Chapter 155: 155 - another sunrise
155
~Belinda’s POV
The moment I returned to the palace with Dolph, I didn’t waste time. 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 me—it burned me 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 smell 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 time 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 me, Damon. You fail to fulfil your duty to me 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 me slowly, and then, he smiled. That smile that always made my stomach twist. Calm, unbothered, the kind of smile that could melt anyone’s anger... but not mine. Not today.
"I apologize, Bel," he said gently. "I was attending to something important."
My chest rose and fell quickly. I knew what he meant, and it cut me deeper than a blade.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice though my words still carried venom. "Something important? Tell me, Damon. Was it Lisa?"
The name 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 me directly. Instead, he straightened his shoulders, his eyes flickering with something 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 come, 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 meeting. He specifically asked to meet you."
Kael whistled. "Well, well. Looks like someone’s making waves already."
Rowan shot him a glare.
"So... he comes 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 moment, as Damon turned back to Kael and Rowan to continue their talk, I felt something spark in my chest. A new idea.
Maybe I shouldn’t dirty my hands. I excused myself, closed the door behind me after leaving the hall and leaned against it for a moment. 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 some 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 name. A few minutes later, he entered quietly, his head lowered as always.
"My Lady," he said carefully, "you called for me?"
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 me. "Sit."
He hesitated, then obeyed, lowering himself onto the chair with a stiffness that made me laugh inside. Poor thing, he was always so careful around me.
"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 name. "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 something 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 me with Lisa in such a way... they will kill me. You know what they did to Milo. You know!" His voice broke at the memory. "He was only close to her, and they killed him. They’ll do the same to me 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’ me. Answer me. If Kael, Rowan, and Damon find out about us, about every little time you’ve come 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 came.
"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 me for anything else. I will do it. But not this... not this."