Bella’s POV

After carrying Zack upstairs to his bedroom, I tucked him under his covers and prepared a mug of warm hot chocolate. The trembling in his small hands finally subsided as he sipped the sweet drink, his eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion.

The terror that had consumed him was too overwhelming for me to press him with more questions. Yet the mystery of his reaction to Hugo continued to gnaw at my thoughts like a persistent ache.

When sleep finally claimed him, I quietly slipped from the room, leaving Chloe to keep watch over him. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I descended the staircase, my gaze falling upon Tara and Leah as they chatted animatedly with the three alphas.

The sight twisted something uncomfortable in my stomach. While I wanted my children to display proper manners and show kindness to others, watching them grow attached to these particular men filled me with dread. Yet speaking out now seemed impossible with Zack’s condition weighing so heavily on my mind.

"We need to talk. Now." Hugo’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

He remained exactly where I had left him, his posture rigid and unmoving. Even Derek and Parker appeared puzzled by the intensity of a child’s frightened screams upon seeing their friend.

"You two continue. I’ll keep the girls company," Derek announced, lowering himself to the floor to engage with their toys.

My chest tightened watching Leah’s face light up as she eagerly demonstrated her favorite game to him. She had no understanding that this man, who currently provided her such joy, would likely dismiss her entirely once the truth of their connection surfaced.

Derek’s enthusiasm wasn’t lost on me either. His father had mentioned his desperate attempts to start a family. That explained his current behavior perfectly. But I dreaded the inevitable moment when he discovered Leah’s true parentage and witnessed his entire demeanor transform. That pain was something I refused to inflict on my daughter.

Reluctantly, I left Derek behind, reasoning that at least an alpha’s presence would ensure the girls’ safety if anything unexpected occurred. Hugo and Parker followed as I stepped outside into the parking lot.

The moment we cleared the entrance, Hugo positioned his hands firmly on his hips and began pacing in tight circles before whirling to face me again.

"What lies have you been feeding your children about me?" His accusation dripped with venom.

"What exactly are you suggesting? That I carry your photograph in my purse and terrorize them with bedtime stories about the monster who will devour them if they misbehave?" My response came sharp and quick, my hands forming tight fists as I straightened my spine despite his towering height.

"Don’t play games with me. You must have poisoned his mind somehow. Children don’t scream in terror and call someone a monster without cause. I may not win beauty contests, but I’m hardly that frightening." Hugo gestured toward the house where Zack had erupted in panic.

"Hold on, you two. This argument is entertaining enough to warrant popcorn, but you’re both overlooking a crucial detail from what the boy actually said." Parker interjected, pointing toward the mansion while notably using Zack’s proper name.

Our attention shifted to him simultaneously.

"The child specifically mentioned that you’ve been haunting his dreams and terrorizing him there. Why would you do such a thing?" Parker addressed Hugo with genuine concern.

Hugo raised both palms toward his chest in a gesture of complete bewilderment, as if questioning his friend’s sanity.

"What possible motivation would I have for invading some kid’s nightmares? Do you think I have endless free time for such activities? What am I supposed to be, some kind of supernatural boogeyman?" His frustration was palpable.

His entire frame radiated tension in a way I didn’t recall from our past. The Hugo I remembered had been enigmatic and unpredictable, certainly, but not this perpetually coiled spring ready to snap. Not constantly prepared for battle, especially not with me.

The dynamic between the three friends had clearly shifted as well. Parker and Derek now formed a tighter unit, while Hugo remained somewhat isolated. Honestly, his volatile temperament made that arrangement his own doing. He had become a walking powder keg, primed to detonate without warning.

"I was merely joking. Calm down. But could this be connected to his illness somehow? Why would Zack dream about you specifically? Perhaps he simply saw a tall man with brown hair and gray eyes and became confused. Could that explain it?" Parker’s tone returned to serious consideration.

A troubling thought began forming in my mind. Not because Zack had mistaken Hugo for some nightmare creature, but because there existed a real possibility that Hugo was indeed the figure in those dreams. Their blood connection might be the key to understanding everything.

I wondered if my determination to hide the truth was actually hindering my children’s wellbeing. Maybe this connection could lead to finding a cure for Zack’s condition. But I kept these thoughts locked away. Hugo’s aggressive nature made the prospect of him learning about his son absolutely terrifying.

"Perhaps," I offered carefully. "Or maybe it’s because he shares my DNA. Both Zack and I harbor significant resentment toward my former best friends."

My words came out barely above a whisper, causing both Parker and Hugo to do double takes as if questioning what they had heard.

"Are you being serious right now?" Hugo demanded, and I confirmed with a firm nod.

"Completely serious," I hissed back at him.

"Alright, you two can continue this Tom and Jerry routine all evening, or take your cartoon antics to the garden while we begin the actual interviews. Something is definitely wrong here. These children are far too innocent to be dealing with this situation, and you two are far too mature to be bickering like schoolchildren," Parker snapped after reaching his limit with our behavior.

Both Hugo and I stepped away from each other. I crossed my arms defensively, annoyed that Parker had to remind me to prioritize my children’s needs over my personal grievances with these men. I was too old for such petty disputes.

"Now that we’ve settled that, shall we proceed with questioning them? And I want to interview Tara personally. That child is absolutely adorable. She even shares my eye color," Parker announced, pointing to his own blue eyes with innocent enthusiasm.

My throat constricted at his words. He was already developing an attachment to her. Was this the beginning of his realization? Was he getting dangerously close to discovering she was his daughter?

"Fine by me. Handle the interviews yourselves. I’m leaving," Hugo muttered, backing away from our group. At least his departure would eliminate one source of tension, though the remaining two posed their own threats with their growing interest.

"Just remember to keep their mother restrained before she launches an attack during the questioning process," Hugo added, gesturing in my direction.

Every fiber of my being wanted to chase after him and strike the back of his arrogant head, but his massive size made such action inadvisable. These three alphas had grown into absolute giants, and I had no desire to be crushed beneath their feet.

"May I please conduct Tara’s interview? I promise not to cause her any distress," Parker requested, his blue eyes meeting mine with earnest appeal.

The sight of him filled me with an strange unease. His resemblance to Tara was striking, from his golden hair to his facial features.

"Acceptable," I replied tersely. "But I’m staying present throughout the entire process."

"Absolutely. Let’s proceed. Time to interview our little angel." He rubbed his palms together with obvious excitement, and his intense fascination with Tara only amplified my growing anxiety.