CHAPTER 113: 113 - THE RULES

113

~Damon’s POV

I stood there, staring at Belinda after what she’d just said, her words echoing in my head.

Your brothers already broke the rules for me... why can’t you?

My jaw tightened. I didn’t trust myself to answer her without saying something I’d regret, so I just kept staring at her for a long moment, my eyes locked on hers. Then, without a word, I turned and walked to the door.

"Damon..." she called after me, but I didn’t stop.

I stepped into the hallway, my boots heavy against the floor, anger tightening every muscle in my body. I didn’t even look at the guards stationed by her door. "I’m done here," I muttered, and kept walking.

The corridors felt colder as I made my way toward our shared living quarters. My thoughts were a mess, my temper burning hotter with each step.

When I finally reached the door to our room, I pushed it open without knocking.

Rowan and Kael were sitting on the couch, papers and maps scattered across the low glass table between them, as if they’d been planning something important. Sunlight streamed in from the tall windows, catching the sharp lines of their faces, but the room still felt heavy, like the air itself was waiting for something to explode.

They both looked up the moment I walked in, surprise flickering briefly across their expressions. Rowan’s brow furrowed like he was about to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" My voice came out louder than I expected, echoing sharply off the walls. The air between us seemed to tighten instantly, the weight of my anger pressing down on all three of us.

Kael was the first to move, leaning back in his seat with the kind of casual arrogance that made my blood boil. His arm rested lazily along the back of the couch, and the corner of his mouth twisted into that smug half-smile I’d seen a hundred times before, the one he used when he wanted to provoke me.

"Oh, so you come back from visiting that stupid Lisa," he drawled, every word dripping with sarcasm, "and the first thing you do is throw blame at us?" He let out a sharp scoff, his gaze never leaving mine. "We were with our rightful Luna, Damon. You should be thanking us."

My jaw clenched so hard it ached. The audacity in his tone lit a fire in my chest. I took one slow, deliberate step forward, the sound of my boots on the floor cutting through the tense silence. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms.

"I asked you a question," I said, my voice low but steady, each word laced with a barely contained fury. "Why. Did. You. Break. The. Rule?"

Rowan shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between me and Kael like he was weighing whether to step in. But Kael didn’t flinch; he never did. He tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening as if my anger was nothing but entertainment to him.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and I could feel the heat rising to my face. I wasn’t just angry, I was betrayed. That rule wasn’t a casual suggestion. It wasn’t something they could twist to fit their desires. It was a line drawn in blood, one the pack had sworn to never cross.

And yet here we were.

I took another step forward, closing the space between us until I could see the faint pulse in Kael’s neck. "Do you think I’m asking for fun?" I demanded, my voice dropping lower, more dangerous.

Still, he just stared back at me, that damn smug expression refusing to leave his face.

Rowan finally pushed his papers aside and stood slowly, squaring up to me. His movements were deliberate, like he was making sure I understood that this conversation was no longer casual. "And why the hell did you fail to come to the palace as soon as we called you?"

I didn’t flinch. "I’m not answering that until you answer me first," I shot back, my voice like a blade.

Rowan’s eyes narrowed into slits, his jaw clenching. "You think I’m going to sit here and explain myself to you over some stupid rule?" His tone dripped with mockery.

"That rule was made by our father," I screamed.

I watched him as he almost spat the word father, "as some pathetic excuse to ’stay devoted’ to our mother. It was never about respect, Damon. It was about control. It’s meaningless."

My pulse pounded in my ears. "Meaningless?" I repeated, hardly believing he’d said it.

"Yes, meaningless," Rowan barked, his voice rising like a tide about to break.

Kael leaned forward, his eyes burning with the same bitterness Rowan carried. "Our father was a monster, Damon. You know that! Every ’rule’ he wrote was just another shackle around our necks."

He scoffed, shaking his head. "You think that vow to mother was noble? No. It was a weapon. He made it so that breaking it would make her look like traitor, so no one would even think about living differently than he demanded. That rule? It doesn’t even exist in my mind. Not anymore. I’m sure he didn’t love our mother because if he did, he wouldn’t treat us like animals!",

Rowan nodded in agreement, his expression hard as stone. "We’re not living by his ghost, Damon. Not now. Not ever."

I shook my head, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. "He might have been a terrible father... but he was a good husband to our mother. That’s why he made that rule."

Rowan laughed without humor, his voice sharp as a whip. "A good husband? Is that what you’re calling him now? When did you start getting so damn soft?"

Before I could answer, Kael leaned forward with a wicked grin. "He’s getting soft because of her. Because of Lisa."

My chest tightened, my anger mixing with something heavier, something I didn’t want to name. I met Kael’s gaze without flinching. "Don’t talk about her like that."

"Oh, I’ll talk about her however I damn well please," Kael shot back. "She’s the reason you’ve been distracted, the reason you’re not here with your real mate."

Rowan folded his arms. "We called you because this pack’s future depends on unity, Damon. But instead of standing with us, you’re running after a human girl who has no place in our world anymore."

"She is our mate," I said, my voice low but firm.

Kael’s grin faded, his tone dripping with mockery. "A mate who isn’t a wolf. Let it make sense, Damon!"