"Your mother," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "passed away when you were very young." He averted his gaze, his eyes darkening with old, deep-seated rage.
Bella’s heart sank. She hadn’t known what to expect, but hearing the words hit her like a punch to the gut. Even though she didn’t remember her mother, the loss suddenly felt incredibly real. “How... how did it happen?” she asked softly, her throat tight with emotion.
Alpha Ryker’s jaw clenched, his eyes hardening again as he struggled to speak. “She was killed,” he replied bluntly. But before Bella could press for more details, he held up a hand, his voice softening. “Please... not now. I’ll explain it all to you, Bella. But not tonight. It’s still... it’s still difficult for me, even after all these years.”
Bella nodded, und
