“Will the pup survive?” he asked.
“Should. Abbey screamed she was pregnant, which made Tyler stop. Most of the injuries are on her arms and chest, so the pup should be fine.”
“So why is Bella locked in the Luna Suite?”
The response came quickly. “Anger rolling off her—might rival Maddis’s in that department. It took Macky using all his Gamma Charm to bring her down and fully submit. Lanky and I had to haul her to the suite. But the minute Macky stopped using his ability? She was furious all over again.”
Luke sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. Goddess help us both, he thought absently. If Bella and Maddis’s anger collided when they finally met, it might very well shake the pack house to its foundation.
He tucked his phone away, his mind racing. Soon, he thought. This will all be sorted soon.
“Never,” Maddis huffed in Luke’s mind. “I’m telling you, Tyler will want me.”
“So much faith you have, Maddis,” Luke replied dryly.
“She was made for me. She’s supposed to be strong.”
“Our mate is supposed to balance us out, buddy, not match your anger issues.”
Luke sighed and texted Benzy, “Is she still angry?”
The response came almost immediately. “Yes. Currently throwing furniture around the Luna Suite. It’ll probably be destroyed by the time you get here.”
Luke rubbed his temples. “Stay with her. What’s the weather doing now?”
“Snowing hard. You might not get to land local.”
Just bloody great, Luke thought. The pilot had already warned him about the worsening conditions. He could only hope the storm would move faster than anticipated, giving them a chance to land near the pack.
“Keep me updated and let me know if she calms down.”
“Will do, boss. Just get here ASAP.”
Luke leaned back in his seat with a sigh. Nothing between him and Bella had ever been easy. It was one challenge after another. He glanced at Maddis, who was still pacing in his mind, tail wagging in anticipation.
“I truly hope you’re right, Maddis,” Luke muttered inwardly. “That Tyler will want you right away. It’ll make everything with Bella go a lot smoother.”
Maddis chuffed confidently. “She’s mine.”
Luke’s gaze fell on his parents seated across from him. His father, ever observant, caught his troubled expression. “Problems, son?” Storm asked through the mind-link. They were being cautious not to speak aloud with Dani, Robyn’s mate, sleeping nearby.
“Yes,” Luke admitted. “Bella and Tyler found out that Abbey was the one who hurt her mother. You can imagine how that played out.”
“Abbey?” his mother asked immediately, worry etched into her tone.
“Injured. So is Johnny. They’ll both be fine, but you might want to call your wayward daughter.”
His mother nodded grimly and pulled out her phone. Luke, with his wolf-enhanced hearing, listened in on the conversation. Abbey was crying and sobbing, her words tumbling out incoherently.
“I can’t believe what Bella did to me!” Abbey wailed through the phone.
Luke’s parents exchanged a look before their eyes fell on him. Luke shot back through the mind-link, “What the hell did she expect? Nothing at all?”
He listened as his father reprimanded Abbey sharply, his voice firm and laced with disappointment. “Your actions are what landed you in this situation, Abbey. You need to learn you can’t go around doing whatever you please and expect no consequences.”
Abbey’s crying shifted into anger. “I’m an Alpha! I answer to no one!” she retorted indignantly.
Luke sighed, irritation rising in his chest. So that’s what she believes, he thought bitterly. Abbey’s arrogance and lack of accountability had finally crossed the line. She needed a punishment that would truly remind her who was in charge—and Luke was more than prepared to deliver it.
He held out his hand for the phone. His mother hesitated but handed it over.
“Abbey,” Luke said, his tone cold and authoritative, “you will report to me first thing in the morning… because you do answer to me.”
Her stunned silence on the other end of the line was satisfying. Luke didn’t pause. “I will deliver your punishment personally. What you did was reckless and thoughtless—not only to yourself and your unborn pup but to your mate and your future Luna. You had no right, and you will learn that lesson tomorrow.”
He ended the call without waiting for her response, tossing the phone onto the table with more force than necessary. His parents said nothing, but their expressions were grim.
Luke leaned back, staring out the window at the swirling snow outside. The sooner I land, the better, he thought, his determination solidifying. Bella, Tyler, and this pack needed stability—and it was up to him to make sure they got it.
“Not to mention,” Luke continued, his tone firm and unyielding, “you actually convinced a pack member to allow you to nearly kill her. That alone is punishable by years in the cells. Your injuries, as far as I’m concerned, are your own fault.”
For once, Abbey said nothing. Her silence spoke volumes, though whether it was guilt, fear, or anger, Luke didn’t care. He handed the phone back to his mother, his expression as impassive as stone.
He could feel someone’s gaze on him and turned to see Robyn watching him with a concerned look. Luke knew his words had likely been overheard, possibly by Dani as well, but it didn’t matter. The truth of Abbey’s actions—and their consequences—would come out soon enough.
His parents were staring at him, too. He met their gazes and raised an eyebrow in challenge. He was the Alpha now, not them. He didn’t need their permission to enforce discipline, even if the offender was their daughter. Abbey was not above the pack. She was about to learn that lesson the hard way.
A text buzzed on his phone half an hour later. It was from Benzy: “She has calmed down. Tantrum over.”
“Good,” Luke replied. “I want Abbey in my office first thing in the morning.”
“Yes, boss.”
“And have Hayden and his snowplow ready at the strip to clear my path when I arrive.”
“Already there, boss. I sent him the minute I thought you’d get caught in the storm.”
Luke smirked faintly. “That’s why you’re my Beta. Thank you, Benzy.”
