besides the cracked bellow, or if not sealed properly in both ends, what else could bring water there?

Bravo? If so, the front edge of the drive seals against the exposed edge of the bellows. If the drive edge gets damaged or if the edge of the bellows takes a set from another drive on it, it may not seal against the edge of the drive.

did this just start or was something replaced and now it leaks?

Just started i guess

is there water in the shift cavity?? meaning where the shift cable hooks to the bracket....if so ive seen it where the back cover was warped allowing water in there and then cracked the oring on the shift cavity and allowed water in the bellows...or the water hose gasket was bad it leaked straight down onto the shaft and it then went in the bellow or the boat simply filled up with water at one time and it came in the front past the shaft orings

good luck!!

Stewart

Is the bellow sleeve in place?

yes in place! will look again more closely... thanks for the opinions!

Maybe corrosion between mating face of bell and outdrive