\[Denali’s POV\]
I wake to find Naomi sitting beside me, my hand in hers. She looks exhausted, and I immediately feel a flare of guilt. Of course she would be after everything Rosco and I recently went through. Even if she wasn’t directly involved, she was still affected, as were Hamilton and the rest of Crystal Fang.
Slowly, I move my fingers in hopes of not startling her, as she looks deep in thought, and the minute I do, her eyes come to rest on me.
“Denali!” She gasps, relief flooding her beautiful features. “You’re awake! How are you feeling, darling?”
How was I feeling? Of course, I was fine. If anyone was in pain or suffering, it would be Rosco, since he took the brunt of the attack back at the warehouse.
“Rosco,” I whisper, beginning to look around only to find that he is nowhere to be seen. “Where…”
“He had some business to attend to,” Naomi explains. “He should be returning shortly.”
“Don’t worry the girl with that stubborn boys whereabouts,” Hamilton puffs, stepping into the room. “He should be in his hospital bed resting, but leave it to him to run off the minute he is able.”
Business to attend to? Did it have to do with the important meeting he went to, or did it involve something else?
As these thoughts begin to race around my mind, a shriek sounds from the hallway, followed by things collapsing before Anastasia bursts into my room and wildly looks around until her bloodshot eyes come to rest on me.
“YOU!” She shireks, rushing forward, scalpel in hand. “YOU DID THIS! GIVE ME BACK MY BABY!”
Eyes widening, I try to make sense of what she is saying. Was she that delirious after such a traumatic experience and just looking for someone to blame?
“Where is she?” Beatrice’s voice follows before she too makes her way into my room while Hamilton fights to keep Anastasia in place. “You bitch!” Rushing forward, she lifts a hand and lets it connect with my cheek. I knew you were jealous of Alexander and Anastasia’s happiness, but to go as far as killing a child, how could you?”
“Me?” I gasp, trying to ignore the ringing in my ear from how powerfully she hit me. “What are you on about?”
“Beatrice!” Naomi gasps, placing herself between us as my stepmother prepares for another attack. “What are you accusing Denali of right now?”
“Accusing?” Beatrice repeats, lifting her phone and shoving it at Naomi. “There is no need to accuse when there is proof!”
Frowning, I try to peer around Naomi to see exactly what she is watching, and when my eyes come to rest on a woman with my face as she rushes at Anastasia, and sends her crashing down the stairs.
“Are you going to deny that this is you?” Beatrice growls.
I don’t speak as I try to make sense of what I just saw. How was it possible? That was me, but it wasn’t. Was this some sort of fake video? It had to be!
“Denali,” Naomi says slowly. “Can you explain this?”
Could I explain it? Of course, I couldn’t! Even I didn’t know what was going on with that video!
“What is there to explain?” Beatrice growls, shoving past Naomi and grabbing my hair. “THIS BITCH KILLED MY GRANDCHILD!”
“My baby!” Anastasia wails, falling to the ground and clutching her stomach. “Give me back my baby!”
I remain in a daze as chaos begins to erupt around us, and despite their acting as though they truly cared, Naomi and Hamilton don’t move to help me. In the end, I was once again led to be the fool in truly believing that someone would take my side.
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?”
The voice cuts through Anastasia’s sobs and Beatrice’s snarls of rage as she attempts to pull me out of bed, and it sends both waves of relief and fear through me.
“SOMEONE BETTER FUCKING ANSWER ME!” Rosco roars when Beatrice continues to attack.
When he reaches my bedside, he grabs Beatrice and throws her into Anastasia, so mother and child both go rolling on the ground.
“Are you okay?” He murmurs, pulling me close while I stare blankly ahead. “Did she hurt you?”
“Are you really going to protect that monster?” Beatrice hisses, getting up off the ground. “You were behind it too, weren’t you? Both of you worked together to kill my grandchild!”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Rosco demands, letting out a growl of warning. “What nonsense are you spewing?”
“I think you should see something,” Naomi says slowly.
“And what is that?”
“Proof that your precious wife isn’t as innocent as she pretends to be.” Beatrice snarls, passing her phone to Rosco. “And that she is a cold-blooded murderer.”
“What bullshit?” Rosco hisses, taking the phone and watching the video on the screen. “Clearly this is fake.”
At his words, I release a breath that I didn’t even know I was holding. He believed in me and believed I wasn’t responsible for any of this. Even if his parents considered me a murderer, he didn't, and for the first time in my life since my mother’s death, I had someone beside me.
“How dare you claim it is fake?" Beatrice snaps. “Why would I need to fake anything?”
“Because you hate Denali and know that she will soon take everything you care for away from you,” Rosco responds. “Isn’t that the perfect reason to try to get her arrested for murder?”
“It was her,” Anastasia cries. “She killed my baby and almost killed me! And she made Alexander leave me!”
Eyes widening, I take in Anastasia’s words. Did she just say that Alexander left her? Was that why he wasn’t here right now? But why? What the hell was he even thinking to cheat on me with her and then leave after she suffered such a devastating loss?
Something was wrong with this whole scenario, and I was sure that Alexander was the one who would have the answers that were needed to fill in the pieces that were missing.
“Where is he?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Where is Alexander right now?”
As the words leave my lips, all eyes come to rest on me, and all I can see is accusation, and I realize too late that I’ve possibly criminalized myself even more.
“Why?” Beatrice growls, snapping out of it first. “Do you want to find him so that you can try to plead your innocence? Don’t think you can get away with it; we’ve already called the authorities!”
“You dare try to have my wife arrested over your made-up video?” Rosco growls, and his aura begins to trickle out around us. “Over my dead body, will she be taken to jail!”
“Rosco!” Hamilton roars, overpowering Rosco entirely. “There is solid proof that she is the one responsible for killing Anastasia’s baby. STAND DOWN!”
His order resonates around us, causing even me to want to obey it while Rosco kneels.
"If she is innocent, it will be proven in court. Until then, stop being stubborn!"
"No!" Rosco hisses, trying to fight against his father. "I won't allow you to take Denali anywhere!"
"You have no say," Hamilton counters. "She will go with the authorities to plead her case, and you will help me do damage control."
"And if I don't?" Rosco growls, slowly gaining his footing. "Then what?"
"Then I will no longer consider you my son."