The latest update Benzy had given him, however, had taken Luke by surprise. It shocked him, yes, but it also had the potential to play in his favor—or so he hoped. For now, all he could do was wait patiently for the outcome. His team had even managed to snap a few photos of Bella coming and going from her office.
She looked stunning in those pictures. Her short skirts and sheer stockings showcased her long legs, and her confidence radiated from every step she took. But the sight stirred mixed emotions in Luke. He admired her beauty and strength, but he hated the idea of enemy pack members ogling her, especially while she entertained offers from them.
He frowned at the thought. Her wardrobe would definitely be a topic of discussion once she came home. Luke respected her autonomy and her choices, but as her mate—and as her Alpha—he felt a responsibility to ensure her safety and protect her from unnecessary attention. She could be as stubborn as she liked, but there were some things they would need to talk about.
And talk they would—once she was back where she belonged. With him.
Sexy for him was one thing, but for the whole pack? Absolutely not. There was a line, and Bella’s current choice of attire was crossing it in his mind. That conversation would have to happen once she returned home, but it was far from his only concern at the moment.
Luke had also received new pictures of the triplets at their school, courtesy of his men. His son was displaying all the hallmarks of a protective Alpha in the making, especially toward his sisters, which filled Luke with a mix of pride and concern. The report about the latest incident, however, had raised his eyebrows.
One of the twins had been accidentally bumped by another child running past during play, causing her to fall off her seat. His son had immediately rushed to pick her up, checking that she was alright, before storming after the offending child and shoving them over quite violently. He’d shouted at the group to watch where they were going or risk being beaten up. The twins, apparently accustomed to their brother’s behavior, hadn’t reacted much, simply observing as if it were routine.
That kind of aggression would need to be curbed. Luke frowned as he read the report. In a pack setting, this was expected from a dominant Alpha child defending a sibling, but in the human world, it was a different story. Such behavior could quickly draw the wrong kind of attention, something Bella likely didn’t want or need. He wondered if she even knew about the incident, and if she did, whether she’d addressed it.
Part of him wanted to have Benzy or Macky bring it up with Bella later in the week, to see how she was handling her son’s temper. But another part hesitated. How would Bella take advice—especially parental advice—from someone who had never been part of their lives? From her perspective, it could easily come off as interference, even if it was motivated by concern.
Was he overstepping? Luke pondered the question. Maddis, his wolf, cut in with a sharp response: “Ours.”
Yes, the triplets were his, but Luke hadn’t even known about them until recently. If the roles were reversed, would he appreciate someone he believed hated him stepping in to offer advice? Probably not. Even if it came from a place of care, it would feel like an intrusion. Still, he couldn’t shake his worry about his son’s aggression. Did the boy have Maddis’s temper? The thought made him uneasy.
Maddis snorted dismissively. “Ain’t nothing wrong with me.”
“No, just the occasional head-ripping when you’re mad,” Luke retorted dryly.
“That was one time,” Maddis growled, indignant.
“And the ripping, tearing, and killing of anything else that annoys you?”
“Normal. I’m an Alpha wolf.” Maddis’s tone was unapologetic.
Luke shook his head, exasperated. There was no reasoning with Maddis when it came to his instincts. He hadn’t always been so destructive, though. Aggressive and dominant, yes, but not overly volatile. Maddis’s quick temper had only emerged after a betrayal that had hurt them both so deeply, neither of them had known how to cope.
The thought made Luke pause. How did Tyler feel about all of this? If she carried a similar weight of anger and pain, would she be just as volatile as Maddis had become? And if so, what would it take to calm her? Tyler would have been just as devastated that day, but Luke was certain now that Kera had acted to protect her pups.
But had Bella known about the triplets at the time? He doubted it. If she had, she would have told him—he was sure of that. They’d been together the day before he met Mia, wrapped up in each other, completely unaware of what lay ahead. He could only assume that Tyler had sensed it but hadn’t had the chance to communicate it to Bella before everything went to hell.
Luke exhaled slowly, his thoughts heavy. There were too many unknowns, too many moving pieces, and every decision felt like a gamble. One thing was certain, though—he needed to find a way to bring Bella home, not just for the triplets, but for her own safety and theirs. And he needed to do it in a way that she’d choose willingly.
Luke called Benzy, his voice calm but firm as he made his request. “I need you to bring up the issue with Bella,” he said, referring to their son’s aggression. He could hear the hesitation on the other end of the line, the pause stretching long enough to confirm Benzy’s discomfort. Still, he didn’t outright refuse, so Luke continued. “If you’re not comfortable, have Macky handle it, but it needs to be addressed before the boy actually hurts someone.”
Benzy didn’t argue further, and Luke took that as reluctant agreement. Before ending the call, he added another request. “I need a copy of their birth certificates. I want to get them enrolled in the Pack School immediately.”
