Chapter 12

BELLA

The next morning Caeser paces the room, a scowl in place as he yelled into the phone. "You're not looking hard enough then!"

Whoever it is on the other end says something that causes him to let out a resigned sigh. His fingers go to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Check surveillance cameras, employ trackers from other packs, don't stop until something is found."

He cuts the call. He stands unmoving for a moment, collecting himself then he releases a loaded sigh.

"No sign of them yet?" I ask, still underneath the blankets.

"No."

I fight the urge to pick at the skin on the corners of my fingers, an annoying nervous habit. "I'm sure something will turn up sooner or later."

"Yes, but I'll hate to wait years for it!"

When I flinch, his expression turns instantly remorseful. "I'm--I didn't mean t--"

"It's fine," I say, picking at my fingers. "You're under a lot of pressure, I... I understand. Don't worry, Dylan's wolf will want to come back eventually, he was really attached to our pack. I always sensed how much he hated what Dylan did to me."

I don't notice Caeser had gone motionless until later. When I do, I look at him questioningly.

"How did you 'sense' this about his wolf? You said Dylan didn't lock your wolf until your parents died and I believe he didn't start his awful treatment of you until after that. How did you sense his wolf's displeasure of that?"

Something slowly dawns. He's accusing me.

Even as hurt lances through me, I keep a steady tone. "Again, I don't have anything to do with their disappearance. Even though Dylan hated me as a child, growing up his wolf would always play with me, sometimes even protect me. So it's only safe to assume he wouldn't support Dylan's treatment of me now."

Regret tightens his features. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he heads in my direction. I watch as he lowers himself next to me. My breath catches when he presses his lips against mine.

He soon draws back. "Forgive me," he says, voice rough. Just when he parts his lips to say more, a film of white covers his vision.

I watch in fascination as he goes motionless. I know this means he's communicating with someone. Mind-linking. A pang goes off in my chest. I wonder what that feels like. Telepathy? I'd seen humans make movies about our species, our abilities, but could they fully comprehend the extent of the workings of our wolves?

I know I can't.

Caeser stands. "I need to head down to the office. Will send food upstairs."

"Okay."

When he leaves, I drag myself into the shower. A quick bath later, I head into my closet. The sight of it doesn't cease to have my chest expanding with awe. I run my fingers down the expensive fur at the extreme. During the past week, Caeser had me poked and fitted only to build an extravagant wardrobe for me. I don't know if I should be worried about the state of his pockets or to simply be happy that somehow someone had decided to do something nice for me. Me. The pack runt, the girl who Beta Liam r--

My fingers freeze on the soft material. I will not revisit those memories.

They are in the past, and goddess help me; it'll remain there.

I dress up. I'm buttoning up my dress when I feel a sharp pain cut across my stomach. Just when I start to grow uneasy, a knock sounds.

"Coming," I call.

When I open the door, it's to see Marina.

"Hello, sweetheart," she bursts, rolling in my food.

"Good morning," I say.

"Hope you had a good night's rest. Moon goddess knows you needed it, if I didn't know better I'd think you were deliberately starved at your old pack! Poor girl."

My chest tightens. Caeser. He didn't tell anyone about my condition at my former pack. Gratitude fills me.

"Hope you like potatoes," Marina is saying. "They help your heart and you're going to need that if you're going to razzle with our Alpha. I hope he's not giving you much trouble?"

I chuckle. "No."

"Alright, breakfast's ready. Come sit, darling. I'll pour you a drink."

"Thank you so much, Marina."

Her kind eyes hold mine. "You're welcome."

I head over to the table, taking my seat. "Care to join me?" I ask.

A smile. "No, thank you, love. I don't really eat in the mornings."

"Why?" I ask, genuinely curious.

She comes to take a seat near me. "Well, there's the fact that cooking actually kills my appetite. When it's done for up to two hundred people, it incinerates every inclination I'd even had to eat."

"But you're the housekeeper... I thought there was a cook here."

"There is, there is. I help out sometimes. Cooking helps me clear my mind."

"Okay," I say. Just as I take the first bite of my food, the pain comes back and I wince. Marina is immediately alert.

"Are you okay?" she rushes, hurrying to my side.

"It's fine, it's fine," I grit, holding down another agonizing wave. When it seems to have passed, I let out a relieved breath, straightening. "Guess it was just h--"

My scream pierces through the room.

"Bella!"

I hear Marina's frantic voice but soon an overpowering ring starts in my ears, muffling everything around me.

"Bella! Oh, my God! Somebody call the Alpha immediately! What are you standing there for!? Hurry up!!"

Pain splits through me. It's like an ominous crack through a cliff before it gives away in two, and that is what happens. I unravel. My back bows and shrieks rip out of my throat as parts of me collapse under the intense pressure of pain.

Hands pry at me. I'm pulled into a warm blossom and soon fingers start to pass through my hair soothingly. "It's okay, it's okay. Shhhh--oh, goddess, you're burning up."

A heavy tremble wracks through my body and I fight with everything I'm worth to claw onto any shred of sanity, but my frantic fingers give away, landing me into a horrifying free fall.

"...I don't know!"

"Call the Alpha!!"

Footsteps sound around me. When the world tilts, I realize I'm falling, hurtling head first into a black abyss filled with unimaginable pain.