Chapter 5 SPARK OF CONNECTION

Bella's POV

“Good morning, Luna.” I curtsied as I entered into the opulent dining area, my eyes scanning through the room. It was an open hall space, the walls painted in a pretty ivory color with gold lines intricately forming beautiful designs. The elegant chandeliers hanging over the table casted a golden glow, making the whole dining area look like a scene from a Disney movie.

“Bella.” My mother's voice had me turning my attention back to the table. Everybody had paused, watching my warily.

A nervous smile touched my lips.

“Have a sit.” She spoke curtly, gesturing to the empty sit besides her.

I sat and a few maids crammed around me, filling my empty plate with food. I had never been treated like this in my entire life—treated like I mattered and I felt warmth spread in my chest.

Once my plate was filled with the most decent meal I had ever had. As I ate, I watched from my peripheral vision as my mother clenched and unclenched her fists, her brows drawn together, tension etched on her features.

Unsure of what to do, I let my hand rest on hers and I have it a small squeeze. She turned to look at me. “I can't believe those women spoke so badly to you yesterday.” She said and realization dawned on me.

“It's really fine.” I said giving her a smile of realization.

“It's not fine!” She pushed her food away, shaking her head. “How dare they speak to you like that?” She was shouting now.

“I'm used to it, mother. I really don't mind.” I wanted to calm her down, to assure her that it wasn't so big of a deal but she wasn't listening.

Soon enough, she started gasping for air, and a few people gathered around. She was taken to the hospital and I couldn't help the way my heart raced with fear.

I was here only one day and so much had already happened.

I sighed, pacing from one end of my room to the other when a knock came on my door. “Come in.” I replied and a maid walked in, her hands clasped behind her and her gaze pinned to the ground.

I was being given respect that I never dreamt I would have and it really felt good.

“Ma'am, Luna has sent something for you. They're outside with the driver as he has demanded to give them to you in person.” She spoke and I nodded dismissively, fighting the squeal of excitement that was threatening to tear through me.

I hurried out to get my gift from the driver. They were shopping bags with the brand of the boutique we visited yesterday encrusted on them.

I muttered a quick thank you to the driver and headed inside to check out my new dresses and probably shoes.

“And who are you?” A voice—shrill and piercing spike and I turned in the direction of the voice to see a woman most like my age, walking towards me. She looked really expensive; her light brown hair looked really healthy, her skin dazzled under the lights and she wore a dress I was sure cost thousands of dollars.

“I'm Bella.” I replied, unsure of what else to say.

Her eyes roamed my body, settling on the shopping bags that I was holding. “Those must be mine.” She wasn't asking. She took a few steps towards me, attempting to take the bags from me and I stepped backwards.

“They aren't yours. They're mine.” I stated matter of factly and the mocking chuckle that eluded her lips stirred something inside me.

“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You look like a clueless country wolf. You could never afford those.” She said and reached for the bags again but I refused to let them go.

“My mother got these for me. They aren't yours.” I said staring into her gray eyes that we're probably contact lenses. She was trying to intimidate me but I wasn't going to condone any of it. “Now, get the fuck out of my way!” I pushed past her but she gripped my elbow, pulling me back.

“What a fraud!” She spat, her face contorted in disgust. “You think you can just walk in here and claim to have a mother here?” She Rolled her head backwards as a breathy laugh escapee mouth.

“What do you think we are? Fools?”

“Let me go!” I spoke through gritted teeth. I didn't like this woman one bit.

“Get out of the fucking house, impostor.” She said pulling me through the doors and suddenly I was pulled away from her grip.

The expression on her face transformed from disgust to emotionless in seconds as she set her eyes on the man who had rescued me from her brutality.

His lips were drawn into a thin line, his eyes watching the mean girl with one brow slightly quirked upwards.

“Alpha.” She acknowledged him, bowing her head in respect. Realizing that he was the current alpha of this pack, I did the same.

“HARPER.” He said her name and the silence that followed was loud, unsettling. “What sort of behavior are you exhibiting?” His voice was cold and detached and Harper was clearly shaken by it. I fought the smile that threatened to spread on my lips.

“I'm sorry, Alpha. I—”

“You seem to have forgotten that you are only just a guest here.” He cut her off and she raised her head, her gaze meeting mine.

“And so is she.” She was referring to me.

“You're wrong. This is her home.” He said and I really liked the sound of that.

My home.

“I'm sorry.” Her face fell, but her apology didn't sound genuine. Not a little bit.

“Now, leave. And Say nothing of Bella's presence here to that woman.” He said with finality in his tone and Harper nodded, walking out the door.

Oh, how the tables turned.

“I'm sorry about that.” He said with a smile that was a maddening contrast from the look that he had on while he spoke Harper.

“It's fine.” I smiled.

“Darling,” another woman spoke as she walked across the room to where she stood. The Alpha wrapped a hand around her waist and she giggled when he placed a kiss on her cheeks. It was obviously Luna.

Just when I thought they had totally forgotten my existence, her eyes met mine.

“Oh, my! You must be Bella.” She gushed, moving closer and taking my hands in hers. “You are so beautiful.”

“Thank you, Luna.” I smiled.

“Oh, you can call me Amelia. .” She replied and I just smiled, unsure of what to say.

All of this was new to me. The niceness, the luxury, the respect…

“Darling, I have to meet with someone right now.” The Alpha spoke to his wife, slipping his hands in his pockets. “I'll leave y'all to do whatever women do.” He smiled and turned on his heels.

“Let's go to your room.” She said, urging me up the stairs.

“I'm sorry we couldn't be here when you arrived yesterday. We just arrived at the pack this morning.” She said as we climbed to the top of the stairs, even though she owed me no explanations.

I nodded, smiling politely as we took a right turk, the sounds of our footsteps echoing through the corridors.

We got to my room and we settled on the bed.

“I hope the maids are making it comfortable for you?” She asked and I nodded. “Yes. I'm loving it here.”

“Great. So how have you been? Y'know when you were away?” She asked and I felt that familiar pang in my chest as I remembered.

“It's really a sore topic for me.” I replied truthfully, fondling with my fingers.

“It's fine if you don't want to talk about it,” she said, and I could see the honesty in her eyes. I suddenly felt like telling her so I started.

“I've lived with the Alpha and Luna of Moonlight pack all my life—since I was five. I don't remember anything from before then.”

I continued, explaining to Amelia how I was abused and maltreated growing up, and how I was no different from a slave there. I told her about Cora and how she was the only person that cared about me.

I told her about how I was treated when everybody thought I was wolfless.

I told her about school and about Max and how he cheated on me on my graduation day and the things he said about me.

I told her how Mason beat me up that night because I called off my engagement with Max, how he locked me up and threw me in a cell and how Cora found me and helped me out and how I was finally able to reach here.

“You have been through so much,” she said, holding my hands in hers and caressing it as tears rolled down her cheeks.

My vision was blurred with tears. “I have,” I blinked and let the tears roll down my cheeks.

In one swift move, she gathered me in her arms, hugging me and for the first time in a long time, I cried.

A few minutes later, a knock came on the door, and the Alpha walked in with another man. He was tall, had broad shoulders and a muscular physique and would look really intimidating if he didn't have a small smile playing on his lips.

“Uhm, are we interrupting?” He asked and his wife was quick to debunk it.

“This is Alpha Kai. He just flew in from Europe.” He introduced and the tall muscular man stretched out his hands for a handshake.

“It's nice to meet you.” He sounded like melted butter. His voice was deep, smooth and soothing, my lips involuntarily stretching into a smile.

I put my hand in his and the spark of electricity that ran through my veins caused me to look up, our eyes meeting. A deep hum of connection vibrated through me, resonating in parts of my soul that I thought were now dormant.

In that instant, I knew—he was my second chance