Bella’s POV

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded distant and hurried. "Actually, I’ve returned to my pack territory. There are matters I need to handle there. We’ll talk when I’m back."

The line went dead before I could respond.

I threw my head back against the wall in exasperation, letting out a frustrated sigh.

When I lifted my head, footsteps echoed up the stairway. A figure emerged wearing crisp brown trousers, a pristine white shirt, and a matching brown blazer.

His pace was brisk until his eyes found mine, causing him to pause with a confused expression.

"Bella, why are you sitting here?" His voice carried none of the harsh edge or icy distance the others had wielded against me recently.

"I needed to have a conversation with you and Parker," I answered, my gaze drifting away from his face.

"Alright, Parker isn’t here at the moment, but we can talk," Hugo said, sliding his phone into his rear pocket before motioning toward the upper floors.

"Is Camilla around?" The question slipped out as I hesitated on the steps.

"She departed this morning to visit her mother. The weather turned severe afterward, trapping her there until it clears. Is this conversation related to her?" His inquiry held an unexpectedly gentle quality.

That softer approach sparked something like hope in my chest.

We climbed to the third level where he led me down the hallway toward one of the closed doors.

He reached for the handle and pushed it open, stepping aside.

I froze at the threshold, my hands fidgeting as I surveyed the space beyond.

Being alone with him in a bedroom felt inappropriate. I worried about what others might assume.

"Relax. I’m not planning to put my hands on you the moment you cross that threshold."

His blunt phrasing made my skin crawl with unease, and I fixed him with a sharp glare.

"I’m being completely serious. You have nothing to fear from me," he assured me, prompting me to finally enter.

The door clicked shut behind us, making my pulse race frantically.

I settled nervously into the chair positioned near the large window, my body tense. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

From this vantage point, I had a perfect view of my own terrace and the entire front garden of my property.

My breathing became shallow as the memory of Derek discovering me with Vance came flooding back.

Had Hugo witnessed that encounter too? Would he react with the same fury Derek had displayed?

"What’s troubling you?" he asked, as though he could read the anxiety written across my features.

He moved to the opposite chair, a small round table creating space between us.

"Your window offers quite the perspective," I commented, keeping my attention focused downward.

My eyes tracked his movements as he began preparing tea, his motions deliberate and practiced.

"The storm’s been brutal, which is why I’ve kept everything sealed tight," he replied without any reference to potentially observing me with Vance.

"Here, drink this and try to unwind before you tell me what’s happening," he suggested, extending a delicate cup toward me.

I wrapped my fingers around it and brought it to my lips. The first taste triggered a wave of nostalgia.

Memories surfaced of peaceful afternoons when he’d taken me on outdoor excursions and prepared tea exactly like this.

A smile threatened to emerge until I opened my eyes to find him studying my expression. I quickly reminded myself those days were long gone.

"So what’s the situation?" he inquired, settling back comfortably with one ankle resting on his opposite knee, one arm draped casually while his other hand supported his temple.

"Derek paid me a visit. He claims he has proof that Vance is being unfaithful to me," I began, placing the cup down with trembling fingers. "To be clear, Vance isn’t cheating. But Derek is demanding I make a choice between them."

I lifted my eyes, searching his face for any reaction.

"What kind of choice exactly?" he pressed.

"He wants me to divorce Vance and become his wife instead," I clarified, noticing the subtle tension that appeared near his hairline.

His overall demeanor remained composed, making it difficult to gauge his true thoughts.

"And that’s not something you’re considering?" he asked, one eyebrow arching upward.

"Absolutely not," I responded without hesitation.

"Why refuse him? Wasn’t Derek someone you desired for years?" Hugo observed, dropping his hand from his temple to fiddle unnecessarily with his watch strap, clearly avoiding direct eye contact.

"Hugo, what gave you the impression I’ve been pining for Derek all this time? Those feelings died the night he refused to claim my child as his own," I declared firmly.

Hugo’s head moved in a slow nod of acknowledgment.

"Then perhaps you’d prefer to be with Parker?" he suggested.

These alphas were all behaving so strangely, and I couldn’t comprehend their reasoning.

"How does Parker factor into any of this?"

My voice nearly rose to a shout before I caught myself, forcing my lungs to fill with air and my eyes to close as I sought composure.

He was engaging in reasonable dialogue, so I owed him the same courtesy. After all, I had been the one seeking this conversation.

"No, Hugo. I don’t want either of them. What I felt was just infatuation. I was barely more than a child," I attempted to clarify, watching him respond with a casual shoulder lift.

"You don’t believe what I’m telling you?" I challenged, observing as he lifted his cup to sample the steaming beverage.

"It’s simply that when you announced your pregnancy to them, both had legitimate reasons for rejecting you. Doesn’t that alter your perspective at all?" he posed the question with careful consideration.

This was exactly the discussion I needed to have to resolve these misunderstandings permanently.

"I acknowledge Derek’s assistance and I’m thankful his rejection ultimately saved my life. Parker suffered betrayal from his family and Moon, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that neither protected me when I needed it most. Even as young men, they were still alphas. Either could have stepped forward, claimed responsibility, and accepted me. Neither did," I managed to keep my tone measured despite the emotional weight of those memories.

"Don’t claim nobody stepped up," he attempted to interject.

I raised my hand to stop him from continuing.