Bella's POV
The storm raged outside like a living beast, hurling debris against the mansion walls with thunderous crashes that made my children jump at every sound.
"Mommy, will we be trapped inside forever?" Zack asked, his small voice barely audible over the howling wind.
Chloe's spoon clattered against her bowl as another object slammed into the exterior wall. The sound echoed through the dining room like a gunshot, and I watched her shoulders tense with each impact.
"The storm will pass, little ones," Hugo assured them, his calm voice cutting through their growing anxiety. "These things never last forever."
I shot him a grateful look. The truth was, I felt just as unsettled as my children did. The darkness outside was so complete it seemed like the world had ended beyond our walls. Every warrior had been ordered to the back corridors where the reinforced servant quarters offered better protection.
