“That is your responsibility; proceed as you see fit.”
He was not so foolish as to succumb to it; he had witnessed it again with other wolves, including his own parents and occasionally with other Alphas and their Lunas. I would not be ensnared by that deception.
“What I genuinely desire, Bella, is for your happiness. I understand that it will require time for us to navigate the repercussions of my actions towards you, and we will, Bella. I am determined to demonstrate that my affection for you transcends both Maddis and our Mate Bond. I will find a means to prove my love for you, to show that I want you and am willing to do anything to have you by my side, not merely as my Mate and Luna, but as the one I cherish.”
She gazed at him intently, stating, “Allow me to return to L.A. to conclude my human affairs.”
“I am capable of that,” he said with a nod.
“Independently, devoid of your presence.”
“No,” he declared bluntly. “I cannot comply, Bella. Our conflict was highly visible; you are also Marked and Mated to me. Any of the packs, of which there are several, that oppose me are now your adversaries as well. They could still be present, attack you, abduct you, or inflict harm upon you to retaliate against me and this pack.”
“Whose responsibility is that?” she directed at him, sounding irritated.
“I might as well,” Luke conceded. Had he approached her discreetly, or enlisted Benzy or Macky, or even requested Robyn, who was already nearby, to politely invite her home for a discussion, it would have been the appropriate course of action.
“Indeed,” she concurred, “I shall not sever my human existence from this point onwards. They merit more than that.”
“You mean Chris,” he murmured.
“Indeed, Tim merits more than a mere text or phone call. Therefore, I shall refrain from such actions; he warrants a proper explanation from me, as does Ben, for that matter.”
Luke frowned at her, disapproving of her words. However, if this was her desire, he needed to demonstrate the sincerity of his intentions. He conceded, “Very well, but I must accompany you; you are not safe alone. We can sit down to discuss the terms of your interactions with both your humans, and I am confident we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement.”
“What is suitable for me is to undertake it independently,” she emphasised to him.
“It is unlikely to occur.” He raised his hand to interrupt her. “I regret to express this, but it pertains more to safety than anything else. I am not concerned about Chris or the nature of your relationship with him. I know you would never harm me, Bella.”
If such is the case, I can converse with them alone. Even if you insist on accompanying me to L.A., your presence in the room during my discussions with either of them is unnecessary, as they are only human beings.
Bella acknowledged Luke’s remarks, which were pleasant to hear; nevertheless, he had stated that deeds speak louder than words. His behaviour consistently centred on the children, except at their bedtime.
He was momentarily distracted before responding to her inquiry, paused, and after a little interval, he focused on her, stating, “I apologise, the Alpha council is on the phone downstairs requesting to speak with me.”
“Go,” she asserted, gesturing him away, unwilling to impede his departure. She was unaware of her actions until it was too late to retract them, having developed a habit of dismissing her staff at the law firm in Los Angeles. She observed him raise an eyebrow at her dismissal, yet he simply stood and exited without uttering a word.
It would undoubtedly have been quite insulting to him; a portion of her anticipated immediate rebuke from him. However, another aspect of her felt indifferent. She sighed and redirected her focus to the prenup, which appeared to be quite straightforward.
Compiled an inventory of Robyn’s belongings, which is little for an individual valued in the millions.
His vehicle and his residence within the packhouse, valued at a minimum of one million, would be equipped with the finest amenities. As both an Alpha and an Heir, he augmented his status with his substantial net worth. That was the extent of it. It appeared that Robyn was well-suited to the role of Alpha within a pack, as he refrained from squandering pack resources on frivolous expenditures.
While composing the document, she observed both Luke and Lackson entering her office 10 minutes later. She glanced between them and thought, “Yay.”
“What?” she enquired instead.
The council is sent a delegation to discuss your presence as my Mate.
She gazed at him and said, “And why are both of you staring at me?” She was unaware of the council’s rationale for dispatching anybody.
“Did you contact them, Bella?” Luke enquired directly.
“What would be the rationale for that? I lack the means to reach them.”
He observed Benzy, who negated with a shake of his head. “I informed you.”
“Are you acquainted with any members of the council?”
“Negative.”
“They are reportedly coming to assess the well-being of you and the children,” he informed her.
“I did not initiate the call; do not hold me accountable for that,” she said. Evidently, he believed she was responsible.
“I am not. I am merely inquisitive. Have they reached out to you in any capacity?”
“No,” she would have conveyed to him, acknowledging their differences and lack of rapport, while recognising the significance of the matter that must not be overlooked.
“Have you conversed with your grandmother since your arrival?”
“No, what prompts that inquiry?”
“Her Alpha, Philip, is a member of the council.”
Although he claimed not to hold her accountable, he evidently believed she was responsible. “I have not, and to clarify for you, aside from referring to Ben as Billy and conversing with Tim, I have not reached out to anyone outside of this pack,” she asserted, struggling to suppress the harshness in her tone, clearly irritated by his enquiries and desiring them to cease.
