Chapter 6

BELLA

I keep silent, not trusting myself to speak. My heart pounds with equal measures of dread and something else. Hope. Is it so much to hope that someone finally believes I didn't do anything?

His eyes, yellow with his wolf, finally soften to a cloudy grey. His muscles are still tight with tension and rage. I almost feel pity for Dylan.

"Bella," he starts. "Anyone who believes a child did that deserves to rot in hell."

My stomach lurches. Another fear comes snaking back. I'd done it, I'd served them their deaths on a tea tray, maybe not intentionally but I did it all the same. "How can... How can you be so sure?"

He only shrugs those broad shoulders. "We're about to find out now, aren't we?"

What?

Not addressing the vague statement, he continues, "A doctor is going to be sent up shortly. Do not leave this room."

My heart starts to bang against my chest at breakneck speed. Perhaps he senses that because he draws away from the door, closing it gently. "What's wrong, Bella?"

I shake my head, throat suddenly dry. "I would... I would like to remain in the room downstairs i-if that's okay."

He shakes his head, locks of midnight black teasing a chiseled face. "No," he says with finality.

"No?" I echo.

"Today onwards, we're going to be sharing a room. You are to stay here with me until it is clear that you're fully recovered."

I don't hear him, all I hear are the lecherous voices of Dylan's men, their grimey hands reaching for me. No.

I'm not aware I'd said that out loud until his head cocks to the side. "No?" he questions.

Panick makes my voice shrill. "I don't... I don't want to have sex with you. And please don't. . .please don't beat me," I whisper.

I feel the air drop by several degrees. Silence descends on the room.

"What?" His voice is low.

I shake my head, pressing deeper into the pillows.

"Did your pack--" He stops himself from asking the question. His palms fist and I see the toll it takes on him to not destroy something. "Bella," he addresses me quietly. "I will never have sex with you, unless it's what you want. And as long as I live, no one," he growls. "Is ever going to lay their hands on you. Least of all me. Do you understand?"

A weight is suddenly lifted from my chest. The conviction in his voice has my eyes stinging with gratitude. "Yes," I whisper.

"Good. Food and a fresh set of clothes will be brought up soon. Feel free to use the shower." He motions across the room to a large door.

I nod again.

"I'll be right back." With that, he exits, leaving me to the silence of the room. I use the opportunity to really look.

God.

Our whole pack could fit in here.

A reoccurring theme of cream and mahogany establishes itself through the plush rugs, furniture, drapes and wooden beams. A great shelf takes up an entire corner of the room and sat square at the center is a mighty reading table. Stacks of ledgers are piled there, papers strewn about.

Curiosity takes me and without thinking, I inch my legs down, standing on the softest cream rugs. I head down to the bathroom. Cracking the door open, I peek through.

Polished glass and gleaming marble tiles greet me. Hanging on the shower stall is a white robe. I struggle to reach up, finally slipping it off the hook. It's large, obviously made for a man. For Caeser.

The name rolls through my tongue and I clutch the soft material to my naked body, taking a large inhale. A strange peace fills me as I exhale. Caeser. He's like a fairytale prince, the fairytale prince--a figure I'd fashioned from childhood after days spent with hateful pack mates, and nights spent weak and defeated in Dylan's torture chamber.

I'd wished for someone to whisk me away from my life at Blood Moon.

And maybe I am finally getting that wish answered.

I slip the robe over me, opening up the glass enclosure. I look around, wide-eyed. Everything's so... Luxurious. I turn on the tap and the first spray of water is gloriously hot. I giggle, throwing off the robe. I go under the overhead spray, laughing as water sleuces down my body. The laughter briefly cuts off to a wince when some of it slides to my knee wound.

I have a quick bath, wearing the large bathrobe as I come out. It's so huge it trails behind me. Knocks sound on the door and I yelp, placing a hand on my chest to calm my heart. Caeser had said food and clothes will be brought up.

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

She beams at me. "Hello, Bella."

I try to return her smile, the familiar feeling of discomfort and inadequacy before other people sliding through me. "Hi, ma'am."

"Oh, please. Call me Marina! You insult me by insinuating that I'm old. I hardly look older than sixteen."

A shocked giggle slips out.

Her eyes twinkle at me. She drops some clothes on the table. "Here's a new dress for you, Bella." Her eyes briefly catch on the torn dress lying on the bed but she dutifully remains silent.

An omega pushes into the room with a trolley. Marina explains, "And some food for you. You must be hungry. After the tour around the pack, you've barely had time to put anything in your stomach."

I stare ahead blankly. "All these... For me?"

She looks back at the manual tray like it's normal. "Yes, of course."

"But... I can't finish all that." The tray is overflowing with food, fruits, and drinks.

Her hand goes to her hip. "You better. You're hardly more than skin and bones, darling!"

I color. She shoos the omega away and brings the trolley down to the mini dining, starting to transfer the food onto the large wooden table. She motions for me to come sit. I do.

As I eat, she tells me all about the pack. I find myself laughing in some bits. Apparently, the pack healer and pack cook have a long running war. Once, he'd dislocated his shoulder and gone to the healer. But the woman had done his casting in the shape of a ham.

Ah, but the cook got her back when it was time for her birthday. In the presence of excited pack mates, she'd uncovered the giant dish concealing her cake to reveal a monstrosity in the shape of a penis!

My stomach hurt from laughing so much. By the time she wheels my empty trolley away, I recline against the chair, realizing I've never felt so content as I do now. A dark part of me wonders how long it'll last...