“Bell,” Granger commented. “I didn’t realize you were here.”

“I got that impression,” she replied flatly.

Her words seemed to have a hidden meaning that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, dearest. I completely forgot you were in there when Granger arrived,” Corrine said with an embarrassed chuckle.

“No worries, my Luna,” Bell smiled, “we were pretty much done anyway. I can figure out the rest on my own.”

“Bell came to get some ideas on a gift for the new pup.” Corrine smiled brightly at Bell.

“Thought I had a few more shopping days left, but then she decided to make a surprise entrance.” Bell laughed, “and I got a front-row view.”

Corrine and Bell laughed together, sharing a few more words about the new baby. Granger tried to keep his expression neutral, careful not to show any irritation at the interruption.

“I am sorry both of you, but I do have another appointment I need to get to. But, Bell, I think the outfit is a lovely choice, and Pearl will love it,” Corrine said sweetly.

She grabbed her coat and put it on; she stopped to think for a moment before turning back to Granger.

“I want to help in any way I can, so if Ashleigh wants to have just a blessing ceremony in two days…” she sighed sadly, “I will make that happen.”_.

“Thank you, my Luna,” Granger smiled happily.

“Of course,” she smiled, “I will see you both later.”

Corrine walked out the door, and Granger couldn’t stop smiling. Finally, someone was on his side. He felt a surge of confidence swelling inside of him. With Corrine on his side, he was sure he could convince Ashleigh. He just needed time alone with her to make her understand.

But his victory was short-lived.

“Ash won’t agree to that.”

Granger clenched his jaw and took a deep breath through his nose. For a moment, he had forgotten she was there.

“Granger?” Bell called.

“What?” he replied.

“You don’t really think she will agree, do you?” she asked.

He didn’t respond.

“Come on, Granger, you’ve seen her notebook! She has dreamed of this wedding for two years. She has it planned out from start to finish.”

“We will still have her dream wedding later,” he sighed.

“It’s not the same thing,” Bell answered, “look, I’m not trying to rain on your parade. I get that you want to be married. You guys are crazy about each other. But you’ve waited two years. So what’s the rush now?”

“We should have been married already,” he said.

“True, but that doesn’t mean you should get married just to get married. Just take your time.”

She could tell he was getting upset. But, he still had his back to her.

“Granger, I may not understand everything, but I can tell you one thing for certain,” she said softly. “She is your mate, and she loves you, don’t make her do something that she will regret later.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growled.

“I know her, and she doesn’t want this,” she blurted out.

She regretted the choice of words almost immediately.

Bell watched him carefully. She understood his desire and his disappointment, but there was something else in his voice, in his demeanor. It was familiar in a way that made the hair on her arms stand on end.

She swallowed the lump in her throat that had suddenly formed, her heart rate was steadily increasing, and the sound of it was getting louder and louder in her ears.

“Ok, my bad,” she said quietly. “Good luck. I’ll see you around.”

Bell turned to leave from the backdoor, but he was suddenly in front of her. She looked up at his face, immediately she jumped back.

His eyes held an unnatural glow, that glint of reflected moonlight all strong wolves had. Usually a sign of extreme emotion, usually rage.

Her breathing was strained, her palms were sweating, and her heartbeat was pounding in her ears. Bell backed up, and he followed her step for step. Her back hit the wall. The panic in her heart was raging. It took every ounce of her will to keep her appearance calm on the outside.

“You have a nasty mouth, Bell,” Granger hissed, getting closer and closer to her, “you need to learn when to keep it shut!”

Bell clenched her jaw to keep herself steady as he snarled in her face. She swallowed hard and breathed through her nose. Desperate to maintain her mask of calm, her protective shielding.

‘Do not show fear, do not show vulnerability,’ she chanted in her mind. Focusing on her voice, rather than how close Granger was, how much anger she could see in those glowing eyes. Or hear in the low rumbling growl that shadowed his words.

“Stay out of it, Bell,” he snarled, “if you say anything to Ashleigh about this or the ceremony, you will regret it.”

He snarled at her once more, causing her to close her eyes tightly in fear. The sound of the door slamming startled her. Bell opened her eyes to find that she was alone in the room. Her eyes darted around, looking for anywhere he might be hiding, waiting to pounce. The room was empty.

She felt hot, suffocated, her chest was constricting. Then, pushing off the wall, she ran down the hallway. She was too afraid to leave by the front door, in case he was still there, waiting.

The back door was getting closer and closer. Finally, Bell rammed herself hard against the door, bursting through, out into the snow. Her momentum was too strong. She couldn’t find her footing on the small staircase; she tripped and fell. Her body slammed sharply into the ground. The pain from the impact was enough to shock her into taking a deep gasping breath of the cold air. Her lungs burned, and she coughed painfully as she took it in too quickly.

‘You have a nasty mouth on you, my sweet Bell…. I’ll teach you to use it properly.’

The revolting voice crept into her mind from the depths of a banished memory. Then, like a snake from its hole, it slithered and crawled over her. Crushing her defenses and filling her with disgust and shame.

Her stomach couldn’t take it, she heaved her lunch onto the snow before her, and with it, she lost the last bit of control she had over her emotions. A heavy stream of tears flooded from her eyes; gasping breaths escaped her lips.

She couldn’t stop herself, not even when she sensed someone approaching.

“Bell?” he called out as a question, wondering if it was her he saw sitting on the ground.

He didn’t know why she would be sitting on the ground, but then again, he didn’t understand why she did half the things she did. He almost laughed at the thought when he saw her shoulders sag and bob. She was crying. Bell never cried.

“Bell!” He cried out as he ran to her, falling to his knees beside her.

At first, she pushed away from him and tried to move out of his reach. But he caught her, calling her name and holding her tightly until she looked up into his eyes.

She reached her hand up to his cheek, her breathing slowing down, her eyes focusing again. Finally, she let out a soft sob, and a look of relief fell over her.

“Axel,” she whispered with a heavy sigh.

“Yes,” he replied softly, “I’m here, Bell. You’re safe.”

She let out another sob and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug, desperately seeking his comfort and warmth.

“It’s ok, shh, it’s ok,” Axel cooed softly as he ran his hand down her back, trying to soothe her.

Bell couldn’t help but laugh, causing Axel to stop his movements and look down at her with surprise. She was smiling through glassy tear-filled eyes.

“I’m not a baby, Axel,” she laughed.

“Well, I’ve never seen you cry before. I didn’t know what to do!” he scoffed.

She laughed again and teased him a little more before leaning back into his chest. He immediately wrapped his arms around her once more.

“This is all I need right now,” she said softly, “just a little longer.”

“As long as you want,” he replied, smiling gently.

Both were happily accepting the comfort they offered each other. Neither noticed the tall blonde man. The one who stood among the trees, with an unnatural glow in his eyes, cast directly at them.