LOGINMabella’s POV
Everything went silent for a moment and the silence hurts, it's the kind that crashes inside your head and drowns every single thought.
Mate.
The word echoed again and again, louder each time, like it was trying to mock me.
No, no, no.
This was so wrong!
Why did this happen?
My chest tightened painfully as I stared at him, my fingers were still sticky with cake and my lips were trembling.
And he…he was just staring at me, he didn't smirk or look disgusted like I expected but seriously I was scared of his next move.
Why should I be mated to a freaking alpha, my sister's husband on her wedding day?!
He moved slowly towards me and my body felt as if hot coal was thrown on me…is it fear or the mate arousal thing they talk about? I don't know, maybe both.
My body reacted before my brain could process it. I stumbled back, shaking my head quickly.
My wolf growled angrily, she wanted her mate, she hated that I was staying back but what can I do? If only I were slimmer.
Fear wrapped around me as he approached more…I knew what was coming…it's expected.
He's going to reject me, of course what Alpha would want a fat mate for himself?
My heart burned as my throat tightened when I noticed people were approaching.
My wolf whimpered softly inside me, confused, restless.
“Reject me,” I said suddenly, the words spilling out before I could stop them. My hands were clenched tightly at my sides. “Just do it quickly, before people come please, I won't tell anyone.”
His brows furrowed in confusion.
Why was he confused?
I hope I wasn't delusional about that whole thing?!
“What?”
“You won't want me, I'm not fit…just do it, please.” I rushed and I hated the crack in my voice.
“Mabella.”.... The way he said my name made my heart beat race.
“You think I would reject you? What made you think so?” he asked, his voice was so low, almost dangerous but somehow I still wanted to hear it over and over again.
Wasn't he going to reject me?
Huh?
What sort of a dream was this?
Then what was he going to do with me? Kill me?
Fuck!
“Then what are you going to do to me?” I asked, trembling..
He closed the distance between us in two quick steps and before I could move again, his hand wrapped gently around my wrist, the care in his grip contrasted the harshness I was expecting and I just wanted to melt into the grip instantly.
His golden eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time, someone stared at me..not with disgust.
I saw something else—something that made my heart stutter.
“You’re shaking,” he said and that was it, tears burned my eyes again, but this time they felt different.
“I’m scared,” I admitted quietly.
His grip softened instantly,
“Of me?” he asked.
I didn't reply. I couldn't reply and for a second, he didn’t say anything.
Then his hand slowly moved from my wrist to my cheek.
I flinched as he gently wiped a bit of icing from the corner of my lips.
“You’re my mate,” he said, like it was the simplest truth in the world. “There is nothing after that. That is everything and no, I'm not going to reject you. Who told you that you're not fit to be by my side? You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, my BIG BABY..”
My wolf whimpered at the nickname he gave me…he wasn't going to reject.
He loved me for who I am!
Holy cow of Togo!
My heart pounded wildly…then my heart moved to my sister, people were beginning to come into the kitchen…Then I spotted Anabella.
“What the heck is going on here, Alfredo, it's our wedding day! What are you doing with this fat thing?!” She asked and I felt like covering her mouth.
I silently prayed her words wouldn't make him change his mind.
“I'm here because the ‘fat thing’ is my fated mate” Alfredo declared and the gasps and ewes that traveled made me pray to just disappear from the spot.
Annabel's face had completely drained of color, and her eyes were wide with pure disbelief.
Then the murmur began.
“This can't be.”
“She's too ugly!*
“What in the moon is happening?”
“Did she use a spell or charm?”
“Tell me you are joking! You can't be, she's too ugly. You will reject her, right? Look at the sack she calls her belly, what about our wedding?” Annabel rushed and each word felt like a slap.
My chest tightened painfully again and that was it.
I tried to pull away, panic rising in my chest but Alfredo’s grip tightened.
“I’m sorry, Anabella,” he said.
“You’re sorry?” she laughed weakly, but it sounded broken. “You’re sorry?”
Her breathing became uneven.
“Yes…The wedding you talked about is cancelled, there's no need for you anymore..I found the one I've spent years looking for.” I really wanted to kiss him when he said that and I loved how Anabel's face grew paler.
“I….this fat bi—”
“Any more harsh words about her and I will have you thrown into a dungeon…” Alfredo said.
“I…” she tried to speak again, but no words came out.
Her body swayed hard to the left and then, she collapsed, gasps filled the entire hallway.
“Annabella!”
“Catch her!”
Everything erupted into chaos..people rushed forward as voices, words, and panic grew louder.
“The Luna fainted!”
“Call the healer!”
“What is going on?!”
“The wedding—what about the wedding?!”
I just stood there, frozen with my heart racing, everything was spiraling out of control but in the middle of it all…his hand was still holding mine.
“Take my mate to my chambers, I will meet you when everything dies down.” Alfredo shot me a look that made my wolf whimper with want before he handed me over to his beta.
Mabella’s POVI left Alfredo in the orchard, my skin still warm from our time together and my heart a little steadier, but my head was spinning. The argument, the way we’d come back together, my mother appearing under that orange tree — it was all too much. I needed someone who could give me real answers without sugarcoating anything.Vida was sitting on the porch of her small cabin, shelling beans into a big wooden bowl. She looked up as I approached and gave me a long, knowing look.“You look like you’ve been through hell and back,” she said. “Come sit down. Whatever’s eating at you, let’s get it out before it festers.”I sat beside her on the wooden step. The late afternoon light filtered through the trees around us. For a minute I just breathed, trying to organize my thoughts.“I saw her today, Vida,” I started. “My mother. She was waiting for me under the old orange tree. She’s alive. She has the Ruby, and she wants all the information I have on the Ashborne bloodline in exchange
Dual POVAlfredo’s POVThree hours. Three hours of silence that felt like knives under my skin. I had paced the perimeter twice, spoken to no one, and still could not get her last words out of my head. I survived worse without you. I would make the same decision again. They were true. That was the worst part. I found her at the edge of the old orchard, sitting on a fallen log with her back to me, one hand resting on her belly. The late afternoon light caught in her hair. My chest tightened so hard it hurt. I stopped a few feet away. “I am terrified of losing you,” I said. The words came out raw, no polish, no apology wrapped around them. “Not just tonight. Every day. The Ruby, your brother, your mother coming back from the dead — none of it scares me as much as the thought that one day you will stop letting me stand beside you. That is what I could not say under the trees. I am not angry that you made the choice. I am terrified you no longer need me to help carry it.”Mabell
Mabella’s POVI stepped out of the clearing and into the shade of the trees. Alfredo was already moving toward me, his expression tight with everything he had clearly overheard. Fred stayed farther back, giving us room, but I knew he was close enough to hear.“What the hell was that, Mabella?” Alfredo asked, his voice low but strained. “I heard every word. You promised that stranger you would meet him alone at midnight. At the old mill crossing. You offered him the full Ashborne bloodline secrets. You never once looked toward me. Not a single glance.”I stopped in front of him and took a slow breath. “Yes. That is exactly what I agreed to. He brings the Ruby tonight and I will give him everything I know. The true markings, the hidden lines, the maps, every lead I have on my brother. In return, we finally get the stone back. I go alone. That was the deal.”Alfredo rubbed a hand over his jaw, his eyes never leaving mine. “You agreed to meet a man who just threatened our unborn child. At
Alfredo’s POV“Neither of you move another inch. Hands where I can see them. Now.”The stranger’s voice cut through the clearing. I stayed hidden in the tree line, every instinct screaming at me to move, but I held still.Mabella lifted her hands slowly. “This is a private conversation. You have no business here. Walk away before this turns ugly.”The stranger laughed. “Private? With the Ruby between you? I do not think so. I have been tracking that stone for months. Tell me exactly what deal you were just making.”Mabella’s mother kept her arms visible. “You are interrupting something far bigger than you realize. Turn around now and we can all leave this clearing alive. Push this and someone will bleed.”“Bleed?” the stranger said. “I have men with clear shots. The girl is pregnant, is she not? Tell me the deal or I start making examples.”Mabella kept her voice steady. “You want the Ruby? Then you will earn it. I was offering my mother a trade. The stone for information only I hold
Mabella’s POV“You really came.”I stopped at the edge of the clearing, my voice carrying across the damp grass before I could think better of it. The words tasted bitter on my tongue. The old orange tree stood heavy with fruit behind her, its sweet rotting scent thick in the morning air. Alfredo and Fred lingered two steps back in the tree line like I had asked, but I could still feel them watching.The woman turned slowly. My mother. Or the ghost of her. “Mabella,” she said, low and careful, like my name might break if she spoke it too loud. “I wasn’t sure you would. After everything.”“After everything?” I let out a sharp, ugly sound that was supposed to be a laugh. “You mean after I spent fifteen years believing you burned on that pyre? After I stood there until the ashes went cold and they had to drag me away? Yeah. I still came. Because apparently I’m still stupid enough to hope this Ruby nonsense might fix something.”She looked older up close. Silver threaded through her dark
Mabella's POV"The Ruby is gone."Fred’s voice hit the corridor like a slap. We all froze.I spun around so fast my head spun. He was rushing toward us from the vault wing, face pale, eyes wild and red-rimmed like he’d just been punched in the soul."What the hell do you mean it’s gone?" Alfredo barked, stepping forward. "Fred, talk to me.""Overnight," Fred said, breathing hard, almost gasping. "Third hour rotation. The outer door was completely intact. No forced entry, no alarms, nothing. It’s just… not there anymore. Vanished.""That’s impossible," Alfredo growled, voice rising. "The protections were supposed to hold for weeks—""They were weaker than we thought, okay?" Fred snapped back, sounding wrecked. "Way fucking weaker. Whoever took it knew the exact degradation level. Down to the hour, Alfredo. They didn’t guess. They timed it perfectly."I looked at Serena. She stood there frozen, one hand gripping her shawl so tight her knuckles were bone-white. "Serena… you knew this mig







