Setting Matters

Setting Matters
The hall fell into a suffocating silence.

Damian sat on his throne-like chair, fingers tapping slowly against the armrest—too slowly, too calmly, which meant danger.

Everyone sensed it.

Mina’s heart pounded painfully in her chest. She tried to hold Theo’s arm, but he quickly pulled away, ashamed to even be touched by her at a time like this.

Theo’s gaze remained fixed on the floor. He doesn't know which maid Damian had summoned, or the connection it has with what had happened — but he knows what this meant. The outcome was the same.

Minutes later, the heavy doors opened.

Lucain strode in with two warriors and a young woman standing between them.

The maid. Sofia

The same maid Mina had forced out of Dam-Nightshade Pack.

The same maid Lambert had assaulted.

The same maid Matt secretly sent to Damian, knowing Damian would uncover the truth Mina worked desperately to bury.

Her eyes widened in terror the moment they landed on Mina.

"Moon goodess! I am in grave trouble..!" Lambert murmured when he saw her.

Mina’s breath hitched, when she recognizes her.

“No…” she whispered under her breath. “No, not her… what are you doing here, you snake!”

Damian tilted his head slightly, voice low and steady.

“Bring her forward.”

Lucain guided the maid to the center. She trembled violently, hands twisting together, head bowed.

“Raise your head,” Damian commanded gently—but firmly. She obeyed, tears forming already.

Damian’s eyes remained unreadable.

“Tell this hall,” he began, “why you requested help from my Beta… and what happened that made you flee down here.”

Theo shut his eyes. Now he remembers this maid. The maid his son had assaulted. How would his own beta betray him like this? Sending her to Damian without consulting him first?.

Mina clenched her jaw so hard her teeth hurt. She was ready to bounce on the maid at any moment.

The maid glance at Mina and then swallowed shakily.

“I… I never knew to go until beta Matt directed me down here,” she whispered.

"Louder" Damian commanded and she made a thoarty noise

“Yes Alpha. Sometimes i am still so ashamed of speaking off happened, But Beta Matt said if I spoke to you, Alpha Damian… the truth would be protected.”

Damian nodded once. “Continue.”

The Alpha’s command wrapped around her like a chain—she couldn’t lie even if she tried.

All eyes were fixed entirely on her.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked directly at Damian, then at the elders.

“It… it started weeks ago… when I went to serve Young Alpha Lambert his meal.in his chamber along with another maid..." Her voice cracked.

“H-He forced himself on me…” A shocked wave rippled through the hall.

Gasps. Growls. Disgust.

Lambert shrank into his seat, face white as snow. Theo looked like his soul was leaving his body.

The maid wiped her tears and whispered “After that… Luna Mina summoned me to her chamber. I thought she wanted to help me. But instead… she had me flogged mercilessly. She said I had seduced her son into sleeping with me and I would destroy her son’s future if anyone heard what he did.”

Mina’s eyes widened. “You bastard! That’s—”

“Silence,” Damian said without raising his voice. But the command slammed into her chest like a physical blow.

The maid continued, voice trembling.“She said if I didn’t leave the pack before morning… she would make sure I disappeared forever. I was terrified. I left with nothing.”

Many elders clenched their fists in outrage.

"What the nerve!"

"Such insolent act for someone so young and calm?"

"And he dares comes to an honorable place like this? He is supposed to be buried in shame!"

"Theo has failed woefully... What a family of disgrace!" The remarks grew louder until Damian stared at them without a word, the hall went silent. He signal the maid to continue.

The maid bowed her head again. “Beta Matt found me crying outside the estate gate. Since he was aware of what happened… he said Alpha Damian needed to know the truth. So… he sent me here.”

Damian leaned back, expression unreadable. “So,” he murmured, “Mina silenced you… protected the offender… and exiled the victim. And the Alpha himself, was mute like a crippled man”

Theo’s face completely drained of color. His eyes suddenly went sunken and red. He turned to look at his son who was already sobbing silently.

Mina shook her head desperately. “No! She’s lying! Lambert would never—”

Damian didn’t shout. He simply looked at her. Cold. Sharp, And Unforgiving.

And Mina’s voice died in her throat.

Lucain stepped forward and spoke firmly:

“I was present that day, Alpha. Matt gave us strict instructions to protect this girl until you called for her of which you already did. She never once lied. Her story has been consistent from the beginning.”

Theo covered his face in shame and his son trembled violently besides him.

The crowd went wild with words of disgust.

Damian finally stood. The hall went dead silent.

He walked toward Mina slowly—each step echoing power.

“Mina,” he said softly, dangerously, “you not only hid a crime. You attacked the victim. You drove her out. And you protected your son from consequences that might have saved him.”

Mina shook her head in panic. “I—I was trying to protect my family—”

“You destroyed it,” Damian replied coldly.

He turned toward Damon and Elina. “As future rulers… the judgment of Mina’s crimes now falls to you both.”

Damon straightened, eyes burning with fury—not uncontrolled rage like before, but righteous, lethal calm.

Elina stiffened, torn between compassion and justice.

Mina fell to her knees, trembling. “P-Please… please don’t… don’t let them decide—”

"Oh! You want me to decide your fate then?" Damian asked with a grin. Seeing everyone smirking at Damian’s question, Mina became more confused.

"Very well then... Let me deal with the incompetence Alpha first, next your rapist of a son, and then you" Damian walk back calmly to his throne. The calmness about him is what terrify everyone.

"But before then, there is another matter that needs to be addressed" Damian said still grinning. He motioned at Liam who rushed out and then returned with Menar.

"Now.. the game just began" Damian grinned at Theo.