BellaI had sat with Eli for a few hours. We didn’t talk much and it was nice, there were no expectations. Every now and then we would do a loop of the house. He always insisted that I come with him because he would never forgive himself if he was responsible for my death.By the time I returned to bed it was almost dawn and Aiden had settled down. Oblivious to my absence. Yet, the moment I slide into bed, he did his usual thing of sleepily pulling me in against him. His lips lazily find mine.“Can’t sleep?” He asks with his eyes closed. I was certain he wasn't even awake, it had just become his auto response when I got up in the night.“It’s almost morning and I needed some water.” I lie, not wanting him to worry. He refuses to let go of me as I eventually drift off.By the time the alarm goes off, I was the one in bed alone. Sprawled out with the bedsheets loosely draped over me. I still had my clothes on from when I went outside and hoped that Aiden hadn’t noticed when he got up.
AidenMiles lets out a muffled gasp as Bella shifts into her large Wolf. She crashes down onto my desk, splitting it down the middle and everything falls to the floor as she leaps forward. Landing in front of Miles, she snarls. Her golden eyes locked with his, yet he doesn’t move, almost frozen to his seat. ‘I take it that I’m not allowed to kill him.” she links me as her snarls deepen.‘Not yet. I think we can get more out of him.’ I wasn’t convinced that there was much more for him to tell us, but still, I had to try.She slams her body into him, knocking him and his chair backwards, sending him tumbling to the ground. Giving him a kick as she struts byAslow opens the door for her and she makes her way through the large door frame without even looking back. She was so angry that I was surprised she had restrained herself enough to walk away.Miles gets to his feet. “What the fuck was that?”I grin at him, “That would be your niece.”“That is no niece of mine!”Every word that came
BellaThe bed was calling my name, yet, as I laid there, staring up at the ceiling, sleep was the last thing I wanted. Or maybe it was just the fact that I was alone and knew that sleep wouldn’t come easily.I had more questions than I had answers and every time I gained an answer, more questions would develop. It was a never ending circle and one that I couldn’t break free from.‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ The phrase was on repeat in my head. The man who is supposed to be my uncle, didn’t know me and yet he was insisting that I was just like my father. A man hated by so many. A man that had done horrible, unforgivable things to everyone, to me.A phone starts ringing somewhere in the room. It was quiet at first, with each ring steadily growing louder. I didn't think it was possible for a phone to sound impatient.The ringing was coming from inside the closet. It stops for a moment before starting again. It wasn’t the tone to Aiden’s phone and I didn’t have one.Search
AidenAs she drops off to sleep, I pull the phone from my pocket. Flipping through the call history. There was nothing, no outgoing calls and certainly no incoming calls. No messages either.At first, I wondered why she would delete it if she was going to tell me about it. She had ripped the room apart, looking for something. Another sign that suggested she wouldn’t have deleted the call historyAs I turn the phone over in my hands, Bella settles into deeper sleep. She was certain that he had called her. Yet the evidence showed otherwise. I look down at my mate. She had fallen asleep quickly, her lips parting a little, like they always did. Maybe it was exhaustion that was making her hear him.Still asleep, she rolls away from me, pulling a pillow in against her chest.I wait a few minutes, to make sure the nightmares are not going to start and when I am certain she is heavily asleep. I get up, slipping out of the room.Rhys and Eli are standing in the door frame of the open front do
BellaHe presses his thumb against my wrist, a sharp jolt of pain rattles through me, “What the hell was that?” My hand recoils from his and I hold it to my chest.Aiden’s eyes are still on my wrist. “He’s found a way to mark you.”“No, Vampires can’t mark.” I hadn’t seen anything. And I knew Vampires couldn't mark people.“It looks like Linc has found a way.” He rubs his jaw, deep in thought“I’m not his mate. I’m yours.” There was no way I was going to be his little play thing. “I know that. Everyone here knows that. I believe that he has marked you so he can connect with you and keep an eye on you.” He slowly backs away from me. “Danica was warning you. Not about him trying to kill you. But about marking you, making you one of his belongings.”I look at my wrist. I still couldn’t see anything, but it ached.“Why would he do this?”“So he can talk to you, feel you, just like I do.”“I didn’t know,” I whisper, still trying to see what Aiden could see.“The sweatshirts, you’ve been c
BellaHis blue eyes hover on me. I thought Aiden had told him everything, but he, somehow, had failed to mention this. Or maybe chosen not to speak of it.He doesn’t get a chance to ask me anything as we are disturbed by a commotion in the hallway.Eli gets up and sticks his head out the door to see what was happening.“Do you need help?” Eli asks someone“No, we’ve got it.” Rhys snaps back“Let fucking go of me! I want to see my niece.” Miles’s voice makes my blood run cold. I didn’t want to see or hear from him again. He must have seen Eli, because a deep snarl came from the otherside of the door, accompanied with “You! You put them up to this, didn’t you?”“I have no idea what you mean.” I see how he smirks“BASTARD! This is why you asked me to come, isn’t it. Finally getting back at me for fucking your mate!” Miles hollersEli stays calm, “You did that to yourself.” Eli looks back at me, reading my expression, he tells them to take Miles back to the dungeon. That speaking to me wa
Bella“GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD!” Aidens eyes return to slits as he stares at me. He knew I wasn’t shouting at him.‘I always knew you were quick, Bella. Piecing together information faster than anyone else.’ Aiden grabs my shoulders, “Block him!”He had told me how to do it, but it clearly hadn’t worked. Linc's voice was clearer than ever.‘You can’t block me, Bella. You know as well as I do that you don’t want to. You are curious about me. You want more information.’“What is he saying?” Aiden demands‘Tell him to leave you alone Bella.’ Linc’s voice booms in my mind. ‘It’s my turn to talk.’“Bella?” Aiden’s grey eyes are full of worry as he stares at me. He wanted answers.‘Bella?’ Linc mimics.Somehow he could hear the things that I was hearing, how was that possible?I rub my wrist as both of them continue to call my name, waiting for me to say something. My wrist was aching so much.‘How long have you been listening?’ I whisper to Linc. He laughs, I knew it was a stupid qu
Aiden“It’s what she needed!” Eli mutters as he follows me through the house. “She needs a friend.”Rounding on him, I snap. “Why are you so concerned about what my mate needs?”“Seriously? She either spends her time with you, me or that baby brother of hers, it isn’t healthy.”“Healthy? Have you ever stopped to consider that this is how she prefers to live?”“No girl likes to live like that.” “She isn’t a normal girl. She wasn’t raised like a normal girl. She didn’t have a normal childhood. She believed she was destined to be alone!” “But…..” I glare at him and he clamps his lips shut, lowering his gaze as I sigh. His sister had been the only female to come remotely close to challenging Bella’s fighting abilities and Bella seemed to enjoy it.Sitting at my new desk, I let out a groan, maybe he had done the right thing. Maybe a friend was what she needed.“Go and get your family.” I mutter, changing the subject. Bella and I were supposed to be meeting them anyway.As he leaves, Rhy
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