Chapter 88 Ella's Accused
Ella felt the weight of the room shift with every passing second. Slowly, she released her hands from Valen's grip, her eyes meeting his briefly before she took a step back to address both him and Derek. Valen’s demeanor changed instantly, a flicker of unease crossing his face at her withdrawal. He didn’t lash out, though; instead, he kept his emotions tightly guarded, as if he knew her resistance was deserved.
Derek stood there, his expression conflicted, his eyes locked on her. He seemed stunned, unable to process the weight of what she’d just said. Ella inhaled deeply, forcing herself to meet their gazes evenly.
"Derek," she began, her voice calm but firm, "like you said, a lot has happened. When I came here, I discovered that the Moon Goddess had other plans for me. I don’t know how it’s possible to have two mates, let alone from two entirely different worlds. I’m still trying to figure it all out." She paused, glancing briefly at Valen before turning back to Derek.
“But yes,” she continued, her tone resolute, “you’re both my mates. Since you refuse to accept my rejection,” she looked directly at Derek, “I think it’s time to end this confusion. Accept my rejection and let us move on.”
The room fell silent. Derek’s wolf, Leo, raged beneath the surface, his energy crackling in the air. Derek’s initial shock at her words was quickly replaced by anger, but before he could speak, Leo surged forward, his voice echoing through Derek’s lips.
"I reject your rejection!" Leo’s voice boomed, silencing everyone. His red eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to challenge even Valen. "If anyone should be rejected, it’s him." Leo jabbed a finger toward Valen. "You can’t be mated to a vampire. Werewolves and vampires are enemies by nature. You’ll never be accepted in his world even with him by your side.”
Valen met Leo’s heated glare with an unflinching calm. His piercing crimson eyes locked onto Derek, as the air around him grew colder. "She’s mine to protect, Alpha Derek. You don’t need to concern yourself with that."
Derek stepped closer, his wolf barely contained, his chest heaving with suppressed rage. "She’s mine as long as the mate bond exists!" he growled, his tone laced with possessiveness.
Ella’s wolf, Lila, stirred uneasily inside her, reflecting Ella’s own discomfort. She hated this tug-of-war between her mates, especially when she didn’t fully understand the bond herself. The Moon Goddess’s cryptic words echoed in her mind: You’ll need both of them to win this war. But how could that possibly make sense?
Ella clenched her fists at her sides. "I’m not a prize to be fought over," Ella snapped, her voice cutting through the tension. Both men turned to her, startled by the sudden sharpness in her tone. "I don’t need either of you to decide who I belong to. I’ll decide that myself.”
The tension in the room was thick enough to suffocate, and Ella felt like she was drowning in it. She had barely taken a calming breath when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.
The room fell silent, the tension shifting as all eyes turned toward the door. A moment later, Morgana entered, escorted by two vampires. Her dark robes swirled around her ankles as she strode in confidently, her piercing gaze scanning the room.
Valen’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “What’s this madness, Morgana?” Valen demanded, his frustration evident. His voice was ice, his authority sharp and unyielding. “How dare you barge into my manor?”
Morgana offered a bow, her entourage following suit, though her smug expression betrayed her respect. "Apologies for the interruption, Lord Valen, but there’s an emergency.”
Valen’s eyes narrowed. "What kind of emergency?"
Morgana hesitated for a split second, her sharp gaze darting to Ella. A flicker of something unreadable—anger, perhaps jealousy—crossed her features before she masked it.
"The kind you’ll want to address immediately," she said smoothly. Her tone was laced with just enough tension to spark curiosity and unease in the room.
Valen’s patience thinned. "Speak plainly, Morgana.”
She straightened and delivered her bombshell with calm precision. "A vampire has been killed. She announced. Her voice was loud, clear, and heavy with accusation. And all evidence points to your mate, Ella."
The room froze. The silence that followed was deafening.
Ella felt the weight of every gaze turn to her as her heart skipped a beat. This was exactly the kind of chaos she’d been trying to avoid. She could sense Valen’s gaze even before she turned to meet his eyes.
Valen’s gaze darkened. "What are you talking about, Morgana? Explain yourself.”
Morgana’s gaze flicked to Ella, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "I think you should ask your so-called mate. She knows exactly what I’m talking about.”
Ella’s breath caught, but she forced herself to remain calm. Lila stirred within her. ‘I think this have to do with last night.’ She said. Ella nodded her head in response.
Dorian spoke first. "Morgana, that’s a serious accusation. You can't just walz in here and–"
"Do I look like someone who fabricates stories, Dorian?" Morgana’s tone was laced with mock offense as she cuts him off. "I’m just coming from the field. A vampire’s body lies there, mauled by werewolf claws. Tracks and fur at the scene all lead back to her." She turned to Valen, her expression hard. "We can’t harbor a murderer here, even if she is your mate."
Derek, however, stepped closer to Ella, his protective stance unwavering. "That’s impossible," he said firmly. "Ella isn’t a killer.”
Scottie, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally found her voice. "Ella barely leaves the manor. There must be some mistake."
“Can her scent be mistaken?” Morgana asked, raising an eyebrow.
Morgana’s words lingered in the air like a dark cloud, promising a storm to come.