Chapter 257 Chapter 257

Chapter 257 Chapter 257
BELLA

The guards bring the carriage to a stop and something feels odd about the pack I had once called home.

Maybe it is still the betrayal hanging in the air like a heavy, humid cloud, or the fact that I am walking into a vicinity that makes me feel out of place. Ariana getting engaged to Brad doesn’t exactly come as a shock to me; she’s been trying to do this for the past two years.

After two good years and my so-called healing process, it shouldn’t sting, but it does. It hits me so hard that I almost forget that he’d betrayed me in the worst way possible.

I remain in the foul smelling carriage, clutching little Damien close to my chest. After a few minutes, I suddenly realize that everywhere around me has gone silent.

Curious, I slowly push the wooden doors open, peeking out of it, only to see two figures approaching me. Damien clings closer to me, his little voice sounds like a loud horn in the absolute silence of the night.

“Where are we?”

I clamp a hand over his mouth and stare into his eyes desperately, shaking my head. “Don’t speak, Damien, please.” I whisper into his ears.

The footsteps grow louder and my wolf, who has been quiet this entire time, suddenly kicks back to life, detecting the steady pulsing of their heartbeats.

For some reason, the cold fear in my chest is the only thing that hints at danger. My senses are awkwardly calm and just as the door opens, I poise myself to strike if need be. I tuck Damien safely behind me and I can feel his fingers holding onto my clothes tightly.

I gasp, my heart clenching slightly when I look into those familiar eyes. My guard drops instantly and I barely resist the urge to throw myself at him. His face breaks into a smile, but his eyes gleam with regret.

“Bella!” He gasps, that voice ringing with a mix of relief and desperation, “Oh, Bella! I knew it was you when I set my eyes on this bloody carriage earlier!”

He throws open the doors and without thinking, I step out of the carriage, running into his wide arms. He wraps his arms around me tightly, his voice breaking slightly. He strokes my hair softly and pulls me tighter.

“I searched for you, Bella. I tried to find General Ragar but Esme and I ran into a bit of a trouble and for all these months, we’ve been—”

“It’s okay, Lucian,” I mumble softly, “you don’t have to say anything. I know you tried to look for me if anyone else didn’t. I am so sorry I left, but I had no choice but to.”

I sigh deeply, my heart finally feeling slightly at place here. I sniffle, tears rushing down my cheeks as I glance at the pack mansion that is boisterous with life and jubiliation.
“I guess my capture came in at the wrong time, huh?” I remark with a scoff.

He frowns and shakes his head, “You have no idea. You came in at the perfect time to save all of us from doom.” He replies and his eyes dart past me towards the carriage.

I turn around slowly, watching Damien climbing out of the carriage, his eyes darting with an innocent curiosity. I grab Lucian’s arm and his eyes narrow in complete bewilderment.

“That can’t be your child. That kid is at least six years old,” he mumbles and stares at me questioningly, “whose child is that, Bella?”

I swallow hard and take a deep breath. He is the only one I can trust with Damien’s safety for now, but I suddenly remembered that I had seen another man with him when I had peeked out from the door. I take a step back and grab Damien’s wrist quickly.

“Who did you come here with, Lucian? Who?” I demand.

“Andrew,” he replies and my heart turns cold instantly, “but he was heading for the stable instead. He is making sure that the men who brought you here get punished for maltreating you. It was…” His words peters away and he averts his gaze.

“Spill, Lucian.”
“It was the Alpha’s orders,” he replies in a stiff voice, unable to mention Brad’s name.

I look at Damien, unable to decipher the storm of emotions swelling in my chest. I scoff bitterly, “So, he knows that I am here?” I ask and he nods, “okay. That means I need to leave. I don’t want to interrupt anything and I need to keep this child safe, Lucian.”

He shakes his head, his eyes flashing with panic, “No, Bella! Where else is safer for you than here? I am here, I will keep you safe and this child—-whoevers he is.”

“You said that the last time, Lucian.” I mumble.

His shoulders drop with a sigh, “I tried to keep my word, Bella, but you were still bound by duty to this pack back then.”

I tug Damien slightly, urging him forward, “You’re right and I am really sorry for trying to force that on you, but Lucian, I need you to do something for me. I cannot stay in this pack, I don’t feel like it is my home, but this child has to be kept safe, Lucian.”

He frowns slightly, “You keep saying a lot about this child without actually telling me anything, Bella. Whose is he?”

“Does that matter?” I ask, knowing his hatred for Ariana might cause him to turn my request down, “I am going to leave this pack and I need you and Esme to treat this child like your own. I’d do so but…”

It will be the most ironic thing for me to raise the child of the same woman who’d caused the death of mine, even though I loved Damien so much.

He sighs, his eyes contemplating before he finally gives in with a nod, “What do I tell everyone? What about Esme? She’d want to see you, Bella. You can’t just leave again.”

“She won’t.” A voice wafts from behind me.

My heart turns stiff and cold, my wolf immediately reacting to his presence.
I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.