Chapter 17
Upon arriving home, Alpha Xavier caught the scent of his mother, Elinor, seething with anger as she sat on the couch. His brows furrowed, his instincts sensing that something was amiss. “Mum, what’s goin on? Why are yer all riled up?” he inquired, his concern evident.
Elinor turned to him, her voice dripping with frustration. “Xavier, that Bella Moonshadow is without honor. We underestimated ‘er greatly!” she snarled.
Confusion clouded Xavier’s thoughts, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. “Ye went after ‘er?” he
questioned.
Elinor shook her head, the contempt evident in her expression. “Nay, she came t‘ me. This very mornin‘, she barged in demandin‘ a hundred million dollars,” she revealed, her words laced with venom. Xavier knew his mother had no fondness for Bella and was eager to discredit her.
“Why in the name of the moon would she ask fer that much coin?” Xavier asked, trying to unravel the tangled web of deceit.
“She’s clearly covetous of her former life since divorcin‘ ye, Xavier. She must’ve seen the might of our pack and the bond form with Samantha. Now she’s tryin‘ t‘ extort me,” Elinor explained, her voice seething with resentment. “She threatened to expose Samantha’s previous pregnancy and tarnish our reputation if we didn’t comply.”
Xavier’s anger flared, his wolf clawing to break free as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. Bella had crossed a line, and his fangs bared as he vowed to deal with her accordingly.
Elinor could sense his fury, her voice urgent. “Xavier, Bella Moonshadow is nothin‘ but a vile creature. We cannae let ‘er carry out ‘er threats. Ye must find a way t‘ chase ‘er out of our territory, so she never sets foot again,” she pressed, her words speaking of revenge and banishment.
Xavier nodded, the weight of the situation settling upon his shoulders. “I ken, Mum. Dinnae ye fret. I’ll handle this, I promise,” he reassured her, his voice deep and resolute.
Just as he was contemplating his next move, Xavier’s phone buzzed, indicating a new message. He glanced at his screen, his nostrils flaring with anticipation. It was a notification about his bank card. “Yer card endin‘ **** has been charged $20,000,” the message read.
Surprised by the sudden development, Xavier wondered why Bella would dare to use his card. It struck him then, a realization that she must be in dire need of money.
Another text arrived swiftly, stating, “Yer card endin‘ **** has transferred $50,000.” Xavier pondered the turn of events and quickly dialed his beta, Carl. “Delve into Bella’s circumstances. Discover if she’s facin‘ any urgent monetary needs,” he commanded.
“Alpha Xavier, I was about to reach ye concernin‘ that matter,” Carl replied hastily. “Her uncle is gravely ill,
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Chapter 17
bein‘ treated in the hospital. Heard he be in need of a kidney transplant.”
Xavier absorbed this information, realizing that Bella’s actions might be driven by genuine family concerns. “Very well, actively search for potential kidney donors,” he instructed his beta. Ending the call, he swiftly made his way to the hospital.
Arriving at George’s hospital room, Xavier noticed Carl’s presence, holding a fruit basket and speaking on the phone with evident worry. “Where are ye? Ye went home? Which hospital?” he urgently questioned.
Once Carl ended the call, he greeted Xavier with a smile. “Alpha Xavier, what an unexpected coincidence! Be ye here to visit someone as well?” he asked, feigning innocence.
Xavier couldn’t shake off the discomfort he felt in Carl’s presence. “What brings ye here, Beta Carl?” he inquired, his tone laced with suspicion.
Carl maintained his smile, seemingly oblivious to Xavier’s unease. “My mate’s uncle is gravely ill. Thought I’d visit and build a bond with ‘im,” he explained, masking his true intentions.
Xavier’s face darkened, understanding the implications of Carl’s words. It was clear whom Carl considered his mate. Suppressing his rising fury, Xavier chose not to enter the packhouse. Instead, he turned on his heel and left the meeting area. He positioned himself at the entrance and patiently waited. After half an hour, he spotted Bella hurrying in with a thermos in her hands.
Xavier approached her, halting her in her tracks. “Did ye ask me mother fer money?” he growled, his voice demanding answers.
Bella took a step back, her eyes flashing with defiance. “Aye, have ye gone mad?” she spat.
Her defiance only stoked Xavier’s growing frustration. After simmering with pent–up rage for far too long, his tone turned harsher. “Quit playin‘ games, Bella Moonshadow. If ye’re in need of money, just say it. Why resort t‘ underhanded schemes behind me back?” he accused, his voice laced with betrayal.
Confusion mixed with anger on Bella’s face. “What in the moon’s name are ye talkin‘ about, Alpha Xavier? Explain yerself!” she demanded, her tone sharp.
Xavier remembered the bitter divorce, the fact that Bella had left their pack empty–handed. The memories flooded back, reigniting the pain. “Bella Moonshadow, I willnae let ye manipulate me any longer. Even if ye had t‘ beg, I’d refuse ye a single penny. Ye’re wastin‘ yer effort, understand?” he declared firmly, his voice tinged with icy resolve.
Bella’s laughter abruptly ceased, replaced with a sneer. “I never had any faith in ye, Alpha Xavier. I never will,” she spat, her words dripping with disdain.
Her words etched into Xavier’s soul like a poison, shattering the last remnants of his illusions. Bella remembered their past as vividly as he did, and she held no love or respect for it.
And then came the final blow. Her outright denial of ever asking his mother for money made his heart ache. It left him feeling manipulated, entangled in some elaborate plot.
A hundred questions raced through Xavier’s mind, his doubts gnawing at him. Had he been blind to the
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Chapter 17
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truth about Bella all along? Was it possible she hadn’t approached his mother? Could she have been framed?
The certainty in Bella’s eyes as she denied needing his money left Xavier drowning in uncertainty Recalling his mother’s words, the recording, and now Bella’s denial, he felt like he was stumbling through a thick fog, unable to grasp the truth.
Dejected and confused, Xavier was left to wrestle with a whirlwind of emotions, his mind consumed by thoughts that refused to settle. “Why did it have to come to this? How did it all go so wrong?” he silently lamented, his heart heavy with the brutal reality.
Her scorn and ridiculing were unfathomable, slicing deeper than any physical pain. He was at a loss, grappling with her hostility and the mounting uncertainty surrounding her actions.
But amidst the chaos and anguish, one uncomfortable truth grew clearer by the day – Bella Moonshadow, his former Luna, was no longer the woman he once loved.
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Chapter 18
Chapter 18
