Bella“And Christian? What about him, you can’t just let him get away! He will keep coming. He will find a new way. He probably has already thought of it. You know that, right?” I was so angry and yet the King seemed so calm.“My men are searching the houses and the tunnel, we will find him, Bella!” The King smiles at me. He nods his head at Aiden and follows the others that are leading Leighton away.Becca quickly trots after them. Her head low and her hands shoved into her pockets. At least she didn't run.Aiden cups my face, turning it up to look at him and breaking my gaze. “Are you sure you’re okay?”I just nod. I wasn't even sure how to process what I was feeling. Anger? Happiness? Frustration? Nothing could quite describe what I was feeling.Outside the house, there are more dead Rogues. Some are decapitated, some have had their hearts ripped out. No one had noticed the fight going on outside.The King’s men were loading the hostages into multiple vans and I see how Becca volun
Aiden“You can’t make her!” I snap, following my father as he stomps through the hallway.This was why I hated being here. Everything becomes about what he wants, regardless of other peoples feelings.“You are right, I can’t. But as she is your mate, I expect you to control her.”“Control?” It was not something I ever expected to come out of his mouth. Considering the stories I have heard about my mother when she was younger.“It is her duty to know her place in the pack as well as by your side. If I make a request, she should obey it.”I stop to stare at him. “Are you being serious? She gave herself up so mum could come home. She was trapped by her abuser. A man that has somehow managed to strip her of any Wolf ability that she once had. I think she has done enough for our family. But you, you want her to obey you?”He slowly turns on his spot to stare at me. “She’s alive. You should be happy.”“And I would prefer to keep it that way. You may be the King and you may be my father. Bu
BellaAiden was done with the questions. He calls for the guard. As the guard appears, he drapes chains over Beccas arms again and I see how Aiden frowns.Becca is led away and back to the dungeons. She doesn’t resist. She doesn’t fight. She walks away as if she is just being escorted to another room.“Why did you frown at the chains?” I mutter“She’s just a kid, plus I told you, they are pointless.”“When I was her age, I had killed a lot of people. They are afraid she will do something.” “You were brought up differently, Bella. Her life, when it was with my parents, was much simpler. Much like Halle, they didn’t expect anything from her. She played with the other kids. She went to school and then one day she disappeared.”“You don’t want to believe it was her, but something is telling you it is.” I mutterAiden loops his arms around me from behind. He buries his nose into my neck, deeply inhaling. He sighs. “You didn’t get the answer you were looking for either, did you?”“I’m not
Bella“I thought…” I look at Aiden. The King had told us it had been dealt with.“Mum, this isn’t a good idea. There is still time.” Aiden pleadsShe narrows her eyes. “It’s not the pups fault that it exists!”“Dad agreed to this?” Aiden crosses his arms over his chest, expecting the worst.“No, of course not. He is just being pig-headed. He is refusing to see what I see.”Well it certainly explained why the King didn’t want us to see her and why he is in such a bad mood.“What do you expect mum? You are carrying a Rogue’s pup. A Rogue that raped you!” He was shaking his head in disgust. "I'm sorry, but it will never be a sibling of mine."“It is not the pup’s fault in how it was conceived. What about Bella?”He shakes his head “Mum, this is….”“You’re a man, you don’t understand!” Lilah snaps back at him. “Now if you are not going to be useful, you can leave. It was Bella I wanted to speak to anyway.” She gives me a small smile.Aiden kisses me on the cheek. “I will be just down the
Aiden“Were you?” I snap at my father when he exits the dungeons.He strides across the ground, ignoring me, even when I keep pace.“Answer me!” He comes to a halt and glares at me. “Aiden, I don’t have time for this and I certainly don’t know what you are talking about.”I slam Becca’s note against his chest. “Something tells me you do!”His brows knit together as he scans the piece of paper. His blue eyes lock with mine. “Yes.”“Seriously? After you and mum raised her.”“She chose to leave. She chose to help Christian. Anyone that is helping him will meet their death.”“Have you lost the plot?”“Don’t speak to your father like that!”“I’m serious, dad. You didn’t even give her a chance.” I pause, shaking my head. “Are you going to kill Leighton?”He stares at me for a moment and turns away. Quickly walking into the house without answering my question. We didn’t even know if Leighton had been involved and yet my father had already made a decision. He had likely made a decision about
Bella“Bella, I need you to stay in the back of the van.” Aiden doesn’t look at me, his eyes are busy searching the area.“Why?”“You can’t see where we are going or how we get there.”My frown deepens as I stare at him. “You are not making any sense.”“He thinks that you are somehow connected to Christian, that’s why he has been able to find you.” Leighton mumbles.“You are just trying to cover your own ass!” I snap, “And when the truth gets out about you…”“Bella, I can promise you, one hundred percent, I am not Christian’s informant.”“You mean your father's informant!”“He isn’t my father. Maybe by blood, but that is all. He didn’t raise me. He only wants me now because I’m a Hybrid. He thinks that I can be an asset.”I fold my arms up across my chest and turn away from him. “Fine!”Getting back in the van, Aiden flicks on a torch for me so I wouldn’t be in complete darkness when he closes the doors.I tried to follow the route, remembering the directions we were taking. It dawns
AidenI was surprised to hear Leighton pledging his life to her. I had only come back to check on Bella when I saw him on one knee.Bella looked confused as I told her to accept his pledge. But even I felt the atmosphere change when she accepted.She continued to stare at me as Leighton rose to his feet. I tell her that I will be right back and that I needed to talk to Leighton.She nods her head as he follows me from the cabin and away from the other Hybrids.“Can you sense her?” I mutter as I sit on a tree stump.“Sort of.” He mumbles. “It’s kind of like the link is there, but not.”“I think it’s the serum wearing off. It’s slower this time, her abilities are coming back gradually.” I smile, it was about time. “You know what your pledge means, don’t you?”He nods his head at me. “That's why I made it. To prove to her that I’m innocent.”It was rare for anyone to make a pledge like this. Even pack members didn’t. At most, they would pledge their allegiance to the Alpha and Luna. Not
BellaI could feel Aiden’s anger, and Jacob, the Hybrid I was training with, used the distraction as a way to throw me off of him.He pinned me to the ground, using his full weight. Almost crushing me and knocking the air out of me. But I had told him not to go easy.“Hey, that’s enough!” Aiden yells. Through the gap under Jacob’s leg, I could just about see Aiden striding towards us. His face wrinkled in annoyance.“I can’t train if you make them stop each time you think I’m losing!” I snap, wrestling against Jacob’s Lycan.“Jacob!” Aiden snapsJacob retreats, looking just as disappointed as I felt. He was the only one here who seemed to be able to train for hours on end and not get bored.“I need to train.” I mutter, glaring at Aiden from the ground.“And we need to talk. You can train again tomorrow.”Sitting up, I notice that Leighton is nowhere to be seen.“Did you have an argument with him?” “No, he is doing some investigating for me.”He pulls me to my feet and starts to walk
Bella It was a strange few days, watching Aiden put plans in place. I knew where we were going, he had made that clear and I couldn’t wait. I had never felt more at peace than when we were in the forest and I couldn't wait to show the boys. “That’s all my stuff packed.” Katie whispers as she drops one last box into the back of Leightons van. I had barely seen her smile recently, unless it was a front she was putting on for Flynn. But a natural smile just didn’t seem to exist anymore. I hoped she would get past her mothers death. “You don’t have to come.” I say for the hundredth time. “Yes I do. Leighton says that he won’t leave me, but he won’t leave you either. nd you are the closest thing I have to family besides Flynn." There was a strange tone in her voice. One that I hadn’t heard from her before. “Are you mad?” “No…I just….” She tucks her blonde hair behind her ears and scans the grounds looking for someone. “Leighton’s inside with Aiden. If that’s who you are looking for
Aiden“Well she has to be wrong?!” Leighton shoves his hands in his pockets, completely unfathomed by what I had told him.“Why would she kill herself? Why would she tell me all that if she is lying and then stop her own heart? what would be the point?”“Guilt,” he shrugs his shoulders. “She knew you wouldn’t let her get away alive.”I groan and lean back in my chair, resting my hands behind my head as I stare up at the ceiling.“Bella’s with Katie?”He nods at me. “They are trying to decide on the best way to tell Flynn. Chances are, he already knows.” He studies me. “This is a good thing. The problem dealt with itself. You should be happy. But you’re not, are you?”“No.”“He’s a pup, what harm can he do?”“He won’t be a pup for long. You know as well as I do, he will be fully grown by the time his first birthday comes around. And I can’t help wondering if Eden was right.”“It’s not the first time we have been screwed over by a witch that has been spouting off a load of crap.” Leight
AidenI was grateful for the change of pace, standing guard of my own packhouse. The peace and quiet gave me time to think, to put a plan in place. To decide what’s best for my family.It was dark outside, and the clouds above us were thick. Unusually, you couldn’t see many stars. A storm was brewing, I could smell it in the air.I look at the other Hybrids, Wolves and Lycans that are standing guard. All giving up their own time to either protect my home or theirs. No one moves, everyone is as still as a statue, alert and prepared.I knew Eden was coming back. I knew this storm that was brewing above us was not a natural storm. And everyone else did too. That’s why the chatter had stopped and that’s why everyone is so alert. She was trying to mess with our senses.“You should go inside.” Rhys whispers next to me. “You are the King, and you and I both know she will target you.”“I have to do this.” I mutter back.“What about Bella and your son?”“I’m doing this for them.”He nods his h
BellaThe Omega leaves me with the three boys. While Connor and Cayden were messing around trying to bounce on the bed, Flynn just stares out the window, his small hand coiled up in the curtain.Stepping next to him, his eyes don’t leave the window. I assumed he was looking for his mother.‘You don’t need to be scared.’ I link him, knowing it was the only way to talk to him.‘I’m not.’ His small voice answers me back‘Why didn’t you tell everyone that you were still seeing your mum?’ I was curious. If it hadn’t been for Cayden, we would never have known.He wrinkles up his nose. ‘Is she in trouble?’‘She is.’I watch his shoulders drop a little and his eyes flicker up to me. ‘Katie says we shouldn’t lie.’‘Your sister is very smart.’ I smileA small smile appears on his lips. ‘She’s the best. She looks after me.'I couldn’t agree more. She was a good friend too.‘Do you know where your mum is?’ I ask calmly, hoping that if he knew, he would tell me but I didn't want to push him, he wa
AidenI was trying to keep my mate focussed. But I couldn’t help but be curious about the shifter's words. Had Bella really been born as a pup? Creedance hadn’t said anything when we had interrogated him, but then he had never said that Bella was a twin either.Looking around the room, blood was sprayed all up the walls and across the carpet. The shifters decapitated body discarded on the floor. Leighton was holding Katie against his chest, running his fingers through her blood stained blonde hair, muttering reassuring words but his eyes were on me. I knew why. Being born in pup form was extremely rare, there had only ever been a handful of recordings in history. And all were female, and all with a power unlike anyone else's. They just needed to learn to tap into it. If it was true about Bella, she was more powerful than we realised.Everything was starting to fall into place. The size of her Wolf, the delayed first shift, her need to protect the vulnerable, and why Selene was so des
Bella“Christian. Christian is fucking dead. I ripped him and his Rogues apart.” I spit“Yes, I remember it well.” She smiles. “You really are something else. He said you were special and yet I was always sceptical until I saw you that day. And what a magnificent Wolf you are, wasting no time to shred him to pieces. I was livid and yet mesmerised. You really could have provided him with a brilliant child.” she laughs, wiping her chin and spitting more blood on the floor.“You watched?” I mutter, wondering where she had been.“Like I said, I was fascinated.”“So how do you plan on carrying out Christian’s work? All those women got away. And do you really expect me to let you leave, alive?”“Did they get away?” Cassie mocks as she leans her back against the wall, smiling to herself. So much had gone on that I hadn’t even had a chance to find any of the women that Aiden and Leighton helped to escape. I had no idea about their children, I had no idea about any of them. They had been taken
Bella“Is he serious? Is he really expecting us to believe that he hasn’t done something to my Dad?”I watch Katie pace. Her arms swinging frantically at her sides, her hands are clenched into tight balls. I knew Katie, she was never angry, emotional yes, frantic sometimes, but angry is not something I usually see. If I hadn’t dragged her out of the lounge, I was certain she would have attacked someone. I wondered if it was what Aiden saw when he looked at me sometimes.“You are right.” I mutter. “Something doesn’t seem right.”“So you agree?” She stops and stares at meSlowly, I nod my head. Eli’s words, his denial, something just seemed off.“You should tell them. Flynn, Connor and Cayden are all down there with him.”“And so is Aiden and Leighton. Trust me, he is not getting anywhere near the boys.”She starts pacing again and I try to hold in the laugh. It was funny, we all did it when we were frustrated, like it was drummed into us how to react when we were overwhelmed.“He said
Leighton“What do you mean you can’t tell us?” Katie ask as I push bookcases in front of the windows.“Is it Aiden?” Bella queries.I turned around to look at them. Katie had her arms folded across her chest while Bella stood with her hands on her hips. Both of them glaring at me.“Aiden is fine. I’ve been ordered to not let you out of the room and to ensure you are all protected.”"You know I can shift, right?" Bell mutters, rolling her eyes“But why?” Katie frowns at me. Feeling all her emotions was still taking a lot of getting used too. Yes I’ve always been able to scent changes in peoples moods, but feeling them when your mate can be an emotional wreck was hard.“Yes, I know you can shift Bella. They were Aiden’s orders. I don’t know any more than what he has told me. He said he would talk to us when he gets back.”“Back from where? Leighton you are being very secretive!” Bella scowls at me.“I’ve told you everything I know. Aiden is with Rhys, he isn’t alone. You know as well as
AidenI knew Bella would be losing all sense of being calm, I just had to hope that Leighton and Katie could keep her in the house. That Leighton would use his Beta skills to stop her from coming after me.Guards surrounded the pack house while others were already searching houses, looking for Eli.Katie had said that Leighton could still scent Eden. That she had tried covering her scent but had been watching them as they talked.Sniffing the air, I can’t scent her, not immediately. I look around at the guards who are watching me with interest. Some of them were Hybrids, they would be able to scent her too, but they were holding their places as ordered.“Rhys!”I call him forward seeing as he was watching me the most. He jogs towards me, a wide smile on his face. The guards that had been stood either side of him take a step toward each other, covering the gap that Rhys had left.“Yes Alpha.”“Have there been any sightings of either of them?”“The Witch,” He whispers, “is watching at a