BELLAAs soon as I heard the door open, I rushed to Kai's side, embracing him warmly. "I was starting to get worried," I said, trying to keep my tone light.Kai smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, but I could still see the worry etched on his face. I knew that look all too well."Hey," he said, his voice low, as he wrapped his arms around me.I leaned in, our lips meeting in a soft, gentle kiss. But as we kissed, I felt a distance between us, a sense of withdrawal that I couldn't quite explain. It was as if Kai was holding back, his emotions locked away behind a mask of calm.I deepened the kiss, trying to bridge the gap between us, but it only seemed to grow wider. Kai's responses were mechanical, his touch lacking the usual spark of passion.I pulled back, searching his face for answers. "What's wrong, Kai?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai's hand enveloped mine, warm and reassuring, as we sat together on the bed. He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine, a
BELLAI watched as the look of confusion on Kai’s face—his brows furrowed, his lips in a thin line, his head slightly bobbed to the side—transformed into one of pure joy.He was grinning from ear to ear, his brows now raised in excitement.“Are you pregnant?” He asked, taking a step towards me, excitement radiating off him in waves, it made my stomach dance with butterflies.But I wasn’t pregnant.I blinked. "Not literally pregnant. Metaphorically. Spiritually? I—""Bella," he said sharply, leaning forward, his amber eyes boring into mine. The look of confusion was back. "This is not something you joke about.""I'm not joking!" I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I mean, I've been thinking about adopting Olly."Kai froze. His expression shifted from confusion to something softer, more contemplative. "Adopting Olly?""Yes." My voice steadied as I explained. "He needs us, Kai. He's been through so much. No pack. No family. No one to show him he's worth something. We can give him
LAYLAThe house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the old floorboards. I sat alone at the dining table, the dim glow of my phone casting long shadows on the walls. My tea sat untouched, its surface rippling slightly each time I exhaled sharply. My eyes, however, were glued to the screen, scanning the images over and over again.Bella’s family photos.Kai was smiling—a rare, genuine smile that once used to belong to me. His arm was slung around that woman’s shoulders, his eyes crinkling in a way that betrayed how deeply he was invested in them. And there, nestled between them, was her son. A child that wasn’t even his, yet he held the boy like he was his own blood.My hands tightened around the phone. How could he?I zoomed in on Bella’s face, trying to find something—anything—that would explain what Kai saw in her. Her long, dark hair framed a face that was soft and warm. Her smile was open, almost too perfect, and the way her eyes crinkled mad
BELLAThe sun had barely risen over the horizon, but the online world was already buzzing with activity. I woke up to the sound of my phone blowing up with notifications.I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and reached for my phone, scrolling through the trending topics on social media. My heart sank as I saw my name plastered all over the internet, accompanied by hashtags like #BellaTheScammer and #KaiDeservesBetter.It seemed that the online rumors about me had reached a fever pitch overnight, with many people calling me out for allegedly being a hypocrite and a scammer. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach.I knew that I had done nothing wrong, but the constant barrage of negative comments and messages was starting to take its toll on me. I decided to put on a brave face and face the day head-on, knowing that I had Kai and our son Olly to support me through this difficult time.I knew I had to get to the bottom of t
BELLA.The papers trembled slightly in my hands as I sat alone in the study. The moonlight seeped through the heavy curtains, bathing the desk in silver light, making the black ink of Alpha Mason’s name stand out even more. His name, tied to Layla’s in every damning transaction. Payment after payment, each one like a nail hammered into the coffin of her deceit.I leaned back in the chair, the air in the room suffocating despite the cool night breeze. “Layla and Grey… It’s all connected,” I whispered, my voice breaking the silence. Saying it aloud didn’t make it easier to believe.My wolf stirred within me, her presence steady. “You know what this means,” she said, her voice calm yet commanding. “You’ve found the truth. Now, what will you do with it?”The answer should have been simple. Expose them. Make them pay. But I couldn’t stop the memories flooding back—of Grey&rsqu
LAYLAWhen Max walked through the doors of the pack house, I knew I was in trouble. I tried to make a hasty exit, maybe come back and apologize when he’s calmed down a bit, but he was too quick. He strode towards me, his expression cold and unforgiving."Max, please," I begged, falling to my knees as tears streamed down my face. "I'm sorry, I know I made mistakes, but I never meant to hurt you or the pack. You didn’t mean to banish me, right? I'll do anything, just please forgive me."But Max’s face remained impassive, his eyes glacial. When I finally ran out of words, he spoke, his voice firm and detached."Layla, I reject you as my mate," he said, his words cutting through me like a knife. "You're no longer welcome in this pack."I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Rejected? Banished? The words echoed in my mind, refusing to sink in. I stared up at Max, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt, but his expression remai
BELLA'S POV.Today is the day.I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, my graduation cap hung up on my head. The smile was a reflection of everything I've been through for the past years, my strength and vitality. I sniffed in as tears started to burn in the back of my head, forming in my large black orbs.I took some steps back, pushing back all the bad thoughts away from my head to focus on myself. It was me today. Everything was all about me. I was the Bella that survived all the thick and hard times, and I am now the Bella that needs to start living.I stared at the blue gown I was wearing inside my graduation gown, one that my mother, or adoptive mother has given to me. Another set of fresh hot tears pooled my eyes as I thought about it. I would give anything for her to see me in it, for her to witness that everything she has poured in me and I have in her was now here to see, that I performed well and fulfilled everything.My name is Bella Montagu, adoptive daughter of Alpha Gr
Bella 'S POV.I gulped down, shaking my head in denial as I clutched my bag hard to my chest. No. None of it can be real. Max would not say something like that about me. He loved me. We loved each other. I've spent days on that bed, telling him how much I want to have sex with him but I just needed the timing to be right.I love him. I was going to tell him everything. Tell him I have a wolf and we were fated mates, let him see the mate bond. I was going to give him the whole of me tonight. To let him connect with my wolf and every part of me.My thoughts were cut short as a giggle that I knew too well could not belong to Max came out of the room, causing my heart to clutter more in pain. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, my lips trembling as their words entered my ear.“So why don't you leave her? Why don't you break up with her if she's useless?”I bit down on my lower lips, my heart gnawing in pain already as I waited for his response. Smooching sound came out first before h
LAYLAWhen Max walked through the doors of the pack house, I knew I was in trouble. I tried to make a hasty exit, maybe come back and apologize when he’s calmed down a bit, but he was too quick. He strode towards me, his expression cold and unforgiving."Max, please," I begged, falling to my knees as tears streamed down my face. "I'm sorry, I know I made mistakes, but I never meant to hurt you or the pack. You didn’t mean to banish me, right? I'll do anything, just please forgive me."But Max’s face remained impassive, his eyes glacial. When I finally ran out of words, he spoke, his voice firm and detached."Layla, I reject you as my mate," he said, his words cutting through me like a knife. "You're no longer welcome in this pack."I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Rejected? Banished? The words echoed in my mind, refusing to sink in. I stared up at Max, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt, but his expression remai
BELLA.The papers trembled slightly in my hands as I sat alone in the study. The moonlight seeped through the heavy curtains, bathing the desk in silver light, making the black ink of Alpha Mason’s name stand out even more. His name, tied to Layla’s in every damning transaction. Payment after payment, each one like a nail hammered into the coffin of her deceit.I leaned back in the chair, the air in the room suffocating despite the cool night breeze. “Layla and Grey… It’s all connected,” I whispered, my voice breaking the silence. Saying it aloud didn’t make it easier to believe.My wolf stirred within me, her presence steady. “You know what this means,” she said, her voice calm yet commanding. “You’ve found the truth. Now, what will you do with it?”The answer should have been simple. Expose them. Make them pay. But I couldn’t stop the memories flooding back—of Grey&rsqu
BELLAThe sun had barely risen over the horizon, but the online world was already buzzing with activity. I woke up to the sound of my phone blowing up with notifications.I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and reached for my phone, scrolling through the trending topics on social media. My heart sank as I saw my name plastered all over the internet, accompanied by hashtags like #BellaTheScammer and #KaiDeservesBetter.It seemed that the online rumors about me had reached a fever pitch overnight, with many people calling me out for allegedly being a hypocrite and a scammer. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach.I knew that I had done nothing wrong, but the constant barrage of negative comments and messages was starting to take its toll on me. I decided to put on a brave face and face the day head-on, knowing that I had Kai and our son Olly to support me through this difficult time.I knew I had to get to the bottom of t
LAYLAThe house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the old floorboards. I sat alone at the dining table, the dim glow of my phone casting long shadows on the walls. My tea sat untouched, its surface rippling slightly each time I exhaled sharply. My eyes, however, were glued to the screen, scanning the images over and over again.Bella’s family photos.Kai was smiling—a rare, genuine smile that once used to belong to me. His arm was slung around that woman’s shoulders, his eyes crinkling in a way that betrayed how deeply he was invested in them. And there, nestled between them, was her son. A child that wasn’t even his, yet he held the boy like he was his own blood.My hands tightened around the phone. How could he?I zoomed in on Bella’s face, trying to find something—anything—that would explain what Kai saw in her. Her long, dark hair framed a face that was soft and warm. Her smile was open, almost too perfect, and the way her eyes crinkled mad
BELLAI watched as the look of confusion on Kai’s face—his brows furrowed, his lips in a thin line, his head slightly bobbed to the side—transformed into one of pure joy.He was grinning from ear to ear, his brows now raised in excitement.“Are you pregnant?” He asked, taking a step towards me, excitement radiating off him in waves, it made my stomach dance with butterflies.But I wasn’t pregnant.I blinked. "Not literally pregnant. Metaphorically. Spiritually? I—""Bella," he said sharply, leaning forward, his amber eyes boring into mine. The look of confusion was back. "This is not something you joke about.""I'm not joking!" I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I mean, I've been thinking about adopting Olly."Kai froze. His expression shifted from confusion to something softer, more contemplative. "Adopting Olly?""Yes." My voice steadied as I explained. "He needs us, Kai. He's been through so much. No pack. No family. No one to show him he's worth something. We can give him
BELLAAs soon as I heard the door open, I rushed to Kai's side, embracing him warmly. "I was starting to get worried," I said, trying to keep my tone light.Kai smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, but I could still see the worry etched on his face. I knew that look all too well."Hey," he said, his voice low, as he wrapped his arms around me.I leaned in, our lips meeting in a soft, gentle kiss. But as we kissed, I felt a distance between us, a sense of withdrawal that I couldn't quite explain. It was as if Kai was holding back, his emotions locked away behind a mask of calm.I deepened the kiss, trying to bridge the gap between us, but it only seemed to grow wider. Kai's responses were mechanical, his touch lacking the usual spark of passion.I pulled back, searching his face for answers. "What's wrong, Kai?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai's hand enveloped mine, warm and reassuring, as we sat together on the bed. He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine, a
KAIAs I descended into the dungeon, the air grew thick with the stench of mold and decay. The walls, crafted from cold, grey stone, seemed to absorb the faint light that flickered from the torches, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. The only sound was the soft clanking of chains and the muted whispers of the prisoners, their voices barely audible over the creaking of the old wooden beams.The wolves who guarded the dungeon bowed their heads in respect as I passed, their eyes cast downward in submission. I was their alpha, and they knew better than to meet my gaze without permission. The human guards, too, nodded deferentially, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords as they stood at attention.The darkness of the dungeon seemed to press in around me, a physical presence that weighed heavily on my shoulders. I could feel the weight of the pack's justice in this place, the knowledge that those who had betrayed us were paying for their crimes.As I turned a corner, th
BELLAThe hospital was quieter than usual, the faint hum of machines blending with the soft whispers of nurses drifting through the sterile halls. My steps echoed faintly as I made my way toward Olly’s room, clutching a small picture book I’d brought with me.Two months had passed since Mable’s imprisonment, and though things were beginning to settle, my heart still ached every time I thought of Olly and what he had endured. He was healing—I could see it in the way his shoulders didn’t hunch quite so much anymore, in the way he tried to smile, even when the shadows of his pain lingered in his eyes.Stopping outside his door, I peered through the window. He was sitting up in bed, sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting him in a golden glow. The therapist beside him held a set of flashcards, her voice gentle as she encouraged him.“Good,” she said with a warm smile. “Now try it again. Sun.”Olly furrowed his brow, his lips moving silently as he worked to form the word. My heart
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