Chapter 201: 201- the shadow
201
~Damon’s POV
I couldn’t stop pacing. My boots scraped against the stone floor, back and forth, back and forth, until I thought I’d wear a path into the chamber. My chest felt tight, every breath full of fire. My wolf snarled inside me, restless, furious.
"They’re doing it again," I muttered, my voice low, sharp, broken. "All of you. Manipulating me. Twisting everything I see, everything I feel, until I look like the fool."
Kael’s arms were crossed, his back against the wall. He looked calm, but I could hear the tension in his voice when he spoke. "No one is twisting you, Damon. We are only telling you what we see."
"What you see?" I snapped, spinning to face him. "You see nothing! Nothing! You sit there pretending wisdom, but you are blind. She sent a man to kill Lisa. To kill our child. And you sit here defending her?"
Rowan took a step forward, his voice soft but firm. "We are not defending her. We are telling you to slow down before you destroy her without proof."
"Proof!" I laughed bitterly, dragging my hands through my hair. "Always proof. Must I wait until she carves Lisa’s throat open with her own hands? Must I wait until blood soaks the cradle before you open your eyes?"
Rowan’s face tightened. "Brother, calm down."
"Don’t tell me to calm down!" I roared, slamming my fist against the table. The wood shuddered beneath the blow. "Do you think this is a game? Do you think this is some court debate? This is life and death. Our mate. Our child. And all you can do is defend her, defend Belinda, like she deserves mercy!"
Rowan sighed, lifting his hands. "We are not trying to make you doubt yourself. We are asking you what you want. Damon, tell us plain, what do you want to do with her?"
The question stopped me for a heartbeat. I froze in place, my chest heaving. My wolf pressed against me, urging violence, urging an end. My voice came out harsh, broken.
"What do I want? I want her gone. I want her out of my sight. I want her stripped of everything she has stolen from us. I want to see her on her knees, broken for what she dared to do."
Kael’s eyes narrowed. "And if you’re wrong? If we punish her without proof, if we tear her down for something she didn’t do? What then?"
"Stop it!" I growled, grabbing the edge of the table and shoving it hard. "Stop twisting everything back to me. This isn’t about me! This is about her! She is dangerous!"
Rowan spoke again. "So tell us, Damon. What do you choose?"
I paced again, back and forth, my chest like a storm. My wolf snarled, demanding I end it now. But another voice, thin, quiet, sharp, whispered that if I struck without proof, I would prove them right. That I was blind. That I was ruled by rage.
I hated that voice. But I could not silence it.
At last I stopped pacing. My voice came out like stone grinding against stone.
"Fine. A full investigation. We dig until we have proof. But until then, she stays confined. Her doors locked. No one in, no one out. She will not walk free while we wait for her next move."
Rowan exhaled, nodding slowly. "That is fair."
Kael’s shoulders eased, though his eyes stayed sharp. "Yes. That is justice."
Uncle Fridolf smiled faintly. "Wise choice, Damon."
I turned on him, my jaw tight. "Do not call it wise. It is not mercy. It is not forgiveness. It is the last thread of patience I will give her. If we find proof, just a shred, she dies. No mercy."
Rowan’s face was heavy with worry, but he only nodded. "Then we are agreed."
Kael’s voice was firm. "Agreed."
Without another word, I shoved the door open. The wood slammed against the wall.
~Rowan’s POV
Kael’s eyes narrowed now. He watched Damon walk away, the anger still burning in his brother’s shoulders. For a long heartbeat he stood very still, like a statue waiting for the wind to change.
"Do you trust him to wait?" Kael asked, voice low as he turned to me.
"I trust his head will cool," I said, though my own voice shook a little. "He agreed to an investigation. That is something."
Kael snorted. "Agreed, yes. But agreed in anger is no promise. He still says she dies if a shred of proof comes up." He clenched his jaw. "We need to move. Quietly."
I nodded. "What do you want to do?"
Kael stepped closer, lowering his voice. "We launch our own investigation. Quiet. Careful. One that will bring answers before Damon’s fury brings ruin."
I studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You’re right. We need to know the truth for ourselves."
Before I could say more, uncle Fridolf spoke. His voice was smooth, yet edged with steel.
"You are both wise to think this way," uncle Fridolf said. "And I agree. An investigation is needed, one not guided by rage."
Kael turned to him sharply. "Yes,"
Uncle Fridolf gave a small, sharp smile, his gaze shifting between us like he already knew our answer. "If you will allow it," he said smoothly, "I will lead the investigation."
For a moment, Kael and I just looked at each other. His eyes were narrowed, but I could see the thought moving behind them. He was weighing it, turning it over the same way I was.
Finally, Kael gave a slow nod. "You’re right," he admitted, his voice low but firm. "You should lead it. Damon won’t listen to us, but he will at least hear you."
I exhaled, the tightness in my chest easing a little. "Yes, uncle," I added, turning toward him. "You have our support. We’ll stand behind you however we can."
Uncle Fridolf inclined his head, a faint gleam flashing in his sharp eyes. "Good," he said softly. "Then it is settled. I will begin at once."
Kael’s shoulders eased slightly, and he gave a small nod. "Okay. That’s for the best."
"Then I will not waste time," he said.
"There is much to do, and the shadows already move while we speak. Answers hide in places you have not looked, and I will bring them to light."
Kael and I both stayed silent.
At last, he bowed.
Without another word, he turned and walked to the door.
We both watched in silence as he exited the room. And when the door closed behind him, I finally drew in a deep breath, the weight of what we had just agreed to pressing heavy on my chest.