Chapter 1

Both Worlds

Bella sat in the bus, staring at the window as it passed by familiar places. She couldn't believe she was leaving her hometown, her pack, and everyone she loved. She was lost in her thoughts when her phone rang.

"Hey," her best friend Lily said on the other side of the phone. "Are you there yet?"

"No, Lily, I'm still in the bus," Bella responded, "You saw me off just five minutes ago. Moonshire is not the store next door," Bella said, a teasing smile on her face.

"I know, but it feels like you're leaving forever," Lily said, her voice soft. "Why did you agree to go to that war-torn city full of people who hate us? You know no one ever leaves Havens because we don't trust outsiders. They all think we are evil witches." 

“I know you’re worried, but I’ll be fine. I have to go now, I’ll let you know when I get there” Bella said then hung up. Her mind was racing, she had never left havens all her life and she had heard stories of how the rest of the werewolf world hated them because they practiced magic. If only they knew limelights were just people who were kind and loving. No one in her town could ever hurt a fly but yet everyone else saw them as a threat.

Bella heard the bus stop at the station and she opened her eyes. She hurried down from the bus and looked around. She saw a man holding a sign that said "Bella Hudson." She approached the man with a smile.

"Hi, that's me," she said.

The man looked her up and down, his expression unreadable. "Follow me," he said, then turned and started walking toward the car that was parked nearby. Bella followed the man, feeling a little nervous.

Bella got into the car and the man started driving. As they drove through the city, she couldn't help but admire the tall buildings and beautiful sights. Her hometown was a small place, with only small buildings and a few shops. Everything she saw was new and exciting to her.

After a long drive, they finally arrived at a large, isolated mansion. The décor was exquisite and majestic, and Bella felt like she was in a dream. The driver pulled up in front of the mansion and said, "You can get out now." His tone was rude and unfriendly.

Bella got out of the car, feeling a bit lost and uncertain. She was unsure what to do next, and she didn't feel very welcome here.

Then, she saw a man walking up to her, he was tall, with long golden hair that was slicked back. He wore a tank top that showed off the tattoos on his arms. As he walked towards Bella, she could feel his aura, which was powerful and confident. She knew immediately that this was Zayn Xavier, the alpha king who had requested her presence. 

His dark eyes locked with hers, and she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body. His gaze was intense and seemed to pierce right through her. She felt vulnerable and exposed, as if he could see into her very soul. 

Bella managed to speak, her voice slightly shaky. "Hi, you must be Zayn." She reached out her hand for a handshake.

Zayn folded his arms, looking down at her. "How'd you know that? Is it some kind of spell you're doing right now?"

Bella scoffed, withdrawing her hand. "Oh, please. There's no such spell. I just assumed you were the one." She felt a little offended by Zayn's assumption that she was using magic to figure out his identity.

"Come with me," Zayn said, ignoring her response. "This is the headquarters of the Shadowfang pack, and I'm the leader, Zayn. You've been called here to help treat our omega, who was injured in a battle."

He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. "You will treat everyone here with respect," he said. "That's if I'm treated with respect, equally," Bella muttered.

Zayn narrowed his eyes at her. "What was that?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. Bella could sense that she had offended him somehow, but she didn’t care. "If I'm treated with respect, I'll respect everyone else equally," Bella replied firmly. "Listen here, witch doctor," Zayn started.

"I'm not a witch doctor," she interjected. "I'm a doctor who happens to be a witch." Zayn stood there in silence, looking at her in surprise. He hadn't expected her to speak to him with such assertiveness. He was used to people being intimidated by him and following his orders without question.

"I'm not here to be bossed around by you," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm here to help!”

Zayn said nothing else and just continued walking. He led her to a room at the corner of the big hallway. “This will be your room while you’re here, get settled in and meet me back down so I can take you to Ethan. He’s the one you’ll be treating” Zayn said “can I...” Bella tried to speak but he shut the door behind him almost immediately.

“What an asshole!” That thought echoed through her head. She wasn't sure if she could work with someone like Zayn. He seemed so cold and dismissive. But she knew that the omega needed her help, and she couldn't let her personal feelings get in the way of that. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand.

Later that day, As she wandered through the garden, she noticed how peaceful and beautiful it was. The flowers were in full bloom, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of roses. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the moment.

It had been a long day, and she was glad to have helped Ethan. Even though Zayn had been less than welcoming, she felt good about the work she had done, and she knew Ethan was going to be okay.

"You're the limelight?" a woman's voice said, interrupting Bella's thoughts.

Bella turned to see a beautiful woman with shoulder-length brunette hair, slender and with striking eyes.

"I'm Bella," she said, extending her hand.

“I’ve never seen one, do you all have silver hair?” The lady scoffed. Bella withdrew her hand “is everyone here rude? is that a personality trait for you Moonshires?” Bella said. “What did you say?” The lady demanded as she took steps closer to Bella.

"Mira, let it go," Zayn called from a corner of the garden.

"Did you hear what this outcast said to me?" Mira demanded, her voice growing louder. "I ought to fucking teach her some manners right here and now!"

Bella watched as Mira's fangs grew longer and her eyes glowed blue. It was clear that she was angry, and Bella wasn't sure how to react.