Avenging Luna
Chapter 32: The Evidence

Chapter 32: The Evidence

Leila’s POV:

Night had fallen, casting long shadows over the packhouse. The air felt heavy, as if the very walls were closing in on me. I sat on the edge of the bed in the room that Drake and I once shared, my hands trembling as I wiped away the last of my tears. How had it come to this? How had I gone from feeling safe in my mate’s arms to being treated like an outcast, accused of trying to kill an innocent child?

I heard footsteps outside the door, my heart skipping a beat. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this. I hadn’t seen Drake since Lucas had locked me in here, and the thought of facing him again filled me with dread. Would he even listen to me? Would he even care?

The door creaked open slowly, and Drake stepped inside. His presence filled the room, his broad shoulders hunched with tension. For a moment, our eyes met, and I saw the pain in his gaze, the doubt that lingered between us like an insurmountable wall.

"Drake," I croaked, my voice hoarse from all the crying. My throat felt dry, raw from the emotion that had overwhelmed me since the incident. "I didn’t do it."

He stood there, his fists clenched, jaw tight. "Leila, I saw you," he said, his voice low and hard. There was an edge of frustration to it, a tightness that made my stomach twist with fear and heartbreak.

I shook my head, desperately wanting him to see the truth. "No, Drake, you saw what she wanted you to see. Lily is playing you. She’s manipulating you. I swear on everything, I didn’t push her. I would never hurt her—or your child."

He flinched, doubt flashing across his face. But I could see the conflict in his eyes. His heart wanted to believe me, but his mind was clouded by what he had seen. "Then explain it to me," he said, softer this time. "Why didn’t you defend yourself? Why didn’t you say anything when I asked you?"

I looked down, swallowing hard, feeling the familiar weight of helplessness settle in my chest. How could I explain that I had felt cornered, that I had felt so certain he wouldn’t believe me, no matter what I said?

"Because," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes again, "I knew you wouldn’t believe me." I finally looked back at him, my voice breaking. "You’ve always protected her, Drake. I could see it in your eyes—you were ready to believe the worst of me. No matter what I said, it wouldn’t have made a difference."

A painful silence followed my words. Drake’s gaze softened, and I could tell he was struggling. He had always been my protector, my anchor, and now he was torn between his loyalty to me and his duty as a father. I saw it in the way his expression shifted, how his hands unclenched at his sides. But the doubt still lingered, and that was what broke me the most.

"I’ve never doubted you before," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "But this... this is different. You have to understand that."

I nodded, even though it felt like shards of glass were piercing my chest. I understood, but that didn’t make it any easier. "I’m sorry that you’re in this position, Drake," I said softly. "But I need you to trust me. I didn’t do this. I don’t know how to prove it, but I swear to you, I’m telling the truth."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a sadness that made me want to reach out and hold him, but I stayed where I was. There was too much between us now. Too many unspoken fears, too many broken promises.

"I’ll find out the truth," he finally said, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "And if you’re innocent, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right." He paused, glancing down at the floor before looking back at me. "But until then, I need you to stay here. I have to protect my child."

The words cut deep, each one a reminder of the chasm that had opened up between us. He didn’t trust me. He didn’t believe me. And despite everything we had been through, I was now just another threat to him—someone to be kept at arm’s length.

I nodded, not because I agreed, but because I had no fight left in me. "Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I couldn’t argue anymore. I couldn’t keep pleading my innocence when every word seemed to fall on deaf ears.

He lingered in the doorway for a moment longer, as if he wanted to say something more, but then he turned and left, closing the door behind him. I waited for the click of the lock, but it never came.

I stared at the closed door, my mind racing. The weight of his absence settled over me, suffocating and cold. The person I loved more than anything had just walked away, leaving me with nothing but the echoes of doubt.

As the minutes ticked by, I couldn’t help but wonder how things had gone so wrong. How had we ended up here, with him questioning my every word and me sitting in silence, too scared to speak up? I thought back to the days when we were so sure of each other, when nothing could shake the bond we had built.

But now, I wasn’t so sure. And that terrified me more than anything else.

The door clicked softly as Drake left, the silence in the room echoing in my ears. He hadn’t locked me in, a small mercy after everything. But I couldn’t sit here and wait for things to get worse. I had to prove my innocence, even if it meant doing it alone. No one was going to fight for me, and I couldn’t let Lily win with her lies.

Steeling myself, I slipped out of the room and crept down the stairs. The packhouse was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. The moonlight cast long shadows through the windows, heightening my tension. My heart pounded as I made my way toward Lily’s room. I knocked softly, praying she was still awake.

"Come in," her voice called, and I pushed the door open.

Lily was lounging on the bed, her face a picture of serenity. But the moment she saw me, her expression shifted. The fake innocence melted away, replaced by a wicked smirk that sent a chill down my spine.

"Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "Look who decided to show up. Thought you’d be locked away by now."

I clenched my fists, trying to hold my emotions in check. I had to be smart about this. "Why did you accuse me of pushing you, Lily? Why did you oil the stairs?" I asked, keeping my voice calm, even as anger bubbled beneath the surface. What she didn’t know was that I had my phone hidden in my pocket, recording every word.

She laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "Silly goose, I needed attention. So, I oiled the stairs myself. The fall was staged, of course. I couldn’t afford to lose the baby; after all, he’s my golden ticket to becoming Luna." Her laughter echoed in the room, her voice full of triumph. "And that porch incident? Pure luck. I was aiming for Nelly, but the Goddess favored me that day when Drake showed up instead. Now look at him—he’s practically eating out of my hand!"

I bit my lip to keep from screaming, holding back my rage as she continued to boast about her schemes. "You’re not even marked," she sneered. "Can’t you see? He doesn’t love you. He never will. I’m the one who will stand by his side as Luna."

Her words cut deep, but I kept my face neutral, listening as she babbled on about her plans. My chest tightened, every cruel word she said twisting the knife deeper. But I needed her to keep talking. I needed every bit of evidence I could get.

Just as she was about to continue, I heard footsteps approaching from outside the room. Panic flared in my chest as the door creaked open, and like clockwork, Lily’s demeanor shifted in an instant.

Her wicked grin vanished, replaced by a look of terror. She clutched her belly, her face contorted in a perfect mask of fear. "Please, Leila, don’t hurt me!" she cried out, her voice trembling. "Think of the baby!"

I stood there, frozen, unable to believe the performance unfolding before my eyes. And just like that, Drake came bursting into the room, his eyes wild with fury. He pushed me aside, rushing to Lily’s side as she continued her pathetic charade, clinging to him as if she was the victim.

"What the hell?" Drake roared, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me. "Leila!"

"She was trying to hurt me again!" Lily sobbed, clutching at Drake like he was her lifeline. "I told you... she wants to kill the baby."

I could barely breathe as I stared at them, the weight of his accusation settling on my chest like a stone. "Drake, I—" I started, but he cut me off before I could say another word.

"How the hell did you get out of the room?" he demanded, his voice seething with rage. "And why? Why would you do this again?"

I opened my mouth, desperate to explain, to tell him the truth about what Lily had just confessed. But the words wouldn’t come. The doubt in his eyes shattered me, and the crushing realization that he didn’t trust me hit me like a tidal wave.

"I trusted you, Leila," he spat, his voice trembling with emotion. "But I can’t keep doing this. I can’t risk their lives because of you."

I stood there, paralyzed by the pain of his words. He didn’t even give me a chance. He had already made up his mind—Lily’s lies had poisoned him against me.

A few moments later, Lucas appeared in the doorway, his face grim as he took in the scene. He looked at me with a mix of confusion and pity, as if he couldn’t understand how things had come to this.

"Take her," Drake ordered, his voice cold and resolute. "And this time, make sure she doesn’t get out."

Lucas hesitated, glancing at me with a pained expression, but he obeyed. He took hold of my arm, and I didn’t resist. There was no point. The numbness had already settled in, drowning out any fight I had left. As Lucas led me away, the door closed behind us with a heavy thud, sealing my fate.

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