CHAPTER 202: _ THE TOXIC TABLE

Darien squares his shoulders, sets his jaw, and walks toward the dining room.

The scent of roasted meat and honey is dancing in the air. He can hear his father’s laugh rumbling from within the sound of a man who believes himself unbreakable.

And somewhere in his chest, Darien feels something stir. It’s not exactly fear, but the anticipation of a storm that’s coming whether he’s ready or not.

He breathes out slowly. "Alright," he murmurs under his breath. "Let’s start the day."

Kairos’s voice is clear. "And may the Moon have mercy on us all."

Darien smirks faintly and pushes the door open. "Here goes nothing..."

Warm light from the chandeliers pools over the long table, glinting off polished silverware and gold-rimmed plates. It’s a picture of elegance and power and the kind of domestic theater the Bellamy family has perfected.

At the head of the table sits Alpha Tobias himself, built like the throne he occupies. He’s immovable, confident, and basking in his own authority. Luna Rayne is curled against his side, laughing at something he just whispered. Their fingers are laced together in the picture of love so syrupy it could rot teeth.

To the left sit Morgan and Grayson, both leaning back like a pair of arrogant, well-groomed jackals. Their resemblance is uncanny. They have the same mischievous smiles, the same glint of arrogance in their eyes, and the same knack for looking like they’ve just gotten away with something.

Across from them, his mother, Luna Ines, sits like a queen carved from frost. Her dress is made of charcoal silk, has structured shoulders, a high collar, and minimal jewelry. Even her coffee seems intimidated by her. Her face is calm, composed, and unbothered. The perfect contrast to the giggling display at the head of the table.

Darien inhales through his nose, schooling his expression. Well... Showtime.

"Darien. You’re on time. Excellent." Ines beams as he enters, her tone carrying just enough warmth to seem maternal without ever straying into affection.

He bows his head slightly. "Mother. Father."

Tobias beams, his laugh rumbling through the room. "My boy! The hero of Duskwind! Come, sit. Sit."

Darien forces a smile, greets Luna Rayne with the polite nod his mother drilled into him since childhood. "Luna Rayne."

She brightens immediately. "Darien, dear! Congratulations on finding your mate! I just heard from my boys — apparently, you aren’t the only one blessed by the Moon Goddess!"

His fork stills halfway to his plate. His mind goes blank for half a heartbeat. Then the words give way to meaning, hitting like claws dragging across his chest.

What?

Kairos growls inside his head. "Brace yourself."

Darien turns, slowly, to his half-brothers. They look far too pleased with themselves. Morgan gives a lazy grin while Grayson smirks into his cup.

"You found your mates?" Darien asks evenly. His tone is polite, but under the surface, it’s a glacier waiting to crack.

"Of course," Morgan says easily, leaning back in his chair. "It must be something in the air lately."

Grayson adds, "After Mother told us you planned to bring your mate home soon, we thought it only fair to share our good news too."

Fair. Darien almost laughs, except he doesn’t trust himself not to throw the nearest plate across the room. They know the three of them can’t announce the same mate. They know.

And they’re saying it here, in front of everyone, before he’s had a chance to plan a single move.

His jaw tightens. His pulse drums in his temples.

This isn’t just them being idiots. This is war.

He’s doing this for Heidi. Goddammit. These idiots have no idea he’s risking everything to come out about being fated to her because that’s the first step towards her protection. He isn’t trying to participate in some silly competition they are initiating, for crying out loud!

THIS IS FOR HEIDI!

Kairos mutters darkly, "Don’t rise to the anger or their proposition of a love war. You’ll give them exactly what they want."

Darien exhales through his nose, sits down beside his mother, and keeps his expression neutral. His muscles are tight, though every one of them is coiled like a spring.

Tobias, who is oblivious to the storm brewing under his roof, beams proudly. "My sons! All three of you are finding your mates within the same season. The Goddess truly smiles on the Bellamys!"

"Indeed," Ines says as a razor-thin smile curves her lips. "It seems the next generation of Alphas will have no shortage of strong bloodlines."

Her gaze flicks toward her rival Luna Rayne, who sips her tea as though none of this is about to detonate the family dynamics.

Darien feels the tension slide down his spine. The whole room smells of roasted meat, honey, and impending chaos.

Then Tobias claps a hand against the table, his voice booming. "Darien! I must say, you’ve made me proud. Word of your work at Duskwind reached me and you cemented it last night, catching those traffickers was no small feat! And to think, your mate helped you! That shows the Goddess chose well."

The words sting more than they should. If only he knew who that mate was. If only he knew the girl he’s praising is the same Moon Blessed everyone fears and seeks to destroy.

Darien forces his lips into a tight smile. "Thank you, Father."

Ines lifts her glass delicately. "He’s only a reflection of my training. Efficiency, strategy, composure... I taught him all of it. A Luna must raise her heir with precision."

The last statement is no doubt directed at Rayne who either never catches the jabs or chooses to ignore them.

Darien almost groans. Here we go.

Tobias chuckles indulgently. "And you’ve done well, my dear. Our son is a fine Alpha in the making."

Ines’s smirk deepens. Across the table, Rayne rolls her eyes and leans into Tobias’s shoulder, pretending not to notice.

"Oh, our Morgan and Grayson also risked their lives to protect the Moon Blessed in the Labyrinth against all odds! The council considers this a felony, but all I see are brave Alphas in the making!" Tobias further rumbles as if to satiate his beloved mate.

However, Rayne doesn’t share that perspective. "Mm... that’s not bravery, my dear Tobias." She turns to her sons, a brow lifted in warning. "’Hero’ is a fancy name for fools, so I’d rather you not embark on unnecessary suicide missions."

"Come on, Mother! We had our reason." Morgan winks at her.

In reciprocation, she coos like a baby, painting the picture of a young idiotic mother and her spoiled children in Darien’s viewpoint.

The conversation drifts to pack politics and upcoming council meetings which is the usual morning theater of dominance and subtle insults. Darien barely hears it. His mind is still circling one fact: the twins told everyone they found their mates. They didn’t say names, but they didn’t need to. The smugness in their eyes says it all.

He chews slowly, methodically. If they out her, if the pack even suspects she’s an abomination...

Kairos cuts in with a dry tone. "You’ll tear this house apart, and you know it."

He grips his fork tighter. Maybe that’s what it needs.