As much as I adored Bella, my instinct to protect her at all costs surprised me. It was a strange feeling, yet I couldn't shake the need to shield her from any discomfort.
Every part of me yearned to be by her side, to shield her from harm, and even my wolf seemed to agree, despite the constant reminder that she wasn't our mate.
Bella was everything I desired, but she wasn't mine. Still, I held onto the hope that one day she would choose to be with me. Her presence alone quelled any desire for another she-wolf, yet the nagging question of whether my true mate would appear lingered in my mind.
Despite my deep connection with Bella, I couldn't ignore the feeling that she was keeping something from me. Her actions on the treadmill were unprecedented, and she seemed unaware of the significance of what she was doing.
If it weren't for the timer I had set, I wouldn't have known that she had run at the highest speed on the treadmill without showing any signs of fatigue, which scared me.
