Chapter 7
1284 Words
Bella finished her evening shift at the Lunar Dance Conservatory, her injured foot protesting with every step.
The manager had pulled her in to cover a children’s class, and the young pups had clung to her, begging for more stories about moon rites and sacred dances. Their innocent admiration was the only bright spot in her crumbling world.
“Teacher Bella, you’re the strongest she-wolf ever!” one little girl had declared. If only they knew.
As she changed in the locker room, the manager handed her a red envelope. “You saved the day again. Interested in moving to the daytime children’s program? I’ll bump your rate by a hundred credits per hour.”
Bella’s eyes brightened slightly. “I’d like that. My schedule just opened up.”
Outside, the night air carried the distant howl of patrolling wolves. She hailed a ride to the healing center. Despite everything, worry for little Elias gnawed at her even though he wasn’t biologically related to her. The boy had wormed his way into her heart years ago, and Luna Helena’s cruel words still echoed.
In the ward, the young Alpha heir was fussing, refusing food from the servants. The moment he saw Bella, his face lit up. “Seventh Sister! You finally came! That heartless brother of mine didn’t come with you, did he?”
Bella smiled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and helping him eat. “I’m here now. Eat properly so you can grow strong.”
Elias leaned in conspiratorially. “Seventh Sister, why didn’t you come with Brother Damien? Did he bully you again? You’re so pretty and kind…you should dump him and find someone who treasures you. Or wait for me to grow up!”
Bella chuckled despite the ache in her chest. “You little rascal. How do you know about these things?”
The boy grinned mischievously and pulled his phone from under the blanket. “Brother! Did you hear that? Seventh Sister doesn’t want you anymore!”
Bella’s eyes widened. “Elias!”
He hung up with a triumphant laugh. “See? Now he’ll come running to coax you. Girls like it when you chase them, right?”
“You think you know everything,” Bella teased, ruffling his hair. But inside, she knew Damien wouldn’t chase. Not for her.
They played for a while—Elias kicking off blankets, Bella pretending to scold him—until the boy suddenly grew serious again. “Seventh Sister… did Brother give you the moonstone collar yesterday? I told Mom it should be yours, not anyone else’s.”
“Did you really ask him to?” Bella’s hands stilled on the apple she was peeling. Before she could deflect, a deep, commanding voice came from the doorway.
“Ask me what?” Damien filled the entrance, his powerful frame casting a long shadow. His obsidian eyes locked onto Bella, dark and unreadable, while Elias squirmed under the intensity.
Bella quickly looked away. “I’ll go wash some fruit.” She brushed past him, ignoring the way his scent wrapped around her like chains.
From the small kitchenette, she heard Elias’s voice rise. “Brother, you didn’t give our family heirloom to Seventh Sister? I wouldn’t have minded if it was for her! Otherwise, I’d tell Mom to save it for my future wife…”
A sharp smack echoed—Damien disciplining the boy lightly. “Children should mind their own business.”
Bella closed the kitchen door, lips pressed thin. So he really had given the moonstone to Serena. No explanation needed, Bella concluded within her. No regard for his legal Luna. Why wouldn’t he just sign the papers and be done with her?
She plunged the knife into the apple harder than necessary.
Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her back against a solid, burning chest. Damien’s breath ghosted her ear, low and dangerous. “You kicked me out. Who exactly do you plan to find now?”
Bella’s pulse spiked, but she kept her voice steady. “After the divorce, it’s none of your concern who I see.”
“We are not divorcing.” His tone left no room for argument, pure Alpha command. Bella twisted the knife deeper into the fruit. “Whether we divorce isn’t up to you alone.”
She broke free, grabbed the fruit platter, and patted Elias’s head on her way out. “I’ll visit again tomorrow, little moon.”
Elias blinked. “Seventh Sister, aren’t you going home with Brother?”
“He just arrived. Let him spend time with you.” Bella didn’t spare Damien a glance as she left.
Behind her, she heard Elias’s parting shot: “Brother, you’ll regret this if Seventh Sister really leaves…”
Outside the healing center, Bella’s foot throbbed worse after a full day on it. She leaned against a tree, waiting for her ride-share. A sleek black Bentley glided to a stop, windows half-down. Damien’s handsome profile was visible in the dim light, fingers tapping the steering wheel with impatience.
“Get in,” he ordered.
Bella looked at him through the glass, feeling the vast distance between them despite their proximity. “I already called a car. My things are moved. I’m not going back.”
His fingers tapped faster—clear sign of thinning patience.
“Isabella. Get in the car and behave.”
The words stirred old memories: Listen to me, little sister… She had obeyed for fourteen years. It had never made him love her.
Bella shook her head firmly, voice cracking only slightly. “Find a good time and we’ll finalize the papers, Damien.”
His face darkened visibly. Another car honked behind them. Damien’s jaw clenched. Without another word, he rolled up the window and drove off.
Bella released a shaky breath, lowering her head to hide the tears burning in her eyes. A low-key silver SUV pulled up moments later. The man who stepped out was tall and refined, silver-rimmed glasses framing intelligent eyes. Alpha Ethan Storm offered a gentle smile.
“Senior?” Bella blinked in surprise. Ethan had been a respected mentor figure from her advanced dance training days and had connections that helped with her brother’s long-term care.
“I heard you might need a ride. I also have updates on your brother’s treatment, new healer protocols that could wake him sooner.”
Bella hesitated only a second before canceling her ride and climbing in. As they drove, Ethan’s calm presence was a balm. “Thank you. I… I really need good news right now.”
Ethan glanced over, concern evident. “Whatever’s happening with Blackwood, you don’t have to carry it alone. The Stormfang Pack stands ready to support you—if you ever choose to leave.”
The simple offer hung in the air, heavy with unspoken possibility.
Back at Lena’s apartment, Bella collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. Her phone lit up with a message from an unknown number—another attempt from Serena’s camp. She blocked it.
But as she drifted toward sleep, her mind replayed the healer’s interrupted words from earlier: “There’s something in her latest bloodwork…”
What secret was the Moon Goddess hiding now?
Meanwhile, in the Blackwood villa, Damien stood on the balcony, a cigarette burning between his fingers. Beta Chen, his aide, approached cautiously. “Alpha, the investigation into the young master’s illness… there are irregularities. And about Luna Isabella’s blood sample from the center—”
Damien crushed the cigarette. “Speak.”
Before Chen could finish, Serena’s call came through “Damien, the pup won’t settle. Can you come?” His grip tightened on the phone.
- Writer
