Chapter 8: Not to our face

Chapter 8: Not to our face 8 ~Kael’s POV The moment Belinda smiled through her tears and threw her arms around us, something inside me loosened. I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath until she whispered, "Thank you," against my shoulder. Damon caught her first, pulling her into a tight hug like she was made of something fragile, something worth guarding. Rowan stepped in next, his hand ruffling her hair with brotherly fondness. Then she turned to me, and when I held her, it felt right. Familiar. Warm. "You’ll always be our Luna," I told her again, softly. She nodded against my chest. She looked happier than she had in weeks, her face relaxed, glowing even. It made me realize how deeply she had been hurting, carrying the weight of doubt and fear all alone. We had seen it, the tension in her smile, the way she shrank back whenever we mentioned the bond or anything that had to do with the Moon Goddess. But now, for the first time, her shoulders didn’t look so heavy. Rowan waved over one of the guards and ordered the driver to take Belinda home. "Make sure she rests," he told him sternly. "And don’t let her lift a finger." The guard nodded, bowing slightly before escorting Belinda out. We watched her leave in silence, each of us caught in our thoughts. Then Rowan let out a long yawn and rubbed his neck. "I’m beat. I think it’s time to crash." Damon grunted in agreement. "For once, I’m not arguing." "Early night, then," I said, already feeling the pull of exhaustion in my limbs. We turned in early, the emotional whirlwind of the evening settling like dust in our chests. I barely remembered closing my eyes before sleep took over. The next morning, light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the estate, golden and soft. Birds chirped just outside the glass, and I groaned as I rolled over, my body refusing to move from the comfort of the silk sheets. There was a knock on the door, followed by the quiet bustle of maids starting their daily routines. I sat up and stretched, cracking my neck and letting out a breath. Damon was already awake, sitting up in bed and scrolling through his phone. "Morning," I muttered. He grunted, not looking up. "Morning." Rowan came in a moment later from the hallway, his hair damp like he had just splashed water on his face. "Tub’s still dry," he announced, frowning. "What are the maids even doing?" "They’re supposed to prep the bathroom by now," I said, getting up and dragging a hand through my hair. I pulled on a robe and walked to the doorway, peering down the hall. I could hear the maids talking softly, moving about the house. I paused, then grinned. "You know who hasn’t done her work yet?" Damon raised an eyebrow, already guessing where I was going with this. "Lisa?" "Exactly," I said. "Isn’t that part of her job now? Helping with morning preparations?" Rowan gave a short laugh. "That’s true. Isn’t she technically one of the help now?" Damon nodded mockingly. "Might as well make her useful." We all knew it was cruel and a little unfair. But the truth was, we were still bitter about the bond we didn’t ask for. Belinda should have been here, not Lisa. And even though Lisa had done nothing wrong, she was a daily reminder of everything we’d lost control over. I walked to the hallway and called one of the passing maids. She curtsied quickly. "Yes, Alpha Kael?" "Go fetch Lisa. Tell her to meet us in the lounge." "Yes, Alpha. Right away." She scurried off without question. I returned to where my brothers were lounging, and we waited.\n(o)v.e\l.com Rowan leaned back, arms behind his head. "You think she’s going to complain?" "Probably," Damon answered. "But she won’t say it out loud. Not to our faces." "She better not," I muttered. After a few minutes, we heard footsteps coming toward the lounge. Lisa entered, walking alongside the maid who had gone to fetch her. Her clothes were wrinkled, and her face looked tired. She lowered herself to her knees with the maid and greeted us. "Good morning, Alphas," she said softly. Rowan waved his hand, signaling the maids to leave, and then looked at Lisa. "Go and get our tubs ready. We want to bathe now." Lisa raised her head slightly, her voice cracking a little. "Are you finally releasing me from lockup? Can I..." she hesitated "can I eat or drink something first? I’m hungry and thirsty." There was a brief silence between us. I stared at her, taken aback by how dry her voice sounded. Her lips were pale, cracked. Her skin, once radiant, now looked dull and worn. She hadn’t eaten? She hadn’t been given water? My throat tightened at the thought. No wonder her voice was so faint, barely above a whisper. Rowan’s smile faded slowly, the amusement draining from his face. His eyes were on her, but they weren’t playful anymore. He seemed to be observing her like a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. I recognized that look. It was the one he wore when he was thinking too hard, when something didn’t sit right with him. He said nothing for a moment, letting the silence stretch between us. Damon shifted in his seat beside me, clearly uncomfortable. He glanced my way, as though searching for a cue, unsure whether we were continuing the game or breaking character. Rowan scoffed suddenly, snapping the tension like a twig. "Hungry and thirsty? Did you think you were here for a holiday?" His voice was sharp, laced with sarcasm. Damon caught on quickly, recovering with a smirk. "You want breakfast in bed, too? Maybe a glass of orange juice and a pastry while we run you a hot bath?" He leaned back, arms stretched out lazily across the back of the couch like he was the king of something. They both laughed, their voices ringing with cruelty, but mine didn’t join them. Lisa flinched slightly. It was subtle, just a twitch of her shoulders, like she had braced herself for a slap that didn’t come. Her eyes lowered to the ground, and she didn’t answer them. She didn’t try to fight back. That silence, that sad resignation, unsettled me more than any words could have. "Get the tubs ready now," I snapped, my voice louder than I intended.