Chapter 258 Chapter 258

Chapter 258 Chapter 258
BELLA

He hasn’t aged a day since I left.

Maybe that’s why my heart still flutters at the sight of him, or it can probably just be the bond writhing in my spine like a recoiled snake. I take a deep breath and step away from him, trying to conceal little Damien, but Brad’s eyes have already seen him.

His eyes grow wide with fascination, and I can see all the emotions glowing in his eyes like a palette of colors splashed on a canvas. I swallow hard while he steps forward, unable to understand my own feelings. My heart pounds with excitement and a longing I haven’t felt, one that makes my blood curdle in my veins.

But there’s a part of me, fierce and unforgiving, that burns with hatred towards him. My wolf growls in desire and anger at the same time. He’d made me lose a part of myself and no matter how much love my shattered heart might still have for him, I can’t ever bring myself to let go of what he did.

“Bella,” he gasps and his hands reach out, but just not enough to touch me. He folds his hands in and pulls back, “Bella, come on. Let’s talk, please. We can go in there and have a conversation—we need one.”

I shake my head, a wave of hot tears pooling at the back of my eyes, “No. I have nothing to say to you.” I reply flatly, not even granting him the comfort of mentioning his name.

He sighs and rubs his mouth with his sweaty palm nervously, “Bella, please. I…I have things to say to you. I just want you to hear me out, please. That’s all. I really wronged you, I know and I know there is no way I can make it right, but please just hear me out first.”

Damien clutches closer to me and looks up into my eyes, “Who is this?” he asks.

Brad’s eyes narrow with curiosity. He remains silent for a few seconds, his lips slowly parting as he contemplates all sorts of atrocities in his head. He slowly looks at me again and cranes his head slightly, his face perplexed. “It can’t be…”

“He is five years old and I have been gone for two years,” I cut in flatly, “don’t get ahead of yourself, Brad.”
I bite my lips hard and cuss under my breath. Damn it! I had uttered his name!

He nods with another sigh, “I am sorry, I didn’t think that way at all.” He says but it doesn’t matter to me at all.
“I don’t care about what you have to say. I am leaving. Your men dragged me here and long before we arrived, they already made it clear that I am not welcome here,” I look around—at the boisterous air in the pack and scoff bitterly, “this is just a confirmation.”

He shakes his head and steps forward, “No, Bella. Wait, please.” He calls.

I look into those eyes and it feels like a long time ago when I used to love and worship them. I think about the times I had still believed in him, still trusted that the bond would make him finally see me. I scoff once again, how stupid I had been.

“This is all a necessity, I promise you,” he says, “I had to have a Luna because the pack was being threatened already. I needed to prevent a war and make sure you’d have a home when you come back—I…I have been looking for you everywhere, Bella. I have searched every nook and cranny for you. I swear to the goddess herself. Nothing more has mattered to me than you.”

I look right into those warm, desperate eyes and for some reason, despite everything I can see that clearly says otherwise, I can tell that he isn’t lying. “Well, looks like you didn’t look hard enough.”

“You didn’t want to be found, Bella,” he says, his voice quaking slightly, “I kept those men away from the pack for two years, but I would have done it myself if only it wouldn’t threaten the hundreds of lives under my care, I promise you, I would have.”

He would have. My wolf sees it, not just the infatuation with the bond, but the more he speaks, I can see the cracks in his physical health and even hear the mental strain in his words. I feel no pity for him though, but that genuineness about his words is the only reason I haven’t turned and fled.

I look around and he says, “Forget about everything you are seeing, Bella. In fact, I have cancelled it all. My engagement to Ariana, this whole ceremony—I cancelled it the moment I heard you were back, Bella.”

My heart stops for a moment and I stare at him in disbelief. He looks like a mad man, staring at me, his cheeks hollow and with so much fierce madness gleaming in his eyes. My heart thumps harder and I take a step away from him.

“Why…why would you even do that?” I ask.

“Why not?” he asks, his eyes growing bloodshot and teary, “I have had space for only one woman in my heart, Bella and I was willing to make the foolish decision of doing what’s best for the pack again by engaging Ariana and letting the rumors of a new Luna spread until everyone plotting against us has heard it but…” he takes a deep breath, “fuck all that. I just want to—”

I glare at him and glance down at Damien, “Language?”

“Oh,” he gasps, his face flushed, “sorry, kid.”

“My mom curses a lot,” Damien shrugs, “so it’s okay. I know most of the swear words anyway.”
Brad frowns at me and glances at Lucian, “Who is his mother?”

I have no idea why a surge of panic suddenly rises to my chest, but I step in front of Damien and raise my chin at Brad. “It’s none of your business, and really, you shouldn’t have cancelled anything. It won’t matter because I am not staying, Brad.”

“You can get back to your business of marrying my sister. I hate that I have already interrupted.”