The Alpha's Betrayal, I Married My Family's Killer - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

A week had passed.
Seven days locked in this gilded cage, choking under Ivan's control. Seven days without a word about Damon. I'd begged, demanded, screamed for answers—but Ivan only smirked, those golden eyes glinting with triumph.
"They took him far away from you," Helena had hissed in my ear one morning, her breath hot with venom. "You'll never see him again."
The words festered inside me, rotting into rage. But I was powerless. For now.
The one small mercy? Ivan had forbidden Helena from touching me. My child was to remain unharmed—his decree. And for that, I was grudgingly grateful. But it only stoked Helena's hatred, made it burn hotter.
So she found other ways to break me.
She flaunted her status like she already wore the crown of Luna. My belongings vanished from our bedroom, replaced with hers. She draped herself in jewels that had once been mine, strutted in gowns worth a fortune, and worst of all—she made sure I saw how she curled into Ivan's side, her lips brushing his skin, whispering things that drew dark chuckles from him.
I hated them both.
Tonight, I was trapped at dinner with them.
The long table stretched between us, the chandelier casting a golden glow over the obscene feast. My stomach churned, but I sat rigid, spine straight. I wouldn't let them see me crack.
Ivan carved into his steak, sipping wine like this was any other evening. Helena, ever the performer, swirled her spoon through her soup, smirking. "You barely eat these days, Cynthia," she mused. "Still mourning your lost pet?"
My nails bit into my palms under the table. "You mean Damon?" I kept my voice steady. "The man you're so desperate to erase?"
Her smile faltered. "Oh, sweetheart. He was never a real threat. Just a distraction—and now, he's gone."
I didn't flinch. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
Ivan set down his fork, studying me like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve. "You should be grateful, Cynthia," he purred. "You've been given a second chance. A chance to embrace your role properly."
I met his gaze, hatred burning through me. "My role?" I repeated. "As your prisoner?"
Helena's laugh was razor-sharp. "As my entertainment."
My jaw clenched. "You're nothing but a parasite feeding on his scraps, Helena. Do you really think he loves you?"
For a split second, her mask slipped—then the smirk was back. "I don't need love," she said, trailing her fingers over Ivan's knuckles. "I only need power. And unlike you, I know how to keep it."
Ivan let her touch him, but his eyes never left mine. "Enough," he said, that quiet command sending ice down my spine. He tilted his head. "I'll ask you again, Cynthia. Will you stop fighting me?"
The air thickened. My fists trembled, but my face stayed blank. Every instinct screamed at me to lash out.
But I thought of Damon. Of my child.
I exhaled slowly. "I already made my choice," I said. "I stay."
Helena scoffed. "Like you had a choice."
I ignored her, locking onto Ivan. "But don't mistake my silence for obedience," I murmured. "I may be here, Ivan, but I'll never be yours."
Something dangerous flickered in his gaze. Then—he smiled. "We'll see."
The rest of dinner passed in silence, but the war wasn't over. I might have been caged, but the fire inside me still raged. And one day, I'd make them pay.
Later, in my room, my mind buzzed with fury. Helena's laughter still clawed at my nerves. My hands shook as I pressed them to my stomach.
This child was my only lifeline in this nightmare. Ivan had caged me, but even he had limits. He needed the baby unharmed—which meant he needed me alive.
But for how long?
A sharp knock shattered my thoughts. The door creaked open, a servant slipping in with a folded note. "For you, Luna," she whispered before vanishing.
I unfolded it, pulse roaring in my ears.
Damon is alive. Do not give up.
My breath caught. My fingers clenched around the paper, heart slamming against my ribs. Damon was alive.
A new fire ignited inside me.
This war wasn't over.
And I was just getting started.