Page 26 of In Bellamira's Chains

“Of course, Mistress,” Edith said before leaving us again, closing the door behind her.

“I sent down a request while you two were busy fucking around on top of me. Now, drink up, and have a bowl of granola so we can sleep soundly.”

We all made our own bowls, although mine was still the smallest. I had a chocolate granola with strawberries, pineapple, caramel, and more chocolate on top of a vanilla yogurt. Elera made hers with brown sugar, marshmallows, and strawberries. Mistress Belle’s was simpler, granola, yogurt, and a healthy drizzle of honey.

With our stomachs full and our glasses empty, we snuggled back in, Mistress Belle in the middle, holding us close, and I felt more at home than I ever had. This was what life was supposed to be, and I was so grateful they found me and accepted who I was in all ways.

I drifted off to sleep, and although no dreams met me, nightmares didn’t greet me either.

Chapter fifteen

Bellamira

My work week had dragged on; the only thing that kept me going was knowing I’d be spending hours with my pets at the end of each day. It was finally Friday, and I tapped my fingers on my thigh as Brant drove me home, his time locked away having ended Monday morning. He had learned his lesson, and I doubted there’d be another slip up in the future. I hated to think about the possibility of losing him completely.

I had previously debated on refusing to work, and those thoughts were riding me harder than ever. I didn’t need the money. My family was rich, and I simply worked to put up a front about helping them manage things as did my cousin, Adira.

I enjoyed it to some extent, getting out of the house and having more of a purpose, but with two pets now… my ideals were changing. Maybe I would cut my hours, spending three days a week in the office instead to allow my pets time alone so they didn’t feel guilty doing it while I was home.

Picking up my phone, I texted my mother, explaining my plan, and she quickly agreed as long as she and my uncle couldmeet Hazelle, the person who had shifted my focus. Blowing air out of my nose, I lamented, setting a time for them to come over tomorrow afternoon. I sent out two final texts before we pulled into the driveway. The first was to Simon, letting him know to prepare the staff for visitors. The second was to Adira, demanding that she and Nyla give me some reprieve from our parents’ onslaught of questions and hovering.

My uncle was a shallow, demanding Alpha, and how Adira came from his seed is beyond me, although he had made some improvement since Nyla and Lettie came into their lives. My mother was much more our style, and they were how I knew breeding wasn’t everything, being siblings and all. Raylan wasn’t a cruel man, by this world’s standards, but he was harsher than I cared for. Adira and I had told him our thoughts many times, and I was sure they’d come up again due to Hazelle. It was an expected irritation I would have to inform my pets of beforehand.

I rested my head back, wondering if my younger brother would be dragged along. He was a Beta, like Elera, but my mother refused to give him up to just anyone. He was kind and charming, and due to our status, he was given more freedoms than others could ever dream of. I had two Alphas in mind who might be a perfect fit, but Monroe was happy where he was for now. If that ever changed, I knew he’d seek out my council before taking the next step, which was convincing our mother to sell him. Although, if I approved of the Alpha, I doubted she’d put up a fight. She truly did want the best for both of us and was overjoyed when a deal for Elera was signed.

Brant opened the door for me after parking in front of my mansion, and I stepped out, making my way inside. It was quiet, and that meant one of two things. Either my pets were comfy and hunkered down, watching a movie, or they were causingsome kind of trouble, like a water fight in the kitchen, not that I minded greeting their soaking bodies.

I placed one foot on the staircase when a scream resounded from downstairs. Turning, I rushed down the stairs, my pencil skirt slowing me down, but as I turned the corner, the screams I thought I heard were actually squeals and laughter. I heard Elera and Hazelle laughing, gasping, and chatting away in the media room with pop music coming from the speakers.

“Look at this one!” Hazelle said, awe filling her voice. “Do you think Mistress Belle would like it on me?”

“She’s going to love all of them, Hazelle.” I smirked, knowing she was right.

I hadn’t snooped at the purchase email, but I knew they had gotten quite a few things for Hazelle and some for Elera as well. It pleased me knowing I could take care of them and give my pets anything they wanted. They had decided nothing would be opened until it all got here. The last collar must have shown up today, and I couldn’t wait to see everything.

Hazelle had her own room now, not that she used it besides closet space and having something that was truly hers, but this was a start to filling it up. Even her nest was filled with piles of boxes and new things to sort through. It was going to be her perfect little haven, even if she never ended up needing it other than a space to curl up and rest.

I still wanted to create a double suite for them with a larger shared closet space and bathroom while allowing for separate rooms if they ever wanted time alone, and the behind the scenes planning was already in the works.

“Should I change into something now? I just don’t know what I would—”

“How about a fashion show? I know I’d enjoy watching you try everything on.” I smiled as I stepped into the doorway, their small yips of shock pleasing me.

“My Mistress, you’re home early!” Elera jumped up to greet me, her lips meeting mine with an aggressive ease.

“I’d love that, Mistress Belle. It might take a while. We got a lot more than—”

“We can have dinner served down here. I don’t care how long it takes. You two can show me as many outfits as you’d like.” I patted Hazelle’s head and pulled her close, kissing her as I had Elera. “You never have to apologize for buying clothes, or anything you want for that matter. It pleases me knowing you are taken care of and happy. Be a glutton, my pet. It suits us.”

Hazelle beamed up at me, and I took note that her cheeks were filling in and the circles under her eyes were lessening with each day. My chef had done some research and was packing more nutrients and calories into her meals, and I was pleased with the results. Her journey to being happy and healthy was starting off rather well.

“I’m still learning, Mistress Belle, but I am trying. That’s what counts.” Hazelle stood straight and smiled with no fear of consequences.

“Yes, my pet, that’s what counts. You’re making progress every day, and I love how far you’ve already come.” I caressed her face before gripping her and Elera’s shoulders and giving them a push toward their piles of clothes and boxes. “Now, let’s get started. I want to see it all, but we do have a get together tomorrow that we need to sort outfits out for.”

“Oh, who are we seeing, My Mistress?” Elera asked absently as she stood over the pile.

“The family.” She cocked a brow at me, apparently not expecting it to happen so soon. Hazelle stopped and bobbed her head between us, trying to figure out what I meant. “I decided to only work three days a week so I’ll get more time at home with the two of you, which meant striking a deal with my mother.”