BELLAI let Kai's arms envelop me, his warmth and strength a comforting shield against the turmoil that had erupted in the mansion. I sobbed uncontrollably, my body shaking with each ragged breath. As I cried, I watched through tear-blurred eyes as my mother was escorted out of the room by my brothers, Xavier, Hunter, Ralph, and Lennon. Layla, who had been clutching her stomach in agony just moments before, now walked alongside them, her face pale but her eyes gleaming with a triumphant light that made my blood boil.I felt a surge of anger and resentment towards Layla, who seemed to be manipulating everyone around her, including my mother. But as I looked up at Kai, I saw the concern etched on his face, and my anger gave way to a deep sadness. I felt lost and alone, unsure of what the future held or how to navigate the treacherous waters of my family's dynamics.Kai's arms tightened around me, holding me close as I continued to sob. I felt a sense of safety and security in his embrac
KAII gently guided Bella through the hospital doors, my arm wrapped around her waist to support her. She insisted she was fine, but I knew better. The way she winced with every step, the way her eyes seemed to cloud over with pain - she was far from fine."Come on, Bella, just a little farther," I coaxed, trying to keep her moving."I'm fine, Kai," she said, her voice tight with annoyance. "You don't have to hold me.""I'm not letting you go," I replied, my arm tightening around her waist. "You're not fine, Bella. You're hurt."She shot me a look, but I just raised an eyebrow. "Don't even try to deny it," I said. "I can see it in your eyes."Bella sighed, but she didn't argue anymore. Instead, she just leaned into me, letting me support her weight.As we waited for the nurses to come and take her for her tests, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What if I hadn't gone after her? What if I hadn't found her in time?The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I found myself tap
Immediately Kai left the room, my phone chimed. I glanced at the screen to see that it was a message from Elaine.“Why in the world wouldn’t she let me just be?” I groaned out loud, clicking on the notification so I could read her mail.It read:Dear Bella,I hope this email finds you well. Or, at the very least, finds you in a state of mind awareness. I'm not sure how much of what's going on you're actually picking up on, but I'll spell it out for you just in case.Kai is not who you think he is. He's not the brooding, tortured soul you've fallen for. He's a master manipulator, and he's been playing you from the start.You think you know what it's like to be with Kai? You have no idea. Mabel, his precious mate, went to great lengths to get away from him. She gave up her wolf, her family, her entire life just to escape him. And that's not even the worst of it. She had to erase her entire identity and start from scratch just to be free of him.That's how much of an evil person Kai is,
BELLAThe sun hung low on the horizon as Ralph told me what had happened. After the phone call, I rushed over to where Ralph was and my brother wasted no time to tell me what happened.“Our father is back like I told you over the phone,” he said without preamble, his voice sharp and edged with urgency. “And he’s already taking action.”My whole countenance stilled. “What do you mean?”Ralph ran a hand through his hair, looking both annoyed and impressed. “He didn’t even wait a full hour after returning to Ashwood Pack. He walked straight into the pack house—contract in hand—and confronted Layla in front of everyone.”My stomach dropped, my pulse quickening. “What contract?”“The one her father signed years ago—the deal that kept her here all this time. He called for her expulsion, Bella. There wasn’t even a discussion.”I froze,
BELLAWhen Ralph finished recounting the story, I sat frozen, my mind struggling to process it. Luther had marched into the pack house like a storm and thrown Layla out without hesitation. For years, I’d dreamed of someone standing up for me like that, of someone seeing the truth and doing something about it.Now that it had happened, I didn’t know what to do with the mix of relief, anger, and confusion swirling inside me.“Where is Layla now?” I asked quietly.“Gone,” Ralph said. “She didn’t have a choice. Father made sure of that.”The air felt heavy between us. I set my notebook aside and stood, brushing my hands against my jeans to keep them steady. “I need to see him.”Ralph nodded as though he’d expected this. “He’s waiting for you at the pack house.”I drove to the pack house, my hands gripping the wheel as I tried to steady my nerves. Lut
BELLAI took a deep breath and began to tell my father everything. His expression darkened with each passing word, his eyes blazing with fury. He listened intently, his jaw clenched and his fists curled into tight balls.As I spoke, I could see the anger building inside him. His face reddened, and his eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire. I could feel the tension emanating from him, like a palpable force that filled the room."How dare he," Luther growled, his voice low and menacing. "I'll kill him." He slammed his fist onto the armrest, making me jump. His eyes flashed with a fierce light, and I could see the wolf in him straining to break free.I placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down. "Father, please. You can't just—""I can do whatever I want," he snapped, his face reddening further. "He's crossed a line, Bella. No one touches my daughter and gets away with it." His voice was rising, and I could feel the anger and protectiven
BELLAI hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. If I revealed that Kai had lied, it could escalate the tension between our packs. But if I kept quiet, it could put my pack in danger. I decided to tell a white lie, hoping it would diffuse the situation.Through the mind link, I communicated my fabricated confirmation. "Kai spoke the truth," I said, trying to sound convincing.The room seemed to relax, with the tension easing as everyone confirmed Kai's intention for a collaboration. My father's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded. "Very well, Alpha Kai. It seems we have a mutually beneficial opportunity ahead of us."Lennon and the others nodded in agreement, their faces no longer set in opposition. Kai's expression remained neutral.Kai's expression turned smug as he announced, "I'll be staying in New York to accompany my mate." His voice was laced with a possessive tone, and his eyes gleamed with a sense of triumph.Lennon's ey
LAYLAI stood before the council, my heart racing with anxiety as I pleaded for Alexander's release. My voice trembled as I spoke, my words pouring out in a desperate bid to persuade them. "Please, honorable members of the council, I beg of you. Have mercy on Alexander. He didn't mean to cause harm. It was an accident, a mistake. He's willing to make amends, to do whatever it takes to make things right."I fell to my knees, my hands clasped together in a desperate prayer. Tears streamed down my face as I begged, my voice cracking with emotion. "Please, don't take him away from me. I'll do anything, just please..."One of the council members, a stern-looking woman with a harsh expression, gazed at me with a mixture of pity and disdain. "Layla, you know as well as we do that the laws are clear. An alpha's offspring is held to a higher standard. Alexander's actions have consequences, and he must face them."I felt a sob rising up in my throat, and I couldn't
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