Even more concerning was that Luke now knew she had a family. What would he do with this information? Bella had defied him at every turn. She had refused to return to the pack willingly, killed one of the wolves sent to retrieve her, injured his Beta, and fled once again to the human world—a place she had come to see as her refuge. Worse still, she had kept her children’s existence a secret from the pack, and more damningly, from Luke himself. She had not declared them as his offspring, something that was considered an unforgivable act within pack laws.
Bella understood the danger of her choices. Concealing the existence of an Alpha’s children was a risky game, bordering on suicidal. Once her children were older and began to develop their wolves, Luke’s wolf would inevitably sense the connection. It was only a matter of time before the truth came to light, but that was a problem for future Bella to deal with. For now, she focused on the present.
Jaya, for her part, had no intention of revealing the truth to Luke. He was already furious with Bella, and Jaya saw no reason to stoke that fire further. Luke had already been robbed of the chance to punish Bella—something he had clearly intended to do. He hadn’t even been able to inform her of what her punishment would be, a fact that must have frustrated him endlessly. Alpha wolves thrived on instilling fear, using their authority to protect their pack and dominate their enemies. For Luke, losing the opportunity to assert his dominance over Bella would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Yet Bella’s deep integration into the human world posed a significant challenge to Luke. As a highly respected divorce lawyer with a reputation for representing affluent and prominent clients, she was untouchable in many ways. If Luke wanted to deal with her, he would have to do so on human terms, following human laws. Any attempt to abduct her again would not only be illegal but would also draw unwanted attention and risk exposing his pack.
Bella doubted Luke would take that gamble. Getting trapped in the human legal system would leave his pack vulnerable to attacks from other Alphas. Despite his fury and desire for retribution, she suspected he would think twice before making a move in her world—a world governed by laws he couldn’t control.
Every day for Bella now felt like walking a tightrope over a ticking time bomb. The looming uncertainty gnawed at her—waiting for Alpha Luke to sever her connection to the pack was like waiting for an inevitable storm. If his father, Alpha Tomas, hadn’t mentioned anything about her children, it was difficult to tell whether he had made the connection or simply dismissed it. Tomas had shown no visible reaction when he saw them. Perhaps the sight of the children hadn’t been enough for him to sense his bloodline. Or perhaps he chose to ignore it.
Alpha Tomas had always treated her with kindness. Despite her leaving the pack under such strained circumstances, he had never taken steps to sever her connection. He had continued to pay her school fees and had allowed her to keep her pack card. Bella silently thanked the goddess for his generosity—she had used that card to pay for the nanny during her studies. However, she had stopped relying on it entirely once she began working for Ben and earning her own income. Tomas had never sent anyone to track her down, force her return, or even reprimand her.
There was a decency to Alpha Tomas, a good heart that seemed to contrast starkly with the cruelty of his son. Bella often wondered how Luke had turned out so harsh and vindictive when his father had such a warm and caring nature. Luke had not been like this in their younger years, back when they were growing up in the pack. What had caused such a dramatic change?
Her brief time back at the Blood Moon Pack had stirred bittersweet memories of her family. She couldn’t help but wonder how her parents were doing—her mother and father, and even her brother Bradley. Were they safe? Had they been spared Luke’s wrath, or had they suffered punishment because of her? Bella could only hope they hadn’t endured the same cruelty she had.
It pained her to realize that she hadn’t spoken to her family in the six years since she’d left. They had made no effort to reach out, to visit, or even to find her. It left her wondering if they missed her at all—or if they were simply as disappointed in her as Luke had been. Perhaps they were angry with her for the mistake she had made, the one that had altered everything. Or maybe Luke had forbidden them from contacting her.
A ripple of guilt emanated from Tyler, her wolf, as they reflected on the loss of their family. Bella felt the weight of her emotions—the deep love they had for their family and the pain of being separated from them. They had always been so close, and that bond hadn’t faded. Bella missed them constantly but had learned to suppress those feelings. It was easier that way, easier not to dwell on the ache.
“Don’t feel guilty, Tyler,” Bella said softly in her mind. “You did what you needed to do to protect our pups. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I know… but…” Tyler’s sadness lingered.
“It’s fine. It was a long time ago. I don’t blame you, and you know that. Please, stop carrying this guilt.”
Tyler sighed in response, still burdened by the past. She had always blamed herself for their banishment, believing it was her fault they had been told to leave the pack and never return. Bella, however, didn’t blame her. She had been planning to leave anyway, preparing to live on campus for the final two years of her degree to avoid witnessing Luke with his mate. Seeing him so happy and in love would have been unbearable. Thankfully, she hadn’t had to face that. Luke’s mate hadn’t shown herself during Bella’s brief, tense visit to the pack.
