“Please, Bella honey, sit down,” Macky said softly, his voice gentle as he stepped around the desk toward her.
Her green eyes locked onto his caramel-brown ones, her gaze sharp and wary. Tyler, still at the forefront of her mind, was watching him too, waiting for any sign of threat. He was, after all, part of her Alpha’s pack—a potential enemy sent to manipulate or subdue her.
“Please… Bella honey, sit down,” he repeated, his voice like a soothing balm that she couldn’t resist. Against her will, her body sank into the chair, her muscles relaxing despite the defiance still burning in her mind.
“Just relax,” he whispered, his voice barely audible as his Gamma charm enveloped her fully. “I’m not here to harm you in any way.”
She felt Tyler submit, her wolf lying down quietly, lulled into calm obedience. Bella clenched her fists, trying to fight it, but it was no use. His charm was overwhelming, an unyielding force of nature.
“I hate you,” Bella muttered, her voice weak as she sank further into her chair, Tyler’s compliance fully taking over. She glared at him, but her anger felt distant now, muted under the weight of his aura.
Macky didn’t respond to her words. He just stood there, his presence steady and unthreatening, his eyes meeting hers with quiet understanding. And somehow, that made her hate him even more.
Macky chuckled softly, entirely unoffended. “That’s okay for now,” he said, his caramel eyes lighting with quiet amusement. His hands rested gently on the arms of her chair, and with a smooth motion, he turned her to face him directly. Leaning down until their faces were mere inches apart, he gazed into her eyes with a softness that made her chest ache. In that moment, she almost believed he truly cared.
“Stupid Gamma,” she hissed weakly, her defiance slipping away entirely.
“Yes,” he said with a small, knowing smile. “I’m the Gamma. Your Gamma. So please, listen to me.”
“No…” Her voice was a whisper, trembling as she shook her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to.” She knew it was a losing battle, but some part of her still fought against him, against the pull of his power.
“Bella… honey. Yes, you do,” he murmured, his voice now soft and intimate, his breath brushing her ear. “Please don’t make any rash decisions.” He slipped a folded piece of paper into her hand, his tone laced with quiet urgency. “Read this. Take it very seriously.”
Her head nodded on its own, as if compelled by forces beyond her control. When she opened her eyes, he was still there, his caramel gaze boring into her, as though he could see straight into her soul.
“I know you’re hurting right now, Bella,” he said gently. “And you need time. Take that time. But please… give us a chance too. That’s all I’m asking.”
Tears stung her eyes, threatening to spill over. “I hate you,” she whispered again, her voice barely audible, trembling under the weight of his presence.
His smile softened, and he leaned in to press a light kiss to her forehead. “Just breathe,” he said softly, his words a soothing balm. Then, with deliberate care, he straightened and stepped away from her, his Gamma aura lifting like a heavy curtain being drawn back. He walked to the door, hand on the handle, and glanced back at her with a knowing look.
“Have a nice dinner on Friday,” he said with a playful wink, then disappeared, leaving her alone in her office.
The moment he left, Bella felt the oppressive weight of his Gamma Charm fade, the fog in her mind lifting with every second he was gone. Slowly, her composure returned, and with it, her sharpness. Her green eyes hardened as she glared at the door where he’d just been. His parting words burned in her mind: Have a nice dinner on Friday. It wasn’t a casual farewell. It was a subtle reminder that he knew exactly where she’d be—and that he would likely report it to the Alpha.
Bella took several deep breaths, letting her anger simmer and refocus as she regained her strength. Her thoughts briefly drifted to Macky’s future mate. Poor woman. How would she ever win an argument with a wolf who wielded such overwhelming power? The poor creature wouldn’t stand a chance, forever at the mercy of his charm.
Her gaze finally dropped to the paper still clutched in her hand. She unfolded it, scanning the contents. At the top, in bold letters, were the words None of These. Below was a list of pack names, each accompanied by the names of their Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. She frowned as she read it, quickly deducing that these were enemy packs—or at least, ones she was forbidden from considering. The inclusion of the ranks’ names seemed like a safeguard, ensuring she wouldn’t be fooled by imposters.
But the phrasing—None of These—struck her as odd. It almost felt like an unspoken acknowledgment that she might actually leave and join another pack. A grudging concession? Or perhaps a calculated move to maintain some semblance of control over her choice?
Bella’s fingers tightened around the paper as her mind raced. What game are they playing now? she wondered. Whatever it was, she wasn’t about to play it by their rules.
Were they actually starting to believe she might leave and find a new pack? Preparing for the possibility, it seemed. Bella supposed it was logical. She could reject her pack whenever she wanted and go rogue if necessary. Perhaps her Alpha preferred to know where she and the children were rather than risk them vanishing completely. It was a plausible explanation, though it didn’t sit well with her.
She glanced at the list again, her thoughts swirling. Three of the packs listed were represented by wolves sitting in her waiting area right now. Bella folded the paper carefully and placed it in her desk drawer. Whatever decision she made, she would take it seriously. She wanted no harm to come to herself, Tyler, or, most importantly, her pups.
Steeling herself, Bella stood and opened the door, calling in her next appointment.
