Hundred and Fourteen
Hundred and Fourteen
BETHANY'S POV
I could feel my pulse pounding as I made my way down the hallway, my mind racing with everything Joel had said. His bitterness, the veiled threats, and the look in his eyes—there was no mistaking his intent. Joel was angry, resentful, and now he had Vivian feeding his grudges, fueling whatever twisted plan the two of them were cooking up. Whatever it was, I had no intention of waiting around for it to take us by surprise.
I found Damien in his office, his attention focused on a stack of documents. His expression softened when he looked up and saw me, but the moment he noticed my tension, his gaze sharpened with concern.
“Bethany,” he greeted me, standing up immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Joel came to see me,” I said, closing the door behind me. “And it was… not a friendly visit.”
Damien’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with the same unease I felt. “What did he say?”
I crossed the room, standing across from him as I relayed every detail of the conversation—the bitterness in Joel’s voice, his resentment over the past, and the subtle but unmistakable threats he’d made. I told him about Vivian, about the way she seemed to be feeding his anger, pushing him further and further toward something dangerous.
When I finished, Damien’s face was a mask of controlled anger, his gaze steely. “So that’s what this is about,” he murmured, more to himself than to me. “Joel’s holding on to the past, letting Vivian manipulate him into doing something reckless.”
“Exactly,” I replied, my voice hard. “They’re feeding off each other’s resentment. It’s like they’re building a case against us in their heads, convincing themselves that they’re justified in… whatever it is they’re planning.”
Damien’s expression grew darker. “They think they can threaten you and get away with it?”
I took a steadying breath. “I don’t think Joel realizes what he’s doing. He’s caught up in his anger, and Vivian’s using that to push him further. But whatever they’re planning, we need to be prepared.”
Damien nodded, his gaze fixed and unyielding. “They’re playing a dangerous game, and if they think they can manipulate us or intimidate us, they’re in for a rude awakening.” He reached for my hand, his grip warm and steady. “We’ll handle this together, Bethany. Whatever they throw at us, we’re stronger than them. Always.”
I felt a rush of relief at his words, his calm strength anchoring me. Damien had always been the one person I could trust completely, the one who would stand by me no matter what. And in this moment, I knew we were united in our determination to protect what we’d built together.
“What do you think they’re planning?” I asked, my voice soft but steady.
Damien’s expression hardened. “Knowing Vivian, it’s not something small. She’s been angry with us for a long time, and now that she has Joel wrapped around her finger, she probably thinks she has the upper hand.”
I nodded, my mind racing. “Do you think it’s possible they’re planning something against Zara?”
Damien’s face grew stony, his gaze darkening with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “If they think they can use Zara as leverage… they’re going to regret it.”
The thought of Zara being involved sent a chill down my spine. She was our whole world, the one person we would do anything to protect. If Joel and Vivian thought they could exploit that, they had crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.
“Then we need to be prepared,” I said firmly. “If they’re targeting Zara, we can’t take any chances. We need to put security in place around her, make sure she’s protected at all times.”
Damien nodded, already thinking ahead. “We’ll increase the security at her school and around the packhouse. I’ll speak to the guards personally, make sure they understand the importance of keeping an eye on her.”
He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “We’ll keep her safe, Bethany. I won’t let anyone touch her.”
I felt a surge of gratitude, and I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Damien. I know I can always count on you.”
He smiled, though his expression was still serious. “We’re in this together. And if Joel and Vivian want a fight, then we’ll be ready for them.”
\---
That afternoon, Damien and I put the plan into motion. He called a meeting with the pack’s security team, going over every detail of our new strategy to ensure Zara’s safety. I could tell he was taking this as seriously as I was—his instructions were clear, his tone firm, making it clear that there was no room for error.
I watched him from the back of the room, a sense of pride filling me as I listened to him speak. Damien had always been a strong leader, but in moments like this, his strength and determination were unmatched. His dedication to protecting the people he loved was one of the many reasons I had chosen him, and seeing him in action only reminded me of how lucky I was.
After the meeting, Damien approached me, his expression serious but resolute. “Everything’s in place. Zara will be protected, and we’ll keep an eye on Joel and Vivian. If they make a move, we’ll know.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Good. I don’t want to underestimate them, but I think we’re ready for whatever they try.”
He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady. “We are. And remember, they’re the ones operating out of anger and bitterness. That kind of motivation can cloud judgment. If they think they’re stronger than us, they’re only fooling themselves.”
I felt a flicker of satisfaction at his words. Damien was right—Joel and Vivian were letting their emotions guide them, and that would be their downfall. We were prepared, focused, and united, and that made us stronger than any petty grudge or scheme they could throw our way.
As evening approached, Damien and I went to check on Zara, who was playing in the garden with some of the other children. The sight of her laughing, completely carefree, reminded me of what was truly at stake. This was the life we had built together, the family we had worked so hard to protect. I wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from us.
When Zara spotted us, she ran over, her face lighting up with a bright smile. “Mom! Damien!”
I knelt down, pulling her into a hug, feeling a wave of warmth wash over me. “Hey, sweetie. Did you have fun today?”
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes! We played hide-and-seek, and I found the best hiding spot!”
Damien ruffled her hair, his expression softening. “That’s our girl. Always one step ahead.”
Zara beamed, clearly proud of herself, and I felt a surge of pride and love for her. She was strong, smart, and filled with a joy that I would do anything to protect. Whatever Joel and Vivian thought they could take from us, they would never touch this—our family, our love, and our strength.
\---
Later that night, as Damien and I sat in the living room, a sense of calm settled over me. We were prepared, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. But there was still an unease lingering in the back of my mind, a sense that this wasn’t over.
Damien reached for my hand, his grip warm and steady. “We’re going to get through this, Bethany. Together.”
I looked at him, my heart swelling with gratitude. “I know. I just… I hate that it’s come to this. That Joel and Vivian are so consumed by bitterness that they’d go this far.”
He nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Sometimes, people let their anger consume them. They hold onto grudges, thinking it gives them power, but all it does is weaken them. Joel and Vivian are so focused on hurting us that they don’t realize they’re hurting themselves.”
I took a deep breath, nodding. “And we’re not going to let them drag us down with them.”
“No, we’re not,” Damien agreed, his voice firm. “We’re stronger than that. Stronger than they’ll ever understand.”
We sat together in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. I knew that whatever lay ahead, we were ready. Joel and Vivian might think they had the upper hand, but they were wrong. They were letting their emotions guide them, letting their anger control their actions. And in the end, that would be their downfall.
As I leaned against Damien, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, I knew that we would face whatever came our way. We would protect our family, our life, and our love. And together, we would stand strong, unshaken by the bitterness of those who tried to tear us apart.