“I don’t care, Benzy,” Luke said firmly. “Just make sure Bella is taken care of, and give her back her children.”
“She was so distressed, boss,” Benzy explained, his voice heavy with concern. “The pups weren’t coping either. Her pain, guilt, and distress were affecting them—they’re just as emotionally wrung out as she is. I sent them with Lanky to Jody’s house. Macky explained who he was, and they seemed to accept it. They went with their grandfather without much issue,” he sighed.
Luke clenched his jaw but let Benzy continue.
“Bella passed out at her mother’s bedside about 30 minutes ago. I’ve taken her to the Luna suite. Macky thought it wise to separate them for now, to give the pups a chance to stabilize emotionally.”
“It’s going to be a long day,” Luke muttered, rubbing his temples. “I can trust you with her, right?”
“Yes, boss… why would you even ask that?” There was a hint of offense in Benzy’s tone.
“No reason…” Luke muttered, but unease gnawed at him. “You’re with her now, right?”
“Yes,” Benzy replied, his voice firmer this time. “I’m not stupid, Luke. I would never betray you. You know that, right?”
“I know,” Luke said, though he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling. “It’s just… I get this weird vibe sometimes. About you and her.”
“She’s not my mate,” Benzy said flatly, his tone honest and resolute. “She was one of my closest friends. That’s all.”
“Alright,” Luke relented, rubbing his hands over his face to clear his thoughts. “Benzy?”
“Yes, boss?”
“Don’t make her feel like a prisoner. Give her the freedom to wander. Tyler too,” he added, though the last words came from Maddis. Without waiting for a response, Luke ended the call.
When he looked up, his mother was staring at him, her expression etched with a deep frown. “We had no idea, son,” she said, addressing what she had overheard with her wolf’s sharp hearing. “We would never have approved of something like that, especially given her fragile state.”
Luke’s eyes darkened. “You deal with your daughter, or I will. And it won’t be pretty, I assure you.”
His mother’s frown deepened, and while she didn’t argue, her worry was evident. Luke knew he couldn’t physically punish Abbey—not while she was pregnant—but that didn’t mean there weren’t other ways to teach her a lesson. She had always been a handful, but this time, she’d gone too far.
“Abbey will learn her place,” Luke muttered, his voice hard. “If you don’t make sure of it, I will.”
Later, as Luke sat in the quiet of the room, he reached out to Maddis, his wolf, who had been unusually silent. Why did you leave, Maddis? he asked, his frustration clear. Maddis had returned, but Luke had yet to understand why his wolf came and went as he pleased.
Didn’t want to hurt our mate, Maddis responded softly.
Buddy, you would never hurt Bella, Luke replied, his tone firm.
I might have… I hurt Mia, Maddis admitted, his voice tinged with guilt.
Luke sighed, his heart heavy with the mention of their last mate. Bella is nothing like Mia. She doesn’t know we’re her mate yet, that’s all. Once she recognizes us, she’ll never betray us. She believes in the goddess-gifted Fated Mate bond. Once she knows, everything will be fine. I promise.
Hurts, Maddis whispered.
I know, buddy, Luke said gently. But we’ll go to her this afternoon. We’ll fix everything today. She’ll know we’re her mate, and she’ll feel it. Everything will be better once she knows.
Maddis growled softly in agreement, retreating slightly in Luke’s mind. Luke leaned back, a weight lifting from his shoulders. Finally, they would be face to face. She would recognize him as her mate, and the uncertainty would finally be over—for both of them.
“Let’s go, Mother. I need to get back to the pack,” Luke said, his impatience clear.
“Robyn is already out there,” she replied. “I thought it would be better to keep you two apart for now.”
“Wise,” Luke agreed curtly.
Why? Maddis asked in his mind, his voice edged with curiosity.
Never mind. I’ve punished him already, Luke replied.
Maddis huffed, clearly unhappy with being kept in the dark. But it was for the best. Luke knew that once everything was settled between him and Bella, Maddis wouldn’t care anymore.
“You should shower, change, maybe shave,” his mother added, her tone matter-of-fact. “Be presentable for this family.”
“Why?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.
“From what I’ve heard, Matt is like a father to Bella, and Dani a sister. So clean up. I’ve already had the hotel send your things here.” She paused, her sharp eyes on him. “What happened while you were over there?”
“Nothing,” he muttered before heading for the shower.
Later, Luke found himself sitting in a grand sitting room in what could only be described as a white brick mansion. Located in a gated community about 40 minutes outside the city, the property was heavily secured. He had noted the coded gate, the 10-foot-high brick fencing, and the security cameras positioned strategically along the driveway and front door.
This must have been the place Bella had stayed when he couldn’t track her down after she fled his pack. It made sense now.
Matt and Nina had met them at the door. Neither had smiled, and Luke had made no effort to be warm either. His father handled the introductions, but the exchange was cold and formal—little more than nods exchanged between them.
Inside, the house was a display of wealth and luxury. White marble floors gleamed under the light, and floor-to-ceiling columns flanked the entryway. A wrought-iron railing with a redwood handrail spiraled up a curved staircase, its steps covered by a deep red carpet runner held in place by thin golden rods.
It was more extravagant than even his pack house, and that was saying something. His pack lived comfortably; the ground floor of their pack house was tailored to meet their every need. It boasted a home theater, a game room filled with consoles, pinball machines, pool tables, and more, plus a gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, saunas, and a library where pack members could relax. But this mansion, though housing only three people—Matt, Nina, and Dani—seemed to rival it in luxury.
