The mention of Mia caught Luke off guard. He hadn’t expected them to know about her. “Divorced,” he replied with a casual shrug. “Two and a half years ago. It didn’t work out.”
“Do you think Bella will marry you just because you share children?” Matt pressed, his tone skeptical. “Because I don’t.”
Luke met his gaze steadily. “I love her. I always have,” he stated firmly. It was the truth. He had deeply enjoyed being with Bella, far more than he had ever admitted to himself at the time. While they were together, he hadn’t been with anyone else or even thought about it. Somewhere deep inside, even before the Mate Bond revealed itself, he had felt a genuine connection to her. Once she recognized him as her mate, he was confident they could work through everything.
“Then why did you tell her to leave and marry someone else?” Dani’s sharp voice cut through the room, laced with anger.
Luke’s eyes shifted to Dani. She was bold, fierce—a trait he could respect. “Extenuating circumstances,” he replied with a slight shrug, deliberately vague. The truth was too complicated to explain, and none of them would understand. Dani, however, would come to understand once she was marked and mated to Robyn.
“That’s bullshit,” Dani shot back without hesitation. “She told me herself—you loved your wife.”
Luke raised an eyebrow, his expression remaining calm despite the accusation. He noticed Robyn trying to calm Dani down, but to his surprise, she shoved Robyn’s hands away and marched straight up to him. Her finger jabbed inches from his face, her anger practically radiating off her.
“If you loved her,” Dani demanded, her voice trembling with fury, “how could you send her away and tell her never to come back?”
Luke held her gaze, unflinching. “Again,” he repeated evenly, “extenuating circumstances. Perhaps one day, Dani, you’ll understand.” His voice remained calm, though he was silently impressed by her boldness. He could see why Bella cared for her—there was a fierceness to her, reminiscent of a wolf.
“I should beat you,” Dani snapped, her voice dripping with frustration. “Like she was.”
Luke’s frown deepened at her words. “I have never wished harm on Bella,” he replied, his tone sincere. “I assure you, Dani, I wanted her to come home. I missed her. I had no idea about the triplets… none at all. And for that, I am deeply sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am.”
His voice softened as he spoke, the weight of his regret evident. He could feel Maddis stirring in his mind, echoing his sentiment. All that mattered now was making things right—with Bella and her family.
Dani stood glaring at Luke, completely unaware that this would be the last time she’d be allowed to confront him like this. In the future, her behavior and attitude toward him would not be tolerated—he would ensure it.
“Dani, calm down,” Nina said softly from her seat.
“No, let her be angry,” Luke interjected, his voice steady. “She has every right to be angry. You all do, as does Bella. So go ahead—yell, scream, get it all out.” He shrugged, his demeanor calm. He couldn’t deny them their emotions over everything that had happened.
Matt’s voice cut through the tension. “I’d like to talk to Bella,” he said flatly. “You can call her, I presume?”
“I can call Benzy,” Luke replied. “But she was asleep the last time I checked—passed out from emotional exhaustion, according to our doctor.”
“Try,” Matt said simply.
Luke nodded and pulled out his phone, dialing Benzy. It rang three times before Benzy answered. “Yes, boss.”
Luke hit the speaker button. “Benzy, you’re on speaker. Matt and Nina are here. They want to speak with Bella.”
“She’s still sleeping, Luke,” Benzy replied.
“You have eyes on her, then?”
“Yes. I can send a photo if you’d like?”
“Do it,” Luke said.
A minute later, the photo came through. Luke glanced at it, feeling a flicker of annoyance. Bella was asleep on a bed next to Benzy, one hand clutching his shirt. Too close, Maddis growled in the back of his mind.
“He’s not her mate, Maddis,” Luke replied inwardly, trying to quell his wolf’s irritation. Just close friends. Always were, remember?
Maddis huffed but remained quiet.
Luke pushed his phone across the table so Matt and Nina could see the photo for themselves. Bella looked utterly exhausted, her face puffy from crying. Her hair was a mess, and she wore no makeup—not that Luke thought she needed it. She was mostly covered by a duvet, tucked in carefully by Benzy, who was sitting on top of it while she lay underneath. The sight tugged at something deep in him; she was vulnerable, and he wasn’t there.
“Thank you, Benzy,” Luke said once Matt and Nina had seen the photo. He was about to end the call when Nina spoke up.
“The triplets—may we speak with them? Even though I don’t believe you’d hurt them, it would ease my mind.”
“I’ll need to get Jody and Lanky to call you back on that one. The triplets are with Jody.”
“Do it,” Luke said, ending the call. “It might take a few minutes. Jody, by the way, is Bella’s father.”
They didn’t wait long. A video call came through from Lanky, and to Luke’s surprise and satisfaction, the triplets were on the screen. He and Maddis watched intently, their hearts easing slightly at the sight of the children safe and sound. They looked a bit tired and worn out, but they were okay.
Matt and Nina visibly relaxed as they spoke to the children. Luke handed over his phone, giving them full control of the conversation. The triplets’ voices were lively, their answers to every question confident and cheerful. They were clearly happy to see Dani, their excitement evident in the way they spoke to her.
“We’re okay,” one of the triplets said. “We’re with Grandpa, and he’s nice!”
The words made Luke smile. The triplets had already adjusted to being with the pack and had accepted Jody easily. He felt a deep sense of relief—Bella’s father was doing well with them.
