A Rejection For Christmas

Chapter 8: Unwanted visitor

Jared's POV

Matthias slid the documents back across the table. "Your proposals will be reviewed, and the council will deliberate. You may be called to present your case at the annual meeting."

"Thank you, Elder Matthias," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing within me. "I will be prepared."

The Elder nodded dismissively, and I turned to leave, my thoughts already racing. The council might see me as another ambitious Alpha vying for power, but I would prove them wrong. My pack would rise, and I would ensure that no one—not Liam, not Isabella, and certainly not the council—stood in my way.

Isabella… I can’t believe she was a mother now. Who was the father of that child?

I didn’t ask anything else because I didn’t want the Elder to suspect, but of course, I would get to the bottom of this.

It wasn’t Liam’s; if it were, the Elder wouldn’t be so adamant about her becoming Luna.

As I exited the chamber, Thane stirred restlessly in my mind.

"You shouldn’t have left Salvadori’s floor. That scent meant something."

“I know, I growled internally. But I need to play this smart. She thinks she’s safe with him. Let her believe that—for now.”

Thane snarled in frustration but didn’t argue further. I stepped into the elevator, already planning my next move. The annual meeting would be my chance to shift the tides in my favor.

Let’s hope my useless Beta finds something on that kid, and then I could use that in my favor.

————————————————————

Isabella’s POV

“For Goddes's sake, Liam, don’t do that again,” I said as I hugged my son tightly.

When I was mind-linked, telling me that my son was missing, I was ready to let Tammie take control and track his scent.

Fortunately, I decided to call Liam to inform him of Jensen’s disappearance, and he told me he was with him and they had returned to the hotel because my son had forgotten one of his dinosaurs in his office.

Anthony didn’t hesitate, and he brought us here. I couldn’t wait to hug my baby, so as soon as I laid my eyes on him, I held him close as if he would vanish out of thin air.

“Mom, you’re choking me,” Jensen mumbled, his small voice muffled against my chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go just yet. My heart was still pounding from the moment I heard he was missing.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry,” I whispered, easing my grip but keeping him close.

Tammie was as worried as I was. He was our pup, our little baby, and I was worried sick that something had happened to him.

Jensen squirmed in my arms, holding up the little dinosaur figurine he’d clutched so tightly. “See, Mom? I told you I needed to get him! Mr. T-Rex was lonely!”

I sighed, pressing a kiss to his messy dark hair. “Jensen, you can’t just run off like that. What if something happened to you?”

Liam’s deep chuckle interrupted, and I turned to glare at him. “Don’t encourage him.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, his amber eyes gleaming with amusement. “I didn’t! I was just the accomplice. He insisted it was a matter of life and death for the T-Rex.”

I rolled my eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. Jensen had Liam wrapped around his little finger, and Liam didn’t seem to mind one bit.

Anthony cleared his throat from behind me. “Bella, I’ll stay here and keep watch. If you and Liam want to—”

“No,” I said quickly. “I think I’ll stay a bit longer with them.”

Anthony gave a pointed look at Liam. He might be the only one brave enough to do that in the pack.

Besides me, but what can I say? I never had a filter, and for some reason, Alpha commands don’t work on me. I don't think anyone has noticed it; they might just think I am

“Don’t scare her like that, man,” Anthony said and then left us there.

He had to return to his mate. She must be worried about Jensen as well.

“Bella,” Liam started, his voice soft as he stepped closer. “You know I’d never let anything happen to him.”

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing. “That’s not the point, Liam. You should’ve told me. Do you know how terrified I was when I couldn’t find him?”

His expression softened, the usual confidence replaced with something that looked suspiciously like guilt. “I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would take this long. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Jensen tugged at my hand, looking between us with wide eyes. “Mom, are you mad at Uncle Liam?”

I crouched down, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. “No, baby. I’m just... worried. You’re my most important person, you know that?”

He nodded solemnly, his little hand reaching out to pat my cheek. “I’m okay, Mom. Uncle Liam is really strong. He wouldn’t let the bad guys get me.”

That melted some of the tension in my chest. I pulled him into another hug. I knew I was not letting my son move much, but I needed to feel him close to me.

Liam crouched beside us, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “Bella, you know you can trust me with him, right?”

I wanted to say yes, but the words caught in my throat. It wasn’t just about trust—it was about the nightmares that still haunted me, the fear that someone might take Jensen away from me.

If Jared found out about him, it would be a hell of a fight, but if Kathy found out… that would be a disaster.

“I know,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just—he’s my world, Liam. I can’t lose him.”

“You won’t,” Liam said firmly. “Not while I’m around.”

“Liam… you are a great friend, but I am his mother, and he is my responsibility. One day, you will find your mate. " My heart clenched at that thought, but I kept my voice steady. “And when you do, you will realize that all you felt for me was mere attraction.”

“No,” he shook his head. “You don’t understand, I want you, Isabella or Bella, I don’t want someone else.”

My gaze softened. Liam hadn’t experienced the mate bond; he doesn’t know how attracted you feel towards your mate. If it had been so easy to fight, then Jared and I wouldn’t have had Jensen.

“One day, you will understand,” I said and focused on my kid, who had finally wriggled free from my grasp and ran to grab another dinosaur from Liam’s desk.

The following morning, I took Jensen to the pack’s school and then went to my office. Even though Liam had insisted on taking care of my bills, I was adamant on working.

I studied in secret for a reason. Jared had no idea I took online business classes, but I had to make sure I was ready to get a job and start a new life in case he decided to throw me away, which he did.

Now, I work at one of Liam’s companies, but I make sure my work speaks for me while I manage this branch.

“Ms. Thorne, you have a visitor today,” my secretary informed me as soon as I entered the building.

Liam had an empire, and he was involved in various businesses. Some of his companies employed only people from the pack, while others, like this one, also employed humans. This was the best way to go unnoticed, and it also helped some of the members find their mates.

A visitor? I checked my calendar three times; I didn’t have a visitor scheduled for today.

“Was it a last-minute appointment?” I asked as I continued walking to the elevator.

My secretary was a 20-year-old human; she was very efficient, and the fact that she dropped her gaze meant she did something I didn’t like.

“Let me guess, he insisted, and you couldn’t say no,” I sighed.

“How did you know it was a he?” She asked, astonished that I had guessed right.

“Intuition,” I replied, but it was far from the truth. Tammie and I had prepared ourselves for this moment. “Call my lawyer; you know what to do.”

And with that, I marched to my office.