Bella’s POV
Ever since fate bound me to Hunter—since the moment he saved my life and helped me rebuild myself after my former pack abandoned me—he has been taking my blood every month. At first, I didn’t understand why.
After drawing my blood, he would always make sure I ate well—serving me meat and other nourishing foods. At first, I thought it was his way of showing care, a sign of love. But then he told me he was only testing my blood, checking if I was healthy.
But now… now that I know the truth, I realize I was nothing more than a means to an end. He never really cared about me. Everything I thought I knew about him—about us—shattered in an instant.
It was never about my health. He was merely making sure my body could produce enough blood for Nara.
And the worst part? I don’t even know how they met behind Nara’s mate, Alaric.
I push the plate of food away from me, my appetite long gone. "I don’t want to eat," I say, my voice firmer than I expected.
Hunter watches me, his expression unreadable.
"For years, you've been taking my blood," I continue, bitterness creeping into my tone. "You always say it’s just to check if I'm healthy, but if that were true, wouldn't you have found nothing wrong by now? So why keep doing it? Why not just stop?"
His brows furrow, and for a moment, I see something flash in his eyes—annoyance, maybe even anger. But just as quickly as it appears, he smooths his features, masking whatever frustration he feels.
Then, to my surprise, he moves closer, sitting beside me.
His presence is overwhelming, suffocating.
He reaches out and cups my face, his touch gentle but firm. "Your body, darling… it's been weak ever since your injury," he murmurs, his voice soft yet commanding. "That’s why you have monthly check-ups. It’s necessary. My healer and I are only trying to help you."
I grit my teeth, forcing myself not to flinch under his touch.
"Because I want to spend my life with you," he continues, his thumb stroking my cheek as if his words aren’t laced with deception. "You have no idea how important you are to me, Bella. I don't want anything to happen to you."
If this were the old me, I would have believed him. I would have melted under his words, let his touch erase my doubts.
But I know the truth now.
And it makes my stomach turn.
Without another word, he picks up a knife and slices a piece of meat from the plate in front of me. "Say ah," he coaxes, lifting the fork to my lips as if I were a child in need of care.
Before I can respond, a sharp knock echoes through the room.
I blink, startled.
Hunter’s entire demeanor changes in an instant. He stiffens, his jaw tightening. Then, as if realizing something, his lips part slightly—his eyes lighting up with an emotion I recognize all too well.
Excitement.
It’s subtle, but I see it.
He rises from his seat swiftly, straightening his posture as if he’s been waiting for this moment. His eyes flick to mine, and for the briefest second, there’s hesitation. Guilt, maybe? Or am I only imagining it?
"Darling," he says, his tone suddenly rushed, almost eager. "Something urgent just came up, okay? I have to leave."
I say nothing.
He steps forward, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead. "Be good," he murmurs, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "And make sure you eat. I’ll be back soon."
Then, without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me.
The moment Hunter left, following the warrior who had knocked on our door, I wasted no time.
I grabbed the plate of food and tossed everything into the trash. I didn’t care if it was a waste—I had no appetite left, no patience for his lies.
Without hesitation, I made my way to his office.
Sitting at his desk, I picked up his phone with shaky hands, my fingers trembling as I navigated through it. I quickly saved the video and transferred it to my own. But as I scrolled further, something else caught my eye—something that made my entire body freeze.
Pictures.
Dozens of them.
Hunter and Nara. Together.
Meeting in secret, away from prying eyes.
My breath hitched, my fingers tightening around the device as I swiped through the images. Some showed them talking in hushed whispers, others revealed fleeting touches—intimate, almost possessive. But the final blow wasn’t the pictures. It was a document—a legal file buried deep in his phone.
I read it once.
Twice.
And then a third time, my vision blurring with unshed tears.
‘I, Alpha Hunter, voluntarily give 100% of my assets, should anything happen to me, solely for the benefit of Nara and her child.’
A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I wiped away the last of my tears.
So this was the truth.
This was the woman Hunter truly loved.
If that’s what he wanted… then so be it.
I would grant him his wish.
I would disappear completely from his life.
That night, I arranged everything, ensuring that by tomorrow, Bella, the woman he had taken for granted, would cease to exist.
But before that, I needed to see him one last time.
I already had an idea of where he was. I had done my own investigation.
With silent, calculated steps, I made my way to the healer’s residency—where Hunter had brought her.
The moment I stepped inside, his eyes widened in shock. Panic flashed across his face as he turned to me.
“Bella?” His voice was filled with surprise, but there was something else beneath it—fear. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t answer. I let my gaze drift past him—past the man I once thought I knew—until my eyes landed on her.
Nara.
She was just as shocked to see me, clutching her child tightly to her chest.
She had just given birth, and Hunter made sure he was there for her.
“You got it all wrong,” Hunter rushed to explain, his voice desperate. “I’m just helping your sister. Alaric’s healer couldn’t treat her, and… and I’ve known her for a long time, Bella. She wasn’t just your sister—she was my friend, too. Almost like a sister to me.”
A sister?
A bitter chuckle slipped past my lips as I shook my head in disbelief.
“You still haven’t forgiven your old pack,” he continued, his tone almost pleading. “But I had nothing to do with what happened to you, Bella. I just wanted to help Nara and the baby. They’re innocent in all of this.”
I scoffed.
Did he really think I was that naive?
I took a slow step forward, my gaze locked onto Nara. My body trembled with rage, with years of betrayal and pain bubbling to the surface.
“How dare you,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “You stole my mate. And now you’re trying to steal him too?”
Nara opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a single word, I lifted my hand, ready to slap her across the face.
But before my palm could make contact—before I could even unleash a fraction of the fury burning inside me—she suddenly collapsed.
She crumpled to the floor, holding her child protectively against her chest.
My breath caught as I stared at her fragile, trembling form.
She lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears, and whispered, “I’m sorry. Please… just don’t hurt my child!”
Something inside me twisted at her words.
Hurt her child?
My fingers clenched into fists as my emotions waged war inside me.
She’s trying to manipulate the situation!
