Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Children Taken Away

Bella’s POV

The endless waiting finally came to an end when Lord Morris entered the chamber, accompanied by two additional werewolf council members.

The first was an elderly woman whose silver hair gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights. She appeared to be well into her nineties, her frail body requiring the support of both men as they guided her to her seat. Each step seemed to drain what little energy she possessed.

The second companion was a stern-faced man called Thomas. His appearance suggested he was somewhere in his late forties, with a meticulously groomed black mustache and dark hair slicked back with an abundance of gel. His expression radiated irritation from the moment he crossed the threshold.

This man was familiar to me. His signature oversized coats and ill-fitting suits were legendary in the community. What struck me most was his peculiar habit of keeping his arms rigidly at his sides, never allowing them to swing naturally even during movement.

The trio arranged themselves across from me at the imposing wooden table, their collective presence creating an atmosphere of judgment and authority.

"What name does your wolf go by?" the elderly woman inquired, her voice wavering with each syllable.

The tremor in her speech betrayed her desire to be anywhere else but here, dealing with the unprecedented situation of a she-wolf bearing multiple offspring from different alpha fathers.

"I have no idea," I responded with deliberate deception, placing my hands flat on the table’s surface while discreetly pressing my fingernail into my thumb.

"Yet you claimed your wolf had awakened. Your sister provided testimony confirming this," Lord Morris interjected, his tone sharp with suspicion.

Following her testimony, my commitment to remaining in werewolf territory had become official through signed documentation.

"That’s correct, but we’ve never actually communicated. She remains silent, and my transformation remains incomplete," I explained carefully.

Lord Morris’s facial expression revealed his skepticism clearly. Though the formal interview prevented him from directly accusing me of dishonesty, his disbelief was unmistakable.

"Very well. Explain the circumstances of your pregnancy. How did this situation develop, and when did you discover that multiple alphas had fathered your children?" Lady Helena demanded.

Lord Thomas appeared increasingly uncomfortable with the line of questioning. His body language remained minimal, but he was the sole participant gripping a pen tightly, poised over his clipboard with obvious tension.

"The events occurred several years ago when I reached eighteen. The alphas were present," I began, pausing as painful memories resurfaced. "They believed they were creating something memorable for me that evening."

The disgust on both Lord Morris’s and the elderly woman’s faces became immediately apparent.

"How could they possibly know this encounter would be memorable if they engaged with you intimately? Had you previously been with others?" the old woman pressed.

Her intention seemed focused on cultivating my shame and guilt.

"Absolutely not. I had never been with anyone before. I was completely inexperienced. If you want to understand their reasoning, you should direct those questions to them," I replied, my voice climbing as my composure began cracking within the first few minutes of interrogation.

"There’s no need for such defensive hostility, Mrs. Bella. These are precisely the questions the werewolf community will demand answers to if you refuse to address them privately now," the old woman responded with bitter satisfaction.

Her generation had emerged from an era when she-wolves were considered inferior to alphas in every respect. While alphas enjoyed the freedom of multiple partners, any woman seeking similar autonomy was branded as promiscuous and deemed unfit for motherhood or family membership.

"Perhaps we should establish some calm here?" Lord Thomas suggested, gesturing toward the elderly woman before straightening his posture and focusing his attention on me.

"I have a daughter approximately your age. She married her destined mate, and despite experiencing significant difficulties in her marriage, she continues working to maintain stability. I’m aware of her struggles, but I avoid questioning her because it’s inappropriate to interrogate our daughters in such manner. I wouldn’t have subjected you to these questions either, but the circumstances demand it. Let’s move past your history. I’m not concerned with previous events. Our focus should remain on your wolf." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His change of subject filled me with relief.

Although certain aspects of his statement troubled me, his intentions didn’t appear malicious. He seemed constrained by societal pressures and expectations. Rather than engaging with his daughter about her problems, he chose to ignore the obvious warning signs.

"I genuinely have no knowledge about her," I stated firmly. "Regarding my discovery of the situation, when I gave birth, the distinctive characteristics were immediately obvious. Each time I observed them, I experienced an unmistakable connection to their respective fathers. That’s the complete extent of my understanding." My voice carried newfound confidence.

"How do we propose to encounter your wolf? We cannot predict whether your initial transformation will pose dangers. What if you’re surrounded by your own children or the other children under your care? What about pack members? What if you become uncontrollable and attack them? What’s our response then?" Lord Morris challenged.

I shifted restlessly in my chair. Despite his harsh nature, his concerns held validity.

Within my consciousness, Astra’s voice emerged in a whisper.

"Are you suggesting I’m some kind of monster?"

I shut my eyes tightly.

"I don’t understand who you are, Astra. My only knowledge is that during transformation, we experience bloodlust," I admitted internally.

"Since your knowledge appears limited, we have few options available currently. You may return home until your complete transformation occurs and we can evaluate your wolf’s nature," the elderly woman declared.

I struggled to contain my elation, though they likely sensed my emotional shift. The prospect of returning home filled me with joy.

"However," Lord Morris added ominously, "your children cannot remain in your custody due to safety concerns. They will reside with their fathers. You’ll be permitted supervised visitations, continuing only until your transformation is complete and you demonstrate that you pose no threat to children."

His words struck me like a physical blow, completely destroying every ounce of confidence I had maintained throughout the ordeal.