Chapter 61: Chapter 61

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

ROXANNE

The next day came, faster than expected and I was more than grateful for daylight. I had given myself jumpscared all through the night, with multiple imaginations. Every sound made me alert. I had no idea if Ryker came back to his bedroom because he wasn't at my side and the empty feeling gnawed at me.

Forcing myself out of bed, I pulled on my dress and draped a shawl around my shoulder. My eyes were swollen from crying but they didn't hurt. I guess the ice worked after all.

I walked to my room, which was still under investigation. Ryker wasn't there, but his Beta, Miles, was.

"Lady Roxanne, they need to ask you some questions," Beta Miles said gently, his eyes filled with concern. "But you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel up to it.”

"I can't say a word without Ryker," I replied, looking around for any sign of him. The room felt cold and uninviting without him.

"He's out investigating some things," Miles explained, his voice calm but serious.

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "It's okay. I'm fine," I insisted, trying to steady my nerves. "Let's proceed with the questioning.”

The security officials glared at me, their eyes cold and hard. "What was your relationship with Kara?" one of them asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

My eyes fixed on my open wardrobe, and I almost felt Kara's presence there, her lifeless body haunting me. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I hugged myself tightly, trying to block out the cold.

In an unsteady voice, I croaked out, "Kara was a worker in the pack house. We had a good relationship. We were friends. She was always there for me.”

I was trying my best not to cry but it was getting tough with each struggle. I blinked fast.

"And where were you when the murder happened?" another official pressed, his tone insistent.

"I was with the Alpha," I said, my heart pounding loudly. "I didn't know anything until I heard something dripping from my wardrobe. At first, I thought it was a leakage, but then I saw the blood seeping out.”

The image of Kara's lifeless body flashed before my eyes, and I began to hyperventilate. "I opened the wardrobe and found Kara's body there. The blood was fresh and warm like it had just happened.”

The officials jotted down notes, their expressions serious. "Do you suspect anyone?" one of them asked, his pen poised above his notebook.

I shook my head, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over me. "No one.”

"Why do you think the body was placed in your wardrobe?" another official inquired, his voice softening slightly.

“I don't know,” I whispered tentatively.

“What was your last conversation with Kara?” They demanded, eyeing me like I was some sort of suspect.

Actually, I was.

"We had an argument," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Kara said she knew who attacked me months ago but wouldn't tell me who it was. Maybe someone was trying to silence her.”

The officials took more notes, their faces grim. They told me I could go, and I nodded, leaving the room with tears streaming down my face.

Beta Miles came out and gently put a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Roxanne. Don’t let the pressure get to you," he said softly, his eyes kind.

“They don't believe me,” I muttered. “They think I did it. I saw the disbelief in their eyes.”

“Anyone would think that because the body was found in your wardrobe but we know you didn't. Stop crying, please. If the Alpha finds you like this, he would be mad at us.”

I nodded and wiped my tears away. “I'll be fine. You should go now.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded, “hurry.”

He sighed. “Let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. The pressure of the interrogation and the haunting memories of Kara's death rested heavily on my mind. I walked away, feeling a mix of fear and guilt.

I went downstairs to find out what was happening. The scene there was chaotic. Officials were questioning everyone, including all the workers and Fabiola, Kara's roommate. It was said they never got along when Kara was alive.

I was about to head back upstairs when my path was blocked by Selina. Her eyes were filled with rage, and before I could react, she grabbed me roughly and pushed me against the wall.

"You murderer!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I know you killed Kara!”

"No, I didn't," I sobbed, trying to pull away from her iron grip.

“So the body walked up there and placed itself in your wardrobe yeah?” She demanded.

“I don't know how,” I forced out, my voice strained.

She scoffed. “You never know. Perhaps when I murder you in cold blood you will remember how you killed her.”

People rushed to separate us, but Selina wouldn’t let go. She choked me by the throat, her grip tightening. "Leave! Things were better when you weren't here. Since you came to Red Moon, everything's been going wrong.”

Her words cut deep, and I struggled to breathe. The crowd finally managed to pull her away, but the damage was done. Her accusations echoed in my mind, and I felt the guilt and fear eat at me.

As I caught my breath, I realised that whoever killed Kara was not just trying to scare me—they were trying to destroy me.

"Selina, enough!" Beta Miles commanded, pulling her back forcefully. "This is not the way we handle things here.”

Selina glared at me, her eyes filled with hatred. "She needs to leave, Miles. She's a curse to this pack.”

Tears streamed down my face as I tried to catch my breath. The pressure on my throat had left a lingering pain, both physical and emotional. I felt like a pariah, blamed for something I had no control over.

Beta Miles turned to me, his expression softening. "Roxanne, are you okay?”

I nodded, even though I felt far from okay. "I just... I need some air," I managed to say, my voice hoarse from Selina's grip.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered. “She's just grieving,” he said.

I shook my head. “That's okay. She's your mate, please spend some time with her.”

Miles nodded, understanding. "Take your time. We’ll handle things here.”

I walked away from the crowd, feeling their stares on my back. I found a quiet spot outside and sat down, trying to gather my thoughts. The pack grounds, usually a place of solace, now felt like a hostile territory.

As I sat there, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig made my heart race. I knew that whoever had killed Kara and placed her body in my wardrobe was still out there roaming freely, leaving me as the suspect.

I couldn't be fooled. I wasn't stupid. I knew the killer must have tricked Kara into my room and murdered her. And they must have known she told me something. It couldn't be a coincidence.

***

Later that evening, I made my way back to Ryker’s room, feeling exhausted and drained. The day’s events had taken a toll on me, and I longed for some semblance of peace. When I entered the room, Ryker was waiting for me, his expression filled with concern.

He got on his feet and rushed to me. He placed his arms around me. “Holy goddess, I was worried sick that something had happened to you. Don't scare me like that again.”

“I'm sorry,” I whispered as he led me to the bed. I sank into it and sighed deeply.

Ryker watched me intently with red eyes. “You've been crying haven't you?”

I shook my head in denial. “No I haven't.”

“Roxanne,” he called my name softly and brushed the new tears away. I sniffled. “They were hard on you, weren't they?”

I smiled through tears. “They were just doing their jobs I guess…”

“That's ridiculous. Beta Miles told me everything. You shouldn't have done the interrogation without me.”

“It would make me more of a suspect,” I pointed out.

“How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “Selina thinks I killed Kara.”

Ryker's eyes widened in shock. “What? That’s absurd! Why would she think that?”

“Because she's Selina and she doesn't like me,” I whispered, blinking back tears.

Ryker kissed my burning forehead, “I'm sorry.”

“She said everything has gone wrong since I came here,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes again. “She said I’m a curse to the pack.”

Ryker shook his head, his expression fierce. “That’s not true, Roxanne. You are not a curse. Selina is just scared and looking for someone to blame. Don’t listen to her.”

I curled on the bed, feeling utterly defeated. “I don’t know what to do, Ryker. It feels like everyone is against me.”

He got in beside me and hugged me from behind. “They're all– we are all suspecting everyone but I know you can't kill kara. You liked her a lot.”

“Have you remembered anything else?” he asked gently.

I shook my head. “Just fragments. It’s all so jumbled and confusing.”

“Don't force it,” he said. “It will come naturally.”

“I can't suspect everyone here. They've been good to one another. I can't blame Selina if she feels that way about me. It's all so fast and weird.”

Ryker sighed. “Maybe that's why the murderer is framing you.”