“I know,” Luke replied, his tone softening slightly. “But you need to understand, everything you do affects everyone around you. Especially now.”
Bella clenched her jaw, feeling the weight of his words. She hated that he was right. No matter how much she tried to separate herself from the pack and its problems, she was still tied to them in ways she couldn’t escape.
“I don’t want to be a part of this,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to protect my kids and live my life in peace.”
Luke was silent for a moment before he spoke again, his voice low and firm. “And I want to protect what’s mine. That includes you and the kids, whether you like it or not.”
The line went dead before she could respond, leaving her staring at the phone in her hand. Her emotions were a whirlwind—anger, fear, frustration, and a small, unspoken part of her that longed for the protection he offered, even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud.
She turned and leaned her back against the wall, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor. She buried her face in her hands and took a deep, shaky breath, trying to collect herself.
Her pups were safe, for now. But for how long?
Bella hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain the whirlwind of emotions and danger that had driven her to Nina and Matt’s home. She let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping the suitcase tightly.
“It’s… complicated,” Bella finally admitted, stepping into the house. “I needed somewhere safe for the kids.”
Nina nodded, her concern evident as she guided Bella and the triplets inside. “You’re always welcome here, Bella. Let’s get the little ones settled, and then you can tell me everything.”
Bella managed a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Nina.”
Nina crouched down to the triplets’ level, her warm smile calming. “Are you guys hungry? Let’s get you some breakfast, okay?”
The triplets nodded, their earlier excitement about the beach and the upcoming trip replaced with confusion and unease. Bella felt a pang of guilt but reassured herself that this was the right choice. They needed to be somewhere secure, and this was the best option.
As Nina led the children to the kitchen, Bella followed quietly, setting the suitcase down by the door. She glanced around the house, the familiar sight of Matt and Nina’s warm, well-decorated home bringing a small sense of relief. For now, they were safe.
“Matt’s still asleep,” Nina said over her shoulder. “I’ll wake him up in a bit. He’ll want to know what’s going on.”
Bella nodded silently, sitting at the kitchen table as Nina busied herself making pancakes for the kids. The sound of the triplets laughing softly at something Nina said was a balm to Bella’s frayed nerves. At least they were starting to relax.
Nina placed a cup of tea in front of Bella and sat across from her, her expression gentle but probing. “Bella, you know you can talk to me. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
Bella wrapped her hands around the warm cup, staring down at the liquid as her thoughts raced. How could she explain that she wasn’t just running from one angry alpha but two? That she had to protect her children not just from potential harm but from the truth of their lineage and the chaos it brought with it?
She sighed, deciding to start with what she could explain. “Robyn showed up at my apartment this morning. He was furious—demanded I come here and fix things with Dani.”
Nina’s eyes widened. “Robyn? What happened?”
Bella shook her head. “I don’t even know how he got past the doorman. He was… angry, Nina. Like, Alpha-level angry. He said Dani left him, and it’s my fault. I didn’t mean to mess things up between them, I swear.”
Nina reached across the table, placing a comforting hand over Bella’s. “We know you didn’t. Dani’s just… processing. She’s struggling with the idea of being tied to the Cupper family after everything that happened to you. It’s a lot for her to take in.”
Bella nodded, guilt gnawing at her. “I want to fix it. I owe them that much. But there’s more…”
Nina’s brows knitted together. “More?”
Bella hesitated, glancing toward the kitchen doorway to ensure the children couldn’t overhear. “Luke’s here… in the city. He sent his men to watch me. They called me last night, said he was—Maddis was—out of control. That he might hurt Tim if I didn’t send him away.”
Nina’s eyes widened further, her expression shifting to alarm. “Luke’s here?”
Bella nodded, her voice trembling. “I’m scared, Nina. For the kids, for myself… I don’t know what to do.”
Nina squeezed her hand, her expression firm. “You did the right thing coming here. You and the kids are safe with us, Bella. We’ll figure this out together.”
Bella set the tray down gently on Dani’s bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on Dani’s arm, but Dani flinched slightly, her tears flowing harder.
“Dani, I’m so sorry,” Bella began softly. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you or Robyn.”
Dani wiped at her face, though the tears kept coming. “It’s not your fault,” she said, her voice shaky. “It’s just… it’s too much. All of it. He didn’t even tell me who he really was until that night. And then I saw you. The way you looked at him, the way he looked at you… How am I supposed to fit into all of this? Into his world? Into yours?”
Bella felt a pang of guilt. “Dani, I need you to understand something. Robyn and I… there’s nothing between us. There never was. He’s yours. That bond you feel with him? It’s real. It’s sacred. And he’s feeling it just as strongly as you are.”
Dani shook her head, sitting up a little. “But everything you’ve been through with his family—how can I possibly be part of that?”
“You’re not a part of my past, Dani,” Bella said firmly. “You’re a part of Robyn’s future. And I think he’s trying to be part of yours too.”
Dani looked down at her hands, her tears slowing but her expression still conflicted. “I’m scared, Bella. I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s overwhelming.”
