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In the moonlit night, Bella beckoned for him to retreat, a clear signal for George to rid them of Beta Craig's presence. The tension only heightened within Beta Craig as he glared at Leo, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Leo," he growled, suppressing his rage, "your grandfather will pay you a visit tomorrow. You better heed your mother's commands!"

"Okay, goodbye, grandpa!" Leo responded, his voice tinged with innocence.

Beta Craig didn't leave right away, his eyes freezing as he directed his gaze towards George. "Thank you for looking after Bella all these years. I shall treat you to tea on another day," he declared coldly.

"I can't afford to drink the secretary's tea. I'd rather not have any dealings with you," George retorted, not wanting to involve himself further with Beta Craig.

A forced smile crept onto Beta Craig's lips as he retorted, "You have no choice. I will extend a personal invitation." And with that, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Once Beta Craig had left, George's face paled, consumed by an underlying unease. Bella offered him words of comfort. "Uncle, pay him no mind. Leo and I want nothing to do with him."

George mustered a wry smile, knowing that if he were truly himself, Bella would indeed have no connection to Beta Craig. But if Beta Craig were to reveal George's true identity to Bella, would she still feel the same?

After lunch, Alpha Xavier appeared before him, bearing a worn-out visage and a noticeably thinner frame. Bella couldn't bear to witness his deteriorating state. "Alpha Xavier, please do not disturb us any longer. I promise that when Leo gets better, he will recognize you, alright?"

Alpha Xavier's smile held a tinge of bitterness. "Bella, I did not come here to seek recognition from the child. I have found a doctor for Leo. He is a renowned traditional native medicine doctor within the pack, specialized in treating leukemia. Let him take charge of Leo's treatment."

"Medicine?" Bella hesitated.

"Alpha Xavier heard of Old Doctor Chuck's expertise in treating leukemia, so he went through great lengths to bring him here. Let him treat Leo," Mark interrupted.

"I've heard stories of traditional native medicine curing leukemia. Since the doctor is here, let him have a look," George persuaded.

Bella, seeing George's agreement, opened the door and allowed Alpha Xavier and the others to enter their home. Dr. Olsen examined Leo, carefully studying the medical reports. He confirmed that Leo had received treatment before and hadn't experienced a relapse since recovering, urging for a rigorous treatment plan.

With caution at the forefront of her mind, Bella accepted his advice, taking the traditional native medicine prescriptions from Chuck. Leo would take two different medicines to test their efficacy.

George took care to inquire about the guidelines for consuming traditional native medicine. The doctor warned against consuming sour, cold, and spicy foods. Bella expressed her gratitude, accepting the prescription and preparing to obtain the traditional native medicine. Of course, Alpha Xavier seized this opportunity to offer Bella a ride, hopeful that his presence would help convince her.

It was their first moment alone since returning to the pack. Alpha Xavier scrutinized Bella intently. "Bella, I apologize. I realized my mistake. I never intended for you to face such troubles."

"What else does Alpha Xavier have to say besides apologizing?" Bella scoffed. "You constantly err and then apologize. Is it some sort of entertainment?"

"It won't happen again," he insisted, seeking solace in her forgiveness.

"Will there be a next time?" An incredulous smirk crossed Bella's face.

Alpha Xavier found himself rendered speechless by her words. After a brief pause, he begged once more, "Bella, I would like to visit the child regularly. Can I?"

"Can I even say no?" Bella retorted, her unhappiness clear.

He wasn't refusing to see his child. Alpha Xavier beamed, a smile gracing his features. "Bella, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? Let me warn you, don't push your luck. I'm merely allowing you to visit the child. Don't have any ill intentions."

"I'm only here for my child. I won't have ulterior motives," Alpha Xavier promised.

As they made their way to the traditional native medicine store to collect the necessary supplies, a peculiar sight caught Alpha Xavier's eye. "Isn't that Riya?" he exclaimed in surprise. Bella followed his gaze, spotting Riya, Alpha Xavier's family nanny, standing at the pharmacy's entrance. Alpha Xavier glanced at Bella, a plan forming in his mind. "I will go down and inquire about her presence, while also asking her something."

Bella understood his intentions. He must be worried about Elinor. She remained silent, for it held no significance to her. Seeing that Bella didn't deny it, he explained, "In these past few days, I went elsewhere to find a doctor for Leo, and I asked Riya to take care of my mother, so..."

It was only natural for a child to be concerned about their parents. Alpha Xavier's cautious demeanor compelled Bella to retort, "Alpha Xavier, when I was with you in the past, I never cared about anything concerning you, let alone now when we have no connection. You can do as you please - there's no need to explain yourself to me."

"I..." Alpha Xavier gazed at Bella, the complexity of his emotions etched onto his face. While he hesitated, a man approached Riya. The two exchanged familiar greetings before entering the pharmacy together.

"Isn't that Clem? How does Riya know him?" Now it was Bella's turn to be surprised. The man accompanying Riya into the pharmacy was none other than Clem, Beta Craig's driver.

"You're right. How does Riya know Clem?" Alpha Xavier echoed, puzzled.

"Alpha Xavier, aren't you going to inquire about your mother's situation? Hurry up and ask," Bella urged, pressing the matter. Beta Craig had just left the tea room, his senses tingling with unease. Pamela emerged from the shadows, her fur bristling with curiosity. "Why are you returning home so early today?"

Beta Craig snarled in response. "Where's Samantha?"

"She's resting upstairs."

"Why is she sleeping during the day? Tell her to come down. I have something to ask her." Beta Craig's beastly features darkened with anger.

Pamela scurried downstairs and cautiously pushed open the bedroom door. She spoke in hushed tones, her voice laced with fear. "Your father wants to know about you and Alpha Xavier. Listen to Itzel's advice. Don't make any mistakes, alright?"

"Understood." Samantha tidied herself up and exited the bedroom.

As she laid eyes on Beta Craig's brooding figure in the living room, Samantha felt her heart race with apprehension. She couldn't explain why she feared him so. "Dad, you wanted to see me?" Samantha attempted to sound composed, as if nothing had transpired.

Beta Craig snorted and motioned for Samantha to sit across from him. "What's going on between you and Alpha Xavier?"

"Dad, is there something between us?" Samantha replied innocently.

"Is there truly nothing?" Beta Craig stared intensely at Samantha. "Let me ask you, have you ever been alone with Alpha Xavier?"

"Yes," Samantha whispered softly.

"Is it because of you that Bella and Alpha Xavier got into such a mess?"

"Dad, it's not my fault."

"It's really not your fault?" Beta Craig's cold gaze bore into her. Samantha shrank back from his stare. "Dad, I'm innocent! It's all because of Alpha Xavier... He was intoxicated... and then... I... I didn't say anything, not even a word about Mom. Whether my sister had a conflict with him or not is none of my concern."

With her admission, she confirmed the rumors of her tryst with Alpha Xavier. Beta Craig had hoped that Itzel was spreading falsehoods, but now the truth had been revealed, and it consumed him with rage.

He grabbed the glass before him and shattered it on the ground. "Didn't I warn you to stay away from Alpha Xavier? How could you disregard my words?"

"I didn't mean to... Dad... I didn't know it would escalate like this." Samantha sobbed uncontrollably.

"Kelsey called me and asked me to pick up Alpha Xavier, who was drunk. I didn't think much of it, but I didn't expect... Alpha Xavier became like a madman when he saw me. No matter how I struggled, it was futile. Later... he fell asleep and I... I took him home. Only Ms. Grant knows about it. I can guarantee that no one else knows," Samantha pleaded.

"If you don't want others to find out, you shouldn't have done it in the first place. Do you not understand such a simple concept?"

"What's happening?" Pamela rushed over in a panic.

"You've taught your daughter well and done a commendable job!" Beta Craig glared at Pamela fiercely, as if hungering for her flesh.

"Dad, it's my fault. Mom doesn't know anything about it. You can scold me if you want!" Samantha fell to her knees with a thud. "I'll explain everything to my sister... It's not Alpha Xavier's fault!"

"What can you explain? Can you mend Bella and Alpha Xavier's broken relationship with mere words?" Beta Craig glanced at Samantha, who wept bitterly. "From now on, stay obediently at home and don't go anywhere!"

With those words, he stormed into his study, slamming the door shut. Pamela reached out to help Samantha up. As mother and daughter looked into each other's eyes, a shared sense of defiance shone through.

After Layla finished her shift, she returned to Alpha Carl's Castle, buying Leo's favorite treats along the way. Leo's face lit up with joy upon seeing Layla and he eagerly asked, "Aunt Layla, did you bring me something delicious?"

"You little food lover, I knew you'd be greedy, so I brought your favorite snacks." Layla presented the treats she had purchased and handed them to Leo.

"It's all because of you spoiling him," Bella commented, reaching out to ruffle Leo's hair. Her smile reflected a mother's pride as she observed her son's happiness. "No need to thank me."

"Thank you, Auntie!" Leo sweetly expressed his gratitude.

"Go ahead and enjoy, little food lover. I need to speak with your mother." Leo obediently moved to the side. Layla pulled Bella aside. "I just saw Itzel and your father in the tea room. What do you think Itzel wants from your father?"

"How would I know?" Bella shook her head."I know. I heard what you said," Alpha Carl's voice carried a faint hint of indifference, the alpha's usual façade. "This isn't a secret in the first place."

Layla let out a relieved sigh upon seeing that he didn't hold her accountable. She locked eyes with Bella, her voice taking on a more mysterious tone. "In fact, it's not the first time I've witnessed Itzel meeting your father. I saw them together in the tea room before, exchanging secretive glances. It gave me an odd feeling. I wanted to tell you, but it slipped my mind."

"When did this happen?" Bella's surprise was palpable.

"Lemme think for a moment," Layla rubbed her forehead, attempting to recall the specific timeline. "I can't remember the exact date, but it seems like you hadn't yet joined the Craig family."

"Is it true that a dog can't change its bad habits?" Bella's expression darkened, her thoughts immediately turning to Beta Craig's recent betrayal of Pamela. And now, he might be repeating the same behavior with Itzel.

"Good for him for being unfaithful. It's called karma," Layla snorted. "Back then, Pamela seduced a married man. Now, I'll let her taste her husband being seduced by another woman."

"It would be a stroke of luck if this turns out to be true. It would create an opportunity for us," Alpha Carl agreed. He had always disliked Itzel, and sending the photos of her rendezvous with Beta Craig to Pamela would surely ignite a fierce conflict between them.

"You should follow them and send the pictures to Pamela. Let her fume with anger," Layla suggested, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"That's a brilliant idea. Why don't we find someone to tail them..."

"You two truly enjoy chaos," Bella interjected, her voice cutting through Layla's scheme. "I only care about my son now. I don't care about anyone else."

"I understand how you feel," Layla sneered, the bitterness in her words unmistakable. "I never wanted to be the secretary's daughter. Only you could give that status to an illegitimate child. If I were you, I wouldn't want a mistress to marry into the family."

"That's because you're an outsider, not directly involved," Bella sighed.

"After learning that Beta Craig cheated and had an illegitimate child, I was deeply disappointed in him. He used to be so honorable in my eyes, and I couldn't accept it at all. You probably wouldn't be able to accept it either," Bella's voice grew heavy with sadness as she ruminated on her mother's tragic fate.

Alpha Carl nodded in agreement. "You're right. Only those directly involved truly understand the reasons behind their actions, while others remain oblivious. But I've always wondered about you, Bella. Have you ever considered seeking revenge against Pamela and her daughter?"

Ordinary people found it nearly impossible to forgive their spouse's mistress, and yet, Bella showed no extreme animosity towards Pamela and her daughter. Did she not despise them?

"What's the point of getting revenge?" Bella questioned. "It's not entirely Pamela's fault that she wasn't slapped."

"How can it not be her fault? If she hadn't shamelessly seduced your father, would your mother have gotten into a car accident?" Layla retorted.

"Well, my mother's accident could've had other factors besides Beta Craig's infidelity, but most of the blame lies with her poor judgment. She put all her trust in a man and it led to tragedy. That's why I despise Beta Craig. If it weren't for him, none of this would have happened. Now, think about my mother. She was foolish enough to abandon her young daughter for a man who didn't deserve her sacrifice..." Bella's voice trailed off, filled with sorrow.

"If, if it was Pamela who had seduced your father, schemed against your mother, and tore your family apart, would you seek revenge?" Alpha Carl asked cautiously.

"If what you say is true, I would definitely seek justice for my mother!" Bella replied resolutely. "But my uncle told me it was an accident, that she had a car accident on the front line."

Alpha Carl didn't say another word. He couldn't completely uncover the truth of that year, but he was certain that Pamela had something to do with Ashley's accident.

Should he tell Bella about all this? Seeing how worn out Bella was for her son's sake, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He decided to leave the matter be and inform Bella once he had concrete evidence.

As Alpha Carl prepared to leave, Layla offered to see him off. As they reached the door, she lowered her voice and questioned, "Alpha Carl, what did you mean by that?"

"What are you talking about?" Alpha Carl feigned ignorance.

"About Pamela scheming against Bella's mother. Do you think she has some evidence?" Bella, preoccupied with her son, hadn't paid much attention to Alpha Carl's words, but Layla was different. She sensed some hidden meaning behind his words, and Bella hadn't asked her about it, so she couldn't let Alpha Carl slip by either.

"I didn't have any evidence, I was merely speaking casually," Alpha Carl replied, refusing to divulge any further information to Layla.

"I thought you had some evidence," Layla muttered, her disappointment evident.

"Pamela was once Bella's mother's best friend, yet she shamelessly seduced her friend's husband. It's despicable. What's even more infuriating is how she not only seduced Bella's mother's husband but also had her daughter entice Bella's husband. I detest her. I've always longed to see Bella get her fair revenge. To be honest, what I said earlier was true. I genuinely hope Beta Craig cheats and allows that repugnant woman to experience the pain she caused," Alpha Carl confessed, his disdain for Pamela and her daughter evident.

Layla, just as wickedly inclined, couldn't tolerate Pamela and her daughter either. Their characters were strikingly similar.

"I understand your sentiments towards Bella, but we must take things one step at a time. We need to be more cautious with this matter. Foxes will eventually reveal their tails," Layla remarked excitedly. She had always yearned to catch Pamela in the act but was unable to do much on her own. If Alpha Carl was willing to assist her, it would be far more effective than her solitary thoughts.

"Yes," Alpha Carl nodded. "I haven't paid much attention to Beta Craig, given that he's Bella's father. He may be treacherous but won't harm his own son. However, Pamela is different. I need to keep a closer eye on her."

"I also believe that we should pay more attention to Pamela. I have something to share with you. During dinner with Bella, I spotted Pamela with a man in a car on the road. They were holding hands," Layla divulged.

"Are you certain about this?" Alpha Carl's interest was piqued.

"I can't be sure. I was a bit far away, and the woman was wearing a hat and sunglasses. I couldn't positively identify her. But when I called Aunt Maleah, she said Pamela wasn't home and had gone for beauty treatments. She claimed that whenever Beta Craig had something going on, Pamela would always indulge in beauty care for an extended period. It struck me as peculiar, so..." Layla trailed off.

"I see. I'll keep an eye on Pamela. If anything happens, you'll be the first to know!" Alpha Carl promised.

"Itzel is so beautiful and unmarried. Could it be related to your father?"

"No way!" Bella shook her head.

"Why not? Itzel looks just like your mother. Maybe your father sees her as a shadow of your mother."

"What's going on in your head?" Bella chuckled. "Let me enlighten you, Itzel is Alpha Carl's father's lover."

"Ah!" Layla gasped. "Alpha Carl is your father's lover? Does Alpha Carl know?"

"Of course he knows!" a voice suddenly chimed in. Alpha Carl appeared before them, no one having noticed his approach.

"I..." Layla blushed, embarrassed to be caught gossiping behind someone's back, even with good intentions.

"We weren't saying anything bad about you..."