“Oh, that’s what that was about?” Bella said with a slight smirk. “I thought it was because there was another man hanging around his pups.”
Luke shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the tension in the air. “That wouldn’t have set us off. You’re our Mate, Bella. But seeing a man walk into your apartment with an overnight bag? Maddis couldn’t handle it.”
“That’s on you,” Bella shot back, her voice steady but tinged with frustration. “I didn’t know you were my Mate. On that note, when did you find out I was your Mate?”
She had wanted the answer to this question for hours now, especially after piecing together all the subtle clues from his Alpha Unit. They had all known—that much was clear in hindsight. She just hadn’t realized it at the time.
Luke exhaled deeply and looked her straight in the eye. “The moment you walked into my office,” he admitted. “That was a bad day for both of us. You were absolutely terrified of me, and Maddis was raging inside over the state you were in. You were so injured… our Mate, so badly wounded.” He paused, his voice lowering. “I could barely keep him contained. He wanted to tear through the city to find whoever hurt you.”
Bella stared at him, her heart tightening. “Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked, her voice soft and pained. “Did you not want us?”
Luke shook his head quickly, his expression troubled. “You didn’t react to us at all. You had no idea, did you? You couldn’t scent us—there was no Tyler then. But yes, I wanted you. Maddis was screaming in my head, clawing to claim you on the spot. I could barely keep him contained.”
He paused, running a hand through his hair again. “But your fear… it was so strong, Bella. I couldn’t let him act. I could barely get a word out myself because I was putting all my energy into controlling him.” He sighed heavily. “I’m sorry for how it went down. I understand why you were scared of me, especially after what you overheard me say. But I would never actually do that. I was just so angry, Bella. You kept defying me. Who blatantly ignores or refuses their Alpha’s order?”
“I didn’t know why you wanted me to come home,” Bella replied quietly. “You were the one who ordered me to leave and never come back. So when I got your letter to come home…” She shrugged. “Your banishment order was technically still in effect.”
“I don’t believe that,” Luke shot back, his frown deepening. “The letter clearly requested you to come home, and it had my name on it. That should have overridden the previous order. You just didn’t want to.”
Bella took a deep breath. “Okay, you’re right—I didn’t want to. There was no way I was going to bring myself and my children back here, parading them in front of you and your Luna—a woman who hated me. A woman who would never have stood for ‘bastard children’ threatening her own children’s claim to the Alpha title. That would have put them in danger, and I will always protect them, even from you.”
Luke’s expression softened slightly, though the frown didn’t entirely leave his face. “Bella,” he said firmly, “I would never hurt them.”
“I didn’t know that at the time,” she replied, her voice quiet but steady. “I’d been gone six years, Luke. I had no contact with your pack. I didn’t know anything about what was happening here.”
“And now?” he asked, his tone tinged with hope. “You know that now, right?”
Bella nodded. “Yes, Luke. I know you would never hurt them. I saw it for myself today.” Her voice faltered slightly. It had been bittersweet, seeing him with their children, knowing they had missed so much of that bond because of circumstances beyond their control. They were both to blame, she supposed.
She drained the last of her wine, setting the glass down with a soft clink. Leaning back in her chair, she studied him for a long moment before speaking. “I have one more question.”
“Ask,” he said simply, his eyes locked on hers.
“Why didn’t you let Benzy or Macky just tell me I was your Mate?”
Luke’s expression tightened slightly, but he answered without hesitation. “Would you have believed it? Honestly, Bella?”
She paused, considering his question carefully. After a long moment, she shook her head. “No. I would have thought it was a ploy to get me to bring your children to you. All this time, I thought that’s all you wanted. Tyler and I knew we weren’t your Mate, so what other reason could there have been?”
Luke’s shoulders sagged slightly, as if her response confirmed his fears. Bella stood, the conversation weighing heavily on her. Neither of them had eaten, the evening had been emotionally draining, and she felt utterly overwhelmed.
“I’m tired, Luke,” she said softly. “My head hurts, and I need time to process all of this before I can decide on anything.”
Luke stood as well, but before she could take a step away, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Without warning, he leaned down and kissed her.
His mouth moved over hers with a hunger that stole her breath, his hand tangling in her hair and pulling hard on her braid. The force tilted her head back, making her gasp—a mix of pain and pleasure. His other hand pressed against her back, pulling her body flush against his.
