Macky leaned back against the car seat, watching Bella through the windshield as she walked out of the café with her pups, all of them laughing. The sight was a rare moment of peace, a glimpse of the happy, carefree she-wolf she used to be. He sighed. “This distance thing might work for today, but how long can we keep this up?”
Benzy, seated beside him, folded his arms. “Not long, especially with Luke breathing down our necks. Maddis is on edge; it’s only a matter of time before he forces Luke’s hand.”
“Yeah, Maddis isn’t exactly known for his patience,” Macky muttered. “And honestly, if it were up to me, I’d haul her back right now. This dragging-it-out strategy feels like it’s doing more harm than good.”
Benzy chuckled dryly. “You’d tranquillise her, wouldn’t you? Pack her up like luggage and deliver her to Luke’s bed.”
Macky smirked. “Efficient, isn’t it? Skip the drama, let the mate bond take care of the rest.”
“You’re insane,” Benzy replied, shaking his head. “And Luke would kill you. Slowly.”
“Yeah, but think about it—waking up next to her mate, her wolf recognizing him immediately. It could work,” Macky argued. “She wouldn’t even have a chance to overthink it.”
“Or she’d wake up swinging,” Benzy pointed out. “You saw how Tyler reacted to Tomas. You really want to risk her challenging Luke the moment she wakes up?”
Macky hesitated. “Fair point. But still, we need a plan. This waiting game isn’t going to hold for much longer. Luke’s barely holding it together as it is.”
“Speaking of Luke,” Benzy said, glancing at his phone. “He’s been researching reverse Luna powers all morning. Found anything useful?”
Macky shrugged. “Nothing definitive, but plenty of stories about the Goddess stepping in to gift Luna powers to she-wolves in unique circumstances. Bella fits a lot of those scenarios—trauma, Alpha pups, the need for protection.”
Benzy frowned. “You think the Goddess could bond her to more than one mate?”
Macky nodded slowly. “It’s possible. Especially if she ends up at Winter Moon Pack. Alpha Philip is un-mated, and he’s exactly the kind of wolf the Goddess might choose for her—a strong, stable Alpha who could protect her and her pups.”
Benzy let out a low whistle. “If that happens, Luke’s screwed.”
“Big time,” Macky agreed. “And Maddis won’t take it well. Hell, he’s already snarling in the background. If Bella so much as glances at Philip the wrong way, we’ll be cleaning up a bloodbath.”
“Guess that’s why we’re here,” Benzy said. “To make sure she doesn’t get that far.”
Macky glanced at him. “And if she does? If she chooses someone else?”
Benzy’s jaw tightened. “Then we step back. That’s what Luke wants—for her to decide freely. Even if it kills him.”
Macky nodded, though he wasn’t entirely convinced. Watching Bella laugh with her pups, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their Alpha’s patience was running out. And when it did, all hell would break loose.
Luke’s grip on the phone tightened as he continued watching the video, his focus entirely on Bella and the pups. She was breathtaking, so vibrant and full of life as she laughed and played with their children. It had been years since he had seen her like this, carefree and happy. His heart ached, longing to be a part of that joy.
Maddis growled low in his mind, both possessive and yearning.
“Ours,” Maddis murmured. “Bring Mate home.”
Luke sighed, resisting the primal urge to jump into action. “Not yet,” he responded inwardly. “She’s still too afraid. We need to be patient, Maddis.”
His wolf huffed, but the video seemed to soothe him somewhat. It showed Bella splashing the pups with water, her carefree laughter mingling with their squeals of delight. Luke smiled despite himself. She was a natural with them, her love and care for the triplets shining through every interaction.
“I’ll give you this much, Benzy,” Luke muttered without looking away from the screen, “it’s a good video. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Benzy replied with a smirk. “Though I’d be careful if I were you. Watching her like that might drive you to the shower sooner than you think.”
Macky burst into laughter, clearly remembering their earlier bet. “Told you it’d be less than five minutes!”
Luke shot them both a glare but couldn’t deny the truth of their teasing. Bella was utterly captivating, and he wasn’t immune to the effect she had on him. He forced himself to focus on the pups instead, studying each one as they played.
Karis was protective, watching over his sisters even during their games. His sharp green eyes mirrored Bella’s in both color and intensity. The twins, on the other hand, were a whirlwind of energy, their matching swimsuits a blur as they darted around.
“They’re amazing,” Luke murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
“They are,” Benzy agreed. “You’ve got great kids, Luke.”
Macky leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms. “Now the question is, how do we make sure they stay with you?”
Luke didn’t answer immediately, his gaze still locked on the screen. He watched as Bella scooped up one of the twins and spun her around, her laughter ringing out. It was a sound he hadn’t heard in so long, and it stirred something deep within him—hope.
“We wait,” he finally said, his voice firm. “She needs time to feel safe, to trust that coming home is the best thing for her and the pups.”
Maddis growled softly in agreement, though Luke could sense his wolf’s impatience simmering just beneath the surface.
Benzy exchanged a look with Macky but didn’t push. “Alright, Alpha,” he said with a shrug. “But you’d better be ready when the time comes. She’s not going to make it easy for you.”
Luke smirked. “When has Bella ever made anything easy?”
The room filled with a shared chuckle, but beneath the light-hearted banter, the weight of the situation remained. Luke knew the road ahead wouldn’t be simple, but for Bella and the pups, he was willing to face whatever challenges came his way. All that mattered now was finding a way to bring them home—for good.
