Chapter 2

The Ambush

Mira took a step towards Bella, ready to attack, but Zayn moved faster than Bella had ever seen anyone move. He was in front of her in an instant, his hand around Mira's wrist.

"Let it go, Mira," he said again, his voice steady and commanding. "Breathe."

Bella could see the tension in Mira's body as she struggled against Zayn's grip. But slowly, Mira looked Zayn in the eyes and she felt him controlling her emotions. Of course, he was the alpha after all and he could keep his pack in check. The tension began to ease. Her eyes returned to their normal color, and her fangs receded.

"I'm sorry, Zayn," she said, and then turned and walked away.

Zayn turned to look at Bella. His eyes were hard, and his expression was unreadable.

"No one here trusts you," he said. "Not even me. You limelights are all the same, so I suggest you fucking stay out of people's way."

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Bella standing alone in the garden. She felt a mixture of anger and confusion.

****************

Despite her best efforts, Bella had struggled to make any friends in Moonshire. Everyone seemed to resent her presence, and even Zayn, the alpha, was cold and distant. The only person who had been friendly to her was Ethan, who was grateful for her help in treating his injuries.

She'd been here for a week, and she was beginning to feel like she didn't belong. Perhaps it was time to leave.

Bella heard a knock at the door. When she opened it, Zayn was standing there.

"Get ready," he said. "You're coming with us to the bloodcrest hideout."

"What?!" Bella exclaimed. "I only agreed to come here to help with injured people, not to get mixed up in the war between shadowfang and bloodcrest."

"No way!" she continued. "I'm not a fighter, okay? I heal people, not inflict pain."

Zayn looked at her, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to fight, no one is asking you to get involved. All you need to do is be there just in case someone gets hurt!” He said. “Oh... and what about my safety? Who’s going to fix me if I get hurt?” Bella said “I’ll protect you with my life, right now you’re an important asset, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Even though he only said that cuz he needs her to stay alive for his own personal reasons she felt reassured.

Bella sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll come with you. I can't be sure of my safety, but it's good to know that I might be able to help someone." She closed the door behind her, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. This was going to be an experience unlike any she'd ever had before. She just hoped it wouldn't be her last.

As Bella and Zayn drove to the location, they were followed by several cars full of Zayn's team. When they arrived, something felt off to Bella. She voiced her concerns to Zayn.

"I don't feel good about this," she said. "Something seems wrong."

"Stay alert, everyone," Zayn said, his tone serious. "This is the exact location our source provided."

Bella felt uneasy. "And how sure are you of this source?" she asked.

Zayn's eyes narrowed. "I don't want to hear anything more from you," he said coldly.

Something did feel off, and Zayn felt it too. Then suddenly, they heard it - a loud spark, like a gunshot, coming from the distance.

"It's a trap!" Ethan yelled, his voice filled with panic.

"Everyone, stand your ground!" Zayn commanded, his tone commanding and serious.

Before they could even blink, a swarm of bloodcrest pack members jumped out of the shadows, their eyes glowing red and their fangs glistening in the moonlight. Bella could smell the bloodlust on them, and she knew they were out for blood.

Zayn and his pack were outnumbered and surrounded. They were trapped.

"What do we do?" Mira asked, her voice shaking with fear.

"Take down as many as you can and try to get the hell out of here!" Zayn yelled to his pack.

The bloodcrest members charged at them, and the battle began. Bella was caught up in the chaos, struggling to defend herself against the onslaught of werewolves. She'd never been in a fight like this before, and she was terrified. Zayn did his best to protect her, fighting off anyone who came near her.

Amid the chaos, Ethan spotted a gap in the crowd, a way for Zayn and Bella to escape. He signaled to Zayn, and the alpha nodded.

Grabbing Bella's hand, Zayn ran for the gap, while Ethan did his best to hold off the bloodcrest members who were trying to follow them. But one of them broke through.

Zayn ran through the woods, Bella close behind him. But she could barely keep up - Zayn's werewolf speed was far greater than her own, and he was outpacing her with ease.

She'd never learned to use her werewolf strength, and she could feel her legs beginning to tire. She was losing ground, and she knew she couldn't keep up like this for long.

She tried to call out to Zayn, but her voice was lost in the wind.

Bella tripped over a small rock and fell to the ground. She landed hard, her breath knocked out of her. As she lay there, she saw one of the bloodcrest members approaching her, his speed far greater than her own.

He stood over her, a cruel smile on his face. "You're new," he said, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "Are you their new member?"

Bella struggled to catch her breath, her heart racing. "No," she managed to say, her voice hoarse. "I'm not."

He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up, her feet hanging in the air. Bella thrashed and struggled, but the man's grip was like iron. She felt helpless, her strength no match for his.

 Then, she felt a sudden rush of wind, and the man was thrown off of her, landing on the ground several feet away.

She looked up, and saw Zayn standing over the man, his eyes glowing red. In one swift motion, he snapped the man's neck, and then tossed him against a tree. He turned to Bella, his expression unreadable. She stood up, her heart pounding in her chest. “Thank you” she managed to say, her eyes still filled with fear.

Zayn's words hit her like a punch in the gut. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted. "My pack members are fighting for their lives so you could get to safety, but you couldn't even run to to stay alive! What kind of werewolf can't even run?!"

Bella stood frozen in place, his words echoing in her head. Tears began to stream down her face. She knew he was right - she'd been weak, unable to protect herself or help out. She felt like a failure, and Zayn's words only made her feel worse.

"I...I'm sorry," she stammered. “I.. I told you I’m not a fighter, I’ve never used my strength.” Bella stuttered. “Then how about your magic? Why not use that?!!” Zayn yelled. “My magic is weak too.” Bella responded as she looked away. “So you’re useless then!” His words broke her. “Let’s move, we have to camp out here tonight” Zayn said ignoring her tears.