Chapter 6
From a distance, Bella watched as Alpha Carl Trevor erupted into uncontrollable laughter. His booming chuckles echoed across the parking lot, and it took a long moment before he finally calmed down. Bella remained silent, her face expressionless, but a tight ache formed in her chest at the sight.
Trevor wiped a tear from his eye, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wow, Bella Moonshadow,” he began, his voice dripping with mockery. “You really are something else. You’re not beautiful, you’re not skilled, and you can’t even manage to stay out of trouble. But I’ll give you this much—you’re brave. Brave enough to screw up over and over again. Tell me, which self-respecting werewolf would ever want you as their mate?”
His cruel words stung, cutting deep into her pride and her heart. Bella lowered her gaze to the ground, unable to muster a response. Her fists clenched as she tried to swallow the pain and embarrassment coursing through her.
Trevor, either oblivious to or uncaring about her feelings, continued his tirade. “Do you even realize what you’ve done tonight? You’ve ruined my evening. Completely wasted my time when I could’ve been enjoying myself with Alice. And you know what? You can find your own way home. I have no intention of wasting another second on you.”
He paused, his tone growing colder. “Oh, and by the way, your allowance for this month? Slashed in half. Maybe that’ll teach you to think before you act.” Without giving her a chance to reply, Trevor turned and climbed into his car. He slammed the door shut, started the engine, and sped off without a backward glance, leaving Bella standing alone in the parking lot.
The screech of his tires echoed in her ears, harsh and unforgiving. For a long moment, she stood frozen, staring at the empty space where his car had been. Then, with a heavy sigh, she turned and began the long, lonely walk to the nearest bus stop.
Not long after Trevor’s departure, a sleek black limousine pulled into the police station’s parking lot. The polished exterior gleamed under the dim lights, exuding wealth and authority. Inside the limo, Alpha Xavier sat silently, his expression calm but distant.
His assistant, Carl, opened the door for him and leaned in slightly. “Alpha Xavier,” Carl said respectfully, “would you like to step inside the station and take a look at the situation?” Xavier didn’t even glance at him. Shaking his head, he replied in a cool, detached tone, “There’s no need. Just make sure she doesn’t pull a stunt like this again. I’m not cleaning up her mess next time.”
Carl nodded obediently, closing the door before heading into the station.
As Carl disappeared inside, Bella, who had been walking nearby, froze when she overheard their conversation. She stayed hidden in the shadows, unable to see Xavier or Carl clearly but catching snippets of their words. In the limo, Xavier leaned back, pulling out his phone and lighting a cigarette.
He sighed heavily as he muttered into the phone, almost to himself. “Bella. She’s always been so reckless. Storming off without thinking, without so much as a plan or cash in her pocket. How does she even survive? What’s a scruffy, irresponsible waitress like her doing anywhere near our circles?”
His tone was dismissive, almost bored, as though Bella’s very existence was an inconvenience to him. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it dissipate into the night air.
Moments later, Carl emerged from the station, his expression grim. He walked quickly back to the limo, opened the door, and leaned in. “Alpha Xavier,” he said urgently, “Bella’s been taken.”
Xavier raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued for the first time that evening. “Taken?” he repeated, his tone sharp. “By whom? Alpha Zachary?”
Carl shook his head. “No. She’s been taken by Alpha Carl Trevor.” At this, a smirk tugged at the corner of Xavier’s lips. The news didn’t anger him; instead, it seemed to amuse him.
He knew of the close connection between Trevor and Zachary, and Bella’s involvement only deepened his curiosity. Crushing his cigarette in the ashtray, Xavier leaned forward slightly. “Interesting,” he murmured. “Let’s move on.”
Meanwhile, after a long and tiring bus ride, Bella finally arrived home. It was a small, modest place she shared with her Uncle George, who was sitting in the living room when she walked in. The moment he saw her, his eyes widened in shock.
Her disheveled appearance—the wrinkled clothes, faint stains, and exhaustion etched on her face—was enough to alarm him. “Bella,” he said, his voice filled with concern. “What happened to you?”
Bella hesitated for a moment before responding. “I ran into some trouble,” she admitted quietly, deciding not to hide the truth from him. She explained everything, from the confrontation at the event to her encounter with Alpha Trevor.
George listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each passing moment. “Bella,” he said sternly, “you shouldn’t have gone back. I told you this would only bring more trouble.”
His tone was filled with worry and frustration, but Bella tried to calm him down. “Uncle,” she said softly, “I can’t stay with Zachary forever. It’s not right. And besides, I’ve been worried about you. I know how much stress all of this has been causing you.”
George sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. He knew she meant well, but her return to the pack’s territory only seemed to invite more complications. Bella, sensing his distress, quickly changed the subject. She told him about the Alpha Corporation’s plans to expand into Seaview City, explaining how it could help ease tensions and reduce conflicts within the pack.
At the same time, elsewhere in the pack’s territory, an old servant loyal to Bella’s family was keeping a close eye on Samantha and her mother, Pamela Green. The servant had been quietly reporting their movements and actions back to Bella, ensuring she stayed informed.
At the Turner family home, Samantha burst through the front door, her face pale and her movements frantic. She stormed into the house, searching for her mother. Pamela, startled by her daughter’s sudden entrance, looked up from her seat. “Samantha,” Pamela said, her voice laced with concern. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Samantha didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she gestured for Pamela to follow her upstairs. “We need to talk,” Samantha said firmly, leading her mother to her bedroom. Once they were inside, Samantha closed the door and turned to face Pamela, her expression filled with panic.
“Mom,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Bella Moonshadow is back.”
Pamela’s eyes widened in shock, the blood draining from her face. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Samantha nodded, confirming the worst.
Pamela’s mind raced as she tried to process the news. Bella’s return was a threat—one they couldn’t afford to ignore. “If she’s back,” Pamela muttered, “it’s only a matter of time before your father finds out.”
Both women knew what that meant. They had worked hard to bury the truth about Bella, and her return could expose everything. “We need to act quickly,” Pamela said, her voice steady but urgent. “Before anyone else finds out.”
Samantha nodded in agreement, her eyes hardening with determination. Together, they began to plan their next move, knowing that time was running out.