Chapter 85
Bella walked down the stairs slowly. Ethan was seated in the car waiting for her impatiently. She trudged slowly getting to the car. It was almost time for the meeting.
After her previous nights refusal and today’s attempt, Ethan was bent on attending with her. Her constant refusal was futile.
She had gotten ready slowly.
She was already dreading the event. The choice of the various packs to remain completely independent and isolated ruling in their own territory had made it easy for her to semlessely blend into a new one and she had had no issues for years. But now suddenly, they decided to meet!
Much later, she finally reached the car. She looked different, almost unrecognizable. A blonde wig adorned her head, accompanied by heavy makeup–none of which was unusual for her. However, what caught Ethan’s attention was the sunglasses she wore.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“The glasses?” she questioned, lightly touching them.
“Yes,” he replied.
“I would rather wear this for tonight’s meeting,” she insisted.
“It’s evening, besides the meeting would be held indoors,” Ethan further quizzed.
“It’s not a summer gathering,” he stated.
Bella pursed her lips; she preferred keeping the glasses on, shielding most of her features.
“I hurt myself this morning; there’s an unsightly injury close to my eyes,” she lied instead. “I’ll just wear this. The bump makes me really self–conscious,” she whined.
“Fine,” Ethan finally agreed. They hopped into the car, and together they left for the event. The atmosphere was tense.
The meeting was being held at a private resort, hosted by one of the other pack Alphas. After driving for several hours, they finally arrived. Their car pulled into the lot where other cars had been parked. Walking
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together, they could hear the sound of classical music and laughter, along with glasses clinking.
It was evident they were running late. As they were ushered in, they stepped into the room, where the music intensified. Bella scanned the room eagerly, trying to assess the atmosphere and identify the various pack leaders present.
She had been on edge since the previous night when Ethan announced they would be coming here. There weren’t many people in the room, perhaps not more than seventy, but she couldn’t identify which pack they came from, and it made her slightly anxious.
Linking arms together, they made their way in. The two seemed to blend into the crowd seamlessly. Normally, Bella loved social events like these, but this one was different; she couldn’t freely socialize. The air was thick with tension, and she couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched by someone. The feeling made her anxious and oppressed.
“Alpha Ethan.” A voice greeted, and a man walked over, a glass in hand, gripping Ethan’s arm with his other free hand.
“Callum.” Ethan greeted back with a small smile, shaking his arm.
“Man, it’s been so long, what has it been, eight years?” Callum asked, chuckling lightly.
Ethan only nodded, exchanging pleasantries with others passing by.
“I assume this is your mate, Hazel, I believe.” Callum stated, looking at Bella.
Ethan’s smile froze; Bella swallowed, seething inwardly and almost snapping at the man.
Ethan immediately grabbed her arm, holding her in check.
Hearing about Hazel always triggered her.
Ethan looked down to Bella introducing briefly.
“Actually, this is my mate, Bella. Bella, Alpha Callum, of Nightingale pack.” He introduced.
“Oh I’m sorry.” The man apologized immediately as realization dawned on him. Although he was confused, he decided not to probe or ask questions, last he heard from Ethan was a sent invitation to his wedding.
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The name on the invite was Hazel so he had concluded the woman in front of him was Hazel.
“We haven’t seen or met in years now, I didn’t know you found your mate. He stated throwing am apologetic glance towards Bella.
Ethan was quiet an uneased smile on his face.
After quietly excusing themselves, someone else met with and stopped Ethan the two stopped exchanging please ties.
The main purpose of the meeting was to socialize with other pack leaders after years of isolation and also a fundraiser for one of the packs.
Ethan excused himself walking off to talk to other people.
Bella stood alone walking past a table she grabbed a glass of champagne, she purposely tried to stay out of the way and sight of people.
The conversation going on at a nearby table however, attracted her -attention.
“Well, we should have meetings like these more often, I mean after that discovery over six years over ago lot of things have got to change.” A man stated.
Bella paused. “That incident.
“The incident at Black axe pack right?” Another man asked.
Bella’s grip on the glass of champagne tightened at the mention of Black Axe.
“Yes, it was just terrible.” another one agreed.
She stalked closer standing within a listening distance.
“It’s not a pack.” Another countered.
“That was no pack. I mean, what pack would be involved in trafficking young women instead of protecting it’s clan as it ought to!.” The man stated fiercely.
“There should be checks on things like that.” Another Alpha agreed.
By now the people there at the table were mumbling and discussing on how everything had gone down
Where are young ladies now?” Another asked.
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“Only one of those unfortunate girl survived.” Another stated.
“And she does not live amongst packs anymore. She lives Alone, in the human world.” Another added.
“That’s so sad, I don’t blame her. I would trust or want to live in a pack after such an experience.” One more stated.
Bella had visibly paled. She felt uncomfortable and suffocated.
She excused herself immediately. Walking outside to the balcony to clear her head.
Feeling clustered she ripped the glasses from her face.
“Annabelle?” A female voice called from behind.
Bella froze, she felt goosebumps rise and scatter over her skin.
The woman behind squinted her eyes to see through the dark.
“It’s you right?” She probed further stepping closer.
Bella breathed in her features turning icy.
She donned her glasses calmly then turned to meet the woman’s gaze.
The woman in front of her was middle aged, most of her hair greyed with age. She looked like an influential and powerful woman.
The woman studied Bella longer.
“Excuse me?” Bella finally asked.
The other woman looked conflicted, Bella had looked very familiar. But upon closer look she became doubtful.
Bella became more confident with her conflicted look.
“What did you call me?” Bella asked raising her head arrogantly and trying to sound brave.
The woman was taken aback by her attitude.
She studied Bella, she had some similar features but there was no way she was the same person.
“I believe you have the wrong person. Bella said.
*Yes. I see that now. The woman replied.
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“My apologies.” She apologized.
Ethan walked in on them at that moment.
“Bella.” He called softly with a puzzled expression.
“Is something the matter?” he asked the two women facing off.
“No.” Bella replied then walked away immediately.
“Alpha Ethan.” The woman greeted politely.
Ethan turned his attention back to her.
“I haven’t seen you since you were a little boy.” She chuckled lightly.
Ethan smiled in a fond manner.
“Are you with her?” She asked him gesturing to Bella as she walked away.
“That’s my mate, Bella.” He replied.
The woman’s features relaxed,
“Is there an issue?” Ethan asked.
The atmosphere had seemed tense when he walked in and the way Bella walked out was odd.
“No no, I mistook her for someone.” The woman said chuckling lightly.
Ethan wanted to probed more just then there was an announcement over the microphone, people left their small groups focusing on the podium. The final part of the meeting had started, the fundraiser.
They made their way back to the hall.
Bella breathed a sigh of relief, finally gotten rid of that woman.
Her disguise was practically flawless, how had she recognized her?! She wondered.
She couldn’t wait for the night to be over. That old woman had almost recognized her. She sighed.
But she had gained a piece of information.
There was one survivor, she had confirmed it tonight, that girl whoever she was had to be the one who had seen and witnessed everything that happened that night. That also had to be the person Sebastian mentioned
6/6
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the other time. The girl, whoever she was wasn’t just someone who had seen what happened by chance.
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