CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

24 FEBRUARY, WEDNESDAY, LATER

The air outside was cold and crisp and refreshing. I felt like something in my mind cleared as I took a deep breath and watched the world from my packhouse porch. The snow fell, each tiny snowflake a perfect patterned crystal... so white and bright and magical today, but mostly because it was. Snow Magic in its purest form.

You could tell that the snow wolves had made themselves at home here. Even with Alpha Gunter away on his solo quest to the Colored Mountains for mating bands, their protective enchantments spanned over our packhouse, and its surrounding radius so that it's always snowing lightly now. I've heard that the Snow Moon Packlands snowed throughout the year. It could just be because of the altitude though.

Too bad for the warriors though. No matter how pretty snow falls, it always ends up on the sidewalks and roads, and it looks like plough duty would be a permanent roster till our esteemed guests left.

The most mysterious thing about the snow wolves though, would be the way they were so quiet. My wolf was quite aware there were at least thirty of them staying with us right now, but unlike Night Leaf warriors, they didn't snow fight, or fool around and break things, or talk loudly in the dining hall, or stomp their boots on our porch.

But my wolf felt at ease with their magic. There was something familiar and soothing about it, and exciting too. It brought to mind all the lycan tales about the snow village on top of the White Mountains. Oh, what would I give to take part in their coming of age tribulation ceremony! Or see the snow creatures come to life! Or fight with ice swords!

I wondered if Alpha Gunter's Snow Moon Pack kept any of these customs. If they did, I definitely wanted to test my mettle at the tribulation ceremony on the year I turn 18!

But I'm in real life right now, not some fantasy legend from the Colored Mountains. In real life, I had to make my way across the driveway to the Alpha House. The weather was really not quite cold enough for snow, so the ground had a lot of slush. That's real life for you.

And in real life, I had a Ki who was updating me on my Luna's recovery because that's how betas were trained to prep their alphas for the next meeting in their agenda.

Bell had made significant progress overnight. I took it that the soak in the heated pool really did wonders for him. Ki had helped Delta Oran move him up to his bedroom this morning.

I almost forgotten that Ki was supposed to be taking an off day to rest today. I'm not sure how any of this was restful for Ki at all. That was a beta's life for you. Poor Ki.

But Ki was overall more concerned about the report and warning from Stephan about Bell's behavior at the Underground. I knew because he repeated it as if it was something important. He also forgot to keep his smile on.

"Please be careful, alpha. Your Luna Bell's temper had never been easily quelled." Ki worried.

I had a mating bond with that guy, I think I would know my own mate's temper. Ki was wrong. My Luna's tempàer was NEVER quelled. Bell was almost always at least a little angry. If Bell was a Marvel avenger, he be Hulk.

I just pulled the plug out of his world destruction plan by putting him on lockdown in his own army. Nevermind how that had to be a slap in the face to his proud wolf, just the fact that his 15 year old princess messed with his plans yet again was probably enough to warrant a chi-ka-boom. He was on a roll too - now there were not just one but two death gods running loose, both equipped with their own armies. One who ran with the blue demon wolves, and the other, with only one arm, but from what I saw at the Underground, and from the outlook point on top of an overlooking cliff, the One Armed Death God had a masked army at least twice the size of the first one.

Which begets the question: Exactly how many rogues had the Underground absorbed?

We paused outside Bell's room. Ki hesistated. It was like one of his, "Should I tell her or should I not tell her moments."

My betas struggled with this delima quite often. Probably because their alpha was so clueless.

But you know what they say, ignorance is bliss and I gave Ki a wide smile to reassure him.

"Enter." Bell said even though Ki had not yet knocked. He obviously knew we were behind his door and had enough of waiting.

Ki's released the tiniest sigh of regsination, but it didn't escape my wolf's notice as I passed him. I decided to ignore it.

I plastered a smile firmly on my face. I was going to have a good talk with my mate about his world destructive ways. He would probably be furious, so I should find a way to diffuse his anger first, then try to negotiate world peace. No problem.

No, I didn't have a plan. I was just winging it as usual.

"Hello, Bell." I said.

My attention was immediately drawn to the broken machines around his bed. They were trashed. I'm not sure they were even reparable anymore. I sure hope Alpha James wouldn't be expecting me to pay for that... Bell was his son... He should pay for his own son right?

Urm... I pointed at the broken machines, "That's coming out of your pocket."

Internally, I kicked myself. Stellar start by yours truly, as usual.

"Are you here to apologize or pick a fight with me, Princess?" Bell asked.

"Neither." I told him honestly.

Bell was sitting on his perfectly made bed. I looked around his room. The destruction had been severe but rather selective. The machines looked like spare parts at a junkyard. The herbal tea pot and cups were smashed. The poor diffuser was crushed, it's water making a dark patch on the sand colored carpet.

Who knew? Our sand colored carpet was so sand colored that when wet, it would look the exact same shade as wet sand. When Chloe said her eye for natural detailing was top notch, she wasn't just blowing hot air.

But other than the couple of unfortunate spots of wet on the corners of the carpet, the rest of the room was in perfect condition.

Bell's personal spaces were always somewhat like this... Like his fight dog cell, or his bunker at the underground. Bare and very tidy. Even the things on his desk were lined at perfect right angles.

I guess he trashed everything that wasn't his, huh?

When hulk gets mad, hulk smash! So he was angry, but not so angry that he lost his senses.

Especially since his phone and laptop were neatly charging on his desk. Actually, the entire set up looked like a nicer looking version of the underground bunker. There was even a glass jar with pens inside. If I wrote on the desk, "Sam was here." It would like like his bunker in a parallel universe.

Ki had said that very old vampires liked the keep the same layout of their living quarters - even if they were taking an eternal slumber in a hidden cave.

Which made Bell just like a very fussy old vampire. Hahaha.

I turned my attention back to the fussy old vampire/ hulk sitting cross legged on the side of his bed to face me. He wasn't in a suit anymore, just the usual t-shirt and joggers. His hair was wild but swept on one side. His arm was still in the black sling.

My mate had to be one of the coolest dudes I've ever seen in real life.

"I suppose you'd want some kind of explanation." I said.

"Not really." He said.

"I really have a good explanation!" I said, and then I realised what he said, "What?"

"I don't really need to know." Bell shrugged indifferently.

Oh.

"You...you're not mad at me?" I asked. I was quite sure he would be.

"No." Bell answered quietly.

Oh.

"Why not?" I demanded, "I just shut down your entire operation to destroy the world!"

I mean, how could he not be mad?

"Yes, and no, Princess." Bell afforded me a wane smile, "I admit, I was somewhat angry at first."

Which I was sure was the understatement of the century.

"But you must know I am unable to remain angry at you."

Which was actually news to me, and could've been a romantic thing to say, IF HE HAD STOPPED THERE, but of course he didn't, "At any rate, you're still just a child. I cannot expect you to understand what I'm doing."

WTH.

Last I checked, he was the one leading a motorcycle gang with one arm, minimally committing arsen and deforestation, possibly also committing war crimes. I was the one faithfully saving the environment, carefully slotting my used paper into the recycling bin at school SHEET BY SHEET because the stupid slot was only that wide.

WTH.

Naturally, I flared.

"Then explain it to me!" I demanded, "Give me a chance to understand!"

"Just know that I'm doing this for us." Bell said sensibly - except that he wasn't making any sense at all.

"How is burning down half the Red Packlands going to help us?" I snapped.

"One fifth at most." Bell corrected me.

Which was purely his opinion, since the fire was still raging out there.

"You're not explaining anything!" I flared again.

{Cute.}

Which was again his opinion.

"I didn't need you to explain anything." Bell reasoned.

So if I didn't explain and you didn't explain, that would make everything okay? I'm no expert at relationships, but even I knew that communication was key to a healthy relationship. Right. Goodbye key.

Okay, calm down, Sam.

"I can release the Lockdown Order if you promise not to start any more fights." I decided to abandon fixing our relationship for the moment and deal with the negotiations first.

But Bell turned out not only to be bad at explaining himself, he was also bad at negotiating, "That's alright, princess."

So he's just going to accept this lockdown?

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Stephan will take care of the army competently. There is no need for me to return to the Underground for now." Bell assured me.

"Urm... Yeah, okay." I nodded. What just happened?

I decided to try one last ditch effort to reason with Bell, "Please Bell, I just don't want to see killing anymore."

Bell paused, "Okay."

"What? Really?" I could scarcely believe that worked.

"I already said okay." Bell bristled.

"Urm... yeah. Okay. Thanks." I quickly accepted it.

I still can't believe that worked. Part of me was still reeling from shock.

{Cute.}

"And I'm not cute!" I flared, and for the lack of knowing what else to do, I stormed out of Bell's room. Ki followed behind, shutting the door quietly with a, "Please excuse us."

Can somebody tell me wth just happened? Like I won...right? I wanted to stop Bell from destroying the world, and it worked? Just like that? So why didn't I feel confident about it at all?