A bloodcurdling scream awoke me from a deep slumber. Sitting up, I ran to the window and looked out. I saw three men running towards the woods where I assumed the scream had come from. Seconds later, I saw one of the men with hands around a seamstress’s body leading her out of the woods. She was crying and letting her tears fall freely. Turning to the room, I removed my nightdress and put on my maid uniform. Passing by the bathroom, I washed my face. There was no time for anything else.
A crowd had gathered under the rows of trees. They were looking at something at the centre of the circle they had formed.
“What’s going on?” I asked a man wearing a red shirt.
“See for yourself,” he said, stepping aside. I went forward only to fall to the ground a few seconds later.
When I came to, I was in my room and Maryanne was pacing about.
“Tell me he’s not dead,” I said.
Maryanne turned. “He is, unfortunately. Someone said they saw you leaving the building at night and I was informed to take you to Dane when you became conscious. What did you do to that man, Cilla?”
“I swear I didn’t do anything. I met up with him at night but there was someone else there. When we realised, he told me to return. Maryanne, someone killed him.”
“Even if I believe you, it won’t help. You have to convince Dane, otherwise you are done for. Get up and we go. I have a lot of things to do today.”
I got up from the bed and followed her. My whole body was shaking and my knees weakened as I walked, staggering occasionally. I had witnessed only a fraction of what Dane was capable of. Knowing there was more ways he could harm me other than what I had seen freaked me out.
I contemplated jumping over the fence and running away, but I knew there was more security along the pack’s borders. Running would make it seem like I was guilty and would make my punishment a hundred times worse.
Dane’s office was at the back of the men’s building. It was very small, looked more like a store than anything else. He was standing behind his desk inspecting some papers on the desk top. He looked up when he saw me.
“You can leave,” he told Maryanne. I heard her let out a sigh and leave in the speed of lighting, leaving me in the lion’s den.
“Good morning, master.” I said, going down on my knees.
“Remain standing,” he said.
“What did you do to Kyle?” He asked, giving me a hard look. The man seemed to be made of stone.
“Nothing,” I shook my head. “We agreed to meet up under the trees at nine.”
“For what?”
“To talk.”
He stepped forward. “You’re lying. I hate liars.”
“I’m sorry, we wanted to make out.”
“Do you know that’s against the rules? Did Letty tell you or not?”
“She did, si- master.”
“So you decided to break the rules,” he said, lifting my chin. “How many rules did you break by going there at that time?”
“Two rules, master.”
“What rules are those?”
“Do not have physical and romantic relationships and do not leave the quarters after 8:30 pm.”
“Continue with the story.”
“We were making out when Kyle heard something. We thought it was a person so he told me to leave so he could check it out. I implored him to leave as well but he said no. So I left and got into bed. I was awoken by the scream from the person who discovered the body.”
“Are you telling the truth?”
“Yes.”
“So if it wasn’t you, who do you think killed him and why?”
“I have no idea. I have only known him for three days.”
“But you broke two rules for him,” he chuckled. More like he broke two rules for me. “I can sense that you are being truthful but I’m going to punish you for breaking the rules as I continue with the investigations.”
Punishment from Dane meant going to the red room. The memories of that place sent chills down my spine. “Please don’t take me to the red room.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t about to but it seems that’s what you want to go there so follow me to the red room.”
Why would someone kill Kyle? He was a happy-go-lucky guy who seemed to get along with everybody. I had never seen him argue or fight like most of the other men at the quarters. He had been sold from his pack at a young age when his parents died. Their alpha had needed money to pay off huge debts so he decided to sell off orphans to make some money. Kyle had been one of them. Given his story, it was unlikely that an enemy from the past had taken him down.
He had not even found his mate so I couldn’t pin point anyone who would have a grudge against him. Except, of course. Alpha Ridian.
“Noo,” I murmured when I realised my plan may have worked, a little too well. Could it be that alpha had sensed it and sent someone to check and kill the male involved? Could it be that my recklessness had caused the death of an innocent man who just wanted to have a good time?
My heart started to feel heavy as we entered the building. I was starting to believe I had actually killed Kyle. If he died because of me, that was it. I may not have pushed the knife through his chest but my actions had led to his death. If he had known that I was mated to the alpha king, he would have never touched me.
Dane threw me a dirty glance when I started crying but said nothing. He continued walking until we reached the basement door. I was barely walking but dragging myself forward. He opened the door and I fell face flat onto the infamous red room.
“Bvtch,” Dane said before locking the door.
I prepared myself for pain.