Why? 

ISABELLA’S POV 

The world seemed to stand still as I found myself staring at Xavier, who was standing several 

meters away from us. His eyes were fixed on me, and they were sharp and piercing, as if he 

could see right through my soul. I was frozen in place. My breath got stuck in my throat 

realizing I was doomed. I was done for- and there was no escaping this. 

My heart was pounding loudly like a drumbeat echoing in my chest. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t 

even get myself to look away from him. 

But then, the spell which seemed to hold me in place got broken when I felt a small tug on my 

arm. 

“Uncle…?” Liam’s soft and curious voice snapped me back to reality. 

I turned and looked at him before I saw it. There was a sparkle in his eyes as he looked 

towards Xavier, a small, sweet smile flashing on his lips. 

“Mom, he’s the uncle who saved me…” 

The earth seemed to buckle beneath my feet. I could feel my heart clenching painfully as I 

held Liam’s hand tighter in mine. 

I couldn’t find my voice. All I did was stare back and forth nervously from my son towards 

Xavier, who was now walking towards us with slow and deliberate steps. 

I forced myself not to look at him again, and only stared intently at my son. My lips were 

quivering as I tried to maintain the little bit of composure left in my body. 

“Uncle, this is my mom!” My son, who was unaware of the storm brewing inside me looked up at Xavier once more, speaking with a sweet voice. 

The innocence in his tone nearly tore my heart. I could feel the air thickening between us as Xavier’s presence loomed. I realized he was now behind me. His dark, intense gaze boring into 

my skin which made me slightly quiver. 

He was now standing closer… so close that I could feel the heat oozing from his body to my skin, though it made a cold shiver travel down my spine instead. 

I swallowed hard, before gathering my courage to turn and face him once more. In a flash, his dark, accusing eyes slashed into mine, and I felt the weight of everything I had tried to avoid 

crashing down on me. 

1/4 

Why? 

+50 Point: 

But I didn’t expect his next move. He suddenly removed his gaze from me and looked back. 

down at Liam. The look on his face softened slightly, juts slightly, as he bent down and ruffled 

Liam’s hair. 

The tenderness in that gesture made my breath hitch, and I instinctively drew a step backward, tightening my hold around Liam’s hand as my heart hammered with fear and 

nervousness. 

“I see, little one.” He mumbled, his tone gruff but controlled, before he stood straight again. 

He strode past me, his shoulder suddenly brushing against mine, and the contact sent a sudden electric shock running through my body. 

But then, my heart faltered as he came to a dead stop right behind me before he spoke in a 

low and cold tone, meant only for my ears. 

“Come with me.” 

After that, he turned his back and continued walking away, leaving me standing on my spot, 

stunned as the sound of his footsteps grew fainter and duller. 

“Bella…” Hailey’s voice pulled me out of my daze. She stepped closer, her face etched with 

worry as she stared at me. 

“I didn’t know how… but after we arrived, it seemed like Alpha Xavier already knew you were 

Liam’s mom.” 

Her words sent a chill down my spine, making me feel cold, colder than the cool early morning 

ear. 

– 

I hadn’t expected this to happen – not so soon, and not like this. The events just now felt just 

like the same when Xavier saw me with Bella. I felt like a criminal getting caught in the act. 

Yet somewhere deep within me, I knew this was inevitable. Xavier was sharp, and the 

resemblance between him and Liam was undeniable. I should’ve seen this coming. 

“Liam, did you tell that uncle your mommy’s name?” Hailey asked gently, though the concern 

in her eyes belied her tone. 

Liam looked up at her and vigorously shook his head before he replied with an innocent look 

on his face, “I didn’t, Auntie Hailey. I only told him that Mom is one of the healers in our pack.” 

Hailey face palmed, while my body went even stiffer hearing my son’s answer. But I couldn’t let 

him notice my internal struggle. I couldn’t show him the turmoil inside me. So, instead, I 

squeezed his hand gently and gave him a reassuring smile before I turned to Hailey. 

“Where’s Raymond?” I asked, my tone turning low and nervous as I realized my brother wasn’t 

2/4 

$50 Paint 

Why? 

around. 

“He’s inside the packhouse.” Hailey had a complicated look on her face. “Earlier… when we went inside, it was Alpha Xavier who was waiting for us at the door. Then we asked for Liam, but he refused to let Liam come with us, and only insisted that Liam’s mom should be the one to come and get him.” 

“We tried to make excuses, but he didn’t buy it, Bella… He knew you were here.” 

Those were the words I was dreading for. For a moment, I grow confused. Could it be the mate bond that revealed my presence to Xavier? Could the bracelet I was wearing which was 

supposed to be a shield have failed? 

My heart sank. 

“He seemed very sure earlier,” Hailey continued speaking, her voice turning lower with each word. “Then he allowed me to take Liam to get you. He wanted to see you. And he told Raymond to stay behind.” 

I let out a sharp breath, feeling the weight of the situation crushing me. Hailey reached out to me, her hand was warm and reassuring as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Bella.” 

I shook my head, trying to stay calm. “It’s okay,” I whispered back. “Please, look after Liam for 

a moment.” 

Hailey’s concern deepened. “What will you do now?” 

I glanced in the direction Xavier had just went before I sighed. 

“I’ll talk to him.” The words felt heavy on my tongue, but I knew I had no other choice. 

I then faced Liam, forcing a small smile on my lips as I slightly bent down and gently cupped 

his cheek. “Mommy will be back, sweetheart. I just need to talk to that uncle first, okay?” 

Liam nodded obediently, but seeing him like this only made the ache deepen in my heart. I 

pressed a kiss to his forehead before finally gathering the courage to follow the path Xavier 

had taken. 

My feet felt heavy, each step seemed to weigh a ton as my mind raced with fear and 

memories. My heart pounded even more loudly as soon as I realized something. 

This path… It was all too familiar. It leads towards the house, Xavier and I once shared. 

A lump formed in my throat as I approached the place, the quiet morning air only heightening 

the tension swirling inside me. 

Moments later, the sight of the familiar house finally greeted me, making a knot in my 

3/4 

Why? 

450 Points 

stomach form. And there, I saw Xavier standing outside. His back was facing me, radiating a cold, impenetrable aura. 

Slowly, I finally manage to approach him, stopping a few feet away as I tried to suppress the dread and panic that seemed to overwhelm me. 

Xavier should’ve sensed my presence since earlier, but he still didn’t turn around. The silence was choking, and I could feel the menace… the anger that was hanging in the air like a storm. ready to unleash itself. 

Finally, he turned to face me. His expression was dark and his eyes were filled with a mix of hurt and fury. The next question that spilled from his lips was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. 

“Why?” he asked, his voice deep and accusing.