Chapter 4

Within seconds, the room erupted into complete chaos, as if a dramatic fight between teenage girls had broken out in the middle of a high school cafeteria. The loud shouting and clattering sounds quickly caught the attention of the nearby werewolves, who turned their heads curiously, their heightened senses picking up on the commotion.

Many watched with interest as security guards rushed toward the scene, their movements quick and purposeful. Bella stood awkwardly in the middle of the chaos, her plain clothing making her stand out against the glamorous outfits of the other guests.

To the guards, she looked completely out of place, and without bothering to ask questions, they grabbed her. Mistaking her for a disruptive waitress, they wasted no time in escorting her out of the hall. Their dismissive attitudes made it clear they didn’t care about what had actually happened, nor did they plan to hear her side of the story.

At the same time, Yelena was being rushed to the hospital, her face red and her eyes streaming with tears as the spicy sauce burned her skin. Her cries of pain echoed down the hall, leaving an air of discomfort among the guests. Most of them whispered to one another in hushed tones, exchanging rumors and shocked reactions about what had just occurred. Samantha, on the other hand, remained behind, standing amidst the wreckage of the confrontation. Her once-beautiful evening gown was now completely ruined, smeared with sauce and stains that made her look far from the graceful image she usually projected. The bright red imprint of a hand on her cheek stood out starkly, evidence of the slap she had received.

Although Samantha looked distraught, tears brimming in her eyes, her mind was working quickly. She was already piecing together a plan to twist the situation to her advantage. Beneath her teary mask of humiliation, her anger simmered, barely concealed as she silently vowed to make Bella pay.

Alpha Xavier entered the scene, drawn by the noise and chaos. His mere presence immediately silenced the room, the murmurs of the onlookers fading away as they turned their attention to him. His sharp, commanding gaze swept over the crowd, quickly landing on Samantha. She stood out with her disheveled appearance, her ruined dress and tear-streaked face painting the picture of a victim. “What happened here?” Xavier asked, his tone calm but firm, as he approached her. His presence alone carried an air of authority, and those nearby instinctively stepped back to give him space.

Samantha, already anticipating his arrival, wasted no time in playing the part of the innocent. She clung to his arm as if seeking comfort, her voice trembling as she began to cry. “Xavier, it was Bella,” she said, her words heavy with false emotion. “She was here, working as a waitress of all things. When she saw me and Yelena, she completely lost it. She poured juice on us, and when Yelena tried to talk to her, Bella went crazy. She threw food at Yelena and slapped me,” Samantha explained, her voice breaking as if the memory of the event was too much to bear.

Xavier’s expression darkened, his surprise evident as he processed her words. His sharp eyes scanned the room, searching for Bella, but she was nowhere to be found. Sensing his reaction, Samantha leaned into him, tightening her grip on his arm as if grounding herself. “Yelena was just trying to protect me,” she continued, her tears falling faster now. “But Bella didn’t care. She was out of control. Yelena got sauce in her eyes because of Bella’s tantrum, and now she’s in the hospital. And look at me…” Samantha gestured to her ruined dress and tear-streaked face, her voice breaking for dramatic effect. “She slapped me, Xavier.”

Xavier’s jaw tightened as he listened, his concern for Samantha evident in the way he gently reached out to touch her cheek. “Are you all right?” he asked, his tone softening slightly as he examined the red mark on her face. The sight of her distress seemed to stir something protective within him.

Samantha nodded slowly, though her tears didn’t stop. “I’ll be fine,” she replied, sniffling for added effect. “But Yelena… she’s in the hospital now because of Bella. Something has to be done. Bella can’t just get away with this,” she added, her voice trembling with feigned vulnerability.

Xavier’s expression hardened once more at her words. “Where is she?” he asked, his voice sharp and cold now as his focus shifted entirely to Bella.

“The security guards took her to a room nearby,” Samantha answered quickly, eager to steer his attention away from the finer details of the situation she had fabricated.

Xavier nodded curtly, his expression unreadable. “Let’s go,” he said simply, guiding Samantha out of the hall as they made their way to confront Bella. His demeanor was calm, but there was a storm brewing beneath the surface.

In the small side room, Bella sat on an old, worn couch, her clothes drenched in wine and her thoughts spiraling. The security guards had scolded her harshly, their words harsh and dismissive as one of them called the local authorities. Now, left alone in the room, Bella replayed the events over and over in her mind. She knew she had acted out of anger, but to her, it had been justified. Even so, she couldn’t deny that there would be consequences for what she had done. Her employer, Carl Trevor, would undoubtedly hear about this. Carl, who already seemed to dislike her for reasons she couldn’t fully understand, would likely use this as an excuse to fire her. Bella had been working under him reluctantly, assigned to him by Alpha Zachary. But Carl had made it no secret that he didn’t want her there, and this incident would surely give him the perfect opportunity to get rid of her.

As Bella sat lost in thought, the door suddenly swung open with force, letting in a cold gust of air that made her shiver. She looked up, her heart pounding as her eyes met Xavier’s. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame exuding power and authority. His expression was unreadable, his piercing gaze fixed on her. Beside him, Samantha clung to his arm, her posture smug and possessive. Bella’s stomach churned with a mix of anger and unease. It had been three years since Xavier had handed her divorce papers without a shred of emotion. Three years since she had left the pack and started over. And now, on her very first day back in the city, here he was, standing before her like a ghost from her past. Bella couldn’t help but wonder if he had come to humiliate her further.

Taking a deep breath, Bella met his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. To her, Xavier was nothing more than a stranger now. The bond they had once shared was gone, severed completely. She refused to let him affect her again.

Xavier’s expression hardened as he noticed her cold demeanor. With Samantha still clinging to him, he stepped into the room, his voice cutting through the tense silence like a blade. “Apologize,” he commanded, his tone low and threatening.

Bella remained silent, her lips pressed into a firm line. She refused to apologize for something she hadn’t done. Why should I apologize? she thought bitterly, her resolve strengthening.

Xavier’s eyes darkened, his patience thinning. “Bella Moonshadow,” he said, his voice sharper now, “didn’t you hear me? I said, apologize.”

Bella’s gaze snapped back to his, her defiance clear in every line of her face. “Why should I? Do you still think you’re my Alpha, Xavier?” she shot back, her tone dripping with disdain.

Xavier’s jaw tightened further. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m your Alpha or not. You deliberately hurt someone. Yelena is in the hospital because of you. You need to take responsibility for your actions.”

His words were harsh, but Bella wasn’t intimidated. She knew this wasn’t about Yelena—it was about Samantha. Xavier was defending Samantha, just as he always had. Bella’s lips curved into a small, mocking smile. “Alpha Xavier,” she said coolly, “You have all the power here. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll wait. But as for an apology? Maybe in our next lives.”

Her indifference seemed to strike a nerve. For a moment, a flicker of something—pain, regret, or anger—flashed in Xavier’s eyes. “Bella Moonshadow,” he said coldly, “if you insist on being stubborn, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Turning to the security guard, Xavier asked, “Did you call the Authorities?”

“Yes, Alpha,” the guard replied promptly.

“Good,” Xavier said. “Let the law deal with this. Let’s see how long you can keep pretending you’re untouchable.” With that, he turned and left the room, Samantha trailing behind him like a shadow. As the door clicked shut, the icy tension in the room began to lift, leaving Bella alone with her thoughts and the uncertain future ahead of her.