Free Web NovelChapter 85: Chapter 85 Trapped Completely
Bella’s POV
The words caught in my throat as I stared into their expectant faces, those innocent eyes searching mine for answers I wasn’t ready to give.
"It’s not what you think," I managed to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You don’t have to explain anything to us, Mommy. We’re just relieved you came back to us. We saw everything we needed to see in how they treated you today," Tara said, her voice carrying a wisdom that shouldn’t belong to someone so young.
The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over. I couldn’t maintain the facade any longer, not in front of these beautiful souls who saw right through my pain.
"Please don’t cry, Mommy," Zack whispered, sliding off his bed to take my trembling hand in his small ones. He guided me to sit beside him, his touch gentle but determined.
One by one, my other children gathered around me, their arms wrapping around my shoulders and waist in a protective cocoon of love.
"You don’t need any of them. You have us, and we’re never going anywhere," they spoke in unison, their voices creating a harmony that mended something broken inside my chest.
Their embrace filled the hollow spaces in my heart with warmth I hadn’t felt in years. These children, my children, possessed more emotional intelligence and genuine care than the entire family I’d foolishly believed would accept me. The realization settled into my bones like medicine, soothing wounds I didn’t even know were still bleeding.
In that moment, I made a silent vow to myself. I would stop wasting energy on people who saw me as disposable.
After ensuring each child was tucked safely under their covers, I kissed their foreheads and stepped into the hallway. My body craved the numbing comfort of wine, something to dull the sharp edges of today’s humiliation.
I expected the living room to be empty by now. Hugo always disappeared before evening fell, rushing back to soothe Camilla’s bruised ego whenever I supposedly ruined her perfect day.
But there he was, pacing like a caged animal, his footsteps wearing invisible grooves into the floor.
The second his eyes found mine, he stopped mid-stride and moved toward me with urgent purpose.
I held up my palm, creating a barrier between us.
"I want the rejection. Tonight," I stated, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The muscles in his neck visibly tightened, cords standing out against his skin.
"Absolutely not." His response came swift and final, accompanied by a shake of his head that bordered on violent.
"What do you mean, not? This bond serves no purpose except to torture us both. I’m done playing this game. Rejection is the only logical solution," I ground out through gritted teeth, my hands forming fists at my sides.
He looked at me as if I’d just suggested we burn down the entire werewolf territory.
His chest rose and fell with a measured breath before he shook his head again, more deliberately this time.
"I stayed here to make amends, to offer you comfort after what happened. I didn’t expect you to demand something so final," his voice carried an edge that matched my own.
"What exactly do you want from me, Hugo? This connection between us changes nothing. You’re still promised to my sister, and I’m still bound by my marriage. What’s the point of prolonging this suffering?" I challenged, refusing to break eye contact.
"You made me promises. You assured me I would be treated with dignity and respect. Instead, I returned home broken, with my children asking questions I shouldn’t have to answer. Today’s disaster is entirely your fault." My voice wavered despite my efforts to stay strong. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"I know, and I’m trying to apologize. Today opened my eyes to how right you’ve been about everything," he started, but I cut him off with another sharp gesture.
"Your manipulations brought me there in the first place. You made me believe things had changed, that I might actually belong somewhere. Now I’m drowning in consequences I never asked for. So hear me clearly, Hugo, come the next full moon, I’m severing this bond whether you cooperate or not. You’ll have no choice but to accept it," my voice cracked slightly on the last words.
The color drained from his face as if he’d witnessed his own death.
If he hadn’t convinced me with false reassurances and empty promises, my children wouldn’t have seen me humiliated. They wouldn’t have had to comfort their mother like she was the child.
But even worse than their questions was the nagging sensation that something else had occurred tonight, something my mind couldn’t quite grasp through the fog of anger and embarrassment.
"Leave. Now," I commanded, swallowing the rage that threatened to consume my composure entirely.
He studied my face for several heartbeats before spinning on his heel and storming toward the exit, the door slamming behind him with enough force to rattle the windows.
Only when his footsteps faded completely did I allow my shoulders to sag. I dragged myself to my bedroom, removing the makeup that felt like a mask I’d worn too long.
The hot shower did nothing to wash away the day’s stains. Neither did the cool sheets against my skin or the darkness that surrounded me.
Eventually, exhaustion won the battle against my racing thoughts. Hours of sustained fury had drained every ounce of energy from my body, leaving me empty enough to finally sleep.
I had no way of knowing that morning would bring a catastrophe that would make today’s events seem trivial in comparison.
Consciousness returned slowly, accompanied by the sounds of Chloe caring for my children in the next room. My reflection in the bathroom mirror revealed swollen eyes surrounded by dark circles that resembled bruises.
I applied layers of concealer and foundation, trying to hide the evidence of my breakdown before emerging in comfortable jeans, a simple white top, and a soft pink cardigan.
"I made coffee. It should help with the headache," Chloe announced as I settled into the chair by the large window, my palm pressed against my throbbing temple.
She rubbed my back gently before moving to retrieve the steaming mug from our makeshift kitchen area. Living in hotel accommodations felt increasingly suffocating. My children needed space to run and play, to feel grass under their feet and breathe fresh air without constraint.
While Chloe prepared my drink, I scrolled through my phone, finding multiple missed calls and messages from Hugo, each one a variation of the same apologetic theme.
Then I saw Camilla’s name, and my entire body went rigid.
Her message was brief but venomous: Last night was supposed to be special for me, and you destroyed it completely. I hope karma finds you soon, Bella.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard, ready to unleash my own brand of fury, when another notification appeared that made everything else fade into insignificance.
The same reporter who’d been shadowing my sister had published a new article. I’d been following their coverage of the mysterious illness affecting werewolf children.
The headline made my blood turn to ice.
"Human Savior Reveals Her Wolf Form: Is She Staying in Lycan Territory Permanently?"
My hands trembled as I opened the piece, finding a detailed interview with Camilla.
Her quote made my stomach drop: "Seeing my sister’s wolf emerge last night was incredible. It made me realize she’s finally found her true home with us. The human world is fine, but this is where Bella belongs now. She has a family here, and I think she’s going to love building her life in our territory."
Her words dripped with false warmth and sisterly pride, but I could see through the performance. This wasn’t celebration or genuine happiness for my supposed homecoming.
This was calculated destruction wrapped in pretty paper.
Because now, regardless of my personal desires, returning to human territory had become impossible.
She’d trapped me completely.
