Chapter 6 Facade Of Conviction

As morning came, Nora didn't go out of her room. She had woken and dressed long ago. She had even heard the family gather to have their breakfast. Their voices were far more subdued than usual, and she had expected one of the servants to come get her, but nobody came.

She had waited, growing more nervous by the minute, but angry with herself for being afraid. After all, Lord Damon could not eat her. Even if he was capable of killing her, he would not do it at breakfast. But Lord Damon had been furiously angry last night. Nora remembered the rage in his eyes and shivered.

After waiting for what felt like eternity, she heard footsteps approaching, and the key turned in the lock at last. She was sitting on her bed, her elbows resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on the door when Derek pulled it open. His face was cold and set. “Get to the dining hall now!” he ordered curtly, and then strode away.

She had expected someone to come get her, but she didn't think it was Derek that would come, not when she had blocked his mind-link severally. She walked gently to the table where the meal had already been served.

The chair by the right side of King Derek was vacant and she assumed it was hers. As she sat, she wanted to ask for what the punishment of the woman would be but she didn't want to be forward, and not to get Lord Damon suspecting her, so she continued her meal slowly.

“I appreciate you for coming on a short notice, King Derek. Thanks for honoring my invite. As I said yesterday, Nora was like a daughter sent to me by the moon goddess herself. And I am sorry for the way things ended yesterday,” Lord Damon said with a gentle smile across his face, as he continued his meal.

Derek smiled in return, “It is my pleasure. As for that woman, what do you intend to do with her?” He asked curiously.

“I haven't thought of a punishment yet, but I'll definitely handle her, her audacity demands punishment,” Lord Damon gaze meets Derek's, glinting caution.

“It is not just a disrespect to the family, it is a slander, and the woman needs to be taught a lesson,” Nora declared, her voice firm. “I'm sure she is from the neighboring Packs, the ones that are set to destroy father at all costs.”

She met Lord Damon's gaze, while trying her best to mask her true feelings. “Father, she should be killed. At least it will serve as a warning to them, so as not to try such with you another time,” she added.

Everyone's bewildered gaze shifted towards Nora, but Marock's eyes narrowed, impressed by his sister's conviction. “You're right Daphne, we can't tolerate such audacity.”

Beta Ryan's expression became thoughtful. “I know this is none of my business, but I think you should forgive her, who knows if she's mentally unstable?” He shrugged dismissively.

“No, Beta Ryan, Father knows best. Justice demands strict actions, and should never be taken lightly,” her heart skipped a beat, trying to maintain her facade.

“No one is killing anyone. Although she'll be severely punished, she won't be killed.” Lord Damon's voice is firm and resolute.

Relief coursed through Nora with Lord Damon's decision, but she furrowed her brows, and pretended not to be satisfied by the decision.

“I have lost my appetite, I'll just go ahead to my room,” she said with a gritted teeth, and turned towards her room.

After a few minutes, Derek joined Nora in the room. He walked around the bed, but didn't sit down. He was so tall that his head almost brushed the ceiling. His contemptuous eyes went to Nora, but she lifted her chin defiantly.

Derek didn't bother to ask for an explanation concerning what she had said at breakfast. “You obviously lied to me,” he said with his eyes scathingly cold, “you lied about losing your memory. And even if you didn't lie, when were you going to tell me that you had gotten your memories back?”

“Why do you think I've gotten my memories back when I haven't?” Nora asked, feigning surprise.

“To think I was beginning to see you as a different person, as a changed person,” his mouth twisted with sardonic amusement at such an impossibility. “I guess I expected too much from you.”

She felt insulted by the word, but she could only stare at him in open mouthed astonishment.

“How could you suggest death as the woman's punishment? Isn't that too cruel?” He glared at her, daring her to speak.

“It isn't. It is, in fact, the proper punishment for slander.” She smirked, and rolled her eyes, satisfied that she had pretended to be Daphne so well.

She couldn't believe she had acted so flawlessly to have even made Derek think that she was truly Daphne.

Anger shot within Derek in a tidal wave, and although he had wanted to take his hands off the case, he had a rethink.

“I'll investigate this, I promise you,” Derek vowed, his voice low, and menacing. “And if you or any member of your family has a hand in the innocent girl's death, you'll have me to contend with.”

“You’ll just be wasting your time, but if it'll convince you of our innocence, you had better go ahead with the investigation,” she replied, hiding her inner triumph, her tone dripped with conviction. She had played her role flawlessly.

His expression immediately changed, becoming cold with rage. Nora smiled and looked away, her heart thumping, knowing it had probably been the wrong thing to do. She knew her words hurt Derek, but she needed to continue with the facade.

If only Daphne had not been involved in an accident, at almost the same time Nora died, she would have been the prime suspect. She was the only one that had a motive. She knew how powerful the bond between fated mates was, and she knew that with Nora, she had no chance.

Derek had told Daphne before they got married that if he ever finds his fated mate, he would mark her, he would marry her and she would move into the house together with him, which she accepted. But when he didn't find his fated mate after over a year of being married to her, they both thought he would never find her, until that night, that fateful night, that he found her in the woods.