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Chapter 5

Bella found herself drowning in a strange mixture of shock, confusion, and deep disappointment. The coldness in Alpha Xavier’s gaze and the cruel edge in his words felt like a dagger to her heart. She tried to hold herself together, but her emotions betrayed her.

She dropped her gaze, unable to hide the sadness and pain that filled her eyes. She wanted to understand why Xavier, the mate she had loved and trusted for so many years, was treating her like this. What had gone so wrong? They had shared five years of love and three years of being bonded as mates. How could it all have come to this? What could she have done to deserve such heartless treatment?

Three years ago, without warning or explanation, Alpha Xavier severed their mating bond and cast her out of his life. He gave her nothing—no reasons, no resources, and no chance to defend herself. He simply left her to fend for herself, alone and broken. Now, after all this time, he had reappeared in her life, not to offer her closure or answers, but to humiliate her further. He wanted to send her to the pack authority without even attempting to understand the truth about what had happened. It was as if she were nothing more than a nuisance he wanted to be rid of.

As Bella sat there replaying everything in her mind, she couldn’t help but question her own judgment. How could she have ever fallen for someone like Alpha Xavier? She had admired him and believed in him, but now she saw him for who he truly was—a cold, unforgiving man. Werewolves were already known for being fierce and ruthless, but Xavier seemed to take heartlessness to a new level. He had abandoned her, humiliated her, and now he was trying to destroy whatever was left of her dignity.

Bella had refused to apologize, standing firm in her decision, but even her defiance couldn’t stop the inevitable. She was taken to the pack authority to face questioning and their formal procedures. As she sat there, her phone rang unexpectedly, pulling her out of her thoughts. The name on the screen made her stomach twist—Alpha Carl Trevor. His voice was sharp and impatient as he demanded to know where she was. He reminded her, in no uncertain terms, that he had instructed her to wait at the pack house until further notice.

Bella apologized immediately, explaining that she was at the pack authority. But when she tried to explain the reason for her presence, she hesitated. How could she tell Alpha Trevor the truth? How could she explain that she had been dragged into this mess because she had encountered Samantha, the very she-wolf who had destroyed her mating bond with Xavier? How could she admit that the resulting confrontation had landed her in trouble, with her ex-mate taking the opportunity to humiliate her further?

Alpha Trevor, sensing her hesitation, grew even more impatient. His voice became sharper as he cut her off. “I don’t need excuses,” he said coldly. “I don’t need you anymore, Bella. I’ll inform Alpha Zachary about this.” Without waiting for a response, he ended the call abruptly, leaving her with nothing but a dial tone and a heavy sense of despair. Bella sat quietly, replaying his words in her head. Was it her fault that everything in her life seemed to go wrong? Had she brought all this misfortune upon herself?

One of the pack authorities, who seemed to have some sympathy for Bella, approached her cautiously. He offered her some kind advice, suggesting that she apologize to both the Beta’s daughter and Alpha Xavier. He explained that doing so would put an end to the situation and allow her to move on peacefully. Bella forced a faint smile, appreciating his kindness, but she made her stance clear. She had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Staying at the pack authority, where she at least had a roof over her head and food to eat, seemed better than bowing down to those who had wronged her. She saw no reason to apologize to people who had treated her so cruelly.

The authority member sighed, his expression a mix of understanding and resignation, before leaving her alone. Bella knew that Alpha Xavier wouldn’t simply let her go without consequences. He wasn’t the type to forgive or forget. All she could do now was wait and see what he planned to do next. Would he continue to push her into a corner, or would he finally let her be? She doubted he would ever admit he wasn’t above the pack laws, but she couldn’t be sure. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door.

The door swung open with a bang, and Alpha Carl Trevor stormed in, his fiery temper evident in the scowl on his face. His intense energy filled the room, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at Bella. “Bella Moonshadow,” he growled, his voice thick with anger. “I cannot believe your nerve! What exactly is wrong with you?”

Bella, startled by his sudden appearance, whispered his name softly. “Alpha Trevor,” she said, her voice barely audible.

“You are proving to be the most troublesome assistant I’ve ever had,” Trevor snapped, his tone sharp and unforgiving. “Everywhere you go, you seem to bring chaos with you. Do you enjoy stirring up problems?” His words were harsh, but as he took a closer look at her, his tone began to shift. His eyes softened slightly as he noticed her disheveled appearance.

“What happened to you?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. For a moment, the anger in his eyes was replaced by something closer to worry.

“It’s nothing,” Bella replied smoothly, trying to downplay the situation. “Someone spilled wine on me, that’s all.” She lied effortlessly, not wanting to drag Trevor into the mess with Samantha and Xavier. Her calm response seemed to catch him off guard.

Trevor cursed under his breath, clearly frustrated. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and began making calls. As Bella watched, he barked orders into the receiver, demanding that two warriors be sent to him immediately. It was clear he intended to punish whoever had caused Bella harm. But before he could act, Bella stepped forward and pleaded with him to stop. She explained that the wolf responsible for her current state was already in the hospital. “It’s not worth it,” she said softly. “I was their target, not the other wolf.”

Trevor paused, his expression shifting as he considered her words. Slowly, a wicked smile spread across his face. “Well said,” he replied, his voice calm but amused. “Fine. No one will dare lay a hand on you while I’m around. Now, get up. We’re leaving.”

Bella blinked, confused by his sudden change in demeanor. “Leaving? Where are we going?” she asked hesitantly.

“What? Would you rather stay here and rot?” Trevor shot back, already turning toward the door. After a moment of hesitation, Bella rose to her feet and followed him.

To her surprise, no one stopped them as they exited the pack authority building. Bella walked beside Trevor, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. The tension she had felt moments ago began to fade as they moved through the premises without issue. When they reached the parking lot, Trevor suddenly turned to her, his eyes glinting with amusement. He let out a loud laugh as he took in her disheveled appearance. Bella frowned, unsure whether to feel insulted or relieved by his reaction.

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