Leo’s POV"Leo, I really don't think this is a good idea," Kate's voice echoed sternly through the room, her arms crossed over her chest in a clear sign of dissent.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling deeply as I tried to maintain my patience. As Beta, Kate was our right hand, her opinions valuable and usually aligned with mine. But this time, we were at odds."We need to evolve, Kate. As co-Alpha, it's my duty to ensure our pack's safety and that includes adapting our methods to the changing times," I countered, my tone firm.Kate shook her head, her brows furrowing deeply. "We've managed this long with our current protocols, Leo. They've been tested by time and experience. Changing them now could put the pack at risk."I understood her concern. Change was always met with resistance, especially when it involved altering something that had always remained the same. But I was convinced this was a step we needed to take."Those ‘protocols’ didn’t do much good against my father’s pack
Arabella’s POV"I'm here now, Trudy. And I'm not leaving until you let me help you," I said firmly, determination shining in my eyes.Trudy's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features. But then she shook her head, her walls going back up. "I don't need your help, Arabella. Just leave me alone.""I know you don't mean that, Trudy," I said softly, reaching out a hand towards her. "I'm only trying to help, even if it's hard to see that right now."Trudy's frustration was obvious as she turned around, storming past me towards the door. I followed her outside, and called for her to stop but she ignored each call.As she reached her car, and opened the driver's door, my eyes widened in shock as several empty whisky bottles tumbled out onto the ground.My heart sank as I realised the extent of Trudy's pain and how she had been coping with it. I knew then that she needed help, more than I alone could provide."Trudy, please," I pleaded, my voice filled with
Leo's POVI nodded at Sara, accepting her logic, but there was a hard edge to my voice as I added, "But if Arabella's health takes a turn for the worse, there won't be anything anyone can do to stop me from getting to her."Sara's eyes widened at my words, but she didn't say anything. She knew me well enough to understand I meant what I said. Arabella was my mate, my other half. And I would move heaven and earth for her.I moved towards the window, the crunch of broken furniture under my feet a harsh reminder of the chaos that had reigned in me just moments ago. The moon hung high in the sky, its silver glow illuminating the night.Sara joined me by the window, her presence a comforting warmth beside me. "Tell me what happened, Leo," she said softly.With a deep breath, I recounted the events that had unfolded. I told her about the call from Trudy's pack's gamma, about the fight, and about Arabella's injuries. My voice remained steady, but inside, my heart ached with each word.As the
Arabella's POVAs I dialed Leo's number, my heart raced. When he answered, his voice was husky and trembling. "Hello?""Leo," I uttered softly, feeling a lump form in my throat."Arabella?" His voice broke. "Is that really you? Are you okay?"Tears welled up in my eyes at the sound of him crying. "I'm okay, Leo," I replied, trying to steady my own trembling voice. "But I before you say anything, I needed you to know that I need to stay here. There are things I need to do, things I need to figure out."Leo's voice wavered as he spoke, his concern evident. "The doctor said you were lucky to be alive, Arabella. How could you even consider staying after that?” There was a moments silence before he continued. “Please, come home. I can't bear the thought of you being in anymore danger."His words tugged at my heart, but I knew I couldn't abandon Trudy when she needed me the most. "Leo, I know you’re worried," I said, my voice shaky. "But I can't turn my back on her. She needs me."Leo's ton
Leo’s POVDespite my best efforts to contain my worry, the thought of Arabella alone at the hospital was unbearable. I tossed and turned in the bed we shared, her absence a constant reminder of my concern. The moonlight had always calmed me down, but this time as it filtered through the window, it did little to soothe my restless mind.I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was 2am, the rest of Spring Lake blissfully unaware of the turmoil I was in because we had made the decision to keep what happened between Sara and I. So, giving up on the pretense of sleep, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my mind made up. I quickly found a small bag in the bottom of the wardrobe and packed it, throwing in a few essentials. I knew this wasn't my place, that the boundaries between packs were not to be lightly crossed. Arabella could cross it with no worries because she was related by blood, whereas I should wait to be invited to Trudy’s pack. But this was Arabella we were talking
Leo’s POVAs the hours passed, the absence of one particular person began to gnaw at me. Trudy, the person that led to my mate being in this hospital, was nowhere to be seen. I found it odd, and a sense of unease began to settle in. I glanced at Arabella, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. "Has Trudy been to see you since the fight, Arabella?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence of the room. She looked at me, surprise evident in her eyes, before her gaze fell to our intertwined hands. She was quiet for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she spoke, her voice quiet, "No, she hasn't."I waited, expecting her to elaborate, but she didn't. Instead, she continued to stare at our hands, her grip tightening around mine. “Arabella?”"She... she drank herself into a coma after we fought.”I felt my heart drop at her revelation. Trudy, in a coma? It was hard to comprehend. "What?" I stammered, my mind reeling. "Why would she...?""Guilt," Arabella answered quickly, her gaz
Arabella’s POVAs Leo turned and walked out of the room, my heart shattered into a million pieces. "Leo, please stop," I cried out, the desperation evident in my voice, but he kept walking away. The sound of his retreating footsteps echoed off the tiled floor, leaving me feeling lost and alone.Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched him go, my pleas falling on deaf ears."Leo, don't leave me like this," I called out, my heart breaking. But he didn't turn back, his absence leaving a gaping hole in my chest.How could he just walk away like that? How could he not give me a chance to explain, to share my side of the story? The silence left behind was deafening, and it echoed the turmoil in my heart.I knew I hadn't done the right thing by keeping the pregnancy a secret. The moment I found out, I should have told him. It was his right to know, and I had robbed him of that. The guilt gnawed at me, adding to the pain of his departure.But I had my reasons for keeping it a secret. Reason
Arabella’s POVHaving finally shared what scared me with Leo, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. And finally, I couldn’t breathe.It was a conversation I had dreaded, one I had hoped to put off until much later. But as usual, life had other plans, and I found myself pregnant sooner than expected.Admitting out loud how the memory of my mother's loss had impacted my reaction to the pregnancy was hard. But seeing the understanding in Leo's eyes, feeling his reassuring grip on my hand, it gave me the courage to face my fears.As we made our way back to my room, I felt calm. Yes, the future was uncertain, filled with challenges we would have to face. But for the first time since I found out about the pregnancy, I felt ready to face them, knowing I wouldn't be facing them alone.As we reentered my room, I found Susie and Sara waiting by the empty bed. I was about to ask them what they were doing there when I saw the smile on Leo's face."Did you tell them?" I asked Leo, my