Tears welled in Bella’s eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. “I know. I just… I thought I could handle it on my own. But now, with him here, I need your help more than ever.”
Matt nodded firmly. “You have it. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep you and the kids safe.”
Nina squeezed Bella’s hand. “We’re in this together. Always.”
Bella felt a wave of relief wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel so alone. But the reality of the situation was still looming, and she knew the hardest part was yet to come. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.
Bella could feel the weight of the conversation lifting slightly as Dani’s mood improved, but the tension between her and Matt and Nina still lingered heavily in the room. She knew it would take more than reassurances to win their full trust, especially regarding Luke.
Matt leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees, his expression serious. “Bella, I trust your instincts, but this whole situation doesn’t sit right with me. Even if he’s their father, the way he’s gone about all of this—sending people to you, showing up unannounced—it’s controlling and invasive. Are you sure he won’t try to force you back into his life against your will?”
Bella sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I’m not sure of anything, Matt. But I know one thing—Luke would never harm the children. They’re his, and I’ve seen how protective he is, even from a distance. His methods… they’re not ideal, but he’s not a monster.”
Nina frowned, her arms crossed over her chest. “He might not be a monster, but his obsession with control is alarming. And if what you’re saying about this Mia woman is true, what’s to stop her from trying to harm the children if they go back to him? Even if she’s no longer in the picture, her presence in his life raises questions.”
Bella shook her head. “Mia isn’t an issue anymore.” She paused, unsure how much to reveal. “She’s… gone. That’s all I can say. But Luke is here now, and he’s not going to give up until he’s part of their lives.”
Dani’s phone dinged again, and she glanced at it with a soft smile before looking up at Bella. “Robyn says he’ll explain everything to me when I’m ready. He’s being patient, which is nice. But Bella, are you sure about Luke? If he’s so determined, what’s stopping him from just taking them?”
Bella’s heart sank. That was the question she had been dreading. “Nothing, really,” she admitted quietly. “Except me. That’s why I need to find somewhere safe. Somewhere he can’t just… show up uninvited. Winter Moon Pack is my best option right now. My grandmother is there, and they’ve offered us a place. It’s secure, and I think it’s what the kids need.”
Matt looked skeptical. “And this pack… they’ll protect you from him? From their own kind?”
Bella nodded. “Yes. They have no loyalty to Luke. My grandmother’s pack is strong, and their Alpha has already extended an invitation. Once we’re there, it’ll be harder for him to reach us.”
Nina sighed heavily, her concern etched deeply into her face. “Bella, I want to believe you’ll be safe there, but this whole thing feels… precarious. You’ve always been strong, but this is a lot to handle, even for you.”
Bella smiled weakly. “It is a lot. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my kids. They’re my priority. Always.”
Dani reached out, placing her hand over Bella’s. “You’re not alone, you know. We’re here for you.”
Bella nodded, grateful for the support, but deep down, she knew this was a journey she would have to face head-on—alone, if necessary. For her children’s safety and her own peace of mind, she had to make her way to Winter Moon Pack and pray it was the sanctuary she needed.
Matt and Nina exchanged a concerned glance but said nothing immediately. Dani, however, was staring at Bella with wide eyes, her phone forgotten for the moment.
“I don’t get it,” Dani finally said, her voice tinged with disbelief. “If you don’t love him, then why stay with him for so long? I mean, he’s nice, sure, but shouldn’t you want something more?”
Bella sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Tim is a good man. He’s kind, and he cares about me and the kids. But… it’s not what you have with Robyn, Dani. It’s not that all-consuming, soul-deep connection. I’ve never felt that with anyone.”
Dani frowned, her fingers fidgeting with her phone. “But don’t you want that? To find someone who makes you feel like that?”
“Of course I do,” Bella admitted. “But sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want when you want it. Sometimes you have to make do with what you have and be grateful for it. And Tim… Tim is a good man. But I can’t build a life with someone when my heart isn’t in it completely. It wouldn’t be fair to him or to me.”
Nina reached out and placed a comforting hand on Bella’s arm. “Honey, you deserve that kind of love. And if your grandmother’s pack offers you a fresh start, maybe that’s what you need. Somewhere safe, where you can breathe and figure out what you want without all this pressure.”
Bella nodded, grateful for Nina’s support. “That’s what I’m hoping for. A chance to start over, to give the kids a better life. They deserve to grow up somewhere they can be free to be who they are.”
Matt frowned, his arms crossed over his chest. “And Luke? Do you really think he’s just going to let you go? You said he’s their father, and from what I’ve heard, he doesn’t sound like the kind of man who gives up easily.”
Bella’s stomach churned at the thought. “I don’t know, Matt. I don’t think he’ll ever stop trying to be a part of their lives. But I can’t let him control us. I need to do what’s best for my kids, even if that means keeping him at a distance.”
Dani’s phone dinged again, and she glanced down at it, her lips twitching into a faint smile. Bella couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Dani was beginning to heal, finding her way back to Robyn despite the odds. Bella wished her situation were as straightforward, but with Luke, nothing ever was.
“You’re stronger than you think, Bella,” Nina said softly. “And you’ll get through this. You always do.”
Bella nodded, though she didn’t feel strong at all. She felt tired—tired of running, of fighting, of trying to hold everything together. But for her kids, she would keep going. She had to.
