Chapter 62: Chapter 62

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

RYKER

I was woken up by a knock at my door early in the morning. Careful not to wake Roxanne, who was still asleep beside me, I slipped out of bed and padded softly to the door. My Beta, Miles, stood there, his expression serious but tinged with excitement.

"The murderer has been found, Alpha. We have evidence," Miles announced quietly.

Relief and excitement surged through me. "Tell the officials I'll be down shortly. I need to get dressed.”

As Miles nodded and left, I turned back to the bed, gently shaking Roxanne's shoulder. "Roxanne, wake up. They've found the murderer," I said softly.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she rubbed them groggily. "What? Are you serious?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.

"It looks like they have solid evidence. Get dressed; we need to go downstairs," I urged.

Her eyes widened as the news sank in. Her heart leapt for joy at the thought of finally seeing the person who had ruined her life and brought misfortune to the pack. Anger flared in her eyes as she thought about the ordeal she had been through. She threw on the first clothes she found and hurried down the stairs with me. I had to hold her carefully to prevent her from stumbling in her haste.

When we reached the main hall, we found the officials and several pack members gathered. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation. I scanned the room but saw no suspect, only the officials holding a small bag. A sigh escaped her lips as she tried to hide her disappointment.

They bowed respectfully as I approached.

"Is this the evidence?" I asked, nodding toward the bag.

"Yes, Alpha," one of the officials replied, handing it over.

I glanced at Roxanne, who nodded and urged me on. I opened the bag carefully and pulled out a letter covered in bloodstains. As I read it, my heart sank.

"I have considered everything you said and I don't blame you for it. I can't trust you anymore even though I try to. Meet me in my room. I just want the truth and we can go our different ways. Xoxo, R.”

Roxanne's heart pounded loudly in her chest. She felt as though she was going to die. "No, impossible. It's not me," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

I stared at the letter, recognizing Roxanne's handwriting. I was confused. Roxanne had often helped me with office work, and I knew her writing and signature well. But it wasn't enough proof on its own, as I had seen my own writing and initials forged before.

The officials moved quickly, seizing Roxanne. "Wait," I said, still going through the bag. I pulled out a necklace covered in blood—the same necklace I had confiscated from Roxanne.

"It was found tangled in the deceased's hair during the inspection," one of the officials explained. "Do you recognize this necklace?”

I swallowed hard and looked at Roxanne. She shook her head vigorously. "I swear I didn't take it, Alpha. You seized it, remember?”

I nodded slowly. "Then how did it get there?”

"I have no idea! Someone's trying to frame me!" Roxanne cried, tears streaming down her face.

The last item I pulled from the bag was a hammer.

"Any idea who this belongs to?" the officials asked.

Roxanne's face turned pale. "It's mine," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

Gasps echoed around the room. Selina, standing among the crowd, began yelling. "I knew it! I knew Roxanne was the murderer all along!”

Whispers spread like wildfire through the pack members, and Roxanne sobbed loudly, looking shocked and exhausted.

"Why do you even have a hammer in the first place?" I demanded, my voice cold.

"It's not what you think," Roxanne protested. "I wanted to fix the hinges of my door. They were coming off, so I got a hammer and must have forgotten about it.”

"It's covered in the deceased's blood," an official stated. "And the checkup on Kara revealed her head was cracked open with this very hammer.”

I felt a mix of confusion and anger. I wanted to believe Roxanne, but the evidence was damning. "Take her to the dungeon," I ordered, my voice heavy with regret.

***

ROXANNE

As I was dragged to the dungeon, I couldn't believe what was happening. Ryker didn't believe me, and the accusing fingers pointed at me from every direction were unbearable. I was thrown into the very cell I had often been confined to, the cold, damp walls closing in on me.

I sat on the bed, turning my back to the people taunting me from outside the cell. The jeers and accusations felt like knives, but I was too sad to cry. I had hoped the news of finding the murderer would bring relief, but it only made me more miserable. I wondered how the killer had gotten their hands on my belongings.

"Anyone would go to any length to destroy someone," I muttered bitterly to myself. But deep down, I knew Ryker knew I didn't do it. It was a case of murder, so I had to be locked up until enough proof could clear my name.

I lay on the bed, trying to connect the dots. On the day I had been attacked, I had received a letter in Ryker's handwriting and initials. And now, Kara had gotten a letter in my writing before her death. It could only mean that the murderer was using our own belongings against us. The killer could have easily tricked Kara the same way they had tricked me.

"But what am I missing?" I wondered aloud. I sat up, pondering the events. If Ryker hadn’t written the letter to me, then who had? How did Fabiola come by the letter she had given to me?

Suddenly, it clicked. "Fabiola," I gasped. "It was Fabiola all along.”

***

RYKER

I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over me. I had seen Roxanne's genuine shock and despair, and while the evidence pointed to her, something didn't add up. As I paced in my office, my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," I called.

Miles entered, looking concerned. "Alpha, are you sure about this? Roxanne doesn't seem like the type.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know, Miles. But the evidence... it's overwhelming.”

Miles nodded. "I understand. But sometimes things aren't what they seem. Maybe we should look deeper.”

I paused, considering Miles' words. "You're right. There's something off about this whole situation.”

“The time period was too short for it to be Roxanne. You went hiking yeah and when you get back, suddenly Kara is dead and in her wardrobe. You needed to see how scared she was. I was bringing the books to her when I saw she hastily placed a blanket on something. I knew something was off, with the way her hands trembled then I saw the blood.”

“And then, she called for me,” I whispered, trying to piece everything together.

“You're right. And at that time, she hadn't taken off her clothes. It's just really weird.”

It was at that point someone knocked on the door. "Come in," I said, expecting a routine report.

Xeus, one of my trusted guards, stepped in and bowed. "Alpha, the girl in the dungeon has requested your presence."

I nodded and dismissed him, turning to Miles. "Beta, take care of things for a while," I instructed.

Descending into the dungeon, I felt a mix of happiness and concern. I wanted to see Roxanne and understand what she had to say.

I found her sitting on the bed, seemingly lost in thought. "Roxanne," I called softly.

She didn't hear me. I tried again, louder this time. Slowly, she turned her head to face me. Her look was fierce, devoid of any smile. She crawled out of bed and approached the bars.

"Hey," I said, squeezing her hands gently between the cold metal.

She cracked a small smile. "You know I didn't do it, don't you? What kind of person would hurt someone and leave clues around?"

I whispered back, "I know you didn't do it, but you have to stay here until we figure out who did."

Roxanne leaned in closer. "I just remembered something.”

"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"On the night of the attack, when I said I received a letter in your name, it was Fabiola who delivered it."

My eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place. "Whoever gave Fabiola the letter might also be the one who forged a letter in your writing.”

She nodded, “perhaps.”

"I'll look into it,” I assured.

“I know you will,” she said and beamed, warming my heart.

“Rest and eat. You’ll be out of here soon," I reassured her. She smiled and nodded.

Back in my office, I pondered her words. Roxanne was right. I would have suspected Selina; she had forged my writing once. But how could she forge Roxanne's? Selina had just been released, and she didn't like Roxanne.

I called for Beta Miles. He bowed, “Yes Alpha, do you need my assistance with anything?”

"Send for Fabiola.”

When Fabiola arrived, she looked weary and exhausted. She bowed and I gestured for her to sit.

She sat down, head bent, unable to meet my eyes.

I went straight to the point. "Fabiola, on the night Roxanne was attacked, who gave you the letter you delivered to her?"