Max and her best friend, Jessica. I thought about it and it seemed too good to be true. "Can you give me a few days to think about it?" I asked and she scoffed. "The offer doesn't last for long, Bella. When you're ready, it might be too late to help you," Tiana said. "Hmm," I nodded, knowing fully well I didn't want to make an irrational decision with Jessica's best friend. It could be a trap or worse. "Dinner is ready and Jessica is waiting for you," I quickly reminded her and went outside.Leaving Tiana, I went to meet Jessica, still acting as her maid as agreed. Seeing the food in Tiana's room didn't make me retch, but seeing Jessica and Alpha Max being lovey-dovey made my insides turn and heave a sigh of relief when dinner was finally over
Bella's POV"Turn around and answer me, Bella. Where are you off to?" He commanded using his authoritative voice and being unable to refuse, I turned to face him with my head low."I'm going to Lea's to buy food for your wife, Jessica," I retorted, staring at the ground.With a swift movement, he closed the gap between us and raised my chin to meet his gaze. His touch sent waves of electricity through my veins, and even my child jumped from the sensation."What happened to you? Why do you look like this?" He asked, staring at my bony frame and tired face. "Why are you dressed like this? And why are you going to Lea's? Can't Jessica send the guards instead?"I managed to extract myself from Alpha Max's grip with a gentle yet deliberate movement, aware that every second counted. The earlier I get out of this place, the better. The electricity that pulsed through my veins from his touch was a sensation I couldn't afford to indulge in right now. As his intense gaze bore into me, I took a
Bella's POV I gulped, knowing well they found me hiding behind the tree but how? Weren't they going in the other direction a few minutes ago? "We know you're there! Come out now, Bella!" They snickered and I sat there, crying, praying, and cursing Jessica. "How could she arrange for men to kill me on short notice? How did she know I'd be here? Did Tiana tell her? Or did she find out about Tiana's plan and my involvement in it? Either way, just help me and the baby get out of here, please," I begged the heavens for a miracle. Moving away from the tree only endangered me more so I decided to stay still, praying for a miracle, and as if the heavens heard my prayers, someone yelled. "She's here, she just dumped her clothes and ran off!" "What? Where? Chase her now!" The leader yelled, going towards the bush where I stashed the maid's clothes. "Thank you," I mumbled and stood up to see my jeans, wet and stained from the liquid. My child was not in good condition and I was stuck here
Bella's POVI looked at the men, checking the vial in the leader's hands. Is it truly the antidote? "I'll only come if you give me the antidote first." I yelled, stretching my hands forward, knowing if I get it, I can devise an escape plan later, and my baby would be safe. "No Bella. That's not the deal, come forward and then I'll give it to you, okay? Here I'll take a sip, to assure you that it's not poison," he said and took a sip of the liquid.Feeling a bit assured, I took a few steps forward, not fully giving in to their condition or rejecting it either. He tossed the vial to me, "Here, drink it." I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing each and every one of them. With a doubting mind, I uncorked the cover, taking a sip of the so-called antidote and once I was done, I covered it back. "Get her!" The leader yelled and his men surrounded me again."What are you doing?" "Did you really think I would give you the antidote," he laughed. "That was the same substance added to the drink J
Bella's POV"What are we gonna do with her?" I heard someone ask and it jolted me into consciousness.I tried to move, to stop the bright light from burning my eyes but the pain in my left shoulder forced me back down. "Are they taking me to Jessica?" I thought."Dessa," I called out to my wolf hoping she didn't disappear on me. "I'm here, Bella. How do you feel?""Painful but okay. Where are we? And who are these? Are they the rogues who chased me earlier? And why did they bandage the wound?'She nodded. "I don't know who they are. But when they saw you, they immediately changed their attitude and decided to help. It was strange to me too."The landscape around us was a blur of trees and shadows, and my vision was still blurry from the blinding light. "My face? Did they perhaps mention where they're taking me?" I inquired, adjusting my position slightly to get a better view of our surroundings."No," Dessa responded, and I shifted my gaze to the wound on my shoulder. The makeshift b
Bella's POV"Yes," I answered, standing up to follow him."Let's go!” he ordered and without hesitation, I walked with him into the room that looked like a mini gallery. "Do you recognize them?" He asked, pointing at a picture with a man, woman, and baby. I shook my head. "No. Why did you bring me here?""We only saved your life because we think you're our Beta's lost daughter."I burst into laughter. "What? Me? The Beta's daughter? You must be mistaken, 'boss.' I'm an orphan. My parents died a long time ago and my stepmother, who I used to live with, sold me for a large amount of money.""She's not your stepmother," a female voice interrupted and I looked back to see an old woman. "I am one of the nurses who delivered you twenty years ago. You see, the lady you call your stepmother, Sophia, was paid by my colleague to take care of you but when my colleague died, we had no way to reach your Sophia or get you back."I laughed again seeing as they were clearly playing a prank on me. "Y
Bella's POV "Where is he?" I choked. "Everyone is waiting in the palace." He answered. "They live in a palace huh?" I muttered to myself. "Fine. Let's get this over with 'boss'." "You can call me Michael," he introduced himself with a smile and I nodded. I cleaned my face and walked out of the room with him. Just like before, we walked in silence to the palace and when we stood at the door, my heart thumped louder than ever. "This is it Bella! Time to face your supposed parents…" I said to myself and with a nod, Michael opened the door then everyone in the room turned to look at us. Immediately, my gaze settled on a man sitting far away. Our eyes locked and the bond I felt to him was unexplainable. It was like a moth to light. I didn't know when I entered the room and despite the amount of gaze on me, I could only focus on him. "Father?" I muttered, unable to tear my eyes away from the man's intense gaze. My heart raced in my chest as a mixture of emotions swirled within me.
~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