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~Belinda’s POV
The mont I returned to the palace with Dolph, I didn’t waste ti. My heart was beating fast, not from fear but from anger. The thought of Lisa still being here, still breathing, still stealing the attention that belonged to —it burned from the inside. I knew I couldn’t delay anymore. I had to act.
As soon as we entered the gates, I dismissed Dolph and Richard with a sharp wave of my hand. "Stay close to Richard," I whispered to him before he left, "I’ll call for you later. Don’t wander too far."
He nodded silently and they slipped away like a shadow.
I straightened my dress and walked quickly down the corridor, the familiar sll of stone and polished wood filling my nose. My heels clicked against the floor, echoing as I made my way toward the council room. That’s where Kael and Rowan usually were at this ti of day, and if I was lucky... Damon too.
I pushed the door open without knocking.
There they were, Kael leaning back with his usual smug expression, Rowan with his calm serious face, and Damon, my Damon, standing tall as always. They were in the middle of a discussion, their voices low but tense.
"Belinda," Rowan said first, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You’re back."
Kael smirked. "You always make an entrance."
But I ignored them both. My eyes locked on Damon.
I marched straight to him, my lips in a pout, my arms crossing over my chest like a child who had been denied a toy. But it wasn’t a toy.
"You," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "You fail , Damon. You fail to fulfil your duty to as my Alpha."
The room fell silent. Kael and Rowan exchanged a look, and then both of them leaned back as if preparing to watch a show.
Damon turned to slowly, and then, he smiled. That smile that always made my stomach twist. Calm, unbothered, the kind of smile that could lt anyone’s anger... but not mine. Not today.
"I apologize, Bel," he said gently. "I was attending to sothing important."
My chest rose and fell quickly. I knew what he ant, and it cut deeper than a blade.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice though my words still carried venom. "Sothing important? Tell , Damon. Was it Lisa?"
The na spilled from my lips like poison.
Kael coughed into his fist, trying to hide a grin. Rowan sighed, rubbing his temple. But Damon... Damon didn’t answer directly. Instead, he straightened his shoulders, his eyes flickering with sothing unreadable, and he changed the subject.
"We will be receiving a guest soon," he said, his tone brisk, official. "An Alpha from a neighboring pack. He couldn’t attend your coronation, but now that he has returned, he wishes to co, bring gifts, and also discuss alliances."
I froze. For a second, my anger faltered.
"An Alpha?" I asked carefully.
"Yes," Damon nodded. "And I want you to be present for the eting. He specifically asked to et you."
Kael whistled. "Well, well. Looks like soone’s making waves already."
Rowan shot him a glare.
"So... he cos bearing gifts and wants to discuss alliances?" I asked sweetly.
Damon nodded again. "Exactly. And since he missed your coronation, it’s only fair you attend. You are, after all, our Luna."
I nodded slowly, giving him the reaction he wanted. "Of course. I’ll be there."
And right there, in that mont, as Damon turned back to Kael and Rowan to continue their talk, I felt sothing spark in my chest. A new idea.
Maybe I shouldn’t dirty my hands. I excused myself, closed the door behind after leaving the hall and leaned against it for a mont. My chest rose and fell slowly. Damon’s smile, his calm voice, the way he brushed off my words, it all made my blood boil.
I straightened up and moved to the bed. My fingers tapped against the sheets as my mind worked fast. If Damon wanted to protect Lisa, if Kael and Rowan wanted to held her like so fragile jewel, then I would show them how dirty she truly was. My lips curled into a sharp smile. Yes... I would set her up.
Iyelled out Richard’s na. A few minutes later, he entered quietly, his head lowered as always.
"My Lady," he said carefully, "you called for ?"
I raised my chin, studying him. "Yes, Richard. Close the door."
He did as I said, then turned, his eyes flickering with nervousness. "How can I help you, Your Majesty?"
I patted the chair across from . "Sit."
He hesitated, then obeyed, lowering himself onto the chair with a stiffness that made laugh inside. Poor thing, he was always so careful around .
"Richard," I began, my tone sweet but cold underneath, "I have a task for you. A very important task."
His brows furrowed slightly. "What kind of task?"
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my eyes locked on his. "Lisa."
His whole body tensed at the sound of her na. "Lisa?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes." I tilted my head. "I want you to be around her... close to her. I want the triplets to see you and her together. To think there’s sothing between you two. An affair."
His eyes went wide. "What?" His voice trembled. "My Lady, no... no, you can’t be serious."
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "I am very serious, Richard. Very serious."
He shook his head again, panic flashing across his face. "No... no, if the Alphas ever see with Lisa in such a way... they will kill . You know what they did to Milo. You know!" His voice broke at the mory. "He was only close to her, and they killed him. They’ll do the sa to if they believe I touched Lisa."
I smirked at his fear. "And yet, here you are, still alive, still under their noses. Do you think if they discover what we have done together, you’ll live to see another sunrise?"
His breath caught, and his face drained of color. "My Lady..."
I leaned back, my voice sharper now. "Do not ’My Lady’ . Answer . If Kael, Rowan, and Damon find out about us, about every little ti you’ve co sneaking into my bed, do you think they will forgive you? Do you think you’ll be free?"
Richard swallowed hard, his hands gripping the sides of the chair. His lips trembled but no words ca.
"Exactly," I said, my smile spreading wickedly across my face. "So you see, Richard... you have no choice."He shook his head desperately. "Please... I beg you. Ask for anything else. I will do it. But not this... not this."
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