BELLAI walked into Cora's hospital room, trying to reassure myself as much as her. She was lying in bed, looking pale and anxious, but she smiled weakly when she saw me."Hey, kiddo," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm so glad you're here."I took her hand in mine, trying to infuse her with some of my own confidence. "Don't worry, Cora," I said. "The surgery is going to go great. The moon goddess will be watching over us, guiding the surgeons' hands."Cora smiled again, looking a little more at ease. "I trust you, Bella," she said. "I know you'll take care of me."Just then, the door swung open and Xavier walked in, a reassuring smile on his face. "Hey, Cora," he said. "I couldn't help but overhear Bella's pep talk. I have to agree, the surgery is going to go smoothly. We've got the best team on it, and we're all confident of a positive outcome."Cora looked at us both, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, both of you," she said. "I trust that I'm in safe hands. You
BELLAI ran my hand over my face, feeling a new wave of frustration. I felt uneasy even after I had chided myself to stop thinking about Kai.“May I have a seat?” Cash asked, I had almost totally forgotten that he was in the room.Still not looking up, I said. “Oh, I'm sorry. Please have a seat.” As he shuffled as he sat, I looked up.Cash had not changed a teensy weensy bit since that last time I saw him.I squinted my face in recognition as he smiled – clearly he knew– I smiled back as I asked.“Oh my God, Cash? How are you? It's been so long, what? Like a million years?” I laughed.“Yes, I've been good. And yes, it's been so long.” He said the last part with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. It's only been months since I graduated. “How've you been?” He asked me as he smiled, his eyes twinkling with different emotions.“I've been good, I'm just curious as to why you've decided to come to New York. And most especially as the guise of an intern.” I told him.He laughed, deep and throaty
KAII threw this party for her sake. To somehow get her to be in the same room as me even if she wouldn't talk to me. But, she down rightly refused my invitation, calling it a stupid party.Yes, I was that desperate. That desperate that I would try any trick, do anything to get her to talk to me at least.I wanted to apologize.That's all you have been doing since she came into your life. Literally. My wolf mocked me. It wasn't wrong. How I have managed to hurt her countlessly, I had no idea.It always just happened before I realized.It's because you never really made her a priority. My wolf wasn't wrong.I even prioritized Elaine over her the other day. I hurt her feelings so badly. Fuck.I took another gulp, emptying the glass before sliding it to the bartender, silently asking for a refill. He gave me a skeptical look, but he said nothing, instead pouring another drink for me.As I took another gulp, the image of that man walking into her office flooded my mind.Cash. He was the n
BELLA“What the hell are you doing here? And drunk?” I was appalled.He took a step towards me with his hand reaching out, but like he contemplated it, he dropped his hand and took a step back. “Are you even real? Or are you just a figment of my imagination?”He asked, and I felt my chest dip.He was drunk to stupor, barely able to stand on his own two feet.“What are you doing here, Kai?” I repeated. He placed his right hand on the door frame to steady himself, his droopy eyes peering into mine. “I threw a party to celebrate your success, you refused my invitation.”“I’m busy here at the hospital, Kai. I don’t have time to party.” I said, holding his gaze.“It’s past your working hours.” He was right. I wanted to stay by Cora’s side tonight, but I really can’t leave Kai to go home by himself in this state.“Did you drive?” I asked, bobbing my head to the side.He shook his head no. “I think I came with the driver.”“You think?” I almost laughed out loud at the absurdity. I turned aro
BELLAI stirred in my sleep and turned. The air smelled different from the lavender scent I normally woke up to. Where was I? Opening my eyes slowly, I immediately squinted my eyes, the light from the windows temporarily invading my vision.I opened my eyes slowly and turned my head, flashes from yesterday night came flooding back. I willed myself to move and face Kai. His upper body lay naked against me. I couldn't resist, I held my hand out and rubbed his chest, tracing the lines on his chest – the firm chest, abs.Kai moved and I stopped. “Why'd you stop? Continue, I like it.” He said, his voice husky from sleep. His breath fanned my face– the faint smell of mint and alcohol.He took my hand and placed it back on his chest, guiding me to touch him, moving his hand lower until I touched his defined V-line.I abruptly stood up from the bed, as if it disgusted me. I didn’t know what I was thinking of getting myself involved with Kai. I didn't need my emotions revolving all over again.
BELLAI stood in the car park, my eyes fixed on Cora as I hugged her tightly. "I'm going to miss you so much," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion.Cora’s arms wrapped around me, holding me close. "I'll miss you too, Bella. But you need to take care of yourself, okay? And don’t forget what I told you."I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. Cora was returning back to Moonlight pack, and it hurt me to see her leave after everything she’s had to endure from Grey. But she needed to go to finalize the rejection.“Take care of yourself too,” I replied as we pulled away from each other, tears blurring my vision. I looked up at Xavier and Lennon. They were taking Cora back to make sure she got there safely. I couldn’t be more grateful. I smiled, muttering a small thank you. Xavier smiled back, and Lennon nodded.Xavier took a few steps towards me, and I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes. "What's wrong?" I
BELLAI stood frozen in the doorway, watching the scene unfold before me with a mix of shock and fascination, my attention fixed on the tense exchange between Luna and Alexander.Luna's face was a mask of outrage, her eyes blazing with anger as she confronted Alexander. Her slender figure seemed to vibrate with indignation, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "How could you do this to her, Alexander?" she demanded, her voice low and menacing, each word dripping with venom. "You claim to love her, but you have no qualms about putting your hands on her? And what about your unborn child? Do you even care about its well-being?"Alexander took a step forward, his face reddening as he tried to defend himself. His eyes darted nervously around the room, as if searching for an escape or a witness to corroborate his side of the story. But before he could even utter a word, Luna's hand shot out, slapping him across the face with a resounding crack.The sound
BELLAI stood frozen in the doorway, watching the scene unfold before me with a mix of shock and fascination, my attention fixed on the tense exchange between Luna and Alexander.Luna's face was a mask of outrage, her eyes blazing with anger as she confronted Alexander. Her slender figure seemed to vibrate with indignation, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "How could you do this to her, Alexander?" she demanded, her voice low and menacing, each word dripping with venom. "You claim to love her, but you have no qualms about putting your hands on her? And what about your unborn child? Do you even care about its well-being?"Alexander took a step forward, his face reddening as he tried to defend himself. His eyes darted nervously around the room, as if searching for an escape or a witness to corroborate his side of the story. But before he could even utter a word, Luna's hand shot out, slapping him across the face with a resounding crack.The sound echoed through the room, maki
BELLAI walked back into the pack house, my mind still reeling from the conversation I'd just had with Ralph. We'd been discussing everything that had been happening lately - the attacks, the strange occurrences, my son Ollie's kidnapping... Ralph had tried to reassure me that we'd get through it, that we'd emerge victorious in the end. But I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been growing inside me.Just as I was starting to process my emotions, my phone rang, shrill in the silence. I glanced at the screen and my heart skipped a beat. It was a video call from Kai."I'm sorry, Ralph," I said, already moving away. "I need to take this."Ralph nodded, his expression understanding. "Go ahead, Bella. We'll talk later."I nodded and answered the call, my heart racing with anticipation. Kai's face appeared on the screen, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.Was something wrong?I couldn't shake off
KAII leaned against the stone wall, my arms crossed as I listened to Alpha Luther's concerns about the recent attacks. "We need to increase our patrols and gather more intel on the enemy's movements," Luther said, his voice firm.Lennon nodded in agreement. "I've been thinking the same thing, Alpha. We can't keep reacting to these attacks. We need to take the initiative.""I agree," I said, pushing off the wall. "But we also need to consider the possibility that these attacks are just a diversion. Harper’s smart; she wouldn't launch a full-scale attack without a strategy."Alpha Luther's eyes narrowed. "What are you suggesting, Kai?""I'm saying we need to look deeper," I replied. "What's Harper’s endgame? What's she trying to achieve with these attacks?"Lennon frowned. "You think she's after something specific?""I do," I said. "And I think we need to figure out what that is if we're going to stop her."Alpha Luther rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see what you're getting at, Kai.
BELLAThe forest stood before me like a black maw, its dense trees weaving a near-impenetrable canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The Ruins Forest. Even saying the name aloud was enough to send shivers down the spine of most wolves.Abandoned for a century, it had become forbidden ground-a cursed reminder of the blood spilled during the pack wars.I stared into its depths, the diary clutched tightly in my hands. Ollie's notes had been clear: this was the first location to investigate. Still, a voice in the back of my mind whispered, Evelynn wouldn't put her base in such an obvious place.My wolf stirred uneasily. You don't have to do this alone.I shook my head, setting the diary into my pack. I'll be fine. Shifting into my wolf form, I padded forward, ears perked and senses on high alert.The stench hit me immediately--a vile mix of decay and something sour, chemical almost. I paused, my hackles rising as the air grew heavy around me.Every step deeper into the forest felt like e
BELLAThe room was filled with the heavy scent of oak, leather, and tension. The round table in the center was surrounded by the most powerful Alphas in the region, each exuding their own brand of authority. Their voices rose and fell in heated arguments, the weight of their distrust hanging in the air like a thundercloud.Kai and I stood at the head of the table, flanked by Ralph, whose usually calm demeanor had slipped into something more rigid. I could feel Kai’s energy beside me, coiled and ready to strike, and I knew it wouldn’t take much to set him off.“This is ridiculous!” snapped Alpha Conrad, a burly man with graying hair and a perpetual sneer. “You expect us to believe this nonsense about witches and ancient werewolves? Sounds like a convenient excuse to expand your influence, Kai.”“Agreed,” chimed in Alpha Leona, her voice sharp enough to cut. She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, her dark eyes fixed on us with open suspicion. “Why should we risk our warriors on
KAIThe tires hummed against the asphalt, their low rumble filling the cabin of the black SUV as we sped down the highway. The road stretched ahead in a seemingly endless ribbon, flanked by dense pine forests on either side. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting fleeting patterns of light and shadow on the windshield.Lennon was in the passenger seat, fiddling with the GPS like it was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. His dark, chestnut hair was a little disheveled from the rush to leave, and his expression hovered between amused and annoyed as he jabbed at the touchscreen.“Tell me again why you’re driving and not letting me?” he asked, finally giving up on the GPS.“Because I have control issues,” I said flatly, glancing at him. “And because the last time you drove according to your sister, you nearly ran the car into a ditch trying to avoid a raccoon.”“That raccoon had a death wish,” Lennon shot back, smirking. “I saved its furry little life.”“And nearly ended ours in
BELLAThe house was unnervingly quiet when Kai and I stepped inside. I couldn’t shake the eerie sense that something vital had been ripped away. The air, usually alive with Ollie’s laughter or the faint strains of his humming, felt cold and stagnant. My heart tightened as I glanced at the small table near the door where he always left his shoes in a messy heap. Empty.Kai’s hand brushed mine as he closed the door behind us, the faint click of the lock echoing through the silence. “The beta said he disappeared during our meeting with Ralph and Amelia,” he murmured, his voice strained, low. I could hear the tight control in his tone, but his fists clenched by his sides told me how much he was holding back. He blamed himself just like I did.After everything Ollie had been through, after knowing he could have everything it was all just snatched away from him like it didn't matter. Like he didn't matter and I…. I just couldn't bear it. I couldn't lose him…. This. Us. What we could have be
BELLAThe morning air was crisp, the kind of cold that bit at your skin and seeped into your bones. The sky was painted in muted grays, heavy clouds hinting at a storm that hadn’t yet arrived. Kai and I walked side by side through the quiet packhouse courtyard, the frost-covered ground crunching softly under our boots.The calmness and trust between us was unspoken but palpable. After last night’s conversation with Ralph and my father and Kai’s help, I managed to slept. My thoughts that had been consumed by Harper, the ancient bloodline, and the vague, looming threat of her growing powe washed away because of him.But now, everything started becoming louder in my head.Kai’s hand brushed against mine, a subtle grounding gesture that reminded me he was there. I gave him a small, grateful glance before refocusing on the task ahead.Ralph and his mate, Luna Amelia, were waiting for us in the main hall. The pack’s alpha an
BELLAThe room felt smaller than usual, the air thick as if the walls themselves were closing in. I sat on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, fingers twisting the hem of my sweater until the fabric was stretched and wrinkled. My chest felt heavy, like a weight was pressing down, making it hard to breathe.Kai stood near the door, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp gaze pinned me in place, silently urging me to speak, but he didn’t push. He never did. That made it harder somehow.“It’s not just the bond,” I murmured, barely able to force the words past the lump in my throat. My voice sounded brittle, as if it might shatter under the strain. “It’s me—what I am.”Kai’s posture softened, his shoulders relaxing as he straightened and took a step toward me. He didn’t rush, but I could feel the concern rolling off him like waves. When he finally sat down beside me,
LAYLA"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Fear crept up my spine as Harper's eyes locked onto mine."I heard your wish, Layla," Harper said, their voice low and mysterious. "I heard you wanted to collaborate with the witches, just like Mabel did. And I'm here to grant your wish."My fear began to dissipate, replaced by a spark of hope. Revenge, I thought, my heart racing with anticipation. I wanted revenge against Max, against the pack that had rejected me."Do you really want revenge, Layla?" Harper asked, her eyes glinting in the dim light.I nodded, my voice firm. "Yes, I want revenge."Harper's face broke into a wide smile. She walked over to the bed, placing a hand on my shoulder. A strange sensation washed over me, like I was being sucked into something.And then, everything went dark.When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a dimly lit room. Fire torches flickered on the walls, cas