All Chapters of Bound By The Moon: The Alpha’s Regret: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Malrick's POV The council meeting started on time. I walked in, and for the first time, no one looked away or hesitated. They stood up when I entered, giving me the respect I had spent months working for.I moved to the head of the table. It used to be Sage’s seat. Now, it was mine. I sat down without a word, and everyone followed. It felt good, leadership felt very good and there was no way I would let Sage have it back. "Let's get started," I said. "Any new reports?"Rowan cleared his throat. "Tracks were found near the southern ridge. Definitely him."Miriam added, "He’s still running. Mostly moving from place to place to avoid being predicted. But he’s staying out of our immediate territory."I nodded slowly. "He’s desperate," I said. "And dangerous. We can’t relax, we need to stay alert."There were a few mutters of agreement. I could feel it — the full shift had happened. They trusted me now. I enjoyed every bit of how they saw Sage as the enemy. "Double the patrols near the

Bella’s POV By the time I finished showering and dragging myself into a fresh pair of sweatpants, the house smelled like heaven. Garlic, tomato sauce, and the unmistakable smell of cheese melting over dough.When I shuffled into the kitchen, Harper was at the counter, trying and failing to hide a grin. June stood happily beside a tray of homemade pizzas, flour smudged on her cheek like a three year old."Surprise!" June yelled, throwing her arms out dramatically.I blinked, still processing. "Uh… what?"Harper laughed and tossed a dishtowel at June."Tell her, genius."June crossed her arms and grinned. "It’s Bella Appreciation Night," she announced. "Because you’re awesome, and you got recognized today, and frankly, it was overdue."I opened my mouth, then closed it again. "You guys didn’t have to—""We wanted to," Harper cut in firmly, grabbing two wine glasses from the cabinet."And it’s not up for debate," June added, yanking open the fridge and pulling out a cheap bottle of wine

Bella’s POV The next few days have been going very well. Work had been...ordinary, for weeks. After the beach day, after the puppy dreams and crime show marathons, everything settled into a routine that made my heart feel full.I should’ve known better. It was a Friday afternoon when the call came in the hospital speaker. Trauma admission. Male, critical injuries. ETA three minutes.I tightened the straps of my gloves and adjusted my scrub top as I hurried toward the ER bay. Harper caught my eye from across the hallway, giving me a thumbs-up before disappearing into another room.I joined the team gathering by the trauma doors. Dr. Haldren was already snapping out orders.“We don’t have much on him. Found near the old quarry. No ID, unresponsive. Massive blood loss.”The ambulance screamed up outside, lights flashed too. I braced myself.The doors slammed open and the paramedics rushed in with the stretcher. And the moment I saw him, my heart stumbled in my chest.He was big — bigger

Bella’s POV The morning after the rite, I woke before the sun rose. Everything felt wrong.The wind outside wasn’t louder—but I could hear it now, like a low whisper curled through the house. My heart thudded faster than usual. Every sound—June’s sleepy breathing upstairs, Harper’s footsteps in the kitchen, Liam locking the front door—hit me like thunder.I pressed a hand to my chest, breathing deep. Harper handed me a cup of coffee as I entered the kitchen, her eyes were already on me. “You’re hearing more now, aren’t you?”I nodded slowly. “Footsteps, breathing. Even the streetlamp outside—I can hear it buzz.”“Your instincts are awakening.” She stirred her tea, eyes dark. “They’ll either sharpen or overwhelm you.”I didn’t want to be overwhelmed. Especially not at work. At the hospital, I kept my head down. I tried to focus on charts, patients, and ward rounds. But it was hard. I could hear heartbeats behind closed doors. I knew when someone was lying—even when they didn’t know it

Bella’s POV We didn’t speak much on the way home. The lantern lights faded behind us, replaced by the hush of falling snow and the quiet thrum of adrenaline. My wrist still pulsed from where Kalen had touched me, like the cold had rooted itself beneath the skin. I kept rubbing it, trying to forget how close I’d come to unraveling.Back at the house, Liam was already waiting at home, pacing by the window. He had left earlier to check if the house was safe before we got home. “He was there,” I said.He didn’t need to ask who.“He got too close,” Harper muttered, locking the door behind us. “Too fast.”June dropped her coat, cheeks flushed. “We’re running out of time, aren’t we?”Harper didn’t answer right away. Instead, she crossed to the fireplace and knelt down, pulling away the base of the stone hearth. I heard the click before I saw the opening—a hidden compartment built into the wall, older than the house itself.She drew out something long and wrapped in thick, cracked leather.