Miss Independent (COMPLETE) **SAMPLE**

Chapter 5

Approximately 20 years ago...

Young Bellatrix above^

Bellatrix's POV

"Mommy, I hurted myself in da grass" my little Saige whined in my arms as I made my way to the back door of the pack house. I withheld a laugh at her choice of words and kissed her cheek. "Don't worry my sweet. Juliet will take care of you" I assured her and right on cue with my words, Juliet stood in the hallway right outside of the infirmary door waiting for us.

Saige squealed excitedly and reached over for Juliet. Juliet laughed and happily took my daughter in her arms. "A little birdie told me you got a few scratches from outside" she said. Saige pouted and lifted up her elbow to reveal a paper cut thin scratch covered in dirt.

"Ju-ju pwease elp me" she whined.

"Oh at once my princess. We can't have our precious Saige in pain can we?" Juliet asked before turning on her heels and walked into the infirmary with Saige squealing happily in her arms. I smiled warmly at the sight before I turned around to face my mate as he walked in with a disappointed looking Kaia on his hip. The color has left his face and he looked as though he had seen a ghost.

Kaia's eyes lit up once she saw me and she reached over to be in my arms which I happily took her in. She wrapped her arms around my neck tightly and I snuggled my head against hers. "My darling Kiki. Are you hurt?" I asked her. She shook her head and kept her head on my shoulders. I sighed, knowing well that my daughter is confused and sad she couldn't make yet another new friend.

"Bella..."

"Save it Aldric. I will handle you later. First, I want to get my daughters in some clean clothes so they can eat dinner comfortably" I commanded, sending him a well-earned glare.

"Let Juliet take the girls. You and I both know we need to speak about this now" he replied. At that, Juliet overheard and opened the door to the infirmary with Saige still in her arms with a lollipop in her mouth.

"Well look who we have here Saige!" Juliet asked with exaggerated excitement.

Saige smiled and held out a lollipop for her sister. I set Kaia down and took the lollipop from Saige before handing it to her sister. "Go on girls. Mommy and Daddy will see you both soon" I called behind them as Juliet took them to the stairs.

I looked back at my mate whose eyes were filled with sorrow and he reached out a hand to grab me but I stepped away. "Don't touch me you disgraceful piece of shit!" I whisper yelled at him; I felt a grip around my heart as I spoke those words to him. He was shocked and slowly placed his hand back at his side. I huffed and stormed my way towards our room so we can have some privacy for such a sensitive topic.

The whole time, I knew he was right behind me and I desperately wanted him to hold me. To mend the heart he has broken without saying much words to me. The Moon Goddess set me up with a challenging man but I did not expect something like today to happen. Not between us.

I blinked my tears back rapidly; the last thing I need is to appear weak in front of him about this. I opened the door to our room and walked inside. Aldric followed close behind and closed the door gently before hesitantly taking steps towards me. He can sense my rage and heart break the minute he made his appearance in the meadow and he didn't know what to do.

So I took the first move and marched up to him, I moved before I could think about my consequences; I needed to release the anger boiling inside me and he was the right person to do it to. I felt my arm fly through the air and the sting in the palm of my hand as it made contact with his face. He grunted and held a hand up to his cheek as he stared at me. I felt a pressure around my heart tighten as my brain came to the realization that I laid a hand on my mate to purposely hurt him.