Bella’s POV 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The nanny’s words hit me like ice water. Everyone had been tucked into bed safely, but when she returned to check on them later, Leah’s room stood empty. As I stared at Derek across from me, all rational thought fled my mind. Only one thing mattered now - finding my daughter.

I bolted from Derek’s estate, my car tires screeching against the asphalt as I raced toward home. Through my rearview mirror, I watched his headlights following close behind. The moment I parked, he was already stepping out of his vehicle.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" I screamed, my composure completely shattered.

His jaw tightened as he moved closer. "Watch your tone with me, Bella. Your security team won’t change the fact that I’m the Alpha here, and you’re standing on my land."

The warning in his voice sent chills down my spine, but I didn’t have time for his power games. I spun around and sprinted toward the mansion entrance where Chloe waited, wringing her hands with obvious distress.

"The guards are already searching through the forest - it’s the only logical place she could have wandered," Chloe blurted out the second she spotted me approaching.

My blood turned to ice. Without another word, I changed direction and headed straight for the tree line.

"How could you possibly lose track of her? And what makes you so certain the woods are where we’ll find her?" I demanded, my voice cracking with fear.

Chloe’s eyes darted between Derek and me, her fingers twisting together nervously.

"Don’t answer her. Tell me what happened," Derek commanded sharply, pointing directly at my nanny. She immediately shifted her attention to him, completely dismissing my presence.

"We discovered her stuffed bear right at the forest entrance," she whispered, gesturing toward a small bench where the beloved toy sat abandoned.

I lunged forward to grab it, but Derek’s hand shot out faster, snatching the bear from my reach.

"Stop interfering with everything I do!" I shrieked, terror making my voice shake uncontrollably. The thought of losing my child in this werewolf territory made my stomach churn with nausea.

Derek fixed me with a deadly stare before lifting the teddy bear to his nose. I recognized what he was doing immediately - using his enhanced senses to track her trail. My protests died in my throat as I realized I needed his help. Even when his transformation began, muscles rippling beneath his skin as his wolf side emerged, even when he motioned for me to stay behind because the forest posed too many dangers for humans, I refused to listen. I stayed right on his heels.

The forest path seemed endless as Derek followed invisible traces only he could detect. I understood he was tracking my daughter’s human essence since I had carefully masked their werewolf heritage when we’d first arrived in this supernatural community. He could only follow what remained of her mortal scent.

Eventually, he stopped beside an enormous oak tree. Following his gaze downward, I spotted my precious daughter curled up in a tiny ball beneath its massive trunk. I dove forward and gathered her into my arms, and her eyes fluttered open immediately.

"Mommy," she whispered, clinging to me with desperate strength. Relief flooded through my entire body as I held her close, finally able to breathe again. She had no understanding of the panic that had consumed me. I covered her face with kisses before pulling back to examine her carefully.

Those brilliant green eyes sparkled up at me, framed by impossibly long lashes. Her cheeks glowed with natural rosiness, slightly puffy from sleep. Her tiny crimson lips gave her an angelic appearance that never failed to melt hearts. Everyone who met her claimed she was the most beautiful child they’d ever encountered.

"Leah, sweetheart, what have I told you about leaving the house by yourself?" I asked once I confirmed she was unharmed.

"I woke up and missed you terribly. So I followed your voice when you called me," she explained innocently, causing my brow to furrow with confusion.

"You followed my voice? But darling, I wasn’t home," I said softly, stroking her warm cheek. I needed to understand how she’d managed to leave the safety of the mansion and venture into these dangerous woods in an unfamiliar place. This behavior was completely unlike her.

"But Mommy, you were talking to me. You kept asking me to come find you," she insisted with a small pout, rubbing her sleepy eyes before nestling against me again. Her small arms wrapped tightly around my neck as she burrowed her face into my shoulder, ready to drift back to sleep.

I glanced up at Derek, who appeared equally puzzled by her explanation. Carefully lifting Leah, I carried her back toward the mansion while Derek dispatched his warriors to maintain vigilant patrols throughout the forest area.

"Chloe, I apologize for losing my temper with you earlier. Please get some rest, but in the future, when you’re watching my children, I need you to monitor all entrances and exits more carefully," I said, guilt weighing heavily on my conscience for nearly shouting at her.

"Please don’t worry about it. I completely understand how precious your children are to you. I’m deeply sorry for failing you, and I promise to be much more attentive," she responded with a gentle smile.

Unlike her intimidating father, Chloe possessed a calm and compassionate nature. However, her connection to Mr. Wyatt still made me cautious about trusting her completely. As she disappeared toward the guest quarters, I found myself alone with Derek once again.

"Thank you for your assistance. You can leave now," I stated firmly, crossing my arms defensively.

He stood there casually, hands buried in his jacket pockets, the bulky black material making his already imposing frame seem even more massive.

"Success and fame certainly haven’t improved your manners or social graces," he observed mockingly, causing me to roll my eyes at his audacity to lecture anyone about proper behavior.

"Congratulations on your marriage, by the way," I replied, deliberately changing topics while forcing my brightest smile, determined to appear completely unaffected. I wanted him to understand that I felt no jealousy and hadn’t returned here for him.

He studied me with that familiar judgmental expression, as if I’d returned solely to create chaos in his life.

"Thank you. Congratulations on your own wedding, though I question whether everyone possesses the proper qualifications for parenthood. How difficult could caring for one small child possibly be?" he sneered cruelly.

His words erased my fake smile instantly. The hostility and contempt radiating from him ignited my fury. I wasn’t the one who had betrayed or manipulated him, yet he treated me like a villain.

"Please leave immediately. I need to rest now," I hissed through clenched teeth, pointing toward the exit. He laughed softly, clearly pleased with himself.

"Gladly. I didn’t come here planning to stay anyway. I have a wonderful, devoted wife waiting at home. I’d much rather spend time with her than waste another moment here," he declared proudly before turning his back and striding away.

Every instinct screamed at me to strike him, to make him pay for his cruelty, but I remained frozen in place. I watched him disappear into the night before checking on my sleeping children.

Leah’s strange comment about hearing my voice continued to trouble me deeply. Standing at my bedroom window, I gazed toward the dark forest and noticed a shadowy figure lingering far down the road.

I squinted, trying to make out any identifying details, then immediately sent three guards to investigate. They returned empty-handed, reporting nothing suspicious, and when I looked again, the mysterious presence had vanished completely.