300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets
A NIGHT WITH MR. ROMANTIC

Bella:

The ride from the Dusk Pack to the Thorne Pack was longer than I had expected. It had been four hours since we left their grandma's house, and we were only just arriving at the boundary of the Thorne Pack. My mind couldn't shake off my encounter with Halle, and her talk about Hazel left me curious, but there was no one to provide the answers I sought.

As we drove into the pack's territory, I saw something zoom past us with incredible speed, causing me to glance into the side mirror. There was nothing there.

"What's that?" Finn asked, his hands steady on the wheel. I shook my head, trying to dismiss it. "You must be tired from the journey," he said, and I forced a smile.

The surrounding energy grew strange, sending shivers up my spine. I immediately knew something was off about the road, making me momentarily forget about Halle.

"Bella," Finn called out again, glancing at me briefly. I forced another smile. "Do you want me to make a stop?" he asked, slowing the car. Before I could answer, my eyes drifted to the side mirror again, catching sight of something in a black cloak.

"No! No! Speed up!" I said, my voice raised as my heart pounded in my chest. Then I coughed, trying to steady my breathing. "I mean, I need to get home on time so I can get some rest," I said, attempting to sound calm.

Soon, the buildings of the town came into view, and we were out of the outskirts, which made me breathe a sigh of relief. Those were vampires, and there was no doubt. I could feel them. They were there. I wasn't crazy because I had studied the history of the packs, and I knew how the four regions were divided among vampires and wolves. The Thorne Pack used to be known as the Northern Province, which housed the greatest number of vampires. The Frost Pack belonged to them too, as the Southern Province, but the Thorne Pack was their primary home before the great

war.

Finn gently grabbed my thigh, drawing me back to reality. "You're doing it again."

I sat up straight. We were in the city, and the lights were bright enough with wolf people roaming the streets, enjoying the cold winter night of the twenty-fifth.

"I'm just tired, that's all," I said to him. He took my right hand, intertwining his fingers with mine while he used the other hand for the wheel until we reached his parents' villa in the middle of town.

The black car glided through the villa gates, gravel crunching under the tires. The cream-colored villa, adorned with bougainvillea, loomed ahead.

"Welcome to Lycanthal Manor," Finn said, and I tried to keep my face bright enough to make him happy.

He parked in the lot, which housed about three cars, then he rushed over to my side. He opened the door for me, taking my hand in his and kissing it.

"Let me get your bags," he said, opening the trunk and taking out my bags with one hand. Then he took my hand in his, leading me to the front door where he put down the bags while still holding my hand.

He took out a key card and slid it over the door, then we walked into the house, which left my jaw on the floor. The design was minimalist, yet it exuded wealth and excellence. The walls were tall, and chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, casting prismatic patterns far out of reach for both of us.

"Wow!" I said, running my hand over the beautiful portraits on the walls.

"I'm glad you like it," he said as we made our way up the spiraling stairs.

"I love it, and it makes me wonder how unfair it is each year for the both of you."

"It's not. I think it creates balance. Grandma Theresa's place is more about family, and the warmth is soothing. Here is just modern. Her house costs a fortune too, but it has been there for ages," he said, stopping in front of a door.

He slid a card in front of it, and it beeped, opening up. He walked in, turning on the lights to reveal a king-sized bed and a walk-in closet.

"Oh, I've missed that," I said, walking towards the walk-in closet. He let out a short laugh.

He walked to the closet, placing the bags inside.

"I'll get the bath started," he said, and I nodded.

This felt like paradise, I thought to myself as I tossed myself onto the bed. Kai was great, but I hoped this would be better with no witch snooping around in my business, making it easier for me to get around the house.

When he was done running the bath, he tossed me a towel and left the room for me to take a bath. When I got out of the bath, I saw a tray of food laid out on the bed for me, instantly easing my worries.

"I figured you'd be hungry, so I put together something real quick," he said. I clutched my hand to my chest, trying to stop myself from tearing up. "It's okay if you have nothing to say. I'll take a bath and join you briefly," he said. I threw my arms around him, kissing his face all over.

"I cannot tell you how much I love you, and this just made it better," I said, pulling away from him.

"I love you too, Bella," he replied, raising my chin with a finger before claiming my lips in a kiss. "I won't be long, I promise," he said before disappearing into the bathroom.

Shortly after, he was out, and we had our dinner, then washed up. We talked randomly, cuddling all night before drifting off to sleep.