Chapter 12: One Versu Two

Without saying a word, without making a sound, Dante had come in and stood in that room, grip wrapped around Meris’s wrist.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he questioned.

Meris’s heart skipped a fearful beat. She stuttered, "D-D-Dante... W-when did you come back?"

Dante narrowed his eyes on her, aggravated. "I asked you, what are you doing?"

"No, no!" She rapidly shook her head. "Dante, it isn’t what you think! She hurt me first! She hurt me first! She almost wanted to kill me! Look!" She showed her bruised wrist and chin to him.

But the anger on Dante’s face never disappeared.

He looked over to Selene.

Her wounded hand was a bloody mess, and so was her head and face. How could mere bruises compare to that?

He gritted his teeth. "Do you understand what you’ve done?! Huh?!!" he snapped, startling Meris.

Beneath her gaze, Selene smiled, her blood tainting her teeth. She lifted her head and gradually rose to her feet. Then while staggering from one side to another, she advanced towards Dante, tripping over to quickly grasp his arm.

Dante, in response, let go of Meris and caught her by the waist.

Selene rested her arms against his chest. She raised her head to meet his eyes and pursed her lips so pathetically and pitifully. "Dante..."

Dante swallowed, blinking his eyes. His heart was pounding, and the more he gazed at her, the faster they beat.

"Your mate is jealous, I understand... But does that mean she should kill me? Look at me. It’s your responsibility to keep me safe. Are you going to let me die?"

His heart thumped faster. He was feeling dizzy. What is going on with me? Why is my chest beating so fast? I’m almost running out of breath.

His supreme wolf was also restless, trying to break free as if drawn towards something about Selene.

Meris, who couldn’t stand this sight, pointed angrily. "Dante, let go of her! She’s lying! She really did try to kill me! I was only defending myself!"

Selene glanced at her. She breathed heavily, vision becoming dimmer and dimmer. But she still spoke. "Meris, it is one thing to hurt me like this, but do you also have to frame me?"

"Frame you?!" Meris spat, "How could I hurt you when you’re a Wild Omega?!"

"Mhm, I’m a Wild Omega, but what can I do against two? One versus two, don’t you think...that’s outrageous?"

Dante eyed the maid. The look he gave her already decided her fate when this was all over. She was bound to lose her job as the head cook of the manor.

He said through gritted teeth, "I told you no one would take your place. You are my mate. Yet, you did this?"

"Dante!..." Meris shook her head at him. Her tears spilled. "Why are you believing her over me?! I’m your mate!"

He no longer answered her. Instead, he curled his arm around the back of Selene’s legs and lifted her off the ground into his arms. "I will take her to the hospital. You and I will have a talk when I return."

As he walked out with her in his arms, Selene tilted her head back and smirked at Meris. She watched her fume. However, right after, her injury caught up to her, and her body finally gave in, collapsing. She blacked out, completely losing consciousness.

As soon as Dante was gone with her, Meris lost it. She screamed at the top of her lungs, angrily pushing things apart onto the floor.

"Madam." The head cook tried to grab her. "Madam, please calm down. Please calm yourself, Mada—"

Meris slapped her across the face with the back of her hand.

She looked crazy, shoulders rising and falling with overwhelming rage. She questioned, "What happened?! What happened, HUH?!"

The head cook froze. "M-madam—"

"I told you to get rid of her. What happened?!" Meris yelled, "Why is she here? She’s supposed to be dead, so why the heck is she still alive?!"

The head cook fearfully bit her bottom lip.

"M-madam, she knew somehow that we poisoned the food."

"She knew?! And who told her?"

"No one! No one, Madam! I swear."

"Then, how did she know?" Meris questioned. "How did she know that I was the one who ordered for it?! Who spilled my name?!"

"Ellenor..." The head cook truthfully spilled. "I-it was Ellenor, Madam!"

"I see. Even after my warnings, some of you couldn’t seal your lips, huh?" Meris broke into laughter.

She curled her hands into a fist.

She dragged her fingers through her white hair and then stormed out of her room. She went downstairs. The head cook hurried after her, fearful of what she would do to Ellenor.

Inside the kitchen, Ellenor was alive. She sat on the floor next to the chair, her knees curled to her chest. Her body was shaking in dread.

"She will kill me. The madam will kill me. She will deal with my family."

The door slammed open.

She startled, and quickly lifted her head. "Madam!"

"So it was you." Meris looked towards the cooking gas. A kettle of boiling hot water was set atop it. "I made it clear to you that I’m neither nice nor generous, yet you still crossed me. You spilled my name. I mean, what if it had been Dante? Would you have told him that I asked you to poison his guest, hm?"

Ellenor quickly crawled towards her on her knees. She grabbed her leg and began to beg and sob profusely.

"Madam, please forgive me. I had no choice! I-I would have died if I didn’t speak—"

"Then you should have just died!" Meris kicked her away mercilessly. "Your life is worthless! Don’t you get that?!"

The other maids froze.

Ellenor went completely cold.

Meris advanced to the cooking gas. She grabbed the kettle and returned with a sweet smile on her face. "I should teach you a lesson so that next time, you and every one of you within this room will know your wretched place."

"Put out your hands," she ordered.

"M-madam." Ellenor trembled. "Madam... Please have mercy." She cried. "Please, forgive me. I’m sorry! I am so sorry, I beg you!"

"If you make me repeat myself again, I will hurt you more than this. Put out your hand!"

Ellenor glanced at the others. They signaled to her. "Do it!"

"Please..." she begged. "Please have mercy, Madam."

"Don’t test me!" Meris snapped, "Put out your hands, now!"