BELLA
The 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
BELLAWhen Kai returned, the tension in his shoulders was palpable, his storm-gray eyes heavy with emotions I couldn’t quite place. He stepped into the room, his presence filling the space, and I met his gaze with a calm I didn’t entirely feel.How was he so calm? Had he made a decision? One to leave me? I swallowed, fidgeting with my fingers.“How’s Ollie?” I asked, my voice soft but steady.Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The doctors are still running tests. It’s more than just muteness, Bells. His health… it’s delicate. They’re concerned about a few things, but we won’t have answers until morning.”I nodded, sensing there was more. “And Mabel?”His jaw tightened at the mention of her name. “She’s staying nearby for now. She insisted on being close to Ollie. I wanted to talk to you before making any decisions about… her.&rd
KAIThe packhouse was unusually quiet when I returned. Normally, the evenings buzzed with life—a mix of camaraderie and subtle territorial squabbles—but now, an uneasy silence hung in the air. They had felt the shift as keenly as I had. The change was an uninvited guest, and today, I had brought it to their doorstep.Mabel trailed behind me, her sharp heels clicking against the polished wooden floors of the main hall. She moved with an air of self-assuredness, her crimson lips curled into a pleased smile.“Kai,” she purred, her voice thick with satisfaction. “I must say, you’ve done well for yourself. This pack, this power—it suits you.”I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I turned sharply down the corridor toward the guest quarters, forcing her to keep pace. My stomach churned at her words, a visceral reaction I barely managed to suppress.She kept me on my toes. Something about her, her pre
MABELThe title of Luna suited me perfectly, as it always had. Standing in the grand hall of the packhouse, I basked in the weight of the pack’s hesitant stares and the authority that now came with their silence. They didn’t like me. That much was clear.But they obeyed because I had Kai’s child. I was with his heir and the sweet taste of power filled me with joy like no other.And that was enough.Kai had gifted me this role, though I knew it wasn’t out of love or loyalty. No, he was testing me. He thought I couldn’t handle the responsibility of the pack—that I’d crumble under the pressure of their expectations. But he was wrong.I’d learned from my mistakes.Once, I’d foolishly believed being Luna meant enjoying endless luxuries while someone else handled the tedious details. When the pack had needed me most, I’d sought escape instead of duty, turning to witches for freedom. The betrayal I’d orchestrated—selling out the pack’s secrets for my own survival—had been calculated, but I’d
BELLAThe room was dim, a soft yellow light filtering in from the half-open curtains, casting faint shadows on the walls. I leaned against the window, staring at the rain-slicked streets below. My thoughts were a tangled mess. Kai and I had been exchanging information about her. Anything to help us unravel this mystery.Mabel.Her name hung heavy in my mind like the scent of burnt herbs. I couldn’t shake the unease that clung to me every time she returned from one of her mysterious outings. I had told Kai everything, but we didn't know what exactly it was yet. How could I? It was one thing to suspect witchcraft, and another to accuse someone so deeply woven into our lives.Kai’s jaw clenched, the tension in his shoulders radiating outward like a storm about to break. I knew that look—it was the one he wore when pieces on the board were moving too fast for comfort.His gaze shifted to me, softening just slightly.“Bella,” he said, his voice gentler now, “what are your thoughts on all o
BELLAPacing around the room, I waited for Kai to return. My fingers quivered as Mabel’s presence outweighed everything else. I couldn't let her take everything that I had worked out to be.“Bella,” he called out grimly, stepping into the room. “We’ll visit Ollie today at the hospital.”I nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave the suffocating tension in the room.The drive to the hospital was quiet, save for the occasional sound of tires splashing through puddles. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past. Kai drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gearshift.“You’re thinking about Mabel again,” he said suddenly, his voice low.I glanced at him, startled. He didn’t look away from the road, but the way his fingers tightened on the wheel told me he was waiting for an answer.“I can’t ignore it,” I admitted. “Every time we’re together, it feels like she’s hiding something. And when she comes back…” I hesitated. “There’s always that faint… energy. It’s sub
BELLAThe dining hall was alive with the hum of morning activity as I sat reviewing the day’s pack schedule. The rhythmic clinking of dishes and the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee were oddly soothing. But the peace was short-lived.Mabel’s sharp laughter rang out as she entered the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Her arrival felt like a storm cloud darkening the space, and I braced myself. She sauntered in with her usual air of entitlement, her piercing gaze scanning the room until it landed on me.“Good morning, Bella,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.I nodded politely. “Good morning, Mabel.”Her lips curved into a smirk as she approached my table, a cup of tea balanced precariously in her hand. “I heard you’re handling pack affairs today. Must be quite the challenge for someone like you.”I ignored the jab, focusing instead on the documents spread before me. But as she leaned closer, I caught the faint scent of witchcraft clinging to her—a
MABEL“Leave us,” Bella commanded, her voice steady. She waved a hand dismissively at the guards and maids in the room. One by one, the guards exchanged looks, hesitating only for a moment before they filed out, their footsteps echoing in the room. The maids followed suit, some glancing nervously at me as they shuffled out of the room.Once the last of them had exited and the door clicked shut behind Bella, sealing off any chance of escape. A chill swept through the room. Her calm demeanor only fueled the fire burning in my chest.I decided to quench that fire and ignore her and went back to the files I was looking through. Maybe she was just trying to mess with me, making me think she had control over the situation. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Soon she and everyone in this pack would be begging for my mercy.I just had to get these documents duplicated.I skimmed through the stack of papers, flipping from one to the next. Something felt off. I glanced back at them an
BELLAThe soft hum of chatter filled the grand hall as the party celebrated my ascension as Luna of the A-pack kicked into full swing. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow across the room, reflecting off the polished marble floors. Members of the New York pack mingled with ours, laughing and toasting to new beginnings, but all I could think about was escaping the stifling crowd.I hadn’t wanted a celebration, especially not one this lavish, but Kai insisted. They need to see their Luna, Bella, he’d said, his piercing green eyes soft with determination. They need to know you’re here to stay.He wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean I had to enjoy it. The heavy weight of their scrutiny pressed down on me—some still unsure of me, others skeptical of what my leadership might bring.“Luna Bella!”I turned at the cheerful voice to see one of the maids I’d helped earlier that week with Mabel. I was relieved that she was gone. I couldn't believe all she did. That woman was vicious. Her sm
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