Page 15 of Fated Wolf's Destiny

“Arthur left her questions,” Tannis says, leaning forward, her silver hair catching the light. “And if she starts digging for answers, it won’t be long before she finds us. Or worse—before she brings others here.”

They’re wrong. I will not allow their old prejudices to hold sway. They’re not afraid of Bella. They’re afraid of change… and that maybe they had been wrong to banish her grandmother.

“Trying to force Bella to leave will only make her more suspicious. I’ll handle it.”

“You’re too invested…” Marlow starts, his gaze cutting through me.

“I am alpha,” I say quietly and let that sink in. “Bella isn’t our enemy. Who knows? She might be able to help us.”

“Help us?” Tannis sneers, shaking her head. “What can she possibly offer us? She’s a liability, Ryder. Nothing more.”

I force myself to take a slow breath. “She’s smart. She’s a vet. She was Arthur’s protégé. Who knows she might have some insight into our declining birthrates or even the Crimson Claw. We could use her grandmother’s connection to this pack and make her an asset.”

“An asset?” Marlow scoffs. “Someone who only carries a trace of our DNA is no wolf at all.”

The words hit harder than they should, my wolf snarling beneath the surface, but I don’t let it show. “You’re wrong.”

“If she exposes us… ” Tannis says after a long pause, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

“Do not think to threaten me,” I snarl, “less you find yourself banished.”

I turn and leave the chamber, their judgment settling on my shoulders like a lead cloak.

Outside the mountain the air is cold and fresh, a stark contrast to that within the council chamber. But even as I breathe it in, I can feel the knot in my chest. The forest envelops me like a second skin. The anger from the meeting hasn’t left me—it’s settled low in my gut, mingling with the sharp tug of something else.

Bella doesn’t know it yet, but she’s standing on the edge of something far bigger than anything she could imagine. And if I can’t find a way to control this, she could tear apart everything I’ve built to protect the pack.

As I step into the forest, the scent of pine and damp earth fills my senses. But somewhere beneath that it is another scent, faint but unmistakable. Even now, she’s in my territory, her presence pulling at me in ways I can’t ignore. My wolf stirs, restless and sharp, as I make my way toward the scent, knowing that keeping my distance isn’t an option anymore.

Bella’s not a threat. But the more time she spends in Shadow Hollow, the closer she gets to something she can’t unsee. And if she does uncover the truth? She’s right in the middle of it with no way out.

I can’t stop thinking about her—her stubbornness, the fire in her eyes when she pushes back, the way she walks into danger without a second thought. She reminds me too much of myself, and that’s a problem. I’m supposed to protect the pack, but howdo I do that when she’s my fated mate and my first duty is to protect her?

A sound pulls me from my thoughts—the faint sound of footsteps on the trail ahead. My senses go on high alert, my wolf stirring as I move toward the sound.

I catch her scent first. Fresh, sharp, a mix of wildflowers and something warmer, something uniquely hers. Bella steps into view, her head turning as if she feels me before she sees me. Her eyes catch the moonlight, their defiance clear even in the dark.

“You again,” she says, shaking her head. “Should I be flattered or concerned that you keep popping up everywhere I go?”

I step closer, unable to stop the pull. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“You’ve said that before,” she says, tilting her head, her voice laced with mockery. “Care to elaborate this time?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I did,” I say, my voice low.

“You’ve said that too.”

I take another step, closing the space between us until I can feel the heat of her body in the cool night air. Her chin tilts up as she meets my gaze, and the defiance in her eyes sparks something dangerous in me.

“Go home, Bella,” I say, the words rough, almost a growl.

Her lips curve into a small, infuriating smile. “Not until I get answers to my questions.”

The energy between us is intense, sharp enough to cut. My wolf growls, torn between pushing her away and pulling her closer.

She won’t back down. And that’s what concerns me the most. As she turns and walks away, her scent lingering in the air, I know one thing for certain: Bella Gordon isn’t just a problem—she’s a irresistible force ready to be unleashed. And I’m the immovable object standing right in her path.

CHAPTER 6

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