Damon:

“Has she reached the safe house?” I asked Luca, glancing behind me to ensure my father hadn't heard.

“I’ll ask now, but she left a few minutes ago,” Luca informed me. I frowned.

“What? Why? Didn’t I give specific instructions to get her out of here immediately?” I demanded. He pursed his lips and sighed.

“You won’t like this, but Dimitri took her. Apparently, Clara was crying in the car, and Steven didn’t want to force her, so he let her go with Dimitri,” Luca said. Rage shook me.

“So Dimitri’s alone with my wife? Call Steven now!” I ordered, clenching my jaw. Luca nodded and walked away as I grabbed my phone and dialed Dimitri’s number, but he didn’t answer.

“That bastard,” I muttered, repeatedly dialing, only to reach voicemail. Clara’s phone was switched off.

“Shit!” I cursed, running a hand through my hair while continuing to try and reach them.

Soon, Luca returned with Steven. I immediately confronted him, and before he could speak, I punched him and grabbed him by the collar.

“I ordered you to take her away, yet you let that bastard have her?” I seethed, trying to control my voice.

“I didn’t know… since he’s your brother, I assumed…”

“I gave you an order! If anything happens to my wife, you’ll follow your father to hell!” I snarled, pushing him away.

“Calm down. I’m sure Dimitri won’t hurt her. She’s been spending a lot of time with him; they seem close,” Luca said, and I pursed my lips.

Clara had spoken to Dimitri, even though I’d asked her not to. I’d avoided the issue to prevent a fight.

Now, I was unsure what to think. I wanted to trust my wife, but why would she poison my mother?

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Hours had passed, and the doctors were still trying to revive my mother. It looked grim, and my father was losing his mind.

“Get men to find them. I want her away from Dimitri, understand?” I told Steven. He bowed his head and hurried away. At that moment, I heard Delilah scream.

I turned to see her crying on the ground while my father had his fingers around a doctor’s throat.

Luca rushed to Delilah while I pried my father off the doctor.

“What’s going on?” I shouted.

“Your mother isn’t responding. Her heart… I think she’s gone,” the nurse said, and my father howled in anguish.

“I’m going to kill Clara!” he roared, his voice shaking the hospital.

If his wolf took over, he’d be unstoppable. I couldn’t defeat him, but I would protect my wife. His wolf was about to surface when a nurse screamed.

“The Queen Luna is awake!” she announced. Our eyes widened.

My father shoved me aside and rushed into the emergency ward, followed by the rest of us. We saw a maid supporting my mother as she vomited.

“Baby,” my father cried, embracing her. “You’re okay, Mum,” Delilah sobbed, hugging her as well.

“I’m sorry, but we need to check her vitals,” the doctor (the one my father had almost strangled) said, trembling. My father didn’t release my mother.

“She’s okay. Excuse us,” I said. He nodded and left with the other nurses. “Don’t worry, baby, I’m going to kill Clara for what she did to you,” my father muttered, tightening his embrace.

“How can you kill the person who saved me?” my mother asked. We froze.

“She saved you?” I asked as Delilah and my father pulled away.

Her eyes locked on Aurora, turning cold.

“You!” she screamed. Aurora gasped and tried to flee, but Luca caught and pinned her. “Let me go!” she screamed.

“What’s going on?” Delilah asked, confused.

“Aurora poisoned me. She wanted me dead so she could frame Clara,” my mother revealed.

“That’s impossible! We saw the poison Clara used. She admitted to it,” Delilah said.

“Where is she? I want to apologize for doubting her. The day your father sent for her, she told me I was dying because Aurora was poisoning me. I didn’t believe her; I’d raised Aurora. I threatened to banish Clara if she ever spoke like that again. Clara came every day but never gave me medicine. Aurora always did, and I got worse. Then I remembered I started feeling ill again after Aurora's visits. Clara's words made sense, but by then I was dying,” my mother explained. We gasped.

“Why didn’t she treat you immediately? Why didn’t she tell someone?” Delilah asked. My mother sighed.

“She tried telling Damon, but he dismissed her. After what I’d said, she feared no one would believe her and that she would get in trouble so she needed proof. As long as I believed her, you would believe her too,” my mother said. Guilt gnawed at me. I hadn't listened.

“What about the poison she gave you?” my father asked.

“By then, Aurora’s poison was killing me. The only way to fight it was a stronger poison. She said my heart would stop, but if I survived, Aurora’s poison would be flushed out. I thought I’d die, but that’s what I vomited,” she said. We were silent.

“What if you hadn’t made it?” Delilah whispered. My mother smiled.

“She gave me something else, and I trusted her more than anyone. Where is she? I want to thank her,” my mother said. Everyone looked at me.

I’d sent Clara away, fearing for her safety. I hadn’t known she’d planned this to expose Aurora.

Pride swelled in my heart. I hoped Clara would forgive me for doubting her when I got her back from Dimitri, but for now…

I turned and glared at Aurora, struggling against Luca’s hold.

It’s time to kill this bitch.