Bella headed to the courthouse, and unsurprisingly, they followed her. Neither Benzy nor Macky said a word, but their presence was unmistakable. They sat silently at the back of the courtroom, their piercing gazes fixed on her as she argued her client’s case. They didn’t interrupt or engage, but the weight of their observation was palpable.
At the end of the day, she returned home, only to find them trailing her there as well. It was more than annoying—it was suffocating.
Even Tyler was bristling under their constant shadow. They were used to their freedom, to doing what they pleased when they pleased, without pack interference or supervision. This relentless watch felt invasive, like being under police surveillance.
Bella had skipped returning to her office after her final court session, heading straight home instead. She arrived just after 5 p.m., surprising her babies and the nanny. The latter, grateful for the unexpected break, left early, giving Bella some rare, uninterrupted time with her pups.
By 7 p.m., the intercom buzzed.
Bella frowned as she crossed the room to answer it. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Tim hadn’t called about visiting, and she had no plans for the evening. She pressed the button. “Yes, Jimmy?”
“Evening, Bella,” came the doorman’s polite voice. “There are two people here who’d like to come up.”
Bella sighed, already suspecting who it was. “Names, please, Jimmy?” she asked, her tone firm but not unkind. She appreciated the security her building provided. Jimmy was meticulous, and she could well imagine Carlton, the night security guard, standing nearby at the front desk.
A familiar deep rumble came through the intercom, making her pause. “Bella, it’s Tomas and Darla. May we come up?”
Her breath hitched. Alpha Tomas. She was caught completely off guard. Luke must have told them about the triplets.
For a moment, she froze, her mind racing. She wasn’t prepared for this—not emotionally, not strategically. Drawing in a steadying breath, she steeled herself.
“No,” she said, her voice firm yet polite, trying to soften the blow. “I’m sorry.”
There was a pause, then Luna Darla’s soothing voice came through, gentle and without a trace of anger. “Bella, honey, please. We’d just like to see our grandchildren, that’s all.”
Bella closed her eyes, the request piercing through her defenses. It wasn’t unreasonable—far from it. But how could she trust their intentions? Alone in her apartment, with just her and the pups, either of them could issue an Alpha or Luna order. They could command her to hand over her children, or worse, demand she stay behind while they took them.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, her voice softer this time, tinged with genuine regret. She meant it—she truly did. She hated denying them the chance to meet their grandchildren. But the stakes were too high, the risks too great.
Before guilt could consume her, she shut off the intercom.
Bella leaned against the doorframe, exhaling shakily. She didn’t know who to trust anymore. First Benzy and Macky had shown up, and now the former Alpha and Luna. Luke was clearly sending everyone he could, playing every card available to him.
She knew why he wasn’t here himself. The human court orders restricted him from leaving his state, and his passport had been confiscated, preventing any travel outside the U.S. He was stuck—and she couldn’t help but wonder if that was why he was escalating the pressure by sending others in his place.
Her heart ached as she glanced toward the living room, where her pups were laughing and playing. Protecting them was her only priority. She had no intention of letting anyone—Alpha, Luna, or otherwise—take them from her.
Ben had been relentless in his conditions for Luke’s release. Leveraging the man’s wealth, Ben had successfully argued that Luke was a flight risk, capable of escaping the charges against him by simply fleeing the country. The courts had agreed, and now Luke was bound by strict restrictions. Ben had done his job well. Apparently, Luke had complied, surrendering his passport and adhering to the human world’s regulations.
Bella sighed as she contemplated dinner, debating between cooking or ordering takeout. Just as she reached for her phone to order pizza, it rang. The caller ID showed Tim—one of the few people who had her new, unlisted number. She picked up with a smile.
“Hey there,” she greeted.
“Hi, sweets,” Tim replied, his tone warm. “Thought I’d drop by with pizza for dinner.”
“You’re a lifesaver. I was just about to order pizza myself.”
“Great minds,” he laughed, and Bella found herself laughing too.
“How far away are you?”
“Just about to pull up outside your building.”
“Cheeky, aren’t you?”
“You know it, sweets. See you in a bit.”
Tim arrived ten minutes later, carrying four pizzas. He was on her approved list of visitors, so he didn’t need to be buzzed up. He always came prepared, knowing how much she and the kids could eat. It never failed to amaze him, but over time, he’d grown used to their voracious appetites.
The evening passed comfortably. After dinner, Bella put the kids to bed around 9 p.m., leaving just her and Tim on the couch. His arm draped around her as they snuggled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to relax.
But something felt… off. Tyler, her wolf, was restless. Bella chalked it up to the lingering effects of the day. Benzy and Macky, with Apollo and Rafe ever-present, had trailed her everywhere, reminding her of a life she’d tried to leave behind. It was natural for that kind of presence to stir up feelings of nostalgia and unease.
“Are you staying the night?” Bella asked casually, curious. She wasn’t opposed to him staying, even for s*x—it had been a while, not since her ordeal. She felt a little anxious, and the idea of physical comfort wasn’t unwelcome.
Tyler huffed, retreating to the back of her mind.
“I’d like to,” Tim replied, his tone apologetic, “but I have court in the morning. Early start. I’m not free until Sunday, in all honesty.”
