Bella's POV
I forced my way through the cluster of council members, their bodies pressed so close together I could barely breathe. The space between them felt suffocating, trapping me in their circle of judgment.
The bedroom door remained hidden behind their towering forms until piercing screams cut through the air.
Everyone surged forward at once, and as we spilled into the room, I found Zack and Leah huddled together in the far corner, their small bodies trembling.
Tara thrashed on the bed, her face flushed crimson with rage.
"I want them gone! Get them out of here!" Her voice tore through the room with such force that it made my ears ring.
My heart shattered as I watched my children flee past me, their arms wrapping desperately around Alpha Morris's legs instead of seeking safety in mine.
The cruel realization hit me like ice water. They knew I would never choose them over Tara when she was like this, so they had learned to find protection elsewhere.
