Chapter 24: Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

RYKER

“I swear if she dies, I will rip your brain out with my bare hands,” I warned, anger rising in my voice.

“I'm sorry Alpha,” Kara sobbed as she fell on her knees before me.“I didn't know she was suicidal.”

I slammed my hand on my table, furious at her excuses. “Do not tell me that kara! You didn't know she was suicidal but you did know she wasn't getting any better didn't you?”

She went pale in the face as tears streamed down her face. “I was going to tell you.”

“When she dies, yeah? You were relaxed about it. Since when did you make the decisions here?” I demanded.

“I… I…” she stuttered, “I can't save her Alpha. She's not getting any better.”

I pushed back my hair from my face, anger boiling in my veins. I hadn't expected Roxanne to attempt suicide. What If I had come in a little late? I would have found her dead.

How would I live with myself? My wolf would never forgive me and this was all my fault. I had been very hard on her ever since she came here. But now wasn't the time to cry over spilt milk. All I could do was hope that she survived this.

I had no intention of killing her. At least not yet. All I wanted was to teach her a lesson but the guards may have gone too hard on her. I was stupefied when I saw the state of her wounds. She was fucking rotting. There were maggots all over and this wretched healer had said she “wanted to.”

How long was wanted? The day when I'd find Roxanne dead on the cold bed?

“Guards,” I bellowed in frustration.

They rushed in, five of them. “Lock her up and do not let her out until I say so. She's to be without food and water. If anyone sneaks food in then their fate would be worse than that of the outcast.”

“Alpha please,” Kara pleaded as she clung to my feet.

“Woman,” I growled. “Im already doing enough to stop myself from cracking your skull open with my boots. Do not let me think it over.”

The guards dragged her away and I slammed the door behind them to drown out her noises. Moon goddess please keep her for me. Do not let me lose her.

I never knew how much of a responsibility and protectiveness I had over Roxanne until today. I couldn't relax. I just kept pacing my office waiting for the lab results.

I was baffled as to why Roxanne was dying while still alive. I knew wolfsbane had effects but it never made anyone rot. Rather it made them hurt and dry up. Something was amiss and if Kara was at fault I was going to murder her in cold blood.

I never joked when it came to my pack. I was the warrior Alpha and I wasn't going to sit back and watch someone put my mate through hell.

There was a gentle knock and my Beta. Miles, walked in.

“Alpha, Blue Moon Alpha sends a letter. He says—”

“Get out!” I yelled. “I don't care about the blue moon or whatever information they have.”

“But…”

“Do not even test my patience, Beta,” I warned through gritted teeth.

I was sure if my anger was fire, it would have brought down the whole building.

“I'm sorry Alpha,” He started.

“Do not make me repeat myself,” I said.

Miles nodded, bowed and slowly left the room. Everything and everyone infuriated me.

Another knock came on the door and I silently prayed it was the news I was waiting for being delivered. The door slowly opened and the sound of stiletto against the mahogany floorboard made me know who it was without turning around.

“You should calm your balls down brother,” she said, hand on her hip.

I clenched my fists, “You know your presence is beginning to irk me right?”

She furrowed her brows.“I could care less. Why do you make one girl have so much effect on your whole being?” She asked.

I glared hard at her, “How much are you paying Miles to put up with you exactly?”

She pouted. “You know nothing about mating brother.”

“Selina get out!”

“No,” she retorted.

“Then teach your brain to work as fast as your mouth,” I lashed.

She recoiled, her expression hurt.

“I'm the older one here, Ryker Wade! Even if you're the Alpha then you have to respect me.”

I snickered.

“Then act like the older one sis. It's not that hard. I don't need a lecture from you or anybody. Whenever I'm in a bad mood just keep your mouth shut. It helps make the situation better.”

She gasped. “That girl isn't even family. Just some outcast you brought into this place for God knows what.”

“I'm not having this conversation with you,” I concluded, my mind made up.

It was a roller-coaster arguing with a woman. Mostly Selina. She would drift from the main topic and gaslight you into believing you were the villain.

“Just apologise,” she said.

I reached for my bottle of wine and brought it to my lips, ignoring my sister's voice. I hated how she nagged. She pissed me off all the time and she never brought a solution. She only made things worse. I was fed up.

“If I knew you'd be this cold because of some stranger girl, I would never have returned here.”

“What's stopping you? Go back. No one asked you to return, Selina.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.“I hate you.”

I was about to respond to her when I heard a knock at my door.

“Come in,” I called.

The knob slowly opened and the pack's Physician walked in. Selina and I exchanged a knowing look and she stormed out of my office.

“What's the situation now?” I asked in a deep and steadfast voice.

“We were able to suture the stab so in weeks she should be good as new,” He announced, locking eyes with me.

Relied flowed freely and I felt the apprehension dissipate. What a great day to be alive.

“But there's something else, Alpha.”

Whenever there was a but, I knew the next words were never going to be nice.

“What's that?”

“She may not live for long.”

***

KARA

I watched my back as I crept down the stairs. I couldn't be caught sneaking out to collect letters. I pulled the hoof of my cloak over my head and stepped out.

Ever since the incident with Roxanne, the guards have been spying on me for the Alpha. I had recently been let out of the dungeon and God how I hated that place. It made me wonder how Roxanne had survived. I couldn't last a month being confined there and starved. I would die. Thankfully it was only weeks and I heard she was getting better.

The lab results proved that Roxanne was suffering from food poisoning which left me as a suspect because I was the one who took her food to her. That was the reason why she was rotting and the medicines couldn't work. So it only made her worse.

The Alpha had me beaten up and didn't hear me out. I could never hurt Roxanne. I liked her and she had never done anything wrong to me.

Why would I want to take her life?

Everyone was being careful of me now. They barely collected things from me and only a few people spoke to me. The only person who would be in my defence was Roxanne but I wasn't allowed to see her either. If I had wanted to hurt her it would be the very first day she was brought to the red moon and I was asked to treat her.

“This is your parcel ma'am,” the man said as he handed them to me.

“Thank you,” I murmured and covered the parcel with my cloak. I glanced around me in a hurry and rushed in but my path was blocked by someome— Fabiola. My nosy roommate.

“What are you doing out?” She demanded, her parrot-like eyes piercing into mine.

I shrugged, “Receiving the Alpha’s parcel,” I said, showing her the box.

“Since when did you take the Alpha’s parcel? Isn't that the duty of the guards?” She inquired, eyeing me suspiciously.

I shrugged and tried to walk past her but she blocked my way again.

“What do you want?” I demanded in anger and fear as I glanced around, scared that I would get caught.

“The truth.”

“Fabiola, learn to keep your nose from people's business,” I spat, “That is the reason why it gets bigger.”

I brushed past her and raced all the way up the stairs to my bedroom. I locked the door behind me and placed the parcel on the floor. I ravaged my chest for my pocket knife and tore the box open.

I dug through the package and stopped till I found the one thing I was looking for. The letter with a peppermint insignia on the envelope. I took it out and hid it in my hideaway then pushed the parcel under my bed.

I was about to relax when I heard someone pounding at the door. I groaned and sluggishly forced myself to the door. I unlocked it and saw the cook, Ma Artemis.

“Hi ma,” I said, smiling sweetly.

She smiled at me. She was still one of the people who believed in me and knew I would never hurt anyone.

“I've made lady Roxanne's tea and it's in the kitchen. Help me give it to Chantel, she's the one who would help give it to her.”

“Won't I get into trouble ma? I've been stopped from doing that,” I reminded.

She shook her head, “No my dear child.”

Reluctantly I went down to the kitchen. My heart pounded loudly in my chest in fear that something bad could happen.

I was about to enter when I saw Selina sneak into the kitchen. I slowly hid in the dark. Why was she sneaking to enter the kitchen? What did she want to do?

I saw her take out some pills and put in the tea. The same tea that I was to take to Roxanne. She stirred it quickly and crept out of the kitchen.

My heart sank as it dawned on me.

Selina was the culprit.