After spending the entire night tossing and turning, tormented by Stand's relentless growling and resentment toward their father, Drake finally glanced at the digital clock. It was 6;49 in the morning. A plan instantly formed in his mind: he could wash up, get ready, and still intercept Belle before she departed for the first day of school.
He knew with absolute certainty that laying eyes on her was the only cure for their restlessness. It had been months—far too long—since either of them had seen her face. He would be a fool to deny that the separation was tearing at him just as much as it was tearing at the beast.
Dashing toward his wardrobe, he grabbed fresh attire and a towel, then stormed into the en-suite bathroom. He ripped off his boxers and stepped under the massive rainfall showerhead, twisting the handle until scalding hot water cascaded down upon him. He stood there for a moment, letting the heat soothe his aching muscles before vigorously scrubbing away the grime and exhaustion of his long journey.
Few minutes later, he stood before the fogged-up mirror, a towel wrapped securely around his waist. He dried off quickly, dressed with purpose, and headed straight for the kitchen, his heart hammering in anticipation. He visualized her fiery scarket hair cascading over her shoulders as she sat at the counter, and the mere image calmed his nerves.
However, upon entering, the space was empty of her. Instead, he was assaulted by the mouth-watering aroma of Helga hard at work—sizzling bacon, golden pancakes, and perfectly cooked eggs. The slop they served at training camp was nothing compared to this; he had craved her cooking every single day he was gone.
"Welcome home, Alpha Drake! It brings us such joy to have you back," Helga beamed, rushing over to squeeze him in a warm hug before returning her attention to the grill. "Sit, sit! Let me pile up a plate for you."
"Don't need to ask me twice, Helga," Drake grinned, sliding onto a stool. "I swear, your cooking was the thing I missed most while I was away."
"Good! I would have been heartbroken if you said otherwise," she cackled, slamming a mountain of food onto the table before him.
They chatted casually while he devoured his meal, his eyes constantly darting toward the staircase, waiting for her to appear. But the hands of the clock crept 7:58 AM, and still, she did not come.
"Are you expecting someone special, Alpha?" Helga queried, noticing how he checked the time for the millionth time.
"Oh, nothing," Drake mumbled, shoving a forkful of pancake into his mouth to avoid her gaze. "I just assumed Belle would be down here eating before class. She's going to be late for her Junior year if she doesn't hurry up."
"Oh, sweetheart," Helga chuckled softly. "Belle left early this morning with the Luna and the other ladies for a trip to the City. Knowing how those shopaholics operate, I wouldn't expect them back until well after midnight."
Drake froze. A wave of heat crawled up his neck, filling him with embarrassment. He remembered now! His mother had told him yesterday, but his eagerness to see Belle had completely wiped it from his mind.
"Right. Mom mentioned it. I guess it slipped my mind," he forced out.
But inside his head, Stand was seething. The wolf was furious that Belle had been taken into the dangerous, crowded city without proper protection. And why was she even going? It wasn't like she needed anything to wear. Drake had made sure she was stocked with plenty of comfortable sweatpants and hoodies to last the whole year.
"She is obviously buying a gown for the celebration," Stand snarled bitterly. "The very ball where they intend to hand her over to another Alpha. Don't forget that."
The wolf retreated into the darkness, leaving Drake to choke on his anger.
He said nothing else, merely finished his meal and marched toward his father's office. His mind was a chaotic storm, unable to shake the venomous words Stand had planted there. Throughout the entire day, even while meeting new pack members and discussing serious business, his focus was shattered. He could tell his father noticed his distant demeanor, but said nothing.
And now, as he lay in the darkness of his room, sleep remained elusive. His mind was consumed entirely by the terrifying image of Belle belonging to another, so deeply lost in the nightmare that he didn't even realize when exhaustion finally claimed him.
—-------
Seated behind his massive desk, Conrad allowed the cool leather of his chair to press against his back, offering a fleeting sense of relief against the tension coiled tightly within his frame. The moment the door swung open, he felt the intense weight of aquamarine eyes boring into him.
He did not need to lift his head to know that Luna Caroline's mind was racing with a thousand thoughts; the invisible tether between them screamed her emotions loud and clear.
"Spit out what is weighing on your mind," he uttered, his voice raspy and drained, betraying the immense mental fatigue he carried.
"Did you finalize the arrangement for Belle and Teddy?" his mate demanded, her voice trembling slightly. Her anxiety spiked violently across their bond, washing over him like a cold wave.
"It is done," he responded heavily. Closing his eyes, he dragged his fingers slowly across his furrowed brows and temples, desperately trying to soothe the throbbing ache that had settled behind his eyes.
"I suppose we have no choice but to see this through to the end," Caroline whispered, her tone heavy with sorrow. He knew she had secretly harbored hope that a miracle would save them from this path, but fate was unyielding. He had exhausted every possible avenue, even commanding his Beta to explore alternatives, but the reality remained inescapable. "There was never any other path."
"That has always been the truth," he confirmed grimly.
"Then we can only pray that fates smiles upon us," she sighed.
In the next heartbeat, she closed the distance between them. Her lips crashed onto his with desperate passion, sending electric sparks dancing through his veins and instantly erasing the dark clouds in his mind. His hands instinctively snapped to her waist, yanking her firmly down onto his lap. For this fleeting moment, the crushing weight of their past decisions and the terrifying future melted away completely, leaving him lost entirely in the safety of his mate's embrace.