The Beta and His Runaway Werefox / ✔️

She had no words. Her throat felt like it had closed up completely as she stared into Harvey’s eyes in disbelief. All of her life, she was told that she had no mother. That her mother had abandoned her when she was a baby and never wanted her.

Her whole life, she believed that trusting a person meant being left behind, but then she met Harvey, she met his family and the pack, and now she did not know what to believe. Her very own mother was standing in front of her, crying, and all she could do was stand in her place, not being able to move.

“Bels?”

She felt herself blink, the blank expression on her face forming into a frown as she allowed herself to search his brown eyes. “I do not understand... ”

“We should go inside and talk.” The woman spoke softly, wiping her eyes as her hands slowly shook. “Privately.”

Kyra groaned, turning on her heels and pushing the two boys with her while Harvey took Bella’s hand and lead her into the house.

She had nothing to say. Her mind was completely blank of emotion, and so was her heart as she took in the smell. The smell was so familiar, so welcoming, that she felt tears prick the edges of her eyes. After all this time, her family was right here. Her true family was living in the same pack that she lived in.

Harvey pulled out a seat for her to sit down while she felt the cooling touch of the timber table against her arms. For a moment, she felt like she wanted to run up to this strange woman and hug her. She wanted to wrap her arms around her mother and never let go, but her heart stopped her. Nothing made sense anymore... nothing ever did.

“After all of these years, I had lost hope of ever finding you, Issy.” Her mother spoke with a small nervous laugh while tears kept streaming down her face. “Sixteen full years of thinking my baby would never come back to me.”

Bella eyed the woman with a sceptical look. “My name is not Issy... ”

“Bels,” Harvey spoke softly, gaining her attention with a regretful look on his face. “Remember how you asked me to find your father? I found your family instead. I found out what happened and what your real name actually is.”

“My real name?”

He nodded. “Your real name is Isabelle Dean. Bella was never your real name.”

She felt her heart drop into her throat. Her mouth went dry as she felt dizziness set in. Although the information she has been currently given was very little, she still felt overwhelmed. It was almost too much to comprehend as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to her supposed mother. “What happened?”

The woman sighed, sitting down as she placed her arms on the table and began to fiddle with her fingers. “Neil was a family friend. We grew up together, and at one point, we got close. When I found my mate... your father, he got jealous... possessive even, and I had to cut him out of my life. Especially when I found out that I was pregnant.” She then sighed again, a small tear falling down her face as she took a deep breath. “We kept you a secret for two years. Our life was perfect. Your father loved you so much.”

She started sobbing, her tears causing Bella to whimper while she hugged herself softly. “He kept me in the abandoned Werefox territory. I called him my father... I thought he was my-”

“It is okay, Bels,” Harvey reassured. “He is a sick man obsessed with a woman he can never have and took you to get her.”

The woman nodded with a sad look on her face. “Your father died trying to protect you. I was with the Alpha and Luna at the time, and Neil found his chance and took you.”

“I remember.” Bella softly muttered, Harvey jumping in fright with a deep frown on his face. “I have nightmares about that day every night. My pap- Neil, told me that it was just my mind playing tricks on me but... I remember.”

The look on the woman’s face said every that she needed to hear as she softly smiled. “You are so beautiful, my darling. You have so many features from your father.”

“But I have your hair and eyes.”

She chuckled. “That is two things. Everything else is your father.”

Bella nodded, her breath coming off shaky as she processed everything. It all made sense now, her life finally made sense, and despite how relieved she felt, she could not help herself but look up at Harvey with a deep frown of her own. “Is this why you have been acting so weird?”

His lips slightly parted, his face turning red as he slightly shuffled in his spot. “I wanted to tell you straight away, but I needed to know if she was the real deal or if she was another threat.”

She felt her heart sting at his words. After all this time, he still thought that hiding things from her was the best idea. After all this time, he thought protecting her was the best decision instead of just telling her what she needed to know. “How long have you known?”

He sighed. “Bels...”

“How long!?”

Harvey eyed the woman, her own sad face mimicking his own before he spoke. “A week.”

Bella stood, her already falling tears now streaming down her face for a whole different reason. “Thank you for telling me about this, and it was nice meeting you.” She spoke, her heart racing as she could feel her blood pumping in her veins. “I have to go.”

“Bella! Wait!”

She paused from pushing the chair back where it was. Her eyes turned to Harvey’s pleading ones as she stared back with no emotion. “Do not follow me!”