Ethan watched from a distance as Xavier and Anna argued. He couldn't help but feel sick to the pit of his stomach that Anna was even with Xavier, the alpha. He wished Anna wanted him instead; he knew that he could make her happy and be great to her. He didn't think that Xavier respected her at all. Now she was pregnant with his child, Ethan knew he had no chance of getting Anna for himself. Della should have never left, although he could not blame her since seeing Anna with Xavier was also painful for him. He was just a patrol officer, nobody important or special. But as he watched the argument escalate, his protective instincts kicked in. He couldn't stand by and watch Anna be treated poorly, especially now that she was carrying a child. Without thinking, he approached them and stood between them, facing Xavier bravely. "What do you think you're doing, Ethan?" Xavier growled, his alpha instincts kicking in. "Alpha Xavier, I'm sorry, but I can't let you harm Anna. I am m
Micheal sighed heavily and turned to his grandmother, who blinked a few times before making a fresh teapot. Bustling over to the cafe door, she stood by it momentarily before turning back to her grandson and shaking her head. “What is it?” Micheal eyed her curiously. “Micheal, you should have gone with her. She's not safe out there,” she told him. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Slowly, he walked over to the counter and poured himself a cup of tea, trying to distract himself from the nagging feeling that he was making a mistake. His grandmother followed him, her eyes fixed on him with a concerned expression. "What's going on out there, Micheal? You know you're not telling me everything," she said, her voice firm but gentle. Micheal sipped his tea, feeling the warm liquid spread through his chest. He knew he couldn't lie to his grandmother, but he didn't want to tell her the truth. He had promised himself he would never get involved in th
“She is not as far away as you think.” Martha's words hung in the air, heavy with weight. Xavier's eyes narrowed, his grip on his jacket tightening. "What do you mean, Martha? You know where Della is?" Martha nodded, “She's been living in a small town at a cafe where she was working." Xavier's face darkened, his anger simmering just below the surface. "And what's she doing there?" Martha's gaze dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's pregnant, Xavier." The air seemed to vibrate with the weight of Martha's words. Xavier's expression didn't change. "Pregnant?" Xavier repeated, his voice low and deadly. Martha nodded again. "Yes, Alpha. She's carrying your child." Xavier's eyes locked onto Martha, his gaze burning with intensity. "How did you know?" he growled. Martha swallowed hard. "I have my ways, Alpha. But I think you should know that Della is... happy. She's found a new home, one that loves and accepts her for who she is." Xavier's face twisted in a mixt
Della pulled into the hotel's parking lot, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had been driving for hours, and her body was starting to ache from the long journey. She had no idea how she would afford a room, but she knew she couldn't go back to the cafe. She had to keep moving for herself and her unborn child. Della stepped out of the car and into the pouring rain, shaking her head to clear the water from her eyes. She had been driving for hours, trying to get as far away from Xavier and the rest of her past as possible. She didn't care where she was going, just as long as it was far away. As she looked around, she realised that she was in the middle of nowhere. The only thing in sight was a small hotel, its neon sign reading "Welcome to the Rusty Nail" in bold letters. The building looked like it had been abandoned for years, but a faint light shone in the lobby window. She sighed and pulled her suitcase out of the car. She didn't care about the hotel's appearance
“Xavier? What is going on?” Anna stood with one hand on her hip and a frown as she watched Xavier suspiciously. “Anna, it's late, and I need to be alone. Please go away. We will talk in the morning.” Xavier demanded, and Anna huffily left him alone. He slammed the door behind to show her he was irritated by her presence. Stripping off and heading for the shower, Xavier paused to stare at his reflection. He shook his head sadly and thought about Della. How could she be pregnant and with someone else now? He knew that he had hurt her with his cheating ways, but he regretted it and wished Della could see that he missed her so much. Xavier stepped into the shower, feeling the warm water envelop his tired body. He closed his eyes, letting the steam wash away the stress and anxiety of the day. As he stood under the spray, he let his thoughts wander to Della, wondering what she was doing, who she was with, and if she was thinking about him. He scrubbed his skin clean,
Della had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to keep moving. The dream still lingered in her mind, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. As she drove, she noticed that the road was becoming increasingly deserted. The trees grew closer together, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. As she rounded a bend in the road, Della caught sight of a sign in the distance. It read "Welcome to Willow Creek" in bold letters. The words seemed to glow in the light, and Della felt a sense of relief wash over her. She pulled into the small town, her eyes scanning the quiet streets. Willow Creek was a small, sleepy town with old-fashioned shops and houses that seemed to have been plucked straight from a history book. As she turned into a parking lot, Della noticed a small diner on the corner. The sign above the door read "Sunny Side Up", and Della suddenly felt hungry. She got out of her car and walked towards the diner, her eyes scanning the menu boar
Ethan couldn't shake off the memory of Martha's words, and he spent the entire night tossing and turning. The thought of Della working in a city café seemed strange, but he knew that if he could see and talk to her, he could convince her to return to the pack and give Xavier another chance. As the night wore on, Ethan's frustration grew. He couldn't take much more of seeing Anna all over the alpha, and his anger boiled over when he saw them together in the kitchen area. He decided that he had had enough. Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Jake's number, his heart racing with anticipation. After a few rings, Jake answered, his voice gruff but familiar. "Hey, man," Ethan said, trying to keep his tone casual. "I need a favour. I'm looking for a woman named Della. Can you find her for me?" Jake's tone turned sceptical. "What's the story behind this chick?" Ethan hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Finally, he said, "Just tell me if you can find her." Ja
Micheal finally pulled into the hospital parking lot; Della's eyes scanned the building, her mind still reeling from the events that had transpired. She could feel the weight of the unknown settling in, and she knew that she needed to get her and the baby checked out as soon as possible.Micheal got out of the car and went round to open the door for Della. He gently helped her out of the car, and his grandmother quickly rushed over to take Della's arm, guiding her towards the hospital entrance.“I got you, Della. Let's keep going.” Mrs Thompson encouraged Della when she kept stopping. Feeling sick, Della mustered a smile and nodded. Inside the hospital, Della was led to a private room, where a nurse took her vitals and began to examine her. Micheal and Mrs Thompson sat in the waiting area, anxiously waiting for news.After an eternity, the doctor emerged from the room, looking relieved. "Well, it looks like you and the baby are doing well," she said, smiling. "But I want to stress t
“You went to the house? Xavier, that was a stupid thing to do.” Sage grumbled and shook her head in disapproval as Xavier sank into the armchair. He looked exhausted, with large bags under his eyes and unbrushed hair. He had barely slept or eaten for days now. Sage sighed and felt sympathy envelop her as she watched him helplessly rest his head in his hands. “I needed to see my son, but the look on her face when she saw me again after all this time. I couldn’t stay away any longer, Sage. That’s my son. He’s growing up thinking that man is his father. How can Della do this to me!” Xavier growled; I could feel the frustration radiating from his body. I swallowed and knelt in front of him. Taking his hands into mine and assuring him that I was still by his side no matter what. “I promised to stand by your side and will continue to do so. Della and Micheal will not get away with this. I promise.” She looked deep into Xavier’s eyes, and he could only nod in response. The image o
Della wrapped her arms around Felix, pulling him close, feeling the warmth of his small body against her as relief washed over her like a tide. "I was so scared, Felix. You have to promise me you won’t do that again. You have to let me know where you’re going, okay?” Felix nodded, his cheek pressed against her shoulder. “I just wanted to see the bunnies,” he mumbled, a slight tremor in his voice. “I thought I could find them by myself.” Della's heart ached at his childlike innocence, but she couldn’t shake the undercurrent of fear that still clung to her. “I know, sweetheart, but you can’t go out on your own. It’s dangerous. What if you got lost?” “Mommy, I didn’t get lost,” he protested, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze, his eyes wide and earnest. “I just went to look for them.” Michael appeared behind them, his face a mix of relief and anger. “Felix,” he said, kneeling down to the boy’s level, “You scared us half to death! You can’t go off like that. You don’t know
The morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a golden hue across Della's bedroom. As she stirred awake, the comforting warmth of the blankets wrapped around her, she felt an inexplicable sense of peace. But as she turned to discover the space beside her empty, a wave of unease washed over her. "Felix?" she called, her voice muffled by the sheets. There was no reply. Just the chirping of birds outside and the quiet hum of the world waking up. Della swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the wooden floor cool beneath her feet. Panic began to bloom in her chest. She quickly pulled on a sweatshirt and rushed out of the room, the hallway stretching quiet. "Felix, come on!" she called again, a sense of urgency creeping into her tone. She dashed to his bedroom, flinging open the door, but the room was empty. The bed was unmade, toys scattered across the floor—a trail of evidence marking his previous presence—but he was nowhere to be found. Della's heart raced, each be
Michael’s gaze shifted from the road to the porch, his previous lightheartedness vanishing in an instant. "Della, stay in the car," he whispered, but his voice was steady, grounded. His protective instincts kicked in as he surveyed the scene. Felix, oblivious to the tension gripping the adult hearts beside him, continued to chatter, "He looks funny! Is he a clown? Can I see him?" Della felt like she might drown in the chaos inside her mind. That face—she knew it. The storm of emotions crashing over her threatened to pull her under. The world outside, once decorated in hues of vanilla and strawberry, faded into worry-laden grays. “It’s… it’s nobody, sweetheart,” she said, her voice trembling despite her best effort to sound calm. Those two words echoed hollowly in her chest, the truth of the situation crashing against her like waves. “Della? What do you want to do?” Michael’s voice was a low rumble, a rock amidst the encroaching tide of unease. As fear clawed its way up
As they stepped up to the counter, Della’s heart lightened further, drawn in by the kaleidoscope of colors and flavors that decorated the ice cream shop. The vibe was familial; patrons filled the tables, laughter and animated chatter ringing through the air. It was the kind of normalcy she craved, a temporary reprieve from the unease swirling inside her. Michael glanced over at Della while Felix pointed out various flavors, his small finger tapping excitedly against the glass case. “What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice low enough for only her to hear. “Maybe just something simple,” she replied, trying to dismiss the heavy remnants of anxiety that lingered at the back of her mind. “A scoop of vanilla could do.” Michael nodded, subtly encouraging her, and Della felt grateful for his unwavering support. Felix continued debating flavors, oblivious to the delicate dance of emotions unfolding between his parents. “Can I get sprinkles, Daddy?” Felix asked, his gaze wide
Michael’s brow furrowed in surprise at Della’s abruptness. “Already? We just got here,” he said, glancing at Felix, who looked equally bewildered. “Yeah, Mummy!” Felix chimed in, his face falling. “I haven’t even caught a fish yet!” “I know, sweetie, but I just… I feel like we should head back. It’s getting late.” Della offered a weak smile, but she felt the mounting pressure of her unease gripping her again. Michael studied her closely, searching for signs of her discomfort. “Are you sure? We can stay for just a little while longer. I promise it’ll be worth it.” His tone wavered between concern and disappointment, looking between the two most important people in his life. Della hesitated, torn between wanting to appease Felix’s enthusiasm and the unsettling feeling that had returned, creeping in like tendrils of mist. “I… I really think we should go. Something just doesn’t feel right.” Felix huffed, crossing his arms. “But Mummy, what if we miss catching the biggest
Della watched as Michael tossed Felix into the air, the boy’s laughter filling the kitchen like sunshine. It was a captivating sound that melted away the shadows of her dream and the specter of a past that seemed to linger. Yet, despite the warmth around her, a slight unease dimmed the glow. She stood and poured herself a cup of coffee, hoping the familiar aroma would steady her nerves. “Are you all packed for the fishing trip?” she called over her shoulder, trying to focus on the present. As she stirred in a splash of cream, she caught Michael's gaze. He was beaming at their son, but his eyes flickered to Della's for just an instant—an unspoken understanding passing between them. Felix was busy bouncing around the table, recounting his most recent fishing adventures, his vivid imagination transforming every catch into legendary tales. “And then, Mummy, the fish was as big as a whale!” he declared, eyes wide. “That sounds impressive, buddy,” Della replied, enjoying the innoc
Della woke up with a start. Sweat ran down her face as she struggled to regain her breath, and her heart was thumping like crazy in her chest. She turned her head and saw that Michael was still fast asleep. It was dark outside, and the bedside clock on the cabinet told Della that it was a few minutes after five a.m. She sunk back into her pillow and looked up at the ceiling. She couldn’t shake the image of her ex from her mind, the fire and wondering if he had died in it. Xavier had been the love of her life for so long, or so she had thought. She guessed she should be grateful since if it weren’t for him; then she would never have met the man who was indeed for her. Reaching over to take a sip of water from her glass, she quenched her thirst and sat up. Sleep wouldn’t come for her anytime soon, and she knew it. With a sigh of frustration, she swung her legs over the bed and felt for her fluffy pink slippers; they were so comfortable, especially when it was as cold as it was.
Prologue Five years had passed, and while Della struggled to rebuild her life, the specter of Xavier loomed, a shadow she could never quite shake. Felix was now a joyful, rambunctious boy, so full of life and innocence that it made Della’s heart swell with pride and joy, even as memories of the past occasionally clawed at her resolve. In their new home, a cozy cottage surrounded by the lush woods of a nearby reserve, Della worked tirelessly to create a sense of normalcy. The walls were painted soft colors, and sunlight streamed through windows adorned with cheerful curtains. Michael had dedicated himself to making their sanctuary a safe haven, but Della often felt like the weight of the world settled heavily upon her shoulders. “Mama! Look! I can catch a butterfly!” Felix shouted one sunny afternoon, darting across the grass like a streak of light. Della’s heart swelled at his unquenchable curiosity and explorative spirit. She watched warmly as he pranced around the vibrant