LOGINBELLA It seems every sound has stopped just to hear Ariana speak, fresh tears trail her cheeks, her lips quiver as she tries to form words of what we all wanted to know since she got back. Slowly, she peels off her robe, revealing her cream shorts and tank top. I gasp in shock, not for the exposed flesh but for the ugly whip scars snaking down her thighs to her calf. What the hell happened? She turns her sad, glassy eyes to Brad. “It all happened so fast, he dragged me and forced me to take off my clothes and put on some dead girl's clothes.” she sniffs, trying so hard to keep her snots in. I wish I could have recognised any on that day, but I was too scared and they had all shifted to their wolf form way before the attack. “Ari, I think you need to sit down.” I pat the space by my left, she ignores it and moves to my right closer to Brad. Too close for comfort, but try not to think about it. “I was blindfolded the entire trip, it was horrible.” I can only imagine how t
BELLA I wonder what wrong I must have committed against the moon goddess for her to make me go through so much humiliation. I look at Ariana, a small smile playing in her lips, like she has the upper hand. Why do they need me here? I might as well excuse them long enough to rekindle their romance. “Of course not, I don't mind.” Forcing my voice to sound cheerful. “You’ll be safe here Ari, besides, I promised to spend the night at Esme's, so I will just…” “No you won't.” Brad growled. “Brad, it's okay I…” Ariana began. “We just had your sister back and you can't wait to leave? You should spend time with her. Besides, it's not ideal for a Luna to have sleepovers like she is homeless.” Despite his almost condescending tone, acknowledging me as his Luna in front of Ari made my heart flutter, trying not to smile, I nod. “Okay.” Ariana looked disappointed, she was hoping I'd leave, knowing exactly how I’d react to her intrusion. “Make yourself comfortable Ari, I'll have the mai
BELLAThe soft hum of the air condition fills the quiet room while I sign off my section of the divorce papers. All that is left is Brad's signature, he signs off and then I'm free. I don't know which will be more challenging, telling him about the divorce or getting him to sign it.I should forge his signature and leave his ass before he becomes any wiser, Night Shade Attorneys are good with these kinds of discretion. I welcome the idea for a second before thrashing it, his ego is bigger than the pack and he'll do anything to keep it that way__my humiliation this morning was one of many.I can't fit into this life with a child on the way, I have to disappear, my bag’s packed, not even Esme will know where I am. I could rip a page out of Ari's playbook and fake my own death, that way I can't be traced. I don't know what's worse, having a child in a home where he'll never be loved by his father or raising my child as a single mother, no werewolf without a father has ever been treated
BELLA "Why did you do it?" His low but cold menacing voice reverberating through our large room made small by his presence_his nose flaring. I rub my sweaty palms against my thighs with my eyes fixed on the floor. "Look at me when I'm talking to you Bella!" I flinch. I can feel his cold stare boring deep inside me, chilling my bones. I hate that he's feeling this way, because of me. "Brad, I know you think I pushed her but that's not what happened, I..." "I know what I saw." "No you saw what you wanted to see Brad! Why do you think I would want to hurt my sister?" "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" He raises his eyebrow, daring me to state an obvious motive. I hug myself and let out a slow breath, I can't afford any more distress. "Brad, we've been together for years do you think I'm capable of hurting anyone?" "Everyone is capable of anything especially when they feel threatened." "What do you mean?" He doesn’t reply but we both know what he meant and the look in his
BELLA My hand trembles as I stare at the test results, my heart beating so fast and my breath going ragged that I have to sit on the mattress, hands on my chest and taking intentional deep breaths to calm myself. This cannot happen! This should not be happening. I drop the paper on the bed and pick it up again, still in disbelief. I can't be pregnant, not now, not when Ariana just got back and my shaky position in Brad’s life is sure to be uprooted. How did I even get pregnant? I've always been careful. Brad would not be happy about this. For the three years we've been married I can count how many times Brad has touched me__it has always been out of duty or when I need him so much I’m forced to seduce his primal male instinct but each time, I can feel his disgust anytime he's finished. He is too embarrassed to be with me let alone have a child with me. If anyone finds out they will have more reasons to despise me. I can almost hear what they'll say. "Are you really that desp
Ariana was overwhelmed with questions of where she’s been, how she’s alive with a crowd swarming around her, demanding answers until Brad had swooped in and got her away from them, declaring her Remembrance Day as an open day celebration for the pack but we are not there celebrating with the rest of them. We’re at my family house, having dinner in seclusion, the three of us and both of our parents. I’ve never seen Brad smile this much since we’ve been married. I didn’t even know he was capable of it. He takes a napkin and wipes the oil stain of the corner of Ariana’s lips and she smiles at him, muttering, “thank you.” My gaze is fixed on Ariana who doesn’t look like she’s aged a day but I can’t shake off the thought: she died, she was buried, how is she alive? I still remember the event like it was yesterday. It was the day of the wedding, Ariana had insisted I be her bridesmaid which was shocking, considering the fact that she never wants anything to do with me but my guess was







