CHAPTER 1 : THE STRANGE RINGS
1317 Words
Bella struggled to break through the tight wall of security, desperation thick in her voice.
“Mr. Edward! Please! It was my mother’s dying wish to take back the property rights to Blood Moon Hotel. Don’t take that away from me!”
A broad-shouldered guard blocked her path with a firm arm.
“Mr. Edward is busy with the engagement ceremony tomorrow. He won’t see you.”
Bella’s eyes burned with frustration. “Do you know who Tommy is?”
The guard didn’t answer.
She clenched her fists. “He’s my father. He once had a contract with the CEO. Please, I just need five minutes. I’m not here to cause trouble—”
She tried to rush past, but the guard shoved her back.
Bella stumbled backward and crashed into the side of a sleek black car that had just pulled up.
Her palms hit the hood as she caught herself, but the impact rattled her bones.
“Are you blind?!” she snapped at the driver, her voice laced with anger. “Do you even know how to drive?”
The car door opened slowly.
A tall, well-dressed man stepped out, his presence commanding the air around him. He had cold grey eyes, sharp features, and a silence that spoke louder than any words.
Bella glared at him, not recognizing who he was. “I got your license plate number. Don’t let me see you again, or I’ll report you.”
The man said nothing. He simply stared at her.
Bella shook her head and walked away in a huff.
She didn’t know… the man she just yelled at was none other than Alpha Edward himself—the very person she had been begging to see.
Bella sat outside behind the hotel in her part-time uniform, a black dress smudged from long hours of work. She clutched an old photo of her mother and whispered, “Mom… I’ll protect the home you gave me. No matter what it takes.”
Meanwhile, inside the tallest floor of the building, Alpha Edward stood by the window in his office, watching the city lights glowing.
He spoke without turning.
“Any news on Grace?” he asked.
Alex, his loyal Beta, nodded. “Miss Grace wants to talk about the wedding plans with you. She’s chosen a designer and requested the wedding be top of the year. She also asked that you use the mate ring from the antique auction.”
Edward turned his head slightly, his tone dry. “The rings from the Moonlight Collection?”
Alex hesitated. “Yes, but… legend says those rings were blessed by the Moon Goddess. They can only stay on the fingers of true mates. If there’s no love, the rings fall off.”
Edward scoffed. “You know I don’t believe in such fairy tales. I believe in contracts. Not destiny.”
He handed Alex his black card. “Make it happen. Top designer. Top wedding.”
Alex bowed slightly, but his eyes lingered on the rings inside the glass box.
The next day...
Bella had finally gotten into the hotel’s kitchen as a part-time worker. Her plan was simple—work quietly and try to find a way to talk to Mr. Edward during the engagement party.
As she gathered a tray of takeaway boxes for the staff lounge, a woman in high heels suddenly walked in and kicked the tray, sending everything crashing to the floor.
“Oh no,” the woman said with mock surprise. “What a mess.”
Bella looked up silently.
The woman smirked. “You. Clean my shoes.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t want to cause a scene. She bent down and started cleaning the woman’s expensive heels, swallowing her anger.
As she finished, the woman leaned close. “Are you crying? Oh no, don’t be so emotional. Smile! You’ll feel better.”
Then she strutted away with a cruel laugh.
Bella stood up slowly, feeling dizzy. Her vision blurred. She placed a hand on her forehead.
“Is my blood sugar too low?” she mumbled to herself.
Suddenly, her knees gave way, and she collapsed.
Alpha Edward was passing by when he saw a staff member rush out in panic.
“She just fainted!”
He turned the corner and froze.
Bella was lying unconscious on the floor.
His wolf stirred instantly.
“I can sense her.”
Edward’s heart skipped. “No... it can’t be her.”
He walked closer, and the moment his fingers touched her skin, a faint blue light flickered briefly around their hands—only for a second—but it was enough.
His wolf growled louder inside him.
“She’s the one, Edward. She’s our mate.”
Edward’s expression turned to stone.
“This girl… is the same one who yelled at me yesterday. The same one begging to meet me. The daughter of Tommy?”
His heart raced, but not from fear—something deeper.
That night, Edward sat alone in his study, staring at the photo Alex had found tucked inside Bella’s part-time application form.
It was a picture of Bella’s mother.
His hand trembled slightly.
“I know this woman…” he whispered.
He opened his desk drawer and pulled out an old, yellowed letter—one he had buried years ago.
The letter was written by the same woman.
"If anything happens to me, please protect my daughter, Bella. Her father, Tommy, kept secrets even from me. She's more than you know. More than either of us ever expected."
Edward's eyes darkened.
“This changes everything.”
Just then, Grace walked into the room.
“We need to talk,” she said with a sharp smile. “About the girl.”
Edward looked up slowly.
“What girl?”
Grace’s smile widened. “The one who fainted. The one you touched.”
She leaned closer.
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice the glow… did you?”
Alpha Edward knelt beside Bella as she lay unconscious on the ground. Her skin was pale, her breath shallow.
“Wake up,” he said gently, brushing her hair out of her face. “Wake up…”
She didn’t move.
Edward looked around. No one was nearby. The area was quiet.
Then he did something unexpected—even for himself. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering an ancient chant, one passed down by Alpha bloodlines. A kiss carrying healing energy from his wolf, Kelvin.
A faint golden light surrounded Bella for a moment.
Suddenly, her eyes flew open.
She gasped and saw a strange man hovering above her. Confused and frightened, she shoved him back with both hands and scrambled to her feet.
“Stay away from me!” she said, then turned and ran.
Edward didn’t move. His heart pounded. The light. The way his wolf responded.
There was no doubt.
She was his true mate.
Kelvin, his wolf, growled inside his head.
“Edward! What are you doing? Go after her. Tell her you were saving her!”
But Edward clenched his fists and stayed still.
He whispered through gritted teeth, “Kelvin, why did you take over my body to save her?”
“Didn’t you feel it?” Kelvin roared. “She’s our mate!”
Edward’s eyes darkened. “Nothing is more important than what Grace’s family can do for me. That girl... she's a mere human.”
Edward went to get ready for his engagement.
The hall was filled with music, laughter, and shimmering lights. Guests filled the massive ballroom—pack members, business partners, nobles from neighboring lands. The chandeliers sparkled as Grace walked around like a queen, soaking up the attention.
Alpha Edward stood near the center, shaking hands.
“Hey, thank you for coming,” he said politely.
Suddenly, smoke curled in from the entrance. The music stopped briefly.
- Writer
