Jace POVI ran down the stairs excitedly; everything was going according to plan. I had my dad right where I wanted him, with enough money saved to serve Bella and me for two lifetimes, even if we never worked again. All that remained was to complete this last part of the act to avoid any suspicions and finally run away with the love of my life, Bella.Bianca was just about to leave with my dad, who was taking her back to her pack since she came alone. All I had to do was give her the gift I bought, put a smile on my dad's face, and, finally, Bella would be free while he was away.Bella wasn't aware of the remaining details of the plan; all she had to do was get her things ready and wait for my signal, which was going to be tonight for sure.I grabbed the gift for Bianca and hurried down the stairs so they could quickly leave together, giving me enough time to escape. However, my eyes fell on something unexpected.Bella was on her knees in front of Bianca, who wore a satisfied grin, a
Jace POV My heart pounded as I recognized my father in the incoming vehicle. There was no turning back now; we were caught in the crossroads of escape and confrontation.He stepped out of his car, a stern expression etched on his face and approached. "Jace, what do you think you're doing? You shouldn't be driving when you're drunk and dizzy, turn this car around immediately" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the night.I maintained a straight face, attempting to project an air of nonchalance, steering the conversation away from our true intentions. My hands gripped the wheel, and my foot hovered over the gas pedal."Come on, Dad," I began, "I'm just a young Alpha going through a midlife crisis. My mind is a mess, torn between two women. Bella is my mate, but, as you said, she's not good enough for me. On the other hand, Bianca isn't my mate, but she seems perfect. It's a tough choice, Dad. You know what it's like, being a man just like me."Dad rested his arm on the door, the wi
Jace POVI gradually regained consciousness, my head throbbing with pain. The airbag had deployed, and the acrid scent of smoke filled the car. My vision was blurry, but I could make out Bella beside me, still strapped in, unconscious.Panic set in as I fumbled with the seatbelt, desperately trying to release Bella. "Bella, wake up!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. I shook her gently, fearing the worst.She groggily opened her eyes, confusion clouding her face. "Jace? What happened?" she mumbled."The brakes failed. We crashed into a tree. Are you hurt?" I asked, my concern evident.Bella winced, touching her forehead where a small cut trickled blood. "I think I'm okay. What about you?"Ignoring my own pain, I focused on assessing the situation. The car was wrecked, smoke billowing from the engine. We needed to get out before it caught fire."We need to move, Bella. The car might explode," I urged, urgency in my voice.With shaky movements, we crawled out of the wreckage, stumbling onto t
Bella POV Jace led the way as we kept sprinting forward through the thick woods for several minutes, and I followed closely behind as fast as I could. The law enforcement officers and the alpha's men were a lot faster than I anticipated, and I was already out of breath, gasping for air. Jace glanced backward, noticing my struggle."Bella, what's the matter? We have to keep moving fast if we're going to get away from them," he urged, his voice tinged with concern.I tried to catch my breath, my chest heaving as I spoke between gasps, "My love, I don't think I can keep up with the chase anymore. The only way we're going to get away from them is if we shift."Before I could finish my sentence, Jace responded with a determined gaze, "That would be a huge error. We would only make it easier for them to track our scent, and we won't be able to get away from them without a fight."I sighed, feeling defeated. "So what do we do then?"But just as Jace was about to respond, several gunshots ra
Bella POV Fredo's menacing presence loomed over us, his gaze fixed on me with a chilling intensity. I could feel the weight of his threat pressing down on me, paralyzing me with fear. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to find a way out of this nightmare, but the reality of Fredo's gun pointed at my head kept me rooted in place, . Jace stood beside me, his eyes darting between Fredo and me, his fists clenched in frustration. Jace's bark thundered through the air, his voice laced with fury as he confronted Fredo. "Have you gone mad, Fredo? What's the matter with you? How dare you point a gun at my mate!" Fredo's response was chilling, his smile sinister as he spoke. "Let's just say your mate and I have some unfinished business to settle, my friend." I stood there, panting, my body trembling with fear and adrenaline. Jace's growl cut through the tension, his glare filled with contempt as he addressed Fredo. "First of all, don't call me your friend, you bloody scum. And secondly,
Bella povAs I took a desperate dive off the cliff, my head slammed into a rock, knocking me unconscious. Involuntarily, I shifted back to my human form, the force of the water slamming my body against the rock roughly, carrying me further downstream. I was too weak to move a muscle or attempt to swim against the powerful current. Instead, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the relentless flow.Hours later, I regained consciousness to find myself floating in the middle of a river, disoriented and weak. Gasping for breath, a sudden thought pierced through the fog in my mind—JACE! Panic surged within me like a tidal wave, my heart pounding in my chest."Jace!" I shouted into the wilderness, the sound of my own voice echoing off the surrounding cliffs. But there was no response, only the rushing of the water as it carried me farther away from the waterfall where tragedy had struck.Desperation clawed at my chest as I struggled to stay afloat, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Te
Bella povEchoes immediately reverberated through the room, sending cold chills down my spine. The silence that followed was thick with tension, as all eyes turned to me, awaiting my response.I swallowed hard, mustering the courage to speak up. "I-I'm sorry, Alpha Diablo," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I didn't mean to disrespect you. I was just... surprised."Alpha Diablo's piercing gaze remained fixed on me, and he twitched his eyebrows as if taken aback by my response. Slowly, he began to approach me, closing the gap between us with deliberate steps.As he drew nearer, a wave of panic washed over me, and I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. My heart pounded in my chest, and I struggled to keep my composure under his intense scrutiny."Surprised?" Alpha Diablo demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber like thunder. "Surprised about what?"I could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me, and I knew I had to tread carefully. With trembling
Bella pov"Please don't call my Alpha," I uttered, my voice trembling with fear and confusion.Alpha Diablo and his men turned around slowly to face me, their expressions unreadable. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their questioning gazes bearing down on me.Alpha Diablo sized me up with a calculating gaze, his movements deliberate as he took a few steps closer, narrowing the distance between us. His eyes locked onto mine, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. "You don't want me to call your Alpha?" he questioned, his tone probing for answers."Yes, please," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.Alpha Diablo scrutinized me suspiciously, his eyes boring into mine as he questioned, "And why?"After a few moments of gathering my thoughts, I responded, my voice shaky with nerves, "For honor and respect."Laughter erupted in the room, the sound ringing in my ears as I lowered my gaze in embarrassment. Alpha Diablo's amused sm