Mute

Caspian’s POV.

I was engrossed in the daily affairs of the pack, delegating tasks and ensuring everything ran smoothly, when I noticed the s**ts whispering to each other. Their furtive glances and hushed tones set my nerves on edge, and frustration simmered beneath the surface.

“What’s going on?” I barked, my voice echoing through the hall. The s**ts flinched, startled by my sudden outburst.

Before anyone could answer, Elijah rushed into the scene, his expression grave. “Caspian, I have bad news,” he said, his voice

urgent.

My heart clenched at the solemnity in his tone. “What is it?” I demanded, bracing myself for the worst.

Elijah took a deep breath, his gaze solemn. “Aria seems to have gotten into a fight with Ellen,” he began, his words sending a chill down my spine. “She tumbled Ellen’s room upside down, tore her clothes, and smashed Ellen’s head with a wine bottle. Ellen is in the infirmary, unconscious.”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I could barely process Elijah’s words. “Repeat that,” I demanded, unable to believe what I was hearing.

“Elijah, you heard him. Repeat yourself,” I urged, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Ellen insulted Aria,” Elijah stammered, his voice strained. “Aria felt upset and attacked Ellen.”

My mind raced, struggling to make sense of the incomprehensible. Aria, the same woman who I had held some hours ago, who I had kissed underwater, now accused of such violence? It seemed unfathomable.

“Where is Aria?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the weight of uncertainty bearing down on me.

“She’s being held by the guards,” Elijah replied, his voice tinged with concern.

I stood there, paralyzed by shock and disbelief. Aria, the gentlest soul I knew, accused of such brutality? It didn’t make sense. But the image of Ellen, injured and unconscious, haunted me, and I knew I had to see her for myself.

Making my way to the infirmary, I felt every step heavy with dread. When I arrived, I found Ellen’s parents and my mother already there, their faces etched with worry and

“What happened?” I asked, my voic

strai

“She was attacked,” Ellen’s fath

anger.

my heart pounding in my chest.

said, his voice trembling with fury. “That mute maid of yours went berserk.”

My jaw clenched, my sides. “Aria wouldn’t do this,” I insisted, though doubt gnawed at me.

fists balling ar

Ellen stirred, her eyes fluttering open. When she saw me, tears welled up in her eyes. “Caspian,” she whispered, her voice

weak. “She just attacked me. I didn’t do anything.”

My heart ached at the sight of her, battered and bruised. But even as I reached out to comfort her, doubts gnawed at me.

Could Aria really be capable of such lence?

Ellen’s parents stood before me, their eyes ablaze with accusation and fury. They pointed their trembling fingers at me, their voices trembling with anger.

“You!” Ellen’s father bellowed, his voice booming through the room like thunder. “It’s because of you that our daughter lies here, bloodied and broken!”

His words were like daggers to my heart, piercing through the armor of my defenses and leaving me raw and exposed.

14:19 Sat, Aug 17 R.

+34%

“I would never have wished harm upon Ellen,” I protested, my voice barely audible above the maelstrom of their fury.

Ellen’s father’s eyes blazed with anger as he turned towards me. You expect us to believe that?” he spat, his voice dripping

with venom.

Ellen’s father took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides, His face contorted with rage. For a moment, I thought he would strike me, the weight of his fury bearing down on me like a crushing blow. But then, something in my eyes must have given him pause, for he stopped short, his anger giving way to uncertainty.

I met his gaze head-on, my own eyes blazing with a fierce determination. “You lay a hand on me,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous, “and you’ll regret it.”

Beside me, my mother intervened, her voice calm but firm as she attempted to soothe the raging tempest of emotions that threatened to consume us all. “Please, let’s try to remain calm,” she implored, her words a gentle plea in the midst of chaos.

She turned to Ellen’s parents, her expression sympathetic. “I’m truly sorry for what has happened. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

Ellen’s mother nodded, her eyes red and puffy from tears. “I just can’t believe this happened,” she murmured, her voice choking with emotion.

“I know, dear,” my mother replied, her tone reassuring. “But we’ll make sure Ellen gets the best care possible. And we’ll find out what really happened.”

As my mother continued to speak, her words measured and calm, Ellen’s s**bs gradually began to subside. She lay on the bed, her shoulders shaking with each breath, but there was a flicker of calmness in her eyes as she listened to my mother’s

assurances.

But as I stood there, I couldn’t help but wonder: What had truly transpired between Ellen and Aria? And how had things spiraled so wildly out of control?

Ellen’s father’s voice thundered once more, although his eyes held fear as he addressed me, “You’ve brought nothing but disgrace to our family, Caspian! How dare you allow that mute girl to cause such chaos!”

His words stung, but I stood my ground, refusing to be moved by his fury. “Hold on a minute,” I interjected, my voice cutting through the tension. “There’s more to this than you realize.”

Ellen’s mother scoffed, her eyes flashing with indignation. “What more could there possibly be? Our daughter lies injured because of your negligence!”

I clenched my fists, frustration mounting with each passing accusation. “You’re not seeing the whole picture,” I insisted, my tone firm. “There’s something else going on here.”

As Ellen’s parents continued to vent their anger and frustration, hurling accusations and recriminations in my direction, I couldn’t

shake the feeling that there was more to this story than met the eye.