LOGINThe roar of the crowd still thundered across the arena when Bella finally realized someone was holding a bottle of water in front of her face.“Drink slowly,” the girl urged gently.Bella barely heard her. Her ears were ringing from the cheers, her muscles trembling violently after the brutal final round.Still dazed, she grabbed the bottle and swallowed greedily.Cold water slid down her throat, sharp and refreshing.For a second, relief hit her.Then suddenly—She coughed violently.The bottle slipped from her fingers, water splashing across her clothes and the dusty floor beneath her boots.“Oh Goddess!” the girl gasped.Morgan was beside Bella almost instantly.“Easy,” he said firmly, gripping her shoulder before she could topple sideways. “Too much too fast. Your body’s overheated.”Bella wheezed, pressing a hand against her chest as he carefully helped her sit back down on the wooden bench behind the arena.The pounding in her head slowly eased.Morgan crouched in front of her,
Bella’s fists trembled as she rose from the bench, chest heaving from exhaustion and rage alike.“I’d rather crush wolves in the arena than sit here arguing with you,” she said coldly, brushing loose strands of damp hair away from her face.Across from her, Serena Vale—daughter of Alpha Dominic and the woman who acted like she already owned Dave Stark’s throne—leaned back in her chair with a smug smile curling her lips.Bella hated how Serena’s words had crawled under her skin.Because part of them had been true.Strength mattered in this world. Power mattered. And if Bella wanted Dave Stark to ever look at her as more than some fragile responsibility dumped in his territory, then she had to prove she could survive beside him.Not behind him.Not beneath him.Beside him.Hilda stirred inside her chest, the silver wolf restless and fierce.Then stop talking and fight, the wolf purred.Bella inhaled sharply.There had been a time—in another life, another existence—where love had felt si
Bella pushed herself off the chair, brushing strands of damp hair away from her face as she stared coldly at Olivia.“I’d rather prove myself in the arena than stand here arguing with you.”Olivia’s lips curved into a thin smile, but Bella no longer cared enough to decipher whether it was mockery or admiration.The words still burned though.Dave Stark only respects strength.As much as Bella hated hearing it from Olivia of all people, part of her knew it was true.The Hybrid King never babied anyone. He demanded results. Power. Loyalty.Weakness irritated him.And Bella was exhausted from being seen as fragile.For one reckless moment, her thoughts drifted backward—to another life, another version of herself. A quieter future where she had imagined peace beside the man she loved. No wars. No politics. No blood.Just warmth.Just love.But fate had torn that dream apart long ago.Hilda stirred inside her mind, her silver voice low and steady.Then stop mourning the girl you used to be
Bella’s body screamed in protest.Every muscle burned as she lay flat on the damp training grounds behind the Stark estate, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. Sweat glued strands of dark hair to her forehead while the cold morning wind brushed against her overheated skin.Above her, gray clouds rolled slowly across the sky.She should have stopped an hour ago.Maybe two.But stopping wasn’t an option anymore.Not after everything Dave Stark had said to her.Weakest link.The words still cut deeper than any blade.Bella clenched her fists against the dirt and pushed herself upright with trembling arms. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her, but she forced herself to stand anyway.Inside her mind, Hilda stirred lazily.“You’re overworking us again,” the wolf muttered.Bella wiped sweat from her jaw. “Good.”“You realize normal wolves rest, right?”“I’m not trying to be normal.”That earned silence from Hilda.Because they both knew the truth.Bella was tired of being the fragile
Bella’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she sat on the wooden bench at the edge of the training grounds, sweat clinging to her skin like a second layer. The cool dawn breeze should have eased the ache in her muscles, but every part of her body burned from exhaustion.Morgan crouched in front of her, twisting the cap off a bottle of water before handing it over with an easy grin.“Relax,” he said. “Nobody masters combat in a day. Some wolves take months before they stop tripping over their own feet.”Bella snorted softly and drank. “Months? You learned in two weeks.”Morgan laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I also broke my arm twice and nearly dislocated my jaw. Trust me, it wasn’t pretty.”A deep male voice sliced through the moment.“Encouragement is useful. False hope isn’t.”Bella stiffened instantly.Her pulse betrayed her before she even turned around.Dave Stark stood near the stone pathway leading toward the mansion, dressed entirely in black. Fitted black pants hugged his
Bella nearly sighed in relief when Morgan finally shifted the conversation away from the dangerous details of her first transformation.Nearly.Because Olivia suddenly leaned forward with suspicious curiosity sparkling in her eyes, and Bella instantly knew the interrogation was far from over.“So,” Morgan said, resting his elbows on the table, “what exactly did it feel like?”Bella froze with her spoon halfway to her mouth.Across the table, Dave Stark sat lazily in his chair like a king entirely unbothered by the chaos around him.Which was a lie.Bella could feel his attention on her even when he wasn’t looking directly at her.Especially when he wasn’t.“It wasn’t… dramatic,” Bella muttered carefully.Morgan narrowed his eyes immediately.“That answer sounds fake.”Hilda snorted inside Bella’s mind.Male smells lies.Bella mentally kicked her wolf.“It’s not fake.”“Bella,” Morgan deadpanned, “you literally awakened a dormant wolf under a full moon after years of being wolfless. Th
Dave Stark gently set Bella down on the bed as if she were some precious but dangerous merchandise.With one hand pressed against the side of her head and the other reaching out for her, he came close to her as if the only thing that kept him sane was to close as much space as he could between them
Bella’s stomach rumbled loudly as she and Sandra descended the grand staircase. Hunger gnawed at her—she hadn’t eaten since school before ending up in Dave’s house.“Speaking of food,” Bella whispered, nudging Sandra, “what’s with the cook? She looked like she wanted to slit my throat the second Da
The evening was quiet. Bella lay in bed, her phone held to her side. She glanced at the time—10:57 PM.Would Dave come tonight?She had to speak to someone to release the agitation churning within her. The weight of her mother's decision was heavy in her heart. Leaving the pack was never her plan,
Joy bounced in delight as she grabbed a tray from the lunch line. "I wish I was there," she exclaimed, her eyes bright."You should have seen her," Eve said, a self-satisfied sneer creeping over her lips. “I think I created a baddie.”Joy giggled, shooting a playful glance at her. “Remind me never







