47

Bella’s POV

“Zach!” I called as I noticed he was about to start the car and drive off. My voice tore through the room like a blade, sharp and unrestrained. 

The walls seemed to echo my fury, carrying it farther than I intended, but I didn’t care as I wanted him to hear it and I wanted him to feel it.

“How dare you?!” I snapped, my hands trembling at my sides. “How dare you think you can show up to that event without me?!” I thundered but he didn’t respond immediately.

I watched as he finally stepped down from the car and began walking towards me. He was slow, steady, and dangerous.

My chest tightened as I watched the audacity, the sheer audacity of him. Did he think people wouldn’t talk? Did he think they wouldn’t notice his absence of a mate, his pregnant mate? Or worse, did he simply not care?

That thought hit harder than anything else and my heart twisted painfully. 

Livia, the name burned through my mind like poison.

“This is what she is doing…” I muttered under my breath, my lips barely moving. “It has to be…”

My breath caught or did he find out about the stolen item?.

My stomach dropped so suddenly it felt like I was falling from a cliff and my fingers curled into fists as a cold wave of fear washed over me.

No… no, that’s impossible but then I saw his eyes and everything inside me froze.

There was no warmth there, no restraint but just anger. It was so terrifying as I instinctively stepped back.

“Zach…” My voice came out softer this time, uncertain. “Why are you…”

He didn’t stop as each step he took made my heartbeat louder, faster, erratic, and then it hit me as my hand slowly moved to my stomach.

The baby, a flicker of something twisted and desperate rose inside me. No matter how cold he was toward me, he still cared about the child.

He had to as that was my shield and my only shield.

Tears welled up in my eyes instantly, practiced, controlled, and perfect.

“I…” My voice cracked as I looked up at him, letting the tears spill over. “I thought you were leaving me…” I muttered silently.

His expression didn’t change, not even slightly but I knew him.

“I have been calling you, trying to reach you…” I sniffed, wrapping my arms around myself as if I were breaking apart. “And then I hear you are preparing for the event alone? Without me? Zach… what was I supposed to think?” I asked with teary eyes.

He finally stopped in front of me, too close and too intense that for a split second, I hesitated.

Then I stepped forward and threw my arms around him, clinging to his body as though he was the only thing keeping me standing.

I braced myself, afraid that he might push me away.

My grip tightened instinctively but he didn’t. That alone sent a strange mix of relief and fear through me.

I pressed my face against his chest, my fingers clutching his shirt.

“I was scared…” I whispered, my voice trembling just enough. “I thought you were abandoning me, abandoning us…”

There was silence for a moment, heavy and suffocating but then his hands came up not to hold me but to grip my arms firmly.

He pulled me away from him and I sucked in a sharp breath, my heart stuttering.

His gaze dropped briefly to my stomach, then returned to my face, cold and calculating.

“Why are you dressed like that?” he asked flatly.

The question caught me off guard, and for a second, I blinked at him then I forced a small, shaky smile.

“I thought we were going out,” I said, wiping my tears gently. “The event, Zach. I assumed we would go together, so I got ready early…”

“You assumed wrong,” he said, firmly, and the words hit like a slap, which made me freeze.

“What?” I was surprised.

His expression hardened further. “You are not going,” he said.

My ears rang. “I’m not going? What do you mean I’m not going?” I laughed nervously, shaking my head. “Zach, stop it. This isn’t funny. I’m your mate, and I have to be there.” I tried to brush off what he just said.

“No.” he says with all seriousness. The single word was final and unyielding.

My chest tightened painfully. “You can’t be serious…” My voice rose again, panic creeping in. “People will talk! What kind of image are you trying to create? A Luna who hides? A mate you are ashamed of?!” I expressed my displeasure at what he just said.

I was not happy at what he said and was really surprised that he's making such a decision.

I never thought he would decide to go to the luncheon all by himself. I'm his Luna, and I was looking forward to going with him even though I know things might not go well.

I took the words as a joke and I think he might be joking.

“Enough.” His voice echoes as it awakens me from my thoughts.

The way he said it. It was low, controlled and dangerous.

It silenced me instantly. “I don’t care what people think,” he continued, his voice like ice. “You are staying here.”

My nails dug into my palms. “Zach…” I whispered, my voice breaking for real this time. “You can’t do this to me…” I said with tears in my eyes.

He leaned slightly closer, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach twist. “Oh, I can,” he said quietly.

A chill ran down my spine. “Especially,” he added, his gaze darkening, “when I don’t trust you.”

My breath hitched. There it was, the unspoken truth hovering right between us.

I forced a scoff, though my heart was racing wildly.

“Don’t trust me? That’s ridiculous,” I said, shaking my head. “What have I done to deserve that?” I asked, staring at him.

He didn’t answer immediately and somehow, that was worse because the silence felt like a verdict.

“You are not going, and that's final,” I said for the umpteenth time with all seriousness and determination.