“Calm down,” Luke muttered internally. “We’re not letting her go anywhere.”
His father, watching him closely, could tell the wheels were spinning in Luke’s mind. “You see the risk now, don’t you? If Bella chooses to accept Alpha Philip’s offer, it’s not just about where she’ll be living. She could be laying the groundwork for a new life—a life where you have no place.”
Luke frowned, his hands curling into fists. “He wouldn’t dare force a bond on her. Not if he’s as fair and honest as you say.”
“True,” Tomas agreed. “But if she willingly agrees to be his chosen mate for the sake of safety, or to secure her pups’ future, what then? Even if she doesn’t feel the Mate Bond with him, she might see him as the better option over returning to you—especially if she believes you mean her harm.”
The thought sent a cold wave of dread through Luke. Maddis was pacing furiously in his mind, his tail swishing with agitation. “Mate would never pick another. Mate is ours!”
“She might if she thinks we’re the enemy, Maddis,” Luke countered silently, his frustration mounting. “And if he convinces her to trust him…”
His father’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You’ll need to move carefully, son. Alpha Philip is no fool. If he’s making an offer, it means he sees value in Bella and her pups—value that might extend beyond just giving them sanctuary.”
“I’ll call him,” Luke said firmly. “I’ll make it clear she’s my Mate and those pups are mine. If he’s as fair as you say, he’ll respect the bond and back off.”
Tomas raised an eyebrow. “And if he doesn’t? What if he sees your claim as weak because you haven’t marked or mated her yet?”
Luke hesitated, the weight of that question settling over him. Maddis growled low, the idea of another Alpha challenging their bond an unbearable thought.
“Then I’ll make sure he knows the truth,” Luke said finally, his tone hard. “Bella might not be ready to accept me, but she’s mine. And no one—Alpha or not—is going to take her or my pups away from me.”
Tomas nodded, though his expression remained cautious. “Be prepared, Luke. This might not be as straightforward as you think. And if the council gets involved…”
“I’ll deal with the council if it comes to that,” Luke interrupted, his resolve firm. “Right now, my priority is Bella. I won’t let anyone come between us—not Alpha Philip, not the council, no one.”
Maddis rumbled his approval, but Luke couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at him. The situation with Bella was already fragile, and Alpha Philip’s interest added another layer of complexity. He needed to tread carefully, but one thing was clear: he had to act before it was too late.
Luke sighed deeply, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. The weight of everything felt insurmountable, and even Maddis, usually a source of unwavering confidence, was brooding quietly. Bella had been full of life once, playful and carefree. The memories of her laughter and mischievous grin felt like a distant dream compared to the reality they now faced.
“She was always so vibrant,” Luke murmured, his voice heavy with regret. “To think that fear has become her constant state… it’s hard to accept.”
Lanky, sitting nearby, nodded solemnly. “Fear changes people, Luke. Even wolves. And if she’s been living in it for six years, it’s no wonder Tyler’s on edge, ready to fight anyone who comes near.”
Luke clenched his fists. “I did this to her. To them. If I’d just handled things differently—”
“No point dwelling on the past,” Lanky interrupted. “Focus on fixing it. She’s still out there, and she’s still your Mate. That means there’s a chance to make things right.”
Maddis growled softly in agreement. “Fix. Protect. Bring Mate home.”
Luke nodded, though the path forward was anything but clear. His father’s suggestion to call Alpha Philip was sound, but even that carried its risks. The idea of Bella in another Alpha’s pack, even temporarily, made his blood boil. Maddis was barely holding back his possessiveness, and the thought of someone else even looking at Bella with interest was enough to stoke his anger.
“We’ll need to be ready for anything,” Luke said, glancing at Lanky. “If Philip agrees to let her in, we’ll use that time to figure out what’s really going on with her powers. Maybe being in a pack environment will help her calm down enough to think clearly.”
Lanky tilted his head. “And if it doesn’t? What if she decides to stay there permanently?”
Luke’s jaw tightened. “She won’t. I won’t let it come to that. She’s mine, and those pups are mine. I’ll make her see that she has nothing to fear from me.”
Maddis rumbled approvingly. “Mate belongs with us. Pups belong with us. Pack belongs with us.”
“And the Luna powers?” Lanky asked, bringing the conversation back to the mystery that had been nagging at all of them.
Luke sighed, rubbing his temples. “We need to figure out why she has them in the first place. Maybe it’s tied to her connection to me. Maybe the bond is partially active, and it’s affecting her in ways we don’t understand.”
Lanky nodded thoughtfully. “It’s worth looking into. If the bond is influencing her, it could explain why her emotions are so powerful—and why your mother felt them so intensely.”
Luke leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “I’ll have the researchers start digging. Anything about Luna powers, reverse effects, or bonds that activate without being completed. There has to be an explanation.”
“And Bella?” Lanky asked.
Luke’s eyes hardened. “We give her space for now. But I’m not waiting forever. If Alpha Philip lets her in, I’ll use that time to plan. But one way or another, I’m bringing her and the pups home. They belong with me.”
Maddis growled his agreement, the determination in his voice echoing Luke’s resolve. “Mate will see. Mate will come. Mate is ours.”
