Had I Really Become A Murderer?

••• Arabella’s POV ••• My eyes widened in disbelief and horror again. Kill her… Kill her baby?! How could it be?! I never meant to hurt her or her baby! Or did I? I admitted there was a fleeting moment when I wanted to kill her; that was why I pushed her against the wall, and she also fell to the floor after I released her from my hold. But it was only because I lost control and I didn't even know the reason why! And the force I exerted shouldn’t be enough to take the life of her baby, should it? I stared at my hand again, which now was trembling even more than before. Just what had I done… If her baby really died because of me... “Help! Help me!” Abigail cried out again. “Please don't hurt me and my baby, Bella!” I looked at her but couldn't even move an inch to help. I realized then that was her purpose for coming to my office all along - to set me up by risking the life of her baby. But how… How could she be so cruel to risk the life of her baby and maybe her life in the process just to frame me?! “What’s happening?” “Did they fight inside?” “Did you hear that woman say Princess Arabella is trying to kill her baby?” “Did Princess Arabella really try to kill her baby?” “That’s… diabolical!” “Could Princess Arabella really be that heartless?” There were so many staff members outside the office asking each other what was happening between Abigail and me. Then I saw the guards burst into my office, and the staff members outside looked at me with shock as they saw the horrifying scene of Abigail curled on the floor with blood flowing out of her body. “I…” I tried to explain, but no words could come out of my mouth. I felt like now it was my turn to choke. “Please… Don't kill my baby, Bella. I know it was my fault, but please don't kill my baby. The baby is innocent. Why did you have to hurt my baby… I have apologized to you for what happened between Shawn and me. We are in love with each other. Please forgive me…” Abigail kept begging at my feet with a pale face and tears streaming down her face, making her look very pitiful. I knew she was making it clear to everyone that I had tried to kill her baby and that everyone now saw me as a murderer. “Ari!” Iris yelled in my head, visibly angry, and urged, “Don't just stand there frozen like a freakin statue and an idiot! You have to defend yourself!” “But I…” “It wasn't our fault!” she cut me off. “This pretentious slut must have played a trick! I’m sure we are not the ones who make her bleed! We didn't use that much force when we slammed her against the wall! Strangling her wouldn't cause her to lose her baby!” I knew Iris might be right, but no matter what she said, no words of defense could be uttered from my mouth. And even if I knew this was all within Abigail’s evil plan, what could I say? I was the one who choked and slammed her to the wall. If I told everyone I didn't know why I lost control, they might think it was only an excuse or that I was to blame since I couldn't control my anger. Even if I told them it was because Abigail had bad-mouthed Max, it was still not enough reason to attack a weak and pregnant Omega. No matter what I said or explained, the situation was clearly not in my favor right now. “Quick, we have to save her!” Staff members rushed into the office, showing concern about Abigail’s condition. “We need to get her to the hospital.” One of the guards picked Abigail up in his arms, and they all rushed out of my office, no doubt to save Abigail. “Princess Arabella!” my assistant was the only one who stayed behind and helped me. “Marie…” I called out her name in a weak voice and realized every part of me was trembling. “Let me help you, Princess Arabella,” she said and helped me to my seat before going away and then came back with a glass of water in her hand. She offered the glass of water to me. “Drink this, Princess Arabella.” “Thank you, Marie…” I smiled gratefully at her. “Princess Arabella, I think you need to call Alpha Maximillian,” she told me with a worried look and handed me my phone. “This matter is not easy to deal with. I’m sure he will be able to provide you with a solution.” “Alright. You can go now, Marie,” I tried to smile at her again, though my lips were quivering. “But-” “I’m fine,” I assured her. “I’m going to call Alpha Maximillian now. You can go back to work.” She scrutinized me, and I tried my hardest not to show her how scared I was. “Okay. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything,” she said and left the room. After she left, I still sat in my seat without doing anything. “Ari…” Iris called my name worriedly as she saw how shaken I was by what had transpired until I couldn't do anything. “Please call Max. You need him…” she urged me. I looked at my phone in my trembling hand and hesitated to call Max. Everything that had just happened seemed so absurd. How could I kill her baby... Had I really become a murderer of an innocent baby? “We don't know anything yet, Ari,” Iris suddenly spoke and tried to comfort me. “Maybe they can be saved.” She was right. Maybe Abigail and her baby weren't harmed… Maybe she wouldn't miscarry. If that were the case, then I wouldn't be a murderer. But still… With how everything turned out, I’d still be crucified in the public eye for committing intentional harm. Even worse, I was the Alpha Princess. Mom and Dad would be hurt, too, because of what I did to Abigail. “Iris…” I felt myself going paler at the thought of hurting Mom and Dad. “Why… Why did I hurt Abigail to that extent? Why did I feel like killing her?” “I don't know, Ari. I’m sorry,” she was also disturbed by what had happened. “I really don't have an answer to that question.” I still couldn't wrap my mind around it. Why did I lose control? That question kept echoing in my mind. “Ari… Please call Max,” she urged me desperately again. “You need him now. Please…” Max… I felt suffocated at the mention of his name because I knew that Max would also be affected, and it bothered me even more. His reputation would be tarnished in the process as he would be dragged into this messy family rivalry between Shawn, Abigail, and me. “I… I can't call him, Iris,” I told her. “I can’t… He will be affected. I can't drag him down even more. It’s better if I handle this myself.” Now, I felt regretful to have suggested to Max that he should be my contractual mate. If I didn't eavesdrop on his conversation with Beta Jaxon that night… If I didn't brazenly ask him for a contractual marriage between us… “Please, Ari…” Iris begged me. “Please don't think that way. Max cares about you. He would want to be here for you. Please call him.” Suddenly, I felt a pair of strong arms hug me tightly from the side, and a familiar, comforting scent filled my nostrils. I looked sideways to see it was Max who had come and hugged me. His eyes were filled with worry and anger. I was surprised to see him in my office. Why did he come here? Did someone call him here? Did he know what had happened? What I had done to Abigail? Seeing the anger in his eyes, I suddenly felt even more afraid. I was scared I might have disappointed him. Was he angry with me because of what I did? A Luna shouldn't try to kill someone without reason, especially not a weak Omega who was carrying a baby. Was he angry because I had tarnished his reputation and the Silentmane Canines Pack because everyone knew I was his mate and their Luna? Was he angry because what I had might jeopardize his chance of getting the Alpha King title? He swiveled my chair so I faced him, and I shrank back in my seat. “Max, I…” I wanted to apologize to him, but much to my surprise, he took my face in his hands. “Are you hurt, Arra?” he asked me in a gentle voice.