Chapter 229: Chapter 229

Tears burned down my cheeks as I clutched Damon’s hand. His skin was still burning, his chest rising unevenly. My whole body trembled as I whispered to him.

"Please, Damon... please don’t leave me. Don’t..."

Then suddenly, my mind sparked, like lightning striking in the middle of a storm. My breath caught. The vial.

I remembered it, my maid earlier. She had gone near where I placed Damon’s herbs. I saw her. She claimed she wanted to brew it herself. I had stopped her, but...

My eyes widened. "The maid," I whispered under my breath. "Where is she?"

I spun around, scanning the chamber. Only the doctor and guards were there. My heart pounded faster. She was gone.

Kael’s sharp voice cut through. "Lisa." His eyes pierced me like daggers. "What is it? You remembered something. Speak."

My lips trembled. "I... I think... it was her. My maid. She went near Damon’s herbs earlier. She touched the vial. I..."

Before I could finish, the door creaked open.

My maid walked in, head bowed, her steps timid. But she wasn’t alone. Behind her, walking with confidence and cold beauty, was Belinda.

Belinda’s lips curved in a wicked smile. She walked straight toward me, her heels clicking against the floor, her eyes glowing with triumph. Then, without warning, her hand cracked across my face.

The sound echoed in the chamber. I staggered back, my cheek stinging. My heart clenched.

"Why?" Belinda hissed, her voice sharp like venom. "Why, Lisa?"

My hands flew to my cheek, and I stared at her in shock. "Why did you slap me?"

Her eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with hatred. "Murderer."

She took another step closer, glaring at me. "Why do you want Damon dead, Lisa? Tell me!"

My throat closed, words dying inside me.

Belinda’s voice rose louder, filled with false rage. "Is it revenge? Because he and his brothers chose me? Bcause you were able to win him over? Because the mighty Alpha loved you?" She spat the words like curses. "Or is it because your heart is so bitter, so jealous, that you want to destroy the man who gave you everything?"

My knees weakened. Tears blurred my vision. "No... no, that’s not true!"

Rowan’s voice thundered. "Enough games! What is going on here?"

Kael’s eyes darted between us, furious. "Speak, Belinda. Stop your riddles."

Belinda turned dramatically toward them, her face painted with false sorrow. "Then let me tell you the truth, my lords. About an hour ago, this maid, Lisa’s own maid, came to me. She confessed she saw Lisa swapping Damon’s herbs with something else. She came to me, frightened, not knowing what to do. And now look..." she waved at Damon’s weak body, "now the Damon lies poisoned."

My whole body shook. "No!" I screamed. "That’s a lie!"

Rowan’s fury erupted as he turned to the maid. "Is it true? Answer me!"

The maid fell to her knees, trembling. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "It’s true, my lord. I saw her with my own eyes. She swapped his herbs."

The room spun around me. My chest burned, my breath shallow. "You... you’re lying! Both of you!" I screamed, pointing at them with shaking hands. "You’re mad! You’re both mad!"

Kael’s face hardened, his eyes like stone. "Lisa..." His voice was cold, cutting. "After everything Damon has done for you... after the love he gave you... is this how you repay him? By trying to kill him?"

Rowan’s jaw tightened, his fists clenched. His voice thundered, shaking me to the core. "All he ever did was protect you. And now you betray him?!"

I stumbled back, shaking my head violently, tears streaming. "No! No, I swear it...I didn’t do this! I would never hurt him. Never! Why would I? Tell me, why would I want Damon dead?"

I sobbed harder, my chest heaving. "What would I gain from his death, except pain? Except misery?" My voice cracked, almost breaking.

Belinda laughed suddenly, a cruel, wicked sound. "Listen to her. Acting, always acting. Tears and trembling words. She should be on a stage, not in the Alpha’s chambers."

I spun toward her, rage boiling through my grief. "You’re the liar here, Belinda! You and this maid! You’ve twisted everything!"

But Rowan and Kael’s eyes were fixed on me, filled with fury and doubt.

And in that moment, my world felt like it was collapsing. I knew those two would never believed me and I was finally caught in Belinda’s trap. Fridolf finally had his way and I regret not mentioning what he discussed with me to Damon.

Rowan’s boots struck the floor as he moved closer to me. His eyes were burning, red with fury, his jaw clenched tight. He stopped right in front of me, his breath heavy.

"Tell me," he growled, his voice shaking the walls. "What sort of poison did you use on him?" Google seaʀᴄh 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥

My whole body froze. My lips parted, but no words came. "W-what?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Rowan leaned even closer, his glare stabbing into me. "Answer me! What poison did you put in Damon’s food?"

Hot tears blurred my eyes as I shook my head over and over. "No! I didn’t... I didn’t poison him! Why won’t you believe me? It’s all lies! All of it!"

But Rowan didn’t move back. His fury pressed against me like a weight, suffocating. "You were here, Lisa! You brewed his herbs yourself. You fed him yourself. And now he bleeds. Do you think we are blind? Everything adds up! Nobody will dare poison the Alpha!"

My hands trembled as I tried to reach for him, but he stepped back sharply, refusing my touch. My heart shattered.

Kael’s voice rang out, colder than ice. "Enough. We will know the truth soon enough. Guards!"

The guards stiffened at once. "Yes, Alpha!"

Kael’s hand rose, his eyes never leaving me. "Search her chambers. Every corner. Every box. Find anything that proves what she has done."

My breath caught in my throat. "No... no, you can’t..."

But it was useless. The guards bowed and left quickly, their heavy steps fading down the corridor.

I sank to my knees, my tears falling onto the floor. "Why... why won’t you believe me? I love him! I would never... never do this..." My voice cracked until it became nothing more than a whisper.

For thirty endless minutes, I sat there, clutching Damon’s limp hand, praying the guards would find nothing. That maybe, just maybe, the truth would finally come to light.

But when the doors opened again, my blood turned to ice.

The guards walked back in, and in one of their hands was a small bottle. A vial.

The exact vial I had seen earlier. The one Fridolf gave me.

My body went cold. "No..." I breathed, shaking my head violently. "No, no, no..."

One guard bowed and presented it to Kael. "My lord, we found this hidden inside her chamber."

Kael took it slowly, his brows furrowed. He uncorked it and brought it close to his nose. A faint, bitter scent filled the room. His eyes widened, hard and sharp.

"It’s wolfsbane," he said flatly.