Bella’s POV
Derek’s confusion was written all over his face. "What?"
I pressed my palms against my face, desperately trying to steady my fraying nerves. Today felt like I had woken up ready for war.
"Look, Derek, I refuse to do anything that might destroy what I have with my husband. I love him," I said, the words tumbling out faster than I intended. Even though I felt compelled to clarify, the explanation wasn’t really necessary.
He should understand that having feelings for soone who then betrays you that brutally kills whatever affection once existed.
"You could repeat that phrase a million tis, and it still wouldn’t erase the truth. He’s not their biological father. We are. I am," Derek stated with unwavering conviction. "And Bella, have you considered what happens now that your wolf has awakened? The human world won’t welco you back."
The mont those words left Derek’s mouth, every muscle in my body went rigid.
Unfortunately, he was speaking the truth. I hadn’t allowed myself to think that far ahead.
When he forced to confront that reality, I felt completely speechless.
"And what happens when you keep insisting that so human fathered your child? How do you think people will react when you’re stuck here permanently, and that human starts demanding custody rights? You said it yourself that he’s the father."
Derek pressed on, systematically dismantling every argunt I might have.
But his ntion of custody made realize I was worrying about nothing.
"The law states clearly that when one parent is an active wolf, the child remains with them because that child might inherit the wolf gene. No werewolf is permitted on human territory," I shot back, making it clear that his intimidation tactics were useless.
"Alright, fine," he fired back. "But that ans you’re trapped here permanently. Or maybe you’re planning to lie about everything, return to human territory, lose control of your wolf, and injure soone? What do you imagine will happen to your children when you’re imprisoned for concealing your true nature?"
Derek’s brutal honesty hit every vulnerable spot I had been deliberately avoiding.
Now that he had spelled it out so plainly, genuine fear crept in about what lay ahead.
"You’ll be staying here, Bella," he said, his voice gentler now.
"I don’t believe the human world has room for you anymore."
I gazed into the distance, lost in thought, until soone’s throat clearing interrupted the silence.
"Hugo? What brings you here?" Derek asked, rotating toward him with obvious bewildernt.
"So you seize every opportunity to be alone with Bella," Hugo said with razor-sharp precision. "And when soone discovers you, you unleash your frustration on them."
He stepped closer, launching accusations at Derek, and I imdiately understood what was happening and who had been whispering poison in his ear.
"What? What are you even talking about?"
Derek responded defensively.
He seed genuinely confused by the sudden attack. He started demanding explanations for Hugo’s hostile outburst.
"He’s referring to whatever story Camilla fed him," I inford Derek, noticing how Hugo shot a warning look.
"Exactly, about your romantic outing while you lied to us about remaining in the lobby," Hugo said, his voice carrying stern disapproval.
This was his thod of branding us as dishonest.
"I wasn’t aware we needed to submit daily reports to you two," I snapped back, while Derek remained conspicuously quiet.
Naturally, they shared a friendship, and he probably felt uncomfortable after his earlier threats toward his friend’s fiancée.
But ? I could speak my mind freely. That was the advantage of not caring about people who showed no concern for .
"Fine, skip the reports," Hugo countered, "but stop the deception. Because lies make it appear you’re concealing sothing significant."
Of course it was Hugo. Nobody could ever match his verbal sparring skills.
"What exactly is your issue, Hugo?" I demanded. "Did my sister pump you full of righteous anger and send you here to start a fight? Because that’s precisely what you’re doing, and you expect to stand here quietly and take it?"
I elevated my voice, allowing the sharpness to cut through the air.
His expression suggested he was preparing to retaliate, but I wasn’t finished yet.
"Oh, please, spare . Before you declare us guilty, Beth was hired by your precious Camilla to photograph us secretly," I hissed, clenching my fists and crossing my arms as I locked eyes with Hugo.
Hugo gave an odd stare, then shook his head as though we were completely in the wrong.
"Actually, you’re mistaken," he countered. "She hired Beth later because of all the dia attention. She had no idea what was causing the buzz. She only knew Beth was gaining popularity, so she hired her to cover our engagent celebration."
Hugo attempted to rationalize, clearly buying into Camilla’s manufactured excuses, but I couldn’t fault him for it.
He appeared to love her genuinely, so naturally he trusted her version.
"Really, do you actually believe that nonsense? Seriously?" I asked, shifting my weight to one leg while studying Hugo’s expression.
Eventually, he was the one who looked away first.
"Well, good for you then, but don’t expect to swallow it. Furthermore, I refuse to discuss her in my own ho. Understood?" I hissed, dropping my arms and tightening my fists.
"You need to apologize to her," Hugo declared, dismissing my words as he turned toward Derek.
Derek glanced at briefly, then back at Hugo, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
"I didn’t say anything insulting. I have no clue why she’s crying," Derek mumbled.
His tone lacked the anger or commanding presence that Hugo displayed.
I understood their friendship operated under certain unwritten rules, including showing respect for each other’s romantic partners.
"But if she’s hurt, I’ll try to make things right with her," Derek added.
I exhaled sharply, placing my hands on my hips while smiling in complete disbelief.
"Could you both please leave? I don’t want either of you here constantly."
That was my limit. I refused to let them stand in my ho treating like the villain for upsetting their delicate princess.
"You’re acting like a child now," Hugo snapped back. "Besides, I visit for my child, so you cannot prevent ."
While Derek remained silent, his gaze soft and uncertain, Hugo made sure to push harder, demonstrating that regardless of my protests, he would do exactly as he pleased.
"Well, I hope I don’t need to retrieve that contract again," I warned. "Review every single clause. You all signed it and agreed to its terms before I returned to werewolf territory. According to that contract, none of you can enter my private space or interact with my children without my permission."
That was my final blow. I watched defeat wash over Hugo’s face as the reality hit him. They had indeed signed it.
Whatever they claid now didn’t matter. I was protected here.
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