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
BELLAAs I walked along the beach, feeling the warm sand between my toes and the cool ocean breeze in my hair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. The beach was even more beautiful than I had imagined, with its crystal-clear waters and powdery white sand.Lennon, ever the thoughtful one, handed me an opened coconut with a straw, and I took a sip, feeling the cool liquid slide down my throat. "It tastes good," I said, smiling up at him.As I looked around, I noticed how close my parents were. They were always touching, always connected in some way. My father would hold my mother's hand, or put his arm around her shoulder, or even just rest his hand on her waist. It was a simple, affectionate gesture, but it spoke volumes about their relationship.I felt a warmth spread through my chest as I watched them. It was clear that they loved each other deeply, and that they had a strong, supportive relationship.Reflexively, my gaze drifted towards Kai, who was strolli
KAII struggled against the quadruplets, but they held me firm. I was caught off guard by their sudden intervention, and I found myself at a disadvantage. Lennon, Xavier, Hunter, and Ralph were all strong and determined, and they were not going to let me go easily."Let me go," I growled, my eyes blazing with frustration. I tried to shake them off, but they held tight. I was starting to get angry, and I knew I had to calm down before things escalated further.But Lennon just smiled, a cold, hard smile. "You're not going anywhere, Kai," he spat. "You've been trying to control Bella all day. It serves you right."I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. I knew I had to approach this situation carefully. The quadruplets were fiercely protective of their sister, and I didn't want to antagonize them further."Lennon, you don't understand," I said, my voice even. "I love your sister. I'm just trying to protect her."Lennon snorted. "You don't deserve her," he said, his eyes flashing with
BELLAThe bedroom was cloaked in shadows, the faint glow of moonlight streaming through the curtains doing little to warm the chill that settled in my chest. I sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall, the events of the day replaying in my mind like a cruel, never-ending loop.The wedding. My wedding. It had been perfect, a scene pulled straight from my dreams. The warmth of Kai’s hand was in mine as I walked toward him at the altar. The way his storm-gray eyes softened as they met mine as if I were the only person who had ever mattered. The vows we had written, brimming with promises of love and loyalty, were ready to be spoken into existence.“I do.” He had said. The words perfectly fell from his lips. It was like a weight was lifted off his chest as he said them. I loved it. I wanted to wake up every morning hearing it. The fact that he chose me. Loved Me. Wanted me. Everything was perfect. Everything. He was goin
KAIThe room felt smaller, the air heavier, as I stared at Mabel. Her name alone was a wound I thought had long scarred over, but seeing her now, alive and standing before me, reopened it. The chaos of the interrupted wedding still churned outside the room, but here, within these walls, it was as if time had frozen.I couldn't believe she was here. Here and staring at me with those fucking eyes. Eyes that destroyed me. Broke me to the point where I almost lost another chance at happiness, and love. She was a jinx, a curse.She stood straight-backed, her hands trembling despite her composed expression. Her presence alone was enough to make my blood roar, but it was the boy standing shyly beside her—dark-haired, wide-eyed, and painfully familiar—that shook me to my core.“I’m sorry,” Mabel began, her voice trembling but resolute. “I know this is not how you wanted your day to go, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to
BELLAThe sound of Mabel’s voice sliced through the air like a dagger, halting the ceremony in its tracks. All the warmth, the joy, the elation of the moment evaporated, leaving an icy tension behind.“I object!” she had said, her voice ringing with authority and venom.At first, I couldn’t even process it. My head turned instinctively, searching for her face in the crowd. And there she was, standing in the grand doorway of the hall, her figure backlit by the fading afternoon sun. The train of her crimson gown swept the floor like a river of blood, but it wasn’t her dramatic entrance that held me captive. It was the boy standing at her side.He was small, maybe five or six years old, his dark curls wild and unkempt. But it was his eyes that made my breath catch in my throat—storm-gray eyes, the exact shade as Kai.I didn't get what was happening. What was she doing her? My throat constricted.Whispers rippled through the crowd like a wave. My chest constricted, a crushing weight press
BELLAThe soft glow of moonlight spilled through the gossamer curtains as Kai and I stumbled into his bedroom, our laughter filling the quiet night. Kai’s strong arms encircled me, pulling me close as our lips met in a kiss that was both gentle and fervent. The taste of him was familiar yet intoxicating like the finest wine savored anew. My fingers found the line of his jaw, tracing it before sliding into his dark, unruly hair, pulling him even closer.Our kisses deepened, growing more urgent as they crossed the threshold into the bedroom. My back met the cool softness of the bed, and I felt Kai’s weight as he lowered himself beside me, his hands gliding along the curve of my waist. Each touch felt like a vow, a promise of his devotion, and in his arms, I felt the kind of love poets wrote about but rarely captured in words.The room was filled with the murmurs of our love, our intimacy a quiet storm that swirled around us, wrapping us in warmth. Later, when the passion ebbed, we lay e
BELLARuby, the owner of the boutique, held me at arm's length, examining me with a critical eye. "I'm so glad you're here, Bella," she said. "I've been dying to get started on your wedding dress. You're going to be the perfect muse for my new collection."I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. Ruby and I had met online through social media, and we had quickly become close friends. She was a talented designer, and I had fallen in love with her designs. I had already decided to wear one of her special creations for my wedding."I'm so glad to be here, Ruby," I said. "But actually, I just came to get Kai's measurements for his suit. I've already decided on my dress."Ruby's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, wonderful! I'll get my best tailor to take Kai's measurements. And of course, we'll make sure his suit is perfect for the big day."As Ruby called over her tailor, I couldn't help but notice the blonde woman who had been rude to me earlier. She was watching us with a mixture of sho
BELLAAs I settled into the familiar comfort of our home, surrounded by my brothers, I finally felt a sense of ease wash over me. The tension of the past few days began to unravel, and my mind wandered back to the confrontation with Max.His question still lingered in my mind: "Why did you reject me?" I closed my eyes, and suddenly I was back in that moment.I remembered the way Max's eyes had locked onto mine, the way his voice had dripped with entitlement. And then, in an instant, Kai’s fist had connected with Max's face.The sound of the punch still echoed in my mind – a sharp crack that had made me flinch. I recalled the way Kai’s eyes had blazed with anger, the way he'd stood tall, his chest heaving with rage."It's none of your business," Kai had snarled, his voice low and menacing. "You've done enough for her already."The memory of Kai's words, his actions brought a surge of gratitude to my chest. He'd always been m
Max.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall as the memories flooded my mind. Bella. My Bella. The one who got away.Why didn't I take her as my mate when I had the chance? Why did I let Layla deceive me?I thought back to the day I met Bella. Her sparkling eyes, her bright smile, her infectious laugh. I was drawn to her like a magnet. But I was young, foolish, and blinded by my own ego.Layla, with her cunning words and seductive charm, had manipulated me into believing Bella wasn't the rightful heir to our family's legacy. She convinced me that Bella was inferior, that she didn't deserve to be part of my family.But the truth was far from it. Bella was the one the quadruplets loved and cherished more. They saw something in her that I didn't - her kindness, her compassion, her strength.I remembered the way the quadruplets would gather around Bella, listening to her stories, playing with her hair. They adored her, and she l
Kai’s room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn against the afternoon sun. I paced the floor as I recounted my confrontation with Layla to him, the adrenaline from the exchange still coursing through me.My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides as I replayed every word, every insult she had thrown at me, and her subtle slip about the speed boat.She was behind it or had something to do with it, I was sure.Kai listened intently, his sharp amber eyes following my movements. His presence was steady and grounding, even as the storm inside me raged. When I finally finished, he leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought.“She knew too much,” I said, my voice tight. “There’s no other explanation. Layla was involved. But how? How could she have tampered with the speed boat?” Evil people could always achieve anything, especially someone like Layla.Kai steepled his fingers, his expression grave. “She couldn’t have done it alone. Sabotaging something as complex as a sipped b
BELLAMy body was healed—no more bruises, no more gashes—but the scars on my pride and the questions swirling in my mind remained. The yacht sabotage wasn’t an accident. Someone had tried to kill me, and every instinct screamed one name: Layla.I knew she had something to do with it. She always hated me and every single time we met, she managed to prove that. The conviction drummed in my heart. She had to be the one. But if she was, how could she manage it on her own?She was the only one that had something to gain the most from my death so her motives weren't a problem. It was how.Her smugness, her hostility, her constant presence near Luna Olive—it all pointed to her involvement. Today, I would get the answers I needed, no matter what.The hotel where my mother was staying stood like a gleaming fortress, its pristine marble walls and gold accents reflecting the morning light. I entered the lobby, my boots clicking softly against the polished floors, ignoring the curious glances fro