Maddis snorted but didn’t argue. He stepped back, his posture shifting slightly as Luke began to reclaim control. His human eyes returned, and though the fierceness of Maddis had faded, his gaze still carried the weight of their connection.
“I didn’t ask him to,” Luke said, his voice calm but firm. “That was all Tyler and Maddis. You’re angry—understandably so—but you need to know that neither of them will let us tear this bond apart, no matter how much either of us fights it.”
Bella crossed her arms, still feeling the lingering heat from his closeness. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or you,” she shot back.
Luke’s lips quirked into a faint, almost sad smile. “No, it doesn’t. But it means I’m not going anywhere, Bella. I’ll give you space, but I’m not leaving.”
“Wonderful,” she muttered sarcastically, throwing her hands in the air. “Just what every girl dreams of—being stuck with a Mate she didn’t choose, in a pack that betrayed her, with no option to run.”
“Running doesn’t solve anything,” Luke said softly. “I’ve learned that the hard way.”
His words made her pause. She hated how they struck a chord, how they mirrored her own thoughts in the quietest moments of her solitude. Tyler was calm now, purring contentedly in the back of her mind, but Bella still felt like she was standing on the edge of a storm.
“I need to see my kids,” she said finally, her voice tight. “They’re the only thing that makes sense right now.”
Luke nodded. “Go to them,” he said. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk. No pressure, Bella.”
She scoffed. “No pressure? That’s rich coming from you.”
But he didn’t react, didn’t rise to her bait. Instead, he stepped aside, giving her a clear path. His gaze lingered on her, steady but patient, as if he was willing to wait forever if that’s what it took.
Bella turned and walked away, her steps quick and purposeful, but she couldn’t shake the weight of his presence. Tyler’s contented hums only added to her frustration.
“What is your problem?” Bella snapped at her wolf in her mind.
“Our Mate,” Tyler replied simply, as if that explained everything.
Bella gritted her teeth, hurrying to her children’s room. Whatever was happening between her and Luke, she couldn’t deal with it now. For now, she needed her babies—the one part of her life that felt whole and untouchable.
Bella stared at him, her heart racing, and her mind spinning. Maddis might have stopped, but the intensity of what had just happened lingered in the air between them, tangible and electric. Her fingers gently traced the spot on her neck, still tingling from his touch. The heat, the desire—it was all overwhelming, and it was clear Tyler wanted more.
Luke was breathing heavily, his hands clenched at his sides as he tried to regain control. “I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said softly, his voice laced with regret. “Maddis… he just—he doesn’t know how to hold back when it comes to you.”
Bella narrowed her eyes, taking a step back to put some space between them. “You expect me to believe you didn’t want that too? That you weren’t part of it?” Her voice trembled, anger and confusion intertwining.
Luke met her gaze steadily. “I won’t lie to you, Bella. I wanted it. I’ve wanted it for a long time. But not like this—not when you’re not ready, not when you still don’t trust me.”
She shook her head, her emotions a whirlwind inside her. “You say that, but Maddis doesn’t care about my trust. He just wants what’s his.”
“And you are his,” Luke said firmly. “But you’re mine too, Bella. Maddis and I are one and the same. I won’t let him force you into anything you’re not ready for. That’s a promise.”
His words should have reassured her, but instead, they left her feeling more conflicted. Tyler was practically vibrating with frustration inside her, purring and whining, torn between wanting her mate and waiting for Bella to catch up emotionally.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Bella said, her voice cracking as she took another step back. “This bond, this pack—it’s all too much. I’m not the same girl I was when I left. I’ve changed, Luke.”
“And so have I,” he replied, his tone resolute. “But the bond hasn’t. It’s still there, still pulling us together because we’re meant to be. You feel it too, Bella—I know you do.”
She hated how true his words were, how undeniable the pull between them was. It wasn’t just Maddis and Tyler; it was something deeper, something that had been there even before the bond had revealed itself. But the weight of everything—the betrayal, the pain, the past—felt like a barrier she couldn’t break through.
“I need time,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “Time to figure this out, to figure me out.”
Luke nodded, his expression softening. “I’ll give you all the time you need. But don’t run from me again, Bella. Please. Let me prove to you that I’m not the same man who hurt you before.”
Her eyes flicked to his, searching for any hint of deceit, but all she saw was sincerity and a longing that mirrored her own, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it.
“I won’t run,” she said, though the words felt shaky, uncertain. “But I can’t promise I’ll stay either.”
“That’s enough for now,” he said, relief washing over his features. “Just… don’t shut me out completely.”
Bella turned away, her hand still pressed to her neck where his touch lingered. “We’ll see,” she murmured, her voice carrying a mix of hope and doubt.
As she left the room, Luke stood silently, watching her go. Maddis was still simmering beneath the surface, his frustration evident, but Luke held him back. This wasn’t a battle to be won by force—it was one that required patience, understanding, and trust. And he was determined to earn all three.
