Absolutely — that's a great adjustment.
So in this rephrased chapter, we'll keep:
the strong emotional tension be
Philip's POV
The courtyard still carried echoes of what had happened earlier — whispers of laughter, fear, shame. I could still see Bella's face when Xavier had humiliated her in front of the pack, her voice breaking, her hands trembling. The Alpha hadn't just embarrassed her — he'd stripped her of her last bit of safety.
When I entered his office, I expected him to be furious, pacing or shouting. But he sat there in silence, eyes shadowed, a glass untouched on the table beside him.
"Xavier," I said quietly.
He didn't look up. "You're here to lecture me too?"
"I'm here because you crossed a line," I replied, stepping closer. "You made her cry in front of everyone. I don't care how many excuses you build around it — that wasn't leadership. That was cruelty."
He finally lifted his head, the muscles in his jaw twitching. "She challenged me, Philip. I can't let a human—"
"She challenged you because you pushed her. You want her to survive here, right? Then stop breaking her to prove a point. You've become your own worst enemy."
Xavier's stare hardened. "Watch your words."
"No," I said, my voice rising. "You need to hear this. You love her, Xavier, and it's tearing you apart. You treat her like she's poison, but you're the one drinking it."
The silence between us cracked like ice. His eyes softened for the briefest moment — guilt flashing behind them — before he looked away.
"I'm doing this because I love her," he said finally, voice low. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to harm her. But if I let her in—if I let her close—she'll be destroyed. You don't understand."
I swallowed the words sitting on my tongue. There was no winning with him when he sounded like that — hollow and afraid of his own feelings.
"I understand more than you think," I said softly. "But one day, you'll push her so far that she won't come back."
I left him there with his silence and his ghosts.
---
Lorra's POV
Bella sat curled up near the fire, eyes dull, face pale. The crackle of the flames reflected in her irises like they were trying to find light in her again. I handed her a cup of tea.
She took it absently. "Thanks."
"You shouldn't let him see you cry," I said. "He doesn't know what to do with tears."
She glanced up at me, confused. "Then what does he know what to do with?"
A smile tugged faintly at my lips. "Power. Control. Challenge."
Bella frowned. "You mean fight him?"
"No," I said, leaning closer. "Charm him."
Her eyes widened.
"Xavier doesn't break easily, Bella. But he listens to what he feels drawn to. If you want answers — about why he brought you here, why he's so cruel — stop running from him. Get closer. Make him talk. Make him see you."
She shook her head, whispering, "You're insane."
"Maybe," I said lightly. "But there's a fine line between madness and strategy. You can cry alone every night, or you can face him and make him speak."
Bella looked back at the fire, quiet now, her expression unreadable. I could see her mind turning. A spark had lit somewhere inside her — dangerous, but alive.
---
Xavier's POV
I couldn't sleep. The storm outside lashed against the windows, matching the one in my head.
Then Philip burst into the room, his face pale. "You need to see this."
He handed me his phone. My stomach turned cold the moment I saw the sender.
Lorenzo.
The message glowed like a threat:
> Did you enjoy the gift, brother?
Philip exhaled sharply. "He knows about her. Doesn't he?"
"He's not supposed to," I muttered.
"Then we don't have time to pretend anymore," Philip said, stepping forward. "You need to tell her. Bring Bella into this before Lorenzo does. She's already part of it whether you like it or not."
"I can't," I said sharply. "If she knows what Lorenzo wants, she'll never feel safe again."
"She's already not safe, Xavier," Philip shot back. "You think locking her up and humiliating her is protection? You're just making her an easier target. Stop hiding her and start trusting her."
I slammed my fist against the desk, the sound echoing through the room. "You think I don't want to tell her? You think it's that simple?!"
Philip didn't flinch. "It has to be. Because this time, we can't win without her."
I stared at him, chest heaving. The truth in his words felt like a punch I'd been avoiding for too long.
Finally, I sank back into the chair, rubbing my temples.