Page 43 of In Bellamira's Chains

“Fuck.” I squeezed Hazelle to me. “That doesn’t give him the right—”

“I told him as much, but it complicates things. I don’t want to say thankfully… but his actions make it less complicated. You own her, and he went against you.” I didn’t give a single fuck what the laws said, even though they were in my favor. For that, I was extremely thankful. After his stunt, he sealed his fate.

“I have an idea I’d like to discuss with you about his punishment.” I opened my mouth, but he cut me off. “Not now. Take the time with Hazelle. Cat, Layne, and I will help you out of here whenever you decide to leave. I’m going to keep an eye on Bram until the authorities arrive. Perhaps I’ll tie him up and see what happens.” His grin was devilish. I had an inkling about his ideas for Bram, knowing a need Perrin could rarely have met, but for now, I would do as he said and focus on my pets.

“Thank you, Perrin. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You would have woken up, somehow been magically okay, and ripped his dick off before making him eat it.”

“Something like that.” We shared a knowing smile before he left the room.

“Do you want to be left alone, Bella?” Cat stepped closer, her silver pumps clacking against the hardwood. Her pastel dress was similar to mine, and I chuckled at how similar yet how different we are.

“No, not yet. If he tried anything else, I don’t think I’d be able to stop him alone just yet.”

“I’ll stay as long as you need me to.” She got a wet rag for Layne to brush against Elera’s forehead and fluffed their clothes.

“Why are you in Perrin’s shirt?” I pulled back enough to look down at Hazelle’s face.

She blushed a little and turned her face down. “Hetouched them. I didn’t want any of it on my body anymore, and Perrin offered. I trust him, so I said yes.”

Ihmmed and nodded. “I see. Well, I’m glad someone else has earned your trust. I wouldn’t blame you if I lost some of it tonight. I should have known it wasn’t the drinks.”

Hazelle sat up right and faced me. “No, I—” After a moment of silence, she collapsed back into my arms, shaking her head, refusing to speak.

“Tell me, my pet. I’m giving you this chance to speak freely. No consequences. No punishments. No fear of being sold.” She sighed and snuggled deeper, her words muffled but sharp daggers to my heart nonetheless.

“I trust you, Mistress Belle, but not the people you trust, not all of them, and that scares me.” I let her down and couldn’t keep my word. I had sworn to protect her and Elera, and they had both gotten hurt on my watch because I wasn’t careful enough. People slipped through the cracks, and I wasn’t enough of a monster to keep them at bay.

That changed now.

There was a sharp knock on the door, then Perry peeked in, meeting my gaze. “They’re here.

Are you ready?”

My eyes fell to Hazelle and Elera, and I realized a promise was nothing if I wasn’t everywhere at once, entirely indestructible, and infallible. Despite my ego screaming at me, I knew I wasn’t any of those things. I was just a person with a need to protect what was mine.

That didn’t always mean I’d be there to save them, but I’d listen to their cries and pleas, the person who wronged them would fall at my feet, and they’d get whatever they needed to heal, be it time, therapy, a rotation of bodyguards. It didn’t matter. I’d do what had to be done.

“Yes.” Standing, I placed Hazelle on the bed, holding her chin high so she could see my face. “I am going to leave you with Cat. I won’t be far enough away that your screams will not reach me.” The words “she will protect you” died on my lips. Hazelle had heard enough empty promises. I could never say that again. I could only try to keep them safe, and I hoped that was enough.

“Okay.” Hazelle’s bottom lip quivered before she leaned forward and kissed me. The small peck wasn’t enough, but she had had enough forced on her this evening.

I watched her crawl back to Elera who was still sound asleep with Layne caring for her.

“Cat, no one enters this room without Perry or me by their side.”

“Done. Go handle this and be thankful they won’t need to speak with your Beta or Omega.” Her voice was deeper than usual, betraying her calm demeanor. She was thinking what if this situation was reversed and her precious Layne was in Hazelle’s position. I hoped she never had to know how I felt. No one deserved this.

Perry escorted me to a room two doors down and left the door open, so we could hear anything happening with Hazelle and the others. With Bram in the room with us, I doubted anything else would happen, but he didn’t pull this off alone. His servants were in on it, following his command. I didn’t blame them and never would. But their trust and his was gone. The community would hear about this, and he’d be forever shamed.

On both sides of Bram, who was cuffed to a chair in the center of the room, was a police officer and to our left at the front of the room was a special officer, one who dealt with abused property. They weren’t always brought in as it was my right to enact justice however I saw fit, but for more heinous crimes as this one, everyone wanted it documented, ruining the Alpha’s life and ensuring their status, if any, was stripped away.

“Bellamira, I presume?” I nodded, and the special officer in dark wash jeans, boots, and a navy button up stepped toward me. He was on the shorter end of the Alpha height spectrum, and he was lean with high cheekbones, thin lips, and brooding eyes. His blond hair reflected the low light of the room. He was attractive in an interesting way but by no means the standard of handsome.

“Yes, Officer—?”

“Bardon. Walter Bardon, but most people call me Bard. The two over there are officers Gretten and Sachs.” They both waved in time with their introductions.