The Attack
1139 Words
They both laughed, and that finally helped Amaris ease the tension she felt in her chest.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m glad you came back,” he added.
She shook her head.
“I didn’t come back to stay. I just came to see my parents.”
Daryl’s expression tightened.
“You can’t go back to that monster.”
For a moment, Amaris didn’t respond. In her mind… a memory surfaced.
The moment of her first time—with that “monster,” as Daryl called him.
It hadn’t been what she feared, and that unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
“He’s my husband,” she replied. “I have to go back.”
Daryl clenched his jaw.
“At least stay a little longer. Go back with your parents… eat with them. They’ve been suffering for you.”
Amaris hesitated, then turned her head slightly.
In the distance, her parents were still there, watching her in silence.
That simple gesture… was enough.
“You’re right.”
Daryl smiled, feeling like he had won at least one of his many battles.
“Come on.”
Amaris nodded and started walking back.
“I’ll stay… to eat with them.”
Amaris returned to her parents.
As soon as she approached them, her mother hurried inside.
“I’ll stay for lunch with you.”
“You’re not leaving without eating—this makes me so happy,” she said firmly.
Greyton was already lighting the fire.
“You’re eating with us today, daughter. No arguments.”
Amaris didn’t insist this time.
She sat down, watching them in silence as they prepared everything quickly, as if trying to make up for lost time in just a few hours.
The meal was simple… but full of warmth.
For the first time since arriving at Kael’s mansion, Amaris allowed herself to relax.
The day passed between conversations and memories that filled her heart with warmth.
But when the sky began to darken, Amaris stood.
“I have to go back.”
“Stay,” her mother pleaded softly.
“I can’t.”
Daryl, who had stayed nearby, stepped forward.
“I’ll walk you.”
Amaris shook her head immediately.
“It’s not necessary. I know the way.”
Daryl didn’t insist, but his expression made it clear he didn’t like it.
Amaris hugged her parents goodbye and left.
The path was familiar. Every tree, every trail… it was all part of her history.
She walked with confidence. There was no fear—until she reached the mansion.
Something wasn’t right.
There were too many people outside.
Too much movement… and clear tension in the air.
Amaris frowned, worried, and approached one of the wolves.
“What happened?”
The young man looked at her nervously.
“We were attacked… they tried to burn everything. The mansion, the surroundings… it was chaos.”
Amaris’s heart began to race.
She lifted her gaze—and saw him.
Kael stood on the stairs, speaking with Aldo and several council members.
Without thinking, Amaris ran toward them.
“What happened?”
Before anyone else could speak, Kael stepped in.
“You don’t need to worry.”
His voice sounded calm and controlled.
But one of the council members stepped forward.
“How convenient,” he said with disdain, “that Luna Amaris wasn’t here during the attack.”
The atmosphere tensed immediately. Amaris looked at him, startled.
Kael slowly turned his head toward her, and she met his gaze.
“That’s not true,” she said. “I was with my parents all day.”
“Very convenient,” the man insisted. “Too convenient. I say the Alpha’s wife has something to do with this.”
Murmurs began to rise, and another council member spoke.
“Until this is cleared up, she should be taken to the dungeon.”
Amaris’s heart pounded.
Instinctively, she stepped back… and moved behind Kael, gripping his arm.
A small gesture—but it said everything.
Kael had remained silent until then.
His expression shifted—colder, far more dangerous.
“My wife had nothing to do with this,” he said at last.
His voice was strong… enough to silence everyone.
“I was watching her myself all day.”
Amaris looked up at him. She knew he was lying—but she said nothing. She didn’t want to go back to the dungeon.
“No one trusts her,” the same man insisted.
Kael didn’t hesitate.
“No one has to trust her,” he replied. “Only I do.”
Another wolf spoke from the back.
“Then who did it?”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“I’ll find out.”
Then he raised his voice and addressed the entire pack.
“Everyone, stand down. This ends here for today.”
No one argued. The Alpha’s authority was unquestionable.
Kael didn’t look at anyone else. He simply took Amaris’s hand and led her back inside the mansion.
As soon as the bedroom door closed, Kael released her hand abruptly.
The change was immediate.
The protection he had shown outside… vanished.
He turned toward her slowly.
“Now tell me the truth,” he said, his voice low but dangerous. “Did you have anything to do with that attack?”
Amaris took a step back, stunned.
“No.”
She raised her hand immediately, as if needing him to see her sincerity.
“I swear, it wasn’t me. I was with my parents all day… there are witnesses.”
Kael let out a humorless laugh—more sarcasm than anything.
“Witnesses?”
He stepped closer, making her even more nervous.
“Who?” he pressed.
Amaris didn’t hesitate.
“My parents… and Daryl.”
Kael didn’t react right away. He just stared at her.
His eyes darkened slowly.
“Daryl…” he repeated quietly.
Something in his expression shifted—it wasn’t just distrust anymore.
“How convenient,” he said.
Amaris’s brows lifted in concern.
“That’s not what you’re thinking—”
“Of course it is,” he cut her off.
His voice hardened, his expression tightening, his gaze turning into a challenge.
“They tried to destroy my pack… and you were with him.”
Amaris shook her head quickly.
“No! I swear that’s not true.”
But Kael didn’t step back. If anything, he moved closer.
“I don’t believe you.”
The words were cold and direct.
“Be grateful,” he added harshly, “that I defended you out there. Because right now… you’d be in the dungeon again—and this time, with no way out.”
Amaris fell silent.
And she understood something worse than any punishment.
Kael had protected her in front of everyone… but in private… he didn’t trust her at all.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD