As he headed toward the door, Luke mused silently that they would all likely get along quite well—once everything was sorted out and Bella was officially his mate.
Bella stirred awake to find Benzy seated on the bed beside her, his chin resting on his chest, his arms crossed as he dozed. He hadn’t moved or left her side all day, and she knew it. The sight of him sitting there, still in the same clothes from earlier, brought her a sense of unexpected comfort.
For a solid minute, she simply lay there and watched him. He looked unusually relaxed, his features soft in sleep. It was a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions she’d endured earlier in the day. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt light—free of the constant weight that had burdened her since leaving the pack.
She knew Macky had been around too, and for once, she was truly grateful for him. His Gamma Charm had clearly worked its magic, calming her and perhaps even temporarily taking away her fear.
Bella let her eyes wander around the room. It was large and elegant, its color palette of soft greys and creams soothing to the eye. To the left of the bed, a set of French doors led to a balcony, framed by sheer curtains tied neatly to either side. Near the doors, two striped wing-backed chairs flanked a light wooden table, likely intended for shared meals.
On her right, two open doors revealed a bathroom and what she guessed was a walk-in wardrobe. At the foot of the king-sized bed, upholstered in grey velour, sat a matching ottoman. The windows, dressed in grey curtains, were uncovered, revealing the dark night outside.
Bella shifted slightly under the cream duvet, checking to make sure she was still dressed. She was, of course. She didn’t doubt Benzy’s integrity, but the small reassurance brought her comfort nonetheless.
Reaching out, she gently squeezed his arm to wake him.
Benzy stirred, his light grey eyes opening and meeting hers immediately. A soft smile spread across his face. “Hey there,” he said warmly, his voice low and soothing. He glanced at his watch, then back at her with a slight frown.
“You’ve been out for a while,” he said gently, concern evident in his tone.
“Where are my children?” Bella asked immediately, her voice sharp with concern. She couldn’t smell them nearby, which only heightened her anxiety. “Where are we?”
“They’re with Jody at his place,” Benzy replied, rolling his shoulders in a stretch that made his muscles ripple. Bella’s eyes followed the movement unconsciously, and his tone shifted slightly, a hint of amusement creeping in. “You, my dear, are in the pack house,” he added. When she looked up at him, she caught the small, amused smile on his face. He had noticed her watching him.
She ignored his look and sat up next to him. “Why not with Dad?” she asked, steering the conversation back to her children.
Benzy’s expression softened. “Your distress over your mother was really affecting them, Bella. Macky and I decided it was best to separate you for a while, at least until you could get yourself under control. You were really struggling. Your emotions were so strong that they affected not just the kids but also Lanky and me. Macky handled it better, of course—Gamma thing, I guess.”
“Oh,” Bella murmured, biting her lip. She shook her head, guilt creeping in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my being upset would affect anyone else…” She trailed off, recalling moments when her children had mirrored her emotions. If she was sad, they became quiet and withdrawn. She had always attributed it to the mother-child bond, but the idea that her emotional state could affect Benzy and Macky too was unsettling. “Are they okay now?” she asked, her worry bubbling to the surface.
“They’re fine,” Benzy assured her. “Perfectly fine, actually. They seem happy with Jody. They’ve already accepted him as your father. I think seeing you hug him the way you did made them trust him too.”
Bella pushed her hair out of her face and sighed. “Am I allowed to see them?” she asked, her voice hesitant. The weight of worry settled on her again. Being back in the pack meant her Alpha could technically prevent her from seeing her children with a simple order.
“Of course you are,” Benzy said, frowning slightly. “Why would you think you wouldn’t be? You’re a pack member, Bella. Nothing is off-limits to you.” He glanced at his watch. “You didn’t sleep long, though—barely two hours. I thought you’d be out much longer.”
Bella shrugged. “I don’t feel like I’ve been awake much today,” she admitted, though she doubted his assurance about her freedom within the pack.
“You spent the entire flight here asleep in Macky’s arms—about five hours—and then you passed out at your mother’s bedside. It’s 8 p.m. now,” Benzy said, his tone light.
“Is this your suite, Benzy?” Bella asked curiously, nudging him playfully. She couldn’t help but recall how he and his wolf had reacted to her playful flirting back in her office.
Benzy laughed aloud, a sound rich with amusement. When he turned to look at her, his grin was wide and teasing. “Oh no,” he said with a chuckle. “Luke would kill me if I put you in my bed.”
The smile vanished from Bella’s face in an instant, replaced by a glare. She threw the duvet off and got out of the bed. The nerve of him—even indirectly implying that Luke had a say in whose bed she was in—irked her deeply. Just because she’d had his pups didn’t mean Luke got to dictate her life.
She had sent Tim away out of necessity, but she wasn’t about to let Luke bully her into being alone for the rest of her life just because his wolf didn’t like the idea of another man being close to her or their children. If Luke had an issue with it, he would simply have to deal with it.
