BELLAThe sound of Xavier's pen tapping against his desk was loud enough to cut through the quiet atmosphere of the hospital. It was deliberate, and most of all, pointed. He didn't even bother looking up when I stepped into his office, but the tension in his jaw told me everything I needed to know. He was still upset, and knowing Xavier, he wouldn't let it go easily.“I brought lunch,” I said, holding up a neatly packed container like a peace offering.He finally glanced at me, his expression skeptical. “What's in it?”“Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Your favorite.”His pen stopped mid-tap, and he leaned back in his chair, eyeing the container like it might explode. “You think food is going to make me forget about this ridiculous situation with Kai?”I sighed, setting the container down on his desk. “It's not bribery, Xavier. It's an olive branch. And besides, you have to eat.”“I don't have to eat your guilt-trip lunches,” he muttered, though he didn't push t
BELLA.Don't let her ruin your mood!I internally chided myself and tried to smile when Kai leaned in and pecked me on the cheek. My face burned with heat as I put my head down and smiled shyly. I tried to pacify my racing heart and I pecked him back.“I'll be right back, I just want to get something, yeah?” I nodded as he stood and walked towards the exit door.As I gazed around the Ethiopian restaurant, I took in the vibrant atmosphere. The dim lighting, colourful traditional fabrics and eclectic decor all blended together to create a warm and inviting space. I looked at where Kai left, suddenly annoyed that he left me, then I found her gaze–Layla.My heart sank as she sauntered over, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Well, well, well, look what we have here,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Bella! My sister.”I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her petty attempt to put me down. I sighed, taking a few steps towards her.“Layla! What a pleasant surprise to see you. Can I h
BELLANot long after we finished eating, the waiter returned, his polished smile intact as he gestured toward the far side of the restaurant. “Mr. Kai, Miss Bella, your next activity is ready. If you'd follow me.”I glanced at Kai, raising an eyebrow in question. “Next activity?”Kai stood, extending a hand toward me. “You'll see. Come on.”His tone held a teasing edge, but I hesitated, eyeing him suspiciously before finally taking his hand. His grip was warm and steady, and though I hated to admit it, there was something weirdly reassuring about it.We followed the waiter down a short hallway and into a cozy room. It was smaller than the dining area, with soft lighting and an intimate vibe. My gaze landed on the setup: easels, canvases, and an array of paints and brushes neatly arranged on a long table. I blinked in surprise.“Painting?” I asked, turning to Kai with a mix of curiosity and amusement.He shrugged, his signature smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Thought we'd tr
BELLAHis lips were back on mine as soon as he locked the door. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked towards the bedroom—his bedroom.He fumbled with the door knob, and when we finally got in, he kicked the door close with his leg. He walked towards the bed, dropping me on the soft surface.He took his shirt off, tossing it aside before joining me on the bed, lowering his weight over me but still keeping a little bit of space between us. I could feel the heat radiating off his body, the butterflies in my stomach a fluttering mess.Our gazes locked, our breaths already uneven. His eyes dropped to my lips and he claimed them again.This time, the kiss was passionate, hungry, fiery. I responded immediately, kissing him back with the same fervour. My hands went up to circle his neck, while his found my waist, his thumb brushing lightly on my skin, causing goosebumps to sprout on my arms.He pulled away and began planting kisses on my right ear and trailing t
BELLAAs I raised a forkful of food to my mouth, I caught Xavier watching me with a weird look. I let out a chortle. “What?”He shrugged casually and continued eating. Something was definitely on his mind. “Tell me.” I urged, but he didn't budge.Frustrated, I reached forward, pulling the fork out of his grip. “Hey!” He retorted.Just then, a curly headed Latina walked past our table, staring at me with disdain. Did I know her? In my distraction, Xavier took his fork back, a smile threatening to split his face in half.“Who's that?” I asked, nudging my head in the direction of the curly haired woman. Xavier turned in her direction and his smile instantly disappeared.“Oh,” his voice dropped, slightly above a whisper. “Nobody important.” He replied, turning away from her.“Trouble in paradise?” I asked, wiggling my brows playfully.“Uhm, no?” He dragged the no, making it sound like a question. “Why would you even think that?”“Because she's been ogling you? And also staring at me like
BELLAI stared at her for what felt like hours before a laugh tore through my lips. Elaine had to be really stupid, standing here, threatening me? Yeah, really stupid.“And this isn't a warning, it's a threat. Today's embarrassment is just the tip of the iceberg to what I'm capable of.“What more truck do you have up your sleeves?” I feigned intriguement, watching her with false enthusiasm. Her face now was scrunched up with her breaths coming out loud and mayme angry, but I loved that I was getting under her skin.“What do you think you are?” Elaine sounded like a mean high school girl and boy, was it hilarious. “Trying to take Mabel's place in Kai's life?”She knew Kai's ex mate?She scoffed, staring at me in the eye as she said the next words that registered in my soul like a carving on stone. “You could never measure up to her even if you tried. All you are is a pathetic loser, pining for someone else left overs.”“Elaine, that's enough.” Kai spoke as he approached us.“You don't
BELLAAfter that night, I just stopped talking to Kai altogether. No texts, no calls, no casual nods in the hallway of the hospital, which I never actually saw him in since the day we fought. I didn't block his number or anything dramatic—I just chose silence.I told myself it was for the best. No more confusion, no more wondering what every gesture or word meant. In reality, every time my phone buzzed, a small part of me wondered if it was him. And when it wasn't, I couldn't help feeling… relieved? Disappointed? Maybe a bit of both.Elaine, of course, couldn't keep her mouth shut for more than a day. By the time I got to work the next morning, everyone knew about Xavier, Ralph, Lennon and Hunter being my biological brother. The gossip spread like wildfire.“They're what?” Lily had asked me during our break, her eyes wide like she'd just heard the juiciest story of her life.“They're my brothers,” I admitted, not bothering to sugarcoat it.Amber's jaw dropped. “Wait, Xavier? Like, Doc
KAII sat in my office, staring blankly at the papers scattered across my desk. My mind was a thousand miles away, consumed by thoughts of Bella and the argument we'd had. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd blown it, that I'd somehow managed to sabotage my own chances with her.The thought of losing her was like a knife to the gut. I couldn't bear the idea of living without her, of never getting to hold her in my arms again. And yet, that's exactly what I might have done. By not being fully honest with her about my past, by not being open about my feelings, I might have pushed her away for good.The worst part was, she thought I was using her as a rebound. Me, using Bella as a rebound? The idea was absurd. I loved her, truly and deeply. She was the one person who had managed to break through the walls I'd built around myself, the one person who had made me feel alive again.But there was a part of me that still held onto Mabel, a part of me that still grieved for what we'd had. I k
BELLAThe night before my wedding, my brothers kidnapped me.Not literally—though with them, anything was possible—but they barged into my room, dragged me out of my wedding preparations, and declared that it was a “sibling bonding emergency.”I barely had time to argue before Xavier threw me over his shoulder like a sack of flour, Ryan tossed a blanket over my head for “extra security,” and Hunter and Lennon led the charge down the hall, laughing like a bunch of lunatics.By the time they finally set me down, I was dizzy, breathless, and slightly concerned for my safety.“What the hell was that?” I gasped, pushing my hair out of my face as I looked around.They had brought me to one of the old gathering halls, now transformed into something unrecognizably cozy. The fire crackled in the grand hearth, a feast of steak, bread, and wine set out on a long wooden table.Lennon grinned, throwing an arm around my shoulder. “Welcome to the Official Quadruplet and Bella Pre-Wedding Party.”Rya
BELLAThe ruins still smelled of blood and magic. The battle was over, but its echoes remained in the shattered stones, in the bruises on our skin, in the exhaustion that pressed into our bones.I stood at the heart of it all, surrounded by warriors who had once been divided—now united. Alive.And yet, my gaze was fixed on only one thing.Ollie.Kai knelt beside him, his face tight with worry as he brushed the damp curls from the boy’s forehead. Ollie’s chest rose and fell in uneven breaths, his small fingers twitching slightly against the cold stone beneath him.“Come back to us, baby,” I whispered, sinking to my knees. My hands hovered over him, unsure if I was strong enough to touch him without breaking.Kai’s jaw clenched. “He’s breathing.” His voice was steady, but I could hear the fear beneath it. The same fear that had been clawing at my ribs since we found Ollie in that cursed chamber beneath the ruins.I reached out, my fingers grazing Ollie’s hand. His skin was too cold.Too
BELLAA war horn echoed through the ruins.And then, chaos.The archways burst open as warriors flooded in—my brothers leading the charge.Lennon’s blade was the first to strike, cutting down the nearest puppet. Kieran and Tobias followed, their warriors sweeping through the chamber, carving a path through Evelyn’s forces.Kai wasted no time. He lunged at Harper, their blades clashing in a furious blur of steel. Hunter tore into the puppets, his awakened power surging through him, cutting them down with terrifying efficiency.I turned to the nearest enemy, blade in hand, rage burning through me.The battle erupted in full force. The chamber rang with the clash of steel, the roar of warriors, and the shrieks of Evelyn’s puppets as they lunged with eerie precision.Lennon’s sword gleamed in the torchlight as he cut through the nearest puppet, its body jerking unnaturally before collapsing. Lennon moved with brutal efficiency, his twin daggers slicing through enemies like a shadow weavin
BELLAThe Ruins Forest was alive with whispers. Not voices, not creatures—just the wind curling through the gnarled trees, carrying an eerie hum that never faded. The deeper we ventured, the thicker the air became, pressing against my skin like unseen hands. Every step forward felt like wading through something old and rotten, as if the forest itself resisted our presence.Kai moved beside me, silent and sharp-eyed, scanning the shadows ahead. Hunter led the way, his posture rigid, his fingers twitching as though his body anticipated a fight before one had even begun.The darkness here was unnatural. It clung to the trees, seeped into the soil. The deeper we went, the heavier the feeling became, an oppressive weight that coiled around my ribs.“We’re close,” I murmured, voice low. I didn’t know how I knew. I just did.Kaibglanced at me. “You feel it too.”I nodded. It was a sickening pull, something deep beneath the ruins calling to me. Not a voice. Just a presence.Hunter inhaled dee
BELLAThe Ruins Forest was eerily silent, the dense canopy above swallowing the moonlight, casting shifting shadows across the decaying remnants of a civilization long lost. The air was thick with damp earth, the scent of moss and rotting wood mingling with something sharper—something unnatural.My breath came in slow, controlled inhales, but my pulse pounded in my ears. The ruins around us felt ancient, almost sentient, as if they had witnessed countless tragedies before this moment.And now, they would witness Layla’s end.She stood a few paces ahead, her figure outlined against the pale moonlight breaking through the trees. Dark energy crackled around her fingers, pulsing with anger, desperation. Blood streaked her face, her once-pristine clothing torn and muddied, but her eyes—her silver, stormy eyes—were still alight with the same bitterness that had festered in her heart for years.“You always take what isn’t yours,” she hissed, her voice raw with fury. “First my place, then my
BELLA.“You think you can save them?” he snarled, stepping forward. His sword gleamed in the dim light. “You couldn’t even save your own father.”A knife twisted in my chest.I refused to believe it.This wasn’t real.Kai was not my enemy.The fog was lying.I stood my ground, forcing my breath steady. “You’re not real.”A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.Good.“You’re just another trick,” I continued, voice firm. “Another lie.”The mist shuddered.The illusion of Kai faltered—his form wavered, then shattered like glass.Gone.But the fog remained.A new voice slithered through the mist.“You’ll never be enough for her.”Kai.His real voice.But laced with something wrong.I turned sharply, scanning the haze. “Kai!”A figure moved through the mist. Nathaniel, rigid, fists clenched.He didn’t turn.Didn’t answer.“She’ll leave you, just like the rest.” The voice came from the fog, its edges curling like smoke.Kai’s shoulders stiffened.I saw the tension in his jaw, the way his
BELLAThe Ruins Forest loomed before us, its canopy thick with ancient trees that swallowed the light whole. A hush settled over the land, the kind that preceded a storm. The air was damp with the scent of moss and decay, and every step felt like an intrusion into something forgotten. Kai walked beside me, silent but alert, his hand never straying far from his blade.We had barely passed the threshold when a rustling in the underbrush made me spin, dagger in hand. A shadow emerged from behind a gnarled oak, and I was ready to strike—until I saw him.Hunter.Dressed in a loose tunic, a satchel slung across his shoulder, he grinned at me like this was any other day. “Fancy seeing you two here.”I exhaled sharply, lowering my weapon. “Hunter, what the hell are you doing here?”He held up a weathered sketchbook. “Would you believe me if I said I came to draw the ruins? The landscapes here are—”“—dangerous,” I finished, stepping toward him. “This place isn’t some scenic retreat. Harper an
BELLAThe war room was dimly lit, the scent of parchment and ink thick in the air. Maps lay scattered across the table, marked with hastily drawn lines and notations—plans that had now shifted.The battle was over. The border was safe.But the war wasn’t.I ran my fingers along the edges of the old, worn notebook in front of me, my mind spinning through the words scribbled inside. Oli had left behind a trail—one that led straight to the heart of our enemy.Kai stood beside me, arms crossed, golden eyes scanning the notes as if he could pull more meaning from them just by glaring hard enough. Lennon, on the other hand, sat slouched in his chair, legs stretched out, fingers drumming absently against the table.The tension in the room was thick, pressing in on me from all sides.I exhaled. Time to begin.“We have confirmation,” I said, voice steady. “Harper’s plan failed. The border remain
BELLAThe sky churned with storm clouds, thick and low, casting the battlefield in an eerie half-light. The air was thick with the scent of burnt flesh, wet fur, and the metallic sting of blood. Screams and snarls tangled together in a chaotic symphony, the ground trembling beneath the weight of bodies clashing, breaking, and falling.I had seen war before. I had felt its weight in every wound I stitched, in every heartbeat I fought to save. But this—this was something else.The magical beasts came in waves, their forms flickering with unnatural energy, their movements sharper, faster—unnatural. I had no doubt now. Someone was controlling them. Someone was feeding them power.And I was going to find out who.But first, we had to survive.“Push forward!” Kai’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade, his massive form cutting through the oncoming beasts with raw, relentless force. Claw, metal, and flesh met in a