~ Bella ~With a giant yelp, I tumbled backwards and landed heavily in Nikolai's lap.I smacked him upside of the head. His only response was a light laugh."Like what you see?" He asked.I blushed furiously. I struggled to get out of his lap but he locked his arms around me. Try as I might, I couldn't break his grip."Let me up, Nikolai!" I exclaimed, struggling against him."I see that you've regained your strength. That's good," he teased.I gave up. I couldn't even budge him. I folded my arms and huffed in annoyance. "I can't believe you fell asleep too," I said sourly. "What a guard you are. If someone was trying to attack me, you'd be--""Awake and holding their heads in my hand before they could get past the door," he said. His voice was cold with assurance and a touch of male pride.I smirked. "Really? I got pretty close to you without you realizing," I pointed out.He smirked right back. "And I knew the very moment you woke up. I know how you crawled your way one inch at a t
~ Bella ~Nikolai was out the door and dashing across the parking lot before I knew what was happening. I turned to my door and pushed it open. I jumped out and ran forward.Nikolai was no where in sight. How did he disappear so fast? I picked up my speed, running in the direction I saw him take off in."Nikolai? Nikolai?" I shouted over and over again as I searched for him.But there was no sign of him. I got to the end of the parking lot when suddenly someone jumped in front of me.I screamed and jumped back. They reached out and grabbed me by the shoulders."What the fuck do you think you're doing?" A familiar voice spat.I sagged in relief and opened my eyes to see Nikolai standing in front of me. "Oh, it's you," I muttered."Why did you do that?" He asked, his voice bristling with annoyance."What?" I asked defensively, bristling at his tone."Why did you come after me?" He clarified hotly.I shrugged. "I don't know," I muttered. "You just took off like that. I didn't know why o
~ Bella ~The door opened and Nikolai walked into the office. "So knocking is just not a thing anymore...?" I asked saucily.He paused for a second, looking at me then continued forward. He sat in front of me. "You look like shit," he said.I rolled my eyes. "Geez, thanks," I said. "Just what I've been wanting to hear.""This is the second time in a few days you've come into work looking like you're about to roll over dead any moment. What's up?"I shrugged. "Nothing is up. What could be up?"He gave me a disbelieving look. "If you tell me what the problem is, I'll make sure it's never a problem for you ever again," he said.I chuckled lightly. "While I appreciate that, I don't think this is an issue you can solve.""Try me," he said.I laughed and shook my head. I reached into my drawer and pulled out an envelope. "I got the results back," I said."When are they expected to come in?" He asked."Any moment now," I said. "Maggie left them a message earlier.""Good, I wanted to be here
~ Bella ~It was a sober mood in the car on the drive over to the Hamilton's house.I looked in the review mirror at Dylan and his wife. They had their hands clutched together while s ashe carried the baby.Already I could see the lack of tension in her that had been so glaring the last time I saw her holding the baby.Now that like all her animosity and fear had faded away.She was finally going to get her baby back and I couldn't be happier to be able to make that possible.Dylan caught my eye in the mirror and gave me a smile, gratitude shining in his eyes. I smiled back. "Stop flirting with a married man," Nikolai exclaimed with mock shock."You flirt with me every time," I pointed out. "And no, I'm not flirting with him."He smirked. "That is different. You're my mate. That transcends marriage. You're mine."I rolled my eyes. "Statements like that is why P--" I realized what I'd been about to say and stopped talking immediately. I'd almost spoken about my issues with Parker
~ Bella ~Mrs Hamilton went running from the room, grabbing her baby on the way out as if we might just kidnap her baby and run.I can assure you we had zero intention of doing anything of the sort. Mr Hamilton didn't follow his wife. He sat looking at us with an introspective look on his face."So you're saying," he started slowly, "...that that little girl is ours and ours is yours?" He asked, looking at the baby in Dylan's arms.Dylan nodded sagely. "Yessir, that's what we're saying."He could only stare silently. What could a person say to something like that?"Mr Hamilton, we're not here to make any trouble for you. Mr Dylan and his wife just thought that you should hear it from them first, parent to parent. Because we have every intention to sue the hospital and have the mistake reversed. We didn't want you to hear it for the first time at court," I stated."B-but she's ours! We've been raising her," he said. "How do we suddenly start over with an entirely new baby?""I'm sorry
~ Bella ~I walked back to Nikolai, chuckling. We waved goodbye to Dylan and his wife as they left.Well, I waved. Nikolai kept his hands folded across his chest, just short of glowering. All this time together hadn't done much to warm him up to them."See you soon," Dylan called as they left.We'd set up an appointment for later when we'd be visiting the hospital with our suit."What was that about?" Nikolai asked the moment they were gone.I turned to him. "What was what about?" I asked."Her pulling you aside. What was it about?" he clarified."Oh," I muttered and started laughing again. "You wouldn't believe it. She wanted to know if Dylan and I dated in middle school.""Why?" He asked, brows furrowed."Because women will always be women," I said. "Jealousy is our universal language."He rolled his eyes but cracked a smile. "I can't believe she had time to be jealous in the midst of all this going on," he said.I smirked. "I seem to remember you being all jealous and touchy just
~ Bella ~I dragged Nikolai arm to get his attention. "You own this place!?" I asked with wonderment.I realized that the manager was looking at me weirdly. I gave her a tight, self-conscious smile and backed away.But then Nikolai did something that hit the deepest strings of my heart.He turned his body completely until he was facing me, his back now to the manager and patiently said, "You were saying something?"For a moment, I couldn't even remember what I'd been about to say.No one else might see it the way I did but what I saw was him completely out everything he was doing at that time on pause to listen to me.And really, that was what he was doing every moment of every time we spent together. He must be incredibly busy yet he was my driver, my bodyguard and also the person making sure I got all the rest I need.I think the manager noticed too because she was suddenly looking at me with even more interest. I blushed."I was asking if you owned this place," I said but I was s
~ Bella ~Nikolai rolled his eyes at my exclamation. Without a word he began to unbutton his shirt. I watched him wide eyed.He undid all the buttons and removed the shirt. He handed it one of the twins. Next, he reached for his trousers.I gasped and whirled around, standing with my back to him. "It's nothing you won't see more than enough of in the future," he called teasingly. It was my turn to roll my eyes. "You're so cocky," I said.I heard belt come undone and his trouser hit the floor. "Are you just going to keep standing there?" He asked behind me."I'm not undressing in front of you," I repeated stubbornly. Suddenly, from the corner of my eyes, I caught movement.He was coming to stand in front of me. I slammed my eyes shut tightly. "What are you doing?" I asked."Open your eyes," he drawled. When I didn't respond, he grabbed my hand and pulled it to himself. I cringed back. I didn't want to touch anything untoward.But my hand met wool instead. I tentatively peeled one eye
~ 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