Twice Fated

Chapter 8:Shadows of Jealousy

Bella sat quietly on the balcony of Rick’s room, staring out at the vast expanse of trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon. The crisp evening air brushed against her skin, and for a moment, she let herself be carried away by the memories of her childhood.

Her parents had never hidden the truth from her. They had found her as a baby, abandoned in the woods. They didn’t know who her real parents were or why she’d been left there, but her father had always loved her as his own. Her mother, however, had been different—distant and cold, as if Bella's presence was an unwelcome reminder of something she couldn’t name.

Despite that, Bella had grown up close to Georgina, the biological daughter of her adoptive parents. They had been like sisters once, best friends sharing laughter and secrets. As the daughters of the pack's Beta, they had spent much of their time alongside Cole, the only son of the Alpha and Luna. The three of them had been inseparable, their bond forged in the innocence of childhood.

But things changed the day Cole became Alpha—and even more so when Bella discovered he was her mate. It had been a moment that should have brought her joy, but instead, it drove a wedge between her and Georgina. Bella could see it in Georgina’s eyes—the way she looked at Cole, the way she had always loved him in silence. That love turned into jealousy and resentment, poisoning the bond they once shared.

The final blow came when Georgina told Cole she had seen Bella with another man. It was a lie, but Cole believed her without question. He hadn’t even allowed Bella to explain before rejecting her as his mate. Tears welled in Bella’s eyes as she remembered the pain of that moment—the sting of betrayal and the crushing weight of his rejection. How could he have chosen to trust Georgina over her?

Now, she was carrying his child, and the thought filled her with both fear and determination. She didn’t know if Rick would stand by her when he learned the truth, but one thing was certain: she would not let her child grow up unloved.

Taking a deep breath, Bella placed a protective hand over her belly. "I’ll raise you," she whispered softly, a promise to the life growing inside her.

"I’ll always love you, always protect you. I’ll be the mother I never had. You’ll never feel alone."

The sound of a knock on the balcony door startled her from her thoughts. Turning, she saw Rick standing there, his piercing golden eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

Suddenly, my wolf, Mira, said, "Mate."

"Mate," Rick echoed.

With a swift motion, he was in front of me, holding my hands. "You feel it too?" he asked.

I nodded.

Rick pulled me into a hug. "You need to marry me," he said firmly. "I will love you, Bella, and I will be the father your child deserves."

Bella felt her heart swell with a mix of emotions - relief, gratitude, and hope. "I am thankful to the Moon Goddess for giving me you as my second-chance mate," she whispered.

Overwhelmed by Rick's words and the realization that she had found her second chance, Bella couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks.

She nodded, her voice trembling as she hugged him tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her words muffled against his chest. “Thank you for accepting me and my child. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

Rick held her gently, his arms wrapping around her as if to shield her from all the pain she had endured. “You don’t have to repay me, Bella,” he murmured, his voice low but steady. “You and your child deserve love and protection, and I will give you both. You’re not alone anymore.”

As they stood on the balcony, a silent promise passed between them. Bella felt a flicker of hope bloom in her chest—a fragile yet powerful feeling she hadn’t dared to embrace in a long time.

In the shadows of the garden, Layla watched the scene unfold, her heart a storm of emotions she couldn’t control. Bella was in Rick’s arms, her face tear-streaked but radiant, as if she had just been handed the world. Rick looked at her with a tenderness that Layla had longed to see directed at her. That should have been her moment, her happiness. But instead, it was Bella’s, and Layla could feel her bitterness growing like a poison inside her.

Her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to contain the anger boiling within her. But it wasn’t just anger. It was jealousy so sharp and consuming it left her feeling hollow.

She knew Bella’s secret—knew that she was pregnant and that Rick wasn’t the father. That knowledge burned like acid in her chest. How could Rick choose her, a woman carrying another man’s child. How could he look at her with such love, such devotion, when Layla had been right there all along, waiting for him to notice her?

“She doesn’t deserve him,” Layla hissed under her breath, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. “She’s carrying the child of another man, and yet he’s still choosing her? How is that fair? How can he not see what a mistake this is?”

Layla’s mind raced with bitter thoughts. She had been there for Rick through everything,his triumphs, his losses, his quiet moments of doubt. She had been the one to support him, to care for him, to believe in him. And yet, in the end, none of that seemed to matter. Bella, with her tragic story and her fragile demeanor, had somehow managed to steal the life Layla had dreamed of for herself.

And the child,Layla’s stomach twisted at the thought. Bella was pregnant, and it wasn’t Rick’s child. Yet he was willing to take on that responsibility, to step into a role that wasn’t his to fill. Layla couldn’t understand it. It felt like the ultimate betrayal, as if Rick was spitting on everything they could have had together.

“Why her?” Layla muttered, her voice cracking with the weight of her emotions. “Why not me? I’ve been loyal. I’ve been here. I would’ve given him everything. But instead, he chooses her,a woman who’s bringing another man’s child into his life. It’s pathetic.”

Hot tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry over this. She wouldn’t let herself be weak. Not when she was already drowning in the injustice of it all.

The jealousy cut deeper than anything she’d ever felt before. It wasn’t just about Rick anymore. It was about everything Bella represented. Bella, who had stumbled into their pack and disrupted the balance. It was as if Bella existed only to ruin her life, to take everything Layla had ever wanted and destroy it right in front of her.

“She’s not even one of us,” Layla whispered harshly, her voice shaking. “She doesn’t belong here. She never did. And now she’s carrying a child that doesn’t even have a place in this pack. Yet Rick still loves her. It’s disgusting.”

But beneath the anger and jealousy, there was something else, something she didn’t want to acknowledge. A deep, aching pain. Layla had always believed Rick was her future, that they were destined to be together. To see him choosing Bella, despite everything, felt like losing a part of herself.

Her chest tightened, and she wrapped her arms around herself, as if to hold the pieces of her heart together. The rejection stung, but the humiliation burned even hotter. She had been cast aside for a woman who, in her eyes, didn’t deserve the love Rick was so freely giving.

Layla’s lips curled into a bitter smile as she wiped away a stray tear. “This isn’t over. She can’t keep taking everything from me. I won’t let her.”