CHAPTER 117: 117 _STEP OUT

117

~Lisa’s POV

I was still feeling the sting on my palm from where I’d slapped Bella. It wasn’t something I normally did, and honestly, it didn’t sit right in my chest either. But the look she had given me... the tone she used earlier... I just knew if I didn’t put her in her place, she might get bold enough to cause real trouble.

Bella’s eyes went wide in shock first, but the shock was quickly replaced with pure anger.

"You dare..." she started, stepping closer to me like she was ready to throw her slap back at me.

"Don’t you dare," I snapped, my voice shaking but sharp. "You lay a hand on me and I will tell Damon everything."

Her hand froze mid-air, her nostrils flaring. I could feel my heart racing, but I kept my chin high.

I forced myself to sound steady. "I know this might seem strange to you. Honestly, it feels strange to me, too, but I have no choice. If I let you and that guard keep disrespecting me, the next thing I know, you’ll be ganging up against me. And I’m not going to let that happen."

Bella’s jaw tightened, and before I could step back, she grabbed me by my clothes, her fingers digging into the fabric.

"You think you can talk to me like that just because of Alpha Damon?" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. The air between us felt heavy, suffocating, and I could feel the heat of her rage radiating from her body.

Her fingers tightened on the front of my clothes, pulling me a fraction closer until I could see the fine lines of fury etched around her eyes. My breath hitched. My instinct was to look away, but I forced myself to meet her gaze even though every nerve in me screamed to retreat. My pulse was a drumbeat in my ears, each thud matching the flare of her nostrils as she glared at me.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. The knot in my throat made it almost painful to speak. "Bella..." The word barely left my lips before she jerked me forward again, just enough to make my balance shift. My knees locked so I wouldn’t stumble.

The moment stretched, but before I could finish whatever desperate explanation I might have offered, the guard moved closer to us.

His eyes flicked from Bella’s hand clenched in my clothes to my face, then back to hers. I saw the calculation in his gaze, the way he took in every detail without a word.

"Let go of her," he said.

Bella didn’t move. Her jaw tightened. Her grip on me didn’t slacken. "She..." she began, her voice sharp and defensive, but she didn’t get the chance to finish.

"Let. Go." He repeated the words.

Something in Bella’s eyes shifted. Anger still burned there, but beneath it, a flicker of hesitation appeared. Her fingers loosened, sliding off my clothes in a slow, reluctant motion. The sudden absence of her grip left me feeling unsteady, as if the floor had shifted.

She stepped back, her movements tight and controlled, as if letting go was more painful for her than holding on. Her eyes, however, never left mine. The glare she sent me was sharp enough to cut, her gaze so intense it felt like she was trying to brand her hatred into my skin.

The guard looked between us, his voice calm but cold. "Enough. Both of you. You know what happens if Damon hears about this."

Bella looked away, folding her arms, still breathing heavily.

The guard then turned his attention to me. "It seems you’re fine now," he said, his eyes scanning me. "We’ll give you a day to rest, but after that, we’re going back to the palace."

I frowned. "Just a day? I still don’t feel..."

"We can’t be taking care of a human for longer than necessary," he interrupted.

Bella let out a quiet scoff, but she didn’t say anything else.

I folded my arms, trying to keep my voice even. "And what if I’m still not ready to leave by tomorrow?"

The guard shrugged slightly. "Then you’ll have to be. Those are the instructions."

I wanted to argue, but I could see from his face that it would be pointless.

Bella muttered under her breath, "She’s fine enough to slap people, but not fine enough to return to work."

I shot her a sharp glare. "If you have something to say to me, say it to my face."

Bella’s head snapped toward me. "Oh, believe me, I will..."

The guard raised his hand slightly. "Enough, Bella." His tone made it clear he wasn’t going to repeat himself again.

She pressed her lips together tightly and turned away, clearly fuming.

The guard shifted toward the door. "You have the day. Rest, or don’t. Tomorrow morning, we leave."

When he left, the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Bella stayed on the other side of the room, pretending to tidy a corner that didn’t need tidying, but I could feel her eyes on me every few seconds.

I sat down slowly, my hands clenched in my lap. My mind was still replaying the moment I slapped her, the way her face had changed from surprise to fury. I hated that it had come to that, but I also knew if I hadn’t stood my ground, things would’ve been worse.

I didn’t expect her to speak first, but she did.

"You think you’re clever, don’t you?" Bella’s voice was low, but the edge in it was unmistakable.

"I think I’m trying to survive," I replied, not looking at her.

She laughed bitterly. "Survive? You’ve been treated better than most people in your position ever would. And still, you act like you’re above us."

I turned to her. "Above you? No. But I’m not below you either. And if you think I’m going to sit here and let you treat me like dirt again, you’re wrong."

Her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn’t last a day without Alpha Damon protecting you."

"Maybe not," I admitted. "But as long as he does, you’ll think twice before you cross me again."

Bella’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "You think Alpha Damon’s protection will last forever? "

I tilted my head. "Maybe I don’t. But I know enough to make sure he hears the truth if you step out of line."

For a moment, we just stared at each other, neither of us willing to back down. Then she looked away, muttering something I couldn’t quite catch.