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Beta Craig had just left the tea room, his senses buzzing with a strange unease that he couldn't quite shake off. The dim light of the house cast long shadows that seemed to stretch ominously, mirroring his dark mood. Pamela emerged cautiously from the depths of those shadows, her fur bristling with a mix of curiosity and concern. She had been waiting for Craig to return, but his early arrival was unexpected, and his expression set her on edge. "Why are you coming home so early today? Did something happen?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.  

Beta Craig snarled in response, his beastly nature slipping through in his tone. His irritation was palpable, filling the room like an oppressive weight. "Where's Samantha?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room for any sign of his daughter.  

Pamela hesitated but quickly answered, "She's resting upstairs. She said she felt tired and needed to lie down for a while."  

Craig's frown deepened, and his tone grew more cutting. "Why is she sleeping during the day? What possible excuse does she have for being so idle? Go wake her up immediately and tell her to come down. I have something important to ask her, and I expect no delays." His beastly features darkened further, a storm of anger brewing within him.  

Pamela, though uneasy, obeyed without protest. She scurried upstairs, her steps quick but cautious, as if she were afraid of stirring the storm brewing below. Arriving at Samantha's bedroom, she gently pushed the door open, her voice trembling as she spoke in hushed tones. "Your father is asking for you. He wants to know about you and Alpha Xavier. Please, Samantha, listen to Itzel's advice. Be careful, and don't make any mistakes. You know how your father gets when he's like this."  

Samantha nodded, her heart sinking at her mother’s words. "Understood," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly tidied her appearance, trying to steel herself for whatever awaited her downstairs. She exited the bedroom, her steps heavy with apprehension.  

As Samantha descended the stairs, the sight of Beta Craig's brooding figure in the living room made her heart pound wildly in her chest. His presence was as commanding as ever, and she felt a sinking dread that she couldn't quite explain. Why did she fear him so? She couldn't pinpoint the reason, but the sensation was undeniable. "Dad, you wanted to see me?" she asked, her voice steady but forced. She tried her best to appear composed, as though nothing unusual had transpired.  

Beta Craig snorted, his disdain evident as he motioned for her to sit across from him. The tension in the room was almost suffocating. "What's going on between you and Alpha Xavier?" he asked bluntly, his piercing gaze fixed on her.  

Samantha blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the directness of his question. "Dad, what do you mean? Is there something between us?" she replied, feigning innocence. Her tone was light, but her mind raced, searching for the safest way out of this conversation.  

"Is there truly nothing?" Beta Craig pressed, his intense stare boring into her. "Let me ask you again, Samantha—have you ever been alone with Alpha Xavier? Tell me the truth."  

Samantha hesitated before finally whispering, "Yes." Her voice was so soft it was barely audible, but the weight of her admission hung in the air.  

Craig's expression darkened further. "Is it because of you that Bella and Alpha Xavier ended up in such a mess? Do you have any idea what you've done?"  

"Dad, it’s not my fault," Samantha protested, her voice trembling. Her hands fidgeted in her lap as she tried to maintain her composure.  

"Not your fault?" Craig's voice was icy, his cold gaze cutting through her like a blade. "Are you truly innocent in all this? Answer me, Samantha." Samantha shrank back under his glare, her confidence evaporating. "Dad, I swear, I’m innocent! It’s all because of Alpha Xavier... He was drunk, and things spiraled out of control. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t breathe a word about Mom, either. Whatever conflict my sister had with him, it has nothing to do with me."  

Her words were like a confession, confirming the rumors that had been swirling about her and Alpha Xavier. Beta Craig had clung to the hope that Itzel’s accusations were baseless gossip, but Samantha’s admission shattered that illusion. The truth was out, and it filled him with an uncontrollable rage.  

Craig’s hand shot out, grabbing the glass before him. With a furious motion, he hurled it to the ground, shattering it into countless shards. "Didn’t I warn you to stay away from Alpha Xavier? How could you blatantly ignore my words? Have you learned nothing?" he roared, his anger shaking the very walls of the room.  

Samantha broke down, her sobs wracking her body. "I didn’t mean to, Dad! I didn’t know things would escalate like this. I’m sorry, I truly am!" Tears streamed down her face as she tried to explain herself. "Kelsey called me and asked me to pick up Alpha Xavier because he was drunk. I didn’t think much of it at the time, so I went. But I didn’t expect... When he saw me, he lost control. He acted like a madman, and no matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t stop him. Later, he passed out, and I took him home. Only Ms. Grant knows about it. I swear, no one else knows!"  

Craig’s jaw tightened, his fury barely contained. "If you didn’t want others to find out, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place. Do you not understand such a simple concept?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain.  

Pamela, hearing the commotion, rushed into the room. "What’s happening?" she asked, her voice filled with panic. Her eyes darted between Craig and Samantha, trying to piece together the situation.  

"You’ve done an excellent job raising your daughter!" Craig snapped, his glare shifting to Pamela. His expression was one of pure fury, as though he wanted to tear her apart. "She’s just as disobedient as you!"  

"Dad, it’s all my fault!" Samantha cried, falling to her knees. The sound of her impact echoed in the room, amplifying the tension. "Mom had nothing to do with this. If you’re angry, take it out on me! I’ll explain everything to Bella. I promise I’ll fix this somehow. It’s not Alpha Xavier’s fault!"  

Craig scoffed at her words. "What can you possibly explain? Words won’t mend the damage that’s been done. Do you think you can repair Bella and Alpha Xavier’s broken relationship with empty promises? From now on, you’re not to leave this house. You’ll stay here and do as you’re told!" With that, he stormed off, slamming the door to his study behind him.  

Pamela rushed to Samantha’s side, helping her to her feet. As their eyes met, a silent understanding passed between them. Despite the chaos, a shared defiance burned in their gazes. Though battered by Craig’s wrath, they were not entirely broken.  

After Beta Craig stormed into his study, slamming the door so hard it rattled the frames on the walls, Pamela gently helped Samantha to her feet. Samantha’s sobs had subsided into quiet sniffles, but the shame and guilt still clung to her like a heavy cloak. Pamela’s hands trembled slightly as they steadied her daughter, her eyes filled with a mixture of motherly concern and quiet determination. "Come on, let’s get you to your room," Pamela said softly, her voice barely audible over the tension that still hung in the air like a storm cloud.  

Samantha wiped her tear-streaked face and nodded, her heart heavy with regret. She felt the weight of her father’s anger, the burden of her mistakes, and the suffocating pressure of the family’s expectations all pressing down on her at once. As the two of them climbed the stairs together, Pamela’s grip on Samantha’s arm tightened slightly. "You need to be more careful, Samantha," Pamela whispered, her voice a mixture of warning and desperation. "Your father isn’t someone you can reason with. When he’s in this state, it’s best to stay out of his way and avoid provoking him further."  

Samantha nodded again, though her mind was whirring with unanswered questions. Why did her father’s anger burn so fiercely when it came to Alpha Xavier? It wasn’t just about Bella’s broken relationship—there was something deeper, something that Beta Craig wasn’t saying. Samantha couldn’t shake the feeling that her father’s fury stemmed from more than just familial loyalty.  

When they reached Samantha’s room, Pamela lingered in the doorway for a moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and strained. "Whatever happens, you have to stay strong. Don’t let your father break you. We’ve been through too much for that." With those cryptic words, Pamela left, closing the door softly behind her. Samantha sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor as her mother’s words echoed in her mind.  

Meanwhile, downstairs, Pamela paced the living room, her thoughts racing. Beta Craig’s anger had been explosive, but Pamela knew there was more to his behavior than met the eye. She thought back to the tea room and the strange tension that had been palpable between Craig and Itzel. What was Itzel’s role in all of this? And why had Craig been so insistent on questioning Samantha about Alpha Xavier? Pamela’s instincts told her that something wasn’t adding up, and she resolved to find out the truth.  

Later that afternoon, after Layla finished her shift, she returned to Alpha Carl’s castle. The sprawling estate loomed against the horizon, its grandeur a stark contrast to the turmoil Layla carried within her. On her way back, she stopped by a small bakery and picked up Leo’s favorite treats. The thought of seeing his face light up with joy was the only thing that brought her any comfort.  

When Layla finally arrived, Leo’s eyes lit up like the morning sun. He ran to her with unrestrained excitement, his small hands reaching out eagerly. "Aunt Layla, did you bring me something delicious?" he asked, his voice filled with an innocent glee that melted her heart.  

"You little food lover," Layla teased, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. "I knew you’d be greedy, so I made sure to bring your favorite snacks." She handed him the treats, and Leo’s face radiated pure happiness.  

As Leo tore into the bag of goodies, Bella approached with a warm smile. She reached out to ruffle her son’s hair, her maternal pride evident in her expression. "It’s all because of you spoiling him," Bella said, her tone lighthearted.  

"No need to thank me," Layla replied, though she couldn’t hide the genuine affection in her voice.  

"Thank you, Auntie!" Leo chimed in, flashing a grin as sweet as the treats he was holding.  

"Go ahead and enjoy, little food lover," Layla said with a wink. "I need to speak with your mother for a moment." Leo nodded obediently and scampered off to enjoy his snacks, leaving the two women alone.  

Layla’s expression shifted as she turned to Bella. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I just saw Itzel and your father in the tea room earlier today. Do you have any idea what Itzel could want from him?"  

Bella’s brow furrowed in confusion. "How would I know?" she replied, shaking her head.  

Before Layla could press further, another voice entered the conversation, calm yet authoritative. "I know. I heard what you said." It was Alpha Carl, his tone carrying a faint hint of indifference. He stepped into the room, his presence commanding as always.  

Layla froze, caught off guard by his sudden appearance. She had been so focused on her conversation with Bella that she hadn’t noticed him enter. "Alpha Carl," she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "We weren’t saying anything bad about you. We were just... curious."  

Alpha Carl raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make Layla squirm. Finally, he spoke, his voice even. "This isn’t a secret in the first place. Itzel has her own reasons for meeting with Beta Craig, but they aren’t what you’re imagining."  

Layla let out a relieved sigh, though her curiosity remained unabated. She glanced at Bella, who seemed equally puzzled. "What reasons could she possibly have?" Layla asked, her tone skeptical.  

Alpha Carl’s expression darkened slightly, as if he were weighing his words carefully. "Itzel has been involved in matters that go beyond the family’s personal disputes. Her intentions may not be entirely pure, but they aren’t directed at me or at you, Bella."  

Bella frowned, her confusion deepening. "Then what are her intentions? And why would she meet with my father of all people?"  

Alpha Carl hesitated for a moment before responding. "That’s something I’m still trying to determine. But for now, it’s best if we don’t jump to conclusions. Itzel is not someone to be underestimated, and her actions are rarely without purpose."  

Layla crossed her arms, clearly dissatisfied with his vague response. "You’re telling us to sit back and do nothing while she schemes behind our backs? That doesn’t seem like a wise strategy."  

"Sometimes patience is the best strategy," Alpha Carl replied, his tone firm. "Rushing into action without understanding the full scope of her plans could backfire. Trust me, I’ll handle this."  

Bella exchanged a wary glance with Layla but said nothing. She knew better than to argue with Alpha Carl when he was in this mood. Still, unease gnawed at her as she thought about Itzel and her father. What game was Itzel playing, and how would it impact their already fragile family dynamics?