~ Bella ~"Bella, you have a package," Maggie said, walking into my office."A package?" I asked wonderingly. "I didn't order anything."She held a brown envelope in her hand. "Well, it has your name on it and I found it on the floor in front of the door.""Okay, thank you," I said, taking it from her. She nodded and headed back out to her office.The envelope was sealed shut. I grabbed a pair of scissors and used it to open up the envelope. I turned it over and the content fell out onto the picture.Frowning, I picked them up. There were four pictures in all. I turned them over and gasped.They were pictures of Nikolai and Ahmad coming out of Tony's apartment. The first one had Nikolai alone while the other three had Ahmad in the back.Why would someone send these to me? Was it the same person who sent our pictures to the media? According to what we'd heard, they'd also received the pictures in their mail.Why send the same picture to me again? Maybe there was a note or something?
~ Bella ~Nikolai was smiling at me in the weirdest way. "What? Why are you smiling?" I asked uneasily. For one, he'd given in too easily to my demand to have just one bodyguard and now he was smiling too? That couldn't be good for me."What? Can't a man smile anymore?" He asked, smirking."Nope! Nope! A man can smile. But you're not a man. You smiling is scary cause it means you have something up your sleeves. So I'll ask again. Why are you smiling?" I demanded.He shrugged. "No reason. Come downstairs for a second. I want to introduce you to someone," he said.I eyed him suspiciously but he just blinked innocently at me. I sighed and followed him. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like this," I muttered."You never know. Don't conclude too fast," he shot back.I rolled my eyes. We got downstairs and walked through the parking lot to his car. Ahmad and Boulin snapped to attention when we arrived. "Alpha Nikolai," Ahmad said. Boulin, as usual, didn't say a word.I frowned, bendi
~ Bella ~Suddenly seeing Boulin standing in front of my door shocked me. I'd completely forgotten that Nikolai said he'd be my body guard from now."Oh, sorry, Boulin. I forgot you were here. I didn't mean to scream," I said and waited to see if he would respond. After a few seconds, he nodded. Phew! It was the most response I'd ever gotten out of him. "I'm in a hurry right now. I'm going out for lunch. So...I don't know how this works but if you're going with me then we have to leave right now."I hurried downstairs and he followed me. When I got to my car, I looked around. Nikolai's car was gone. Ahmad would have driven him away.That meant that all that was left was my car. My small, compact, feminine car. I looked Boulin over."What are we going to do now?" I asked. "I'm not sure you can fit inside my car."He reached out and grabbed the car door handle, giving me a meaningful look."Hum...okay, if you say so," I muttered and went over to the driver's side. I opened the lock
~ Bella ~I ignored Parker's shocked look and kept on eating."Guess what?" He said."What?" I asked, finally looking up.He leaned close to me and whispered. "That was incredibly hot!"I laughed. I'd been concerned about nothing again, as usual. Sweet Parker!"Yeah?" I said. "Maybe next time I'll say a little something for you then."He smiled. "Can't wait!" He said.We went back to eating. A few minutes passed in silence then I remembered that I'd brought along some files to show to him."Oh right! I wanted to show you something," I said. I pulled out the files from my bag and slid them over to him.He carefully moved his plate aside. "What are these?" He asked even as he reached for them."I'm thinking of taking on a new case. These are three options I have short tlisted. I wanted to know your opinion," I said."Oh, okay," he said. He picked up the files one by one and began to read through them. While he did, I kept eating.I looked over to the side and saw that Boulin still hadn'
~ Bella ~"How would I do that?" I asked. Nikolai just told me to tell him what I had to say face to face but he wasn't even here.How could I do that over the phone?Just then, my door opened and Nikolai stepped in.My heart soared at the sight of me. I shoved down the feeling as quick as it sprung."How did you get here?" I exclaimed. intoHe smiled. "After I finished up with my business, I decided to come see you. I know you must have been missing me."I rolled my eyes. "Or maybe it's you who was missing me?" I quipped.He held my eyes. "Yes," he said plainly.I swallowed. This mas going to be the death of me. No doubt about it."So what did you want to tell me?" he asked, sitting and crossing his legs."I had to go out to lunch today and naturally, Boulin had to follow me because you instructed him to.""Okay...?" he drawled."He had to follow me! In my tiny ass car! Do you know how uncomfortable that was for him? He was squished up like a pretzel!"He began to laugh. I eyed him
~ Bella ~"Wanna go on a drive?" He asked, jiggling the keys in front of my face.I sighed. "Is no a viable answer?" I asked even though I already knew the answer to that."Nope," he said cheerily and opened the door to the driver's seat. "My lady," he said, ushering me into the car.I signed and jumped in, snatching the key from his hand. He headed around the car to the other side to get in.When he was about halfway around the car, a sinister thought jumped into my mind. A smirk broke out on my face.I hit the panel by my door and the locks clicked close. Nikolai made it around to the passenger side. He looked up and first saw the look on my face. "No, no!' he mouthed first, his voice muffled through the mirror.He shook his head warningly and reached for the car door. I made sure he had time to grab hold of the handle before gunning the engine.The car roared to life. I pressed down on the accelerator and the car took off under me. I drove aimlessly for a good fifteen minutes
"Well, I have to go now but I'll be seeing you," Nikolai said. With a smile and a jaunty wave, he was gone, leaving me to deal with the aftermath of our little tryst.Maggie was still standing in the doorway, looking at me. I turned to her slowly, sheepishly."Guess what?" I asked. Her eyebrow shot up in question.I raised the key in my hand in front of her face and jiggled it.She frowned. "What is that?" "Nikolai bought me a car," I said.Maggie gasped. She leapt forward and snatched the key from my hand. She gushed as she examined the key closely, turning it over in her palm over and over again.What she walked in on--or out on--was completely forgotten in that moment."He bought you a car!?" She exclaimed.I nodded. "It's in the parking lot," I supplied, starting to feel giddy again as I caught on to Maggie's excitement."Take me to see it right this minute!" She demanded.I giggled. "Yes, ma'am. Right this way." I stepped aside, bowed and pointed in the direction of the stai
~ Bella ~The drive home that evening was slow; really show, as I contemplated the approach to take in presenting Nikolai's gift to me to Parker.Parker was a sweetheart so I knew he wouldn't raise too much of a fuss but he would probably have questions and I wasn't sure how to go about answering them.I loved the car so much already and I knew that even if I didn't, Nikolai wasn't likely to take the car back. So it was mine.The only other option if Parker insisted on me returning it would be to sell it off or give it away but I really didn't want to.I pulled up to the house and saw that Parker's car was already parked out in front. I pulled in behind his car and sat in the car quietly. But he must have heard my car pulling in because the door opened soon after and Parker walked out with a smile.The smile turned to a look of shock when he realized that there was an entirely different car in the parking space and I was in it.He walked towards me slowly, circling the car contempla
~ Bella ~"In the case of the Shelbys and Hamilton against the Deca General Hospital, this is the order of this court: that the defendants be liable to pay the sum of $1 million dollars to the plaintiffs for the emotional distress, mental torture and general irresponsibility they displayed in handling this matter! "Thank you, your Honor!" I said, beaming. I turned to my Dylan and gave him a hug. I hugged his wife next."Thank you! Thank you!" she whispered in my ears repeatedly.It'd been a long battle that had spanned over the last three months.The hospital put up a good fight but in the end, we managed to prove that not only were they negligent, but that they also tried to cover it up.The result? Dylan and his wife and the Hamilton's were richer had their rightful babies and were each now half a million dollars richer."Make sure you use that money to take good care of your girl," I said."You can bet we will!" Dylan cried.I waved goodbye to them and packed up my belongings.I m
~ Bella ~At Nikolai's words, Nicholas whirled around, dragging me with him.My eyes widened in shock to see a fox, an actual full grown red fox, flying through the air towards us.This wasn't a normal kind of fox. It was huge! Just as big as me.It's teeth were barred and claws outstretched towards us.I screamed in fear at the frightening sight. I tried to duck down but I couldn't because of Nicholas' ironclad hold on my neck.My life flashed before my eyes for the umpteenth time.But the fox jumped clear over my head, grabbed the back of Nichola's shirt in it's teeth and dragged me away from me.In the next breath, there was a ripping sound and Nicholas transformed into a wolf too. His wolf was even bigger than the one that first attacked.Alone for the first time in hours, I was suddenly a loss as to what to do with myself.For a second, I stupidly stood blinking at the wolves.But teeth were snapping just a few feet in front of me. One snap came too close to taking my arm off.I
~ Bella ~The door crashed open.I whirled towards it. Nikolai! His familiar face filled the doorway.My heart soared with happiness. I jumped up and started to take a step towards him.I stopped immediately and took a step back. No! That wasn't Nikolai.These were the cold, dark eyes from earlier. It was Nicholas.He stormed towards me and grabbed me by the forearm."Shut the fuck up!" he snapped.I winced as the part of my arm where he was holding flushed with pain.That meant he'd heard me singing. Maybe Nikolai would have heard too?"You're coming with me," he snarled and dragged me out.We circled to the back of the barn room he'd put me in. He began to drag me towards the woods.Fear gripped me as we got closer and closer to the dark woods.Oh, gods. I'd just been raising my hopes that Nikolai would find me thanks to the singing.Would he be able to find me in the woods? What did Nicholas plan to do to me in the woods?"You don't have to do this," I said, my voice shaking slight
~ Nikolai ~War!During my father's lifetime, war was a common thing.Clashes between different packs and factions tore at our pack time and time again.Our kind were hot-headed and extremely prideful. Those weren't great combinations when it came to co-existing peacefully.But ever since I took over the pack, the number of wars we fought have drastically reduced.In fact, we hardly interacted with other packs and factions at all.The pack was as self-sufficient as they come and I loved it like that.But even then I'd always known this day would come.This problem had been brewing long before my father even died. When one day, a young man suddenly showed up on our doorstep, claiming to be a Reese, I knew immediately that one day I would have to fight to protect my birthright and my people.Well, that day was today and he had the perfect ace in his hands, my mate.I couldn't afford to get distracted or I would mess things up and she'd end up dead.We had to move with precision. Thank
~ Bella ~"It was you! You're the one who killed Parker," I spat."Right again!" he shot back with a grin.It was like a dam within me broke. I just found my husband brutally murdered barely two hours ago.I'd not even had time to process the horrific situation or mourn his death like he deserved.So his snide retort and self-pleased smile didn't sit well with me at all.I heard a loud sound and was shocked to discover that it'd come from me.The next thing I knew was that I was flying towards him in blind rage, hands raised and poised to hit him.But I didn't even get close enough to hurt him.With a backhanded slap, he sent me flying backwards into the wall.My head snapped against the wall and I crashed to the ground again for the second time.I yelped like a dog in pain. He stood looking down at me and tsked."Stupid girl," he said. "You really thought you could hit me? Don't you know who you're dealing with?I didn't bother answering and he didn't bother waiting for a response."
~ Bella ~I blinked in confusion, momentarily too stunned to even feel scared.'Nikolai? Why was he here? Was this some kind of sick joke?'Was it Nikolai who'd abducted me? Why though? And that fight put up by Boulin? Was it just acting?"Hello, Bella," he said, grinning at me as if everything was perfect in the world. As if I wasn't just shoved into a dark room after being yanked around and dragged along by kidnappers.When he spoke again, I realized why his voice had set off alarms in my head.It was because I knew the voice well. "What the hell, Nikolai!" I snapped. "What the hell is going on?"He was walking towards me slowly but he paused now. A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Nikolai..." he mused. "Oh, I just realized that I have forgotten to introduce myself."My frown deepened. What the hell was he saying now? He sounded like a lunatic?"Sweet Bella, I am not your darling Nikolai. I am Nicholas Reese," he stated."What?" I spat, still confused."I don't know if I
~ Bella ~My abductors bundled me into a plain white bus exactly like your expect from the movies.I screamed and kicked the entire way, trying to get back to Boulin.I couldn't stand the fact that I didn't know if he was dead or alive.Oh my gosh, if he was dead... if he'd died because of me... I didn't know what I would do.No! He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be! He was as strong as ten men! He was the strongest man I knew! Well, maybe except Nikolai.So he couldn't just die like that, right? I had to believe that he couldn't be dead.Nikolai would come looking for us. I had no doubt.He would save Boulin and then come to save me."You should let me go if you know what's good for you," I piped up.My voice shook embarrassingly. I swallowed the knot in my throat.None of the men even spared me a glance."If you knew who was coming for me, you would let me out right now!"Again, no visible response. "Nikolai Reese!" I exclaimed. "Nikolai Reese will come for me. He won't spare any o
~ Nikolai ~After saying my goodbyes to Nick, I headed out.I headed for my car, which I remembered now that I'd left haphazardly on the road.I got into the car. It was then and only then that I allowed myself to pull the yellow scrap of paper I'd recovered from Parker's body.I unwrapped it and spread it out against the steering wall.Just as I thought, there was a note written on it. Also, the note was for me.Even with no name there, I know it was addressed to me.I know the murder of Parker Smith had everything to do with me.I'd left Parker alive and well and then someone had gone in and killed him, making it look like I did.I knew it was only a matter of time before the police found out about my visit here last night.They would come to me with questions. I fully intended to have answers before then.But apparently I didn't have to look too far, the note was an invitation to me by the perpetrator.It read: Knock KnockWho's there?ShoulderShoulder who?Shoulder kept an eye o
~ Bella ~We were surrounded on every side by menacing, growling werewolves. Boulin was constantly turning, trying to keep everyone in his line of sight at the same time.I turned with him inch by inch, keeping to his back.Without turning around, he reached back and grabbed my hand in his giant palm. He raised my hand and placed it on his shoulder.His message was clear, "Stay close!" 'Sir, yes sir! What was I, stupid?' I didn't plan on going anywhere.I saw the attack before it came. It was like an invisible signal that rung through the group and suddenly one of them jumped at us with a roar.Boulin stepped forward to meet him halfway. He swiped a claw at him, catching him midriff.With one swipe, he took out his entire belly. Blood gushed everywhere.The next second, he whirled around and pushed me behind me. I hadn't realized it but the one behind me had come up behind me.Boulin grabbed him by the neck, shook him and tossed him away like a rag doll.I kept my hand on his shoul