All Chapters of His Broken Vow: Chapter 181 - Chapter 188

The moment Bella stepped beyond the hidden gate, she realized just how isolated the vampire estate truly was.Ancient oaks stretched toward the gray sky, their twisted branches weaving together like skeletal fingers. Thick undergrowth crowded the narrow dirt trail beneath her feet, muffling every hurried step she took. The silence felt unnatural, broken only by the occasional cry of unseen birds and the whisper of wind through the leaves.She didn't dare look back.Hilda remained restless inside her mind.We shouldn't stay out here long. If they discover you've disappeared..."I know," Bella murmured beneath her breath, quickening her pace.After nearly fifteen minutes of weaving through the woodland path, the forest gradually opened into a quiet roadside village.The change was almost surreal.Horse carts rolled lazily along cracked streets while a few vintage sedans—old Chevrolet Bel Airs and classic Ford Fairlanes—were parked outside family-owned shops. People walked without urgenc

The growl that rolled through the forest wasn't Luda's.It was deeper.Older.Predatory.Bella froze for a fraction of a second, her pulse pounding wildly as she tore herself away from Luda's stunned grip. Whatever creature had made that sound was close enough to shake the leaves overhead, yet hidden well enough to remain unseen.Luda's crimson eyes swept through the trees."Who's there?" he barked.Silence answered.Then another low growl vibrated through the undergrowth before fading into the distance.Bella didn't wait to find out who—or what—it belonged to.Anger exploded inside her.Before Luda could recover, she shoved him backward with every ounce of strength she possessed. The force caught him off guard, sending him stumbling several steps.Her palm cracked across his face.The sharp sound echoed through the trees."You'll never touch me again," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury.Luda slowly turned his head back toward her, more surprised than hurt.For one heartbeat,

That sound refused to leave Bella's thoughts.Even after waking from the nightmare, after hearing the unexpected knock outside her room, after Lord Shevek's visit, one question continued to haunt her.Who had been watching?It hadn't been Luda.She was certain of that now.Whoever had released that low, warning growl had stayed hidden... almost as though they had chosen not to interfere.Someone else knew what had happened in the forest.Someone had witnessed Luda forcing a kiss on her.And whoever it was had remained silent.That realization chilled Bella more than the nightmare itself.**********She sat motionless on the edge of the enormous bed, fingers unconsciously resting over her abdomen.A child.Dave Stark's child.The thought warmed her heart even as fear tightened around it.Hilda stirred quietly inside her."Our pup is safe.""For now," Bella whispered.She remembered the dream again.Dave's golden eyes.The beast inside him.The way he'd looked at her as though she were

The growl that echoed beyond the estate walls hadn't belonged to a wolf.It hadn't belonged to a vampire either.It was older.Stronger.Ancient enough to make even immortals instinctively bow their heads.For only a heartbeat.Then silence reclaimed the ballroom.Lord Shevek's crimson eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly before he forced his attention back to the ceremony.But Bella noticed.He had recognized that roar.Or perhaps...He feared its owner.**************The shattered entrance doors remained open behind Sandra, Morgan, and Kieran.Cold wind swept through the enormous chamber, carrying the scent of pine forests and rain.Every vampire in the ballroom had abandoned their seats.Some hissed.Others bared their fangs.Several noble elders silently prepared themselves for battle.Sandra stepped forward confidently.Unlike everyone else, she wasn't intimidated by hundreds of bloodthirsty vampires glaring at her."Forgive the dramatic entrance," she said coolly."But we weren't