Chapter 196: 196 - the air
196
~Belinda’s POV
I paced the length of my room, my hands wringing the silk of my dress until it creased. My chest burned with impatience.
"He should be back by now," I muttered under my breath. "Dolph should’ve finished it. Quick. Clean. No trace."
I stopped near the window, glaring out at the dark sky. My reflection in the glass looked twisted, furious. My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
"They dare," I whispered. "They dare to throw me aside for her. For that girl carrying a bastard child."
I spun around, knocking a vase off the table. It shattered across the floor, but I didn’t care. My blood boiled hotter.
"All of them," I spat, "all invested in her now. Because of that child. That child that should’ve never existed."
My hands shook, but it wasn’t fear. It was rage. Pure, burning rage.
"She will not stay here," I hissed. "She will not take them away from me. Damon is mine. Kael, Rowan, they’ve always listened to me. And now? They look at her like she’s some jewel."
I threw my head back, laughing bitterly, the sound sharp and broken. "I’ll make sure she’s erased. No trace left."
The door creaked open suddenly.
Two guards stepped in, bowing quickly.
My temper snapped. "How dare you barge in without my call?" I screamed. My voice cracked like a whip. "Get out....before I..."
"My lady," one of them cut in, eyes lowered, "Alpha Damon commands that you come to his chamber. At once."
I froze. My throat went dry.
"W...what?" I forced a laugh, though my voice trembled. "Why would Damon summon me now?"
Before the guards could answer, the door slammed wide open.
And there he was. Damon.
His face was thunder, his eyes blazing red with fury. Kael and Rowan flanked him, both stone-faced, both cold.
I took one step back. "Damon..."
I didn’t finish.
He lunged.
His hand wrapped around my throat, iron hard. My breath caught as my back hit the wall with a sickening thud. My nails clawed at his wrist, panic flooding me.
"D...Damon..." I choked. "What are you..."
His grip tightened. "You dare?" His voice was a growl, deep and murderous. "You dare send someone after her? After my child?"
My eyes widened. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might burst. "I...I don’t..."
"Don’t lie to me!" His roar shook the walls.
My legs kicked helplessly. My vision blurred. I tried to form words, but air wouldn’t come. My hands scratched against him, desperate.
"Damon," Rowan’s voice cut through the storm. His hand gripped Damon’s shoulder. "Let her down."
"She deserves nothing," Damon snarled. "Nothing but death."
"Let her speak first," Rowan pressed, his tone firm. "If she lies, we’ll know. If she tells the truth, we’ll know. Anyone who tries to harm our child is our enemy...but let her say it."
For one long, terrifying moment, Damon didn’t move. His eyes drilled into mine, and I felt naked, stripped, my heart pounding in my ears.
Finally, his hand loosened. I collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, clutching at my throat. My chest heaved, my breath ragged.
Kael stepped forward, his voice cold as ice. "Talk. Now. Did you send your guard to kill Lisa?"
I froze, trembling, my eyes darting between the three of them.
Tears burst out of me before I could stop them. My knees hit the floor, hard, but I didn’t care. My chest shook with every sob.
"So this is it?" I cried, my voice breaking. "You all think I’m a monster? That I’d kill a child? That I would stoop that low?"
My hands clutched at my chest, my nails digging into my skin. "I feel betrayed. Truly betrayed. All three of you are looking at me like I’m capable of such evil."
Rowan’s face was still, unreadable. Damon’s glare only burned hotter. Kael’s brow was furrowed, looking confused.
"I had no idea!" I screamed, tears blurring my sight. "No idea what Dolph was up to. I was in my room all day. Yes... I was angry. Angry because you chose her over me. Because you all treat her like a rare treasure, while I...your Luna... am thrown away like dirt. But I didn’t send him!"
Damon’s face went hard. He slammed his fist on the table so hard the cup jumped. "Lies," he growled. "No lies, Belinda. Your bodyguard would not move without your word. Not once. He breathes because of you."
I bowed, palms flat on the cold floor, voice cracking. "Please, Damon, listen. Dolph owes me his life. I brought him here. He swore to repay me. He’s always protective, always watching. If he did this... it was his choice. He hates how you all treat me. He wanted to avenge me, to repay me."
Before Damon could roar again, Kael stepped forward, calm but firm. "Belinda, stand up." He offered a hand.
Rowan’s tone was steady as he spoke, "We know Belinda. We know her heart. She would not order such a thing." He put a hand on my shoulder, solid and warm.
Damon’s eyes flicked to them, anger burning hotter. " You think I would be fooled?"
Kael did not waver. "We know her, Damon. We know this is not her. She would not try to kill our child."
Rowan added, "There are ways to hurt people without blood on your own hands. But Belinda? No. She is not that person."
My hope flared like a small, frightened bird. "Thank you," I whispered, voice raw. "Please believe me. Bring Dolph here, let me ask him. Let me hear why he did it."
Kael’s jaw tightened. "If he lives, we’ll question him." He looked to Damon. "But don’t act like this is all her doing without proof."
Damon’s laugh was cold. "Proof? He killed himself before the guards took him." His words fell like a stone.
The room went very quiet. The breath left me. "Dead?" I whispered. "No. He wouldn’t do that without me. He wouldn’t..."
Rowan stepped forward, voice low. "We’ll find out the truth, Belinda. But you must stop the theatrics on the floor. Stand like a Luna that you are, not like someone pleading for mercy."
Damon slammed his palm down, eyes blazing. "You can stand all you like, but the fact is this: he was found with the weapon. He is dead. You had motive." His voice sharpened. "You must answer for that motive."
Kael’s face showed pain, but he kept his ground. "Damon, calm yourself. We have to investigate this."
Damon’s jaw worked. He looked at me as if judging the life out of me. "Investigation or not, justice will be done. If she lied, if she ordered this, she will pay."
I sank back, tears hot and sudden. "Please," I begged them, voice small. "I didn’t tell him to do this. I swear on the goddess."
Rowan stepped closer, voice soft. "We hear you, Belinda. We will look into Dolph’s death. We will not let rage rule us entirely."
"Please! Please, Damon, believe me. I didn’t order this. I swear it on the goddess,"
Damon’s stare cut the air. He did not take his eyes off me, but Kael and Rowan stood near me like shields.