28

Belle’s POV

The moment Hayden offered to drive me home, I knew exactly what I was doing, even as I tried rejecting his offer at first.

As the journey continued, I enjoyed every second of it.

The car glided through the quiet road that led away from the gathering hall. The night was cool, the wind brushing softly against the tinted windows, but inside the car the atmosphere was thick, heavy, and dangerous.

I leaned back into the leather seat, crossing my legs slowly as I rubbed my belly softly.

My eyes slid toward Hayden as he drove. He looked focused on the road, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel, the other on the gear shift. 

His jaw was tight, his posture straight, every bit the composed Alpha he was known to be.

But I saw beyond that all that. I saw the curiosity, the suspicion, and I loved it.

“Good,” I thought to myself, waiting for the right time to act. You can call it a strike if you so wish.

I allowed the tension to grow because I had no intention of letting the night end peacefully.

I smiled faintly. “You didn’t have to drive me yourself,” I said softly, breaking the silence. 

“Your guards could have done that.” I added with a soft smile.

Hayden didn’t look at me as he continued with the driving, “I prefer handling certain things myself,” he said with a calm voice.

I tilted her head. “Oh?” I exclaimed.

His voice was calm, but there was something beneath it. “Yes,” he said. “Especially when the situation involves another Alpha’s mate.”

I laughed lightly. “Well, I suppose my husband wouldn’t mind,” I said.

Now Hayden glanced at me, giving me a brief look, sharp and studying.

“Wouldn’t he?” he asked as I shrugged.

“Zach doesn’t get to decide everything,” I said as my fingers traced the edge of my dress casually.

Besides, Zach had already embarrassed himself tonight with that pathetic display with Livia.

The memory made my lips curl slightly. Livia, that foolish woman could have stepped away.

She could have pushed Zach off, but no she stood there, allowed him to hold her, and allowed him to pull her close.

My eyes darkened. So why shouldn’t she return the favor? If Livia could let Zach touch her, then I could sit beside Hayden.

Was it fair and honest? I wanted Zach to feel it, to feel the humiliation and the helplessness.

The same helpless rage I had swallowed for weeks.

My gaze drifted back to Hayden. “And you,” I said thoughtfully, “seem surprisingly comfortable with the situation.” Hayden’s brow lifted slightly.

“Which situation?” he asked, surprised.

“You drive another Alpha’s wife home,” I said and his lips twitched.

“You asked for a ride,” he said.

“You offered it.” I corrected it.

“That’s correct,” he said in deference.

I studied him carefully. “You are not worried it could start problems?” I asked.

Hayden chuckled under his breath. “A problem between Zach and I?” he said. “That existed long before tonight.”

I smiled slowly. “Yes, that’s true.” I added.

Zach’s pack had always been a rival, not enemies exactly, but never allies either.

The Alpha treaty prevented open war between them, but tension had always existed beneath the surface.

Every Alpha in the region knew the rules. If one became too powerful, the others would unite and overthrow him, thereby bringing balance, control and mutual fear because it kept the peace.

Which meant Zach couldn’t simply attack Hayden without consequences, and Hayden couldn’t do the same.

That fact alone made me feel comfortable and safe as I leaned slightly closer.

“So tell me something,” I said softly.

Hayden glanced at me again. “What?” he asked.

I tapped my finger thoughtfully against my lips. “I’m curious,” I said.

“About?” he asked, surprised.

“Your wife,” I replied.

That made Hayden’s gaze sharpen instantly and I noticed it.

I tilted my head innocently. “I mean Livia.”

The car remained steady, but the atmosphere shifted immediately when she mentioned her name.

Hayden said nothing but I continued casually. “She seems interesting.”

“So calm,” I said. “So quiet.” My lips curved faintly.

Hayden’s voice finally came. “What exactly are you trying to say?” he asked, his voice low but firm.

I pretended as if I was thinking about something before I finally replied. “Oh, nothing serious,” I  said, then leaned back again.

“I was just thinking about the little incident earlier,” I added, and I watched as his jaw tightened.

“What incident?” he asked as I blinked slowly.

“The one everyone is whispering about,” I said.

Hayden’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. “What whispers?” he asked, pretending not to understand what I was talking about.

I turned to face him fully now. “The stealing.” I finally let out confidently.

That was when the car stopped abruptly as the tires screeched lightly and Hayden slammed the brakes.

I didn’t even flinch a bit, and in fact, I smiled.

The engine was still running, but the vehicle was now parked at the side of the dark road.

Hayden slowly turned his head toward me, and the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. It was cold, controlled, and dangerous.

“What,” he said slowly, “did you just say?”

I lifted an eyebrow as if confused. “Oh?” I exclaimed. My tone was innocent.

“You didn’t hear?” he asked angrily, his stare hardened. “Watch your words carefully,” he added, but I wasn’t afraid.

I crossed my arms calmly. “There were rumors during the event,” I said. “About something going missing.” 

Hayden’s voice dropped lower.

“And you believe those rumors?” he asked. “By the way, is it a rumor or what you planned?” He asked if I knew he already understood where I was heading to.

I shrugged. “I didn’t say I believed them, nor did I plan anything,” I replied as I leaned closer to him slightly.

“I just said people were talking.”

His eyes burned into mine.

“And what exactly were they saying?” he asked, but I spoke slowly.

“That the item disappeared…” I said with a grin on my face, and my lips curved slightly.

“And that your wife was seen near the place where it vanished.” I continued.

Silence filled the car at that moment; it was heavy and oppressive.

Hayden’s chest rose slowly with a controlled breath. “That,” he said quietly, “is a very serious accusation.” 

I smiled softly. “What does Hayden feel like, Hayden? knowing people are calling your Luna a thief?” I asked, smiling wickedly.

The air inside the car turned suffocating for several seconds. Hayden said absolutely nothing.

His wolf was close to the surface now and I could feel it.

That powerful Alpha aura was pressing down on the space between us but I didn’t back down. Instead I leaned even closer.

“So tell me,” I whispered.

“Does it bother you?” I asked.

Hayden’s voice when it came was deadly calm. “Careful, Belle,” he warned as I could see his veins running deeply in anger.

I smirked. “Why?” I asked, careless about his anger.

His eyes flashed dangerously. “Because if you say one more word against my wife…”

The temperature in the car seemed to drop.

“…you will regret it.” he threatened.

I laughed softly. “Oh?” I exclaimed as I leaned back, unfazed.

“That protective?” I mocked as his jaw clenched.

“You are testing my patience,” he said angrily as I shrugged again.

“Relax,” I said, smiling faintly.

Then I said the one thing she knew would push him further. “I just thought it was embarrassing.”

His eyes narrowed. “For an Alpha,” I added.

The silence at the moment got deeper.

“For his Luna,” I continued slowly, “to be accused of stealing.”

The steering wheel creaked under Hayden’s grip. “And if it’s true…” I added thoughtfully.

“That would ruin your reputation.”

That was the moment Hayden’s control snapped as he suddenly leaned closer, his presence overwhelming, his eyes glowing faintly with the power of his wolf.

“Listen carefully,” he said in a low, threatening voice. “My wife is not a thief.”

I met his gaze calmly. “And if anyone spreads that lie…” His voice dropped to a whisper.

“I will make them wish they never opened their mouths,” he said with all seriousness.

I studied him, then slowly I smiled because his anger told me something important. He was rattled, and that meant the game had only just begun.