“Bella,” he said softly, his voice free of any commanding tone. He didn’t want to frighten her or make her feel cornered. “You’re safe. Let’s go inside and talk. No pressure, just… a conversation.”
She looked at him for a long moment, her body tense, clearly debating whether to trust him. Tyler’s acceptance of Maddis seemed to play a role in her decision, but Luke could see the weight of her fears still lingering.
“Fine,” she said finally, her voice steady but guarded. “But don’t think for one second this means I’m okay with all of this.”
Luke nodded, respecting her boundaries. “I understand. One step at a time.”
He led her inside, careful to keep his distance while ensuring she felt secure. The pack house was quiet, most of the pack already asleep, and the few awake wolves respectfully avoided looking their way. Luke guided her toward a small, private sitting room near the Alpha’s office, where a fire crackled warmly in the hearth.
He motioned for her to take a seat. “Would you like something to drink? Tea, maybe?”
Bella shook her head, pulling the blanket tighter around herself as she sat near the fire. She looked at him, her eyes searching his face as if trying to decipher his intentions.
“You can say whatever you need to, Luke,” she said finally, her voice calm but firm. “But I’m not going to be bullied into anything.”
Luke crouched down so they were at eye level. “Bella, I’m not here to bully or control you. I want to make things right between us, but I know that’s going to take time. Tyler accepted Maddis, and for that, I’m grateful. But this isn’t just about our wolves. It’s about you and me.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “And what exactly are you hoping for, Luke? That I’ll just forget everything that’s happened? That I’ll act like this is some fairytale reunion?”
“No,” he said simply. “I know I’ve made mistakes, Bella. And I’m not asking you to forget or forgive me right away. All I’m asking for is a chance to prove to you that I’m not the same man I was. That we can work through this together.”
Her eyes softened slightly, but her guard didn’t lower. “We’ll see,” she said after a long pause. “But don’t think for one second that I’ll make this easy for you.”
Luke smiled faintly, appreciating her strength and resilience. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
As Tyler frolicked through the snow with Maddis, Bella could feel every ounce of her wolf’s joy. It was overwhelming, a tidal wave of emotions that Bella couldn’t entirely separate from her own. Despite her doubts and confusion, a small part of her felt… peace. Tyler’s happiness was undeniable, and it was hard not to feel the warmth of it seeping into her.
But her mind was another matter entirely. Questions swirled, demanding answers she wasn’t sure she could face. Why now? Why hadn’t she known when she was in Luke’s office? Why hadn’t he known? The bond between fated mates was supposed to be immediate, unmistakable. And yet, they had spent time in each other’s presence without recognition. It didn’t make sense.
As the wolves continued their playful chase, Bella stayed in the back of Tyler’s mind, a quiet observer. Tyler was glowing with joy, her every movement graceful and filled with purpose as she played with Maddis. But Bella couldn’t fully share in that joy. The human side of her was tangled in a web of fear, distrust, and guarded hope.
She thought about Luke. Maddis was gentle and playful, but what about his human counterpart? The man who had sent her away, the man whose anger and power had loomed over her for years. Was he really different now? Maddis clearly adored Tyler, but could Bella trust Luke to treat her the same way?
And then there was the looming question of the triplets. They were Luke’s children. He was their father, and he had a right to know them. But the thought of relinquishing control, of letting someone else have a say in their lives—it was terrifying. She had raised them on her own, kept them safe from the chaos of pack politics. Letting Luke into their lives meant opening the door to everything she had been running from.
As Tyler slowed to a stop, Maddis beside her, Bella felt the shift in their mood. The initial rush of playfulness was fading, replaced by something deeper, more profound. Maddis nudged Tyler gently, and she returned the gesture, their noses touching. Tyler’s purr echoed in Bella’s mind, and for a moment, Bella let herself feel the warmth of it.
“Mate,” Tyler whispered to her. “He is ours.”
Bella didn’t respond. She didn’t know how to. She felt Maddis nudge Tyler again, urging her toward the pack house. Slowly, Tyler turned and began to walk, Maddis staying close at her side. Bella felt a pang of anxiety rise in her chest.
The pack house meant Luke. The man. The human.
As they approached the edge of the forest, Bella’s heart raced. Tyler’s joy was unwavering, but Bella’s fear grew with every step. She wasn’t ready. She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready.
But Tyler, ever the stronger half of their bond, pressed forward, confident and unafraid. “Trust me,” Tyler murmured, her voice calm and reassuring. “He is ours.”
And with that, they stepped out of the forest and toward whatever awaited them.
As Tyler’s playful murmur settled into Bella’s mind, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of relief. Maddis wasn’t angry—at least, not visibly. Luke’s behavior had been surprising: calm, almost teasing, and completely different from the storm of emotions she’d expected to face. Maybe Tyler was right. Maybe she had misunderstood everything.
Bella stayed in the back of her wolf’s mind, cautiously observing. Tyler was clearly in her element, confident and unbothered by their Mate’s proximity or his human’s nakedness. She purred again, her tail wagging slightly as she watched Luke dress. He seemed relaxed, almost as if this meeting wasn’t a monumental shift in their lives.
