My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 44

chapter 38-1
BELLA’S POV

I had no heightened senses anymore. I didn’t have a wolf to warn me of danger or read the air around me.

Yet, as I approached the cabin and opened the door, my body reacted before my mind did. The smell of cedar and smoke hit me first, followed by something darker… like power. Kane.

Just knowing he was there settled something deep in me. The tension in my shoulders eased. My heartbeat slowed down a bit.

He was sitting at the kitchen table when I stepped in. His posture was relaxed. He didn’t look up right away, just crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes were fixed on the table.

I set my bag down quietly. “Hi.”

He kept looking at the table. Maybe he wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“I, uh… I’ll get dinner started in a moment,” I mumbled. “Just need to shower first.”

Before I could move, his hand shot out and caught mine.

“You’re soaking wet,” he said. His thumb brushed over my wrist. “And it’s not raining.”

I bit my lip. My shirt clung to my skin. It was torn at the hem and stained with dirt. I tried to pull my hand back, but his eyes pinned me in place.

He reached forward, brushing his fingers lightly over the tear in my shirt. “How did this happen?”

The question was simple, calm, but I could feel the rage under the surface.

“I... nothing. It’s fine.”

“Bella.”

Just my name, spoken in that quiet, warning tone, made me freeze.

He stood now. “Did something happen to you today?”

I couldn’t meet his eyes. I knew if I lied, I’d shatter the fragile trust we’d built. But I also couldn’t let him get involved. The kind of people who hurt me today were the kind who didn’t stop. The kind who would come after him too.

I tried to sidestep, but he caught my hand again. The movement made me wince.

He frowned, turning my hand over. His expression darkened when he saw it—swollen, bleeding, a small wound where Nina’s heel had dug into me.

He rubbed the back of my hand gently. His touch was gentle.

“What about this?” he asked softly. “Is this just another ‘work accident’?”

I stared down at the injury. I felt shame flooding through me.

He looked up again.

“Sister,” he said. “If someone’s bullying you, you tell me. I’ll deal with it.”

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