Tyler growled low in her throat but began to lower her head, submitting under the influence of his charm. She dropped to the floor, lying down fully, her fiery rage suppressed by Macky’s words.
“Shift back now,” Macky instructed firmly but gently.
Tyler complied, shifting back and leaving Bella lying naked in the middle of the hallway. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, her body still trembling with suppressed rage. Macky tossed her a reassuring smile, while Benzy and Lanky shifted back as well. Lanky moved quickly to help Johnny to his feet, assisting him and Abbey into their room.
The second Abbey moved, a feral growl ripped from Bella’s throat, her anger surging back momentarily as the woman she held responsible for her mother’s injuries escaped unscathed.
“Tyler, sweetie… relax,” Macky said smoothly, his Gamma Charm holding firm. “We’ll talk about it later, I promise. Just stay calm for now.”
On the outside, Tyler seemed calm, but Bella knew better. Inside, her wolf was seething, her fury still boiling beneath the surface, fueled by Bella’s own unrelenting anger. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. For now, they were under Macky’s control, but sooner or later, he’d have to let go—and then they would deal with Abbey.
Benzy disappeared into a nearby room and returned with clothes. He had already pulled on his pants and tossed a pair to Macky. Moving toward Bella, he held out a shirt.
“Come on, Bella,” he said gently. “Put this on, and let’s talk about what happened—rationally.”
Rationally? Bella thought bitterly. What was rational about the Alpha family targeting her at every turn? First the Alpha himself, then his brother, and now his sister. What part of this was rational? Her eyes narrowed, but she took the shirt, her mind already spinning with thoughts of justice.
This wasn’t over.
What’s rational about that? Tyler huffed in frustration. Take the shirt. We’ll finish this later.
Bella wanted to comply, but Macky hadn’t yet released them from the hold of his Gamma Charm. It took him a moment to realize he was still forcing her submission, and with a soft sigh, he let the aura dissipate. The release was immediate, and Bella reached out, grabbing the shirt and pulling it on. Standing, she glared at them all, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
Macky sighed, motioning toward the hallway. “Okay, let’s all stay calm and head downstairs.”
But Bella didn’t move. The moment his Charm lifted, her rage surged back, spilling out like a dam had burst. This pack—this toxic, suffocating environment—felt utterly rotten to her. The idea of her children growing up here, becoming like the Alpha family—angry, resentful, cruel—made her stomach churn. She watched as Macky and Lanky began walking down the hall.
Benzy, however, remained rooted in place, less than an arm’s length from her. His posture was tense, his body still, his eyes locked on hers. He wasn’t fooled by her stillness, and she could see it in his guarded stance.
Without warning, Bella snapped her palm out, aiming for his solar plexus. Benzy’s breath hitched as he dodged, barely avoiding the roundhouse kick that followed. But before she could strike again, Lanky tackled her to the floor.
Bella immediately fought back with everything she had, punching and kicking, her movements sharp and precise—every attack a testament to her lifelong training. Lanky mostly defended and redirected her strikes, clearly not trying to hurt her but rather subdue her. She didn’t care. Her anger fueled her, making every blow stronger, every kick faster.
It took all three of them—Benzy, Lanky, and Macky—to pin her down. She writhed beneath them, screaming for them to get off her, her fury unchecked.
“Macky, for the love of the Goddess, get control of her!” Benzy snapped, his frustration clear.
Macky crouched in front of her, his Gamma Charm radiating outward in waves. “Bella… honey,” he murmured softly, his southern drawl laced with soothing power. “Calm down. Listen to me… stop fighting.”
Bella felt the weight of his gift crashing down on her, suffocating her rage, replacing it with a forced calm. She hated his Gamma Charm—hated the way it stripped her of her will. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she finally stilled beneath their grip. One day, she vowed silently, I’ll be strong enough to resist this.
Benzy and Lanky hauled her to her feet, Macky still maintaining his hold with his Charm. Together, they marched her upstairs to the Alpha’s floor and shoved her into the Luna Suite. The door clicked shut behind her, and she could hear the lock turn.
Macky’s voice floated into the room through the mind-link, sharp and unwavering. Stay here, Bella. Don’t try anything.
She staggered slightly as his Gamma Charm lifted, her mind and body suddenly free. Bella and Tyler surged with renewed rage, their strength driving them forward. She turned on the door, slamming her fists into it, kicking it with everything she had.
“Let me out!” she yelled, her voice hoarse with fury. She pounded harder, her fists aching, but the door remained unyielding.
Macky’s voice slipped through the mind-link again, calm but tinged with annoyance. It’s reinforced, Bella. You’re not getting out unless I or the Alpha let you out. Calm down. I’m not opening it while you’re this angry.
Her knuckles throbbed as she struck the door again, frustration clawing at her insides. She didn’t respond to Macky’s words, her fury boiling over as she lashed out against the walls that confined her. But deep down, she knew he was right. The door wasn’t going to budge, and neither would they.
For now, she was trapped. But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Let me out!” Bella screamed through the mind-link, her desperation and fury renewing her determination. The thought of being trapped when the Alpha arrived filled her with dread.
“No,” Macky replied firmly. “The Alpha will be here soon. He can deal with that temper of yours.”
