“No,” she said with a small shake of her head. “Just curious, is all.”
“It’s the first snow,” he replied. “A small blizzard is expected. The Alpha might not make it back tonight if he’s not careful.”
His words were music to her ears. A day or night on pack territory without Luke’s looming presence was a relief. She wasn’t ready for the confrontation she knew was inevitable.
Benzy accompanied her all the way to her parents’ house, his casual demeanor unshaken.
“Are you going to follow me everywhere?” Bella asked, her tone a mix of irritation and resignation.
“Probably,” he replied with a shrug. “You might run away again.”
“Like you or Apollo could catch me,” she shot back, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Tyler has always been faster than you—nothing’s changed.” She enjoyed reminding him of the countless times he’d failed to catch her in the past.
Benzy simply chuckled, unfazed. “Hmm, maybe we should go for a run later and let our wolves settle that once and for all.”
She snorted, the sound full of amusement. He has no idea, she thought, knowing Tyler had grown far more powerful than anyone here realized. They were in for a shock if it ever came to a confrontation. Tyler’s size, speed, and strength had only intensified since her departure. If things escalated, her wolf wouldn’t hesitate to protect them, leaving scars that wouldn’t heal easily—if at all.
Reaching her parents’ house, Bella knocked lightly and called out as she opened the door. “It’s me!” she announced.
Her father’s voice called back warmly from the kitchen. “In here, baby girl!”
Bella followed the sound and the comforting aroma of food. The scent of steak, Alfredo pasta, and something sweet filled the air. Tyler perked up, sniffing eagerly. Blueberry and apple pie, her wolf purred. Her father was cooking all her favorite dishes.
Walking into the kitchen, Bella’s heart swelled at the sight of her children. They sat together at the table, eating happily. At the sight of her, all three turned their bright green eyes to her and beamed, their smiles lighting up the room. Tyler purred so loudly in her chest that Bella’s body vibrated, causing the children to burst into laughter.
“Mommy!” they yelled in unison, their joy infectious.
Bella crossed the room, her anger from earlier melting away as she scooped her babies into her arms, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in days. Tyler purred again, and the sound of their laughter filled the space, reminding Bella that this moment was exactly what she needed.
“Hi, Tyler!” the triplets chirped, waving at her wolf.
Tyler growled playfully in response, her tail swishing in Bella’s mind. Bella leaned over and kissed each of them on the tops of their heads, her heart full at the sight of their happy faces.
“So they know what they are?” Benzy mused aloud, his tone casual.
“Of course they do,” Bella replied with a frown. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“You could have raised them as humans, for all I know,” he shrugged nonchalantly.
“And how exactly would I have explained Tyler to them if that were the case?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Benzy merely shrugged again, clearly unbothered by her annoyance.
Bella turned away from him and looked at her father. “Is everything okay? How’s Mum doing?” she asked, concern lacing her tone.
Jody walked over and pulled her into a warm hug. “Still unconscious for now, but the doc says she’ll be just fine,” he assured her. His strong arms tightened around her briefly. “I’m sorry, baby girl.”
“What for?” she asked, frowning up at him in confusion.
He kissed her forehead gently. “Everything,” he said simply.
Bella felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t understand why he was apologizing to her when she was the one who had stayed away for so long. “I’m sorry I got banished,” she said softly, hugging him back.
“That wasn’t your fault,” Jody replied firmly, his tone edged with anger. “Don’t ever think that.”
He released her and gave her a small smile. “Have dinner with us, baby girl.”
Bella’s stomach growled softly, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much all day—just some toast and coffee in the morning. She nodded. It would be nice to share a meal with her family in her childhood home.
She glanced at Benzy for permission, assuming he’d be sticking to her like glue under Luke’s orders. But to her surprise, he nodded toward the door. “I’ll catch up with you at the pack hospital,” he said, turning to leave.
Bella blinked, startled by his sudden departure. He was actually leaving her alone? Maybe she really was free to roam without constant surveillance. The realization brought a small sense of relief.
She sat down at the table as her father dished her up a plate of food. The aroma was heavenly, and the first bite confirmed what she already knew—she had missed Jody’s cooking terribly. The triplets seemed to enjoy it too; she smiled as Karis asked for seconds and was promptly given another serving.
As they ate, Bella asked about her brother Bradley. Jody told her he was at his house with his mate.
“Wait—Brad found his mate?” Bella stared at her father, the news catching her off guard. She had missed so much, and the realization stung deeply. “Do they have pups?” she asked, her voice tinged with regret for all she had missed.
“Not yet,” Jody chuckled. “Brad wants to wait. He’s a bit older than Victoria, and he thought she might like to enjoy life for a while before becoming a mother.”
“How much older?” Bella asked curiously. Brad was three years older than her, which made him 29 now.
“Ten years,” Jody replied. “He only met her last year—Victoria’s just 19.”
“Wow,” Bella murmured, surprised.
“Yeah, it was a bit of a shock,” Jody admitted with a chuckle. “But she’s a lovely girl. Brad and I trained her when she was a junior.”
