Bella and the Beast

Bella’s POV Who is he? Why is he staring at me? Those questions churned in my mind as I tried to ignore the masked usher watching me from the corners of the grand bouquet hall. His piercing, honey-brown eyes had followed me since they first locked with mine. He was tall, muscular, and imposing. He didn’t belong in that uniform. I glanced away occasionally, fighting the growing unease creeping up the back of my neck. He was definitely a werewolf, despite the heavy suppressants masking his scent. I’ve always been able to sense their kind, especially Alphas. My whole clan could, but the suppressants usually cloaked them well. Still, I was different. I scanned the glamorous, brightly lit gala hall. Crystal chandeliers glistened overhead, casting a warm golden glow over the white-and-gold décor and elegantly set tables. This was a masquerade gala, and almost everyone was hiding behind masks—much like the sins they were concealing. I wished I weren’t here alone, I felt so vulnerable. Holding my mask in one hand and my purse in the other, I couldn’t shake the discomfort from the usher’s gaze. Maybe it was my dress that caught his attention. The black mermaid gown clung to my curves, complementing my jet-black wavy hair and smoky makeup—a stark contrast to the gala's bright theme. I thought I was just being myself, but I never expected to be stalked by a masked Alpha who probably wasn’t even an usher. So why was he here? To disrupt the gala? I didn’t know, but a part of me hoped for it. That was the only reason I hadn’t raised the alarm yet. I hated this place and everyone in it. And I hated myself even more for agreeing to be my father’s puppet. This gala was a meeting of the true rulers of Swan Galancia, the mafia families who controlled the criminal underworld behind closed doors, all masquerading as politicians. My father was no different. As the mayor of the city and the head of the De Luca mafia ring, he fit right in. I forced fake smiles at the men who attempted to make small talk, trying to introduce me to their sons, no doubt at my father’s request. He wanted me married, and this gala was nothing more than a glorified matchmaking event. He hadn’t even come along, likely knowing that I would embarrass him with my rejections. He’d sent my stepbrother instead, though the i***t hadn’t arrived yet. Probably off chasing some girl. I was about to excuse myself from yet another dull conversation when it happened. Gunshots cracked through the hall. Screams erupted, bodies dropped, and panic spread like wildfire. My body froze, my heart pounding violently in my chest. But instinct took over, and I ducked, narrowly avoiding a bullet that whizzed just above my head. I tossed my purse aside, taking cover as the guests stampeded, searching for safety—though both exits were sealed shut. It was a planned execution. Every sense screamed at me to run, but before I could make a move, a firm hand gripped my wrist. I spun around to find him, the masked Alpha, closer than ever, his eyes filled with urgency. “Stay low,” he growled, pulling me toward the cover of a nearby pillar just before another barrage of bullets tore through the crowd. Tables overturned, glass shattered, but his grip on me never faltered. I wanted to ask who he was, to demand answers, but now wasn’t the time. Gunfire intensified, and the air thickened with fear. He shielded me with his broad shoulders, his movements swift, almost vampire-like, his eyes never leaving mine. “Are you hurt?” His voice was barely audible over the chaos. I shook my head, heart still racing. He gave a curt nod and gestured toward a shadowed side door on the far side of the hall. “We need to move. Now.” I hesitated for a moment. He was an Alpha, a creature an omini Omega like me should avoid. But right now, his confidence and skill were the only things keeping me from crumbling. Without another word, I let him lead me. My heels clicked against the cold marble, every step echoing louder than it should. The Alpha guided me with lightning-fast reflexes, swerving me away from bullets that moved too fast for my eyes to catch. I stumbled slightly, but he caught me before I hit the ground. “Don’t look back,” he ordered, snapping me out of my panic. I didn’t argue, there was no time for that. We reached the door, and he shoved it open, revealing a dark hallway. Without hesitation, he pushed me through and shut the door behind us. We continued moving until the gunfire became fainter as we distanced ourselves from the chaos. A car screeched to a halt before us, and the Alpha quickly ushered me inside. Once in the safety of the vehicle, I finally found my voice. “Who are you? Why were you watching me? Why save me?” My words came out more frantic than I intended. His jaw tightened. “So you really don’t remember?” “Remember what?” I asked, bewildered. He sighed, then tapped the driver’s seat, conveying a silent message to the front-seat passenger. Before I could ask more, the car came to an abrupt stop. “Get out,” he said. I blinked in confusion. “What—” The front-seat werewolf opened the door, and I hesitantly stepped out, only to realize we were in front of my father’s mansion. I turned back to the Alpha, asking a different question this time. “Why? What do you want?” A ghost of a smile flickered beneath his mask before disappearing. “You’ll know soon enough.” And with that, the car sped off into the night. My face lost its initial confusion as I realized something; my father had a hand in this. Of all the despicable things in the world he could do, hiring a werewolf had to be the worst. Werewolves always had a code, one that could never be bought with money. So what did my father promise this werewolf?