*Keera*
I sighed, wrapping the towel in my hand around my head and drying my hair after a refreshing shower. I already had a shower in the morning and despite the fact that it was only just noon and I’d been in my room all day, I’d been tempted to take another one after spending so many hours lost in my own thoughts. My chest still ached from Grayson’s betrayal. I’d been trying so hard not to keep whatever we discovered about the case from him, and all those times he’d been keeping the mother load of all secrets from me.
How had he been been able to look me in the eye?
How he been able to touch me, hold me, taste me, knowing he was holding back something that would certainly change everything? Why had he decided to trick me? First Ginny and now him? Why did they always keep things from me? I worried my lip between my teeth, feeling a hot lump form in my throat as old wounds reopened. I couldn’t help but feel used.
Everything I had thought I’d known about him had been a lie. He didn’t trust me with something so important, why would he trust me with anything else? Here I was thinking we had finally let go of the past and gotten to know one another from scratch, and all these times, our relationship had been built on a lie. It didn’t matter that it had been a lie by omission. A lie was still a lie. I couldn’t fathom why he’d managed to keep the secret for so long, even knowing why my relationship with his sister had ended.
Had our relationship been that meaningless that he’d been willing to take the risk?
A knock sounded on my door, breaking me free from my thoughts. Before I even said a word, the door got pushed open and Ria walked in. I reared back in surprise. Not only had I not been expecting her, the look of fury on her face threw me off. I gazed over her shoulder at the door, slanting an annoyed look in her direction. “I don’t remember asking you to come in.” I said, folding the towel I was holding and draping it on my dresser chair.
She stopped a few inches away from me, folding her hands across her chest. Her black hair was in a messy bun and the persistent tapping of her feet showed her impatience. “I also don’t remember why you’re still here. On pack grounds.” She shot back. Ahh, this was one of those fights. Her expression twisted in frustration when I only shot her a dry look. “Why won’t you just leave?” She demanded, her voice shrill. “The case is over, the killer has been caught, why can’t you just go back home and take care of your wounds there?”
I raised an eyebrow, tired of Ria’s nonsense. “What’s really bothering you, Ria?” I asked, my tone even. “You’re not concerned about my well-being. What’s eating away at you?” Her eyes flashed, but I pressed on, knowing this was about Grayson and her tantrums were because she felt threatened by my presence. “Why so insecure?” I taunted, crossing my arms to mirror her pose. “You’re so sure you and Grayson are meant to be together, right? So why are you so afraid he won’t end up with you?”
Her face turned red and her hands clenched into fists. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” She spat. I could feel her anger boiling over. “You have no idea what’s going on here.” Her voice trembled, and for a moment, I thought she’d break down, but then something snapped. Her expression contorted, and she snarled, taking a step closer to me. “I poured the oil on the stairs.” She confessed, pointing a finger to her chest. My eyes widened, shock coursing through me. “I’d hoped you’d be wounded enough to be taken off the case and sent back home,” Her voice dripped with malice.
“You wanted me out of the way,” I realized, my mind reeling. “You thought if I was gone, Grayson would turn to you.” Her eyes blazed with anger, but I saw the truth beneath; the desperation and insecurity she desperately tried to hide. Her confession hung in the air, a toxic cloud of jealousy and manipulation. I felt a mix of emotions; anger, disgust, and sadness. “You’re willing to hurt someone just to get what you want,” I breathed, shaking my head.
She scoffed at my words, staring at me with hate. Her head tilted and she shot me a feral smile. “I didn’t even cared if you died.” Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I tried to hide it. Died? Had it really been that serious? Had she gotten so insecure she had literally had been willing to do anything to get me out of the way? I knew someone had poured the oil on purpose. My suspicions had even been confirmed when Grayson had let me know about the empty gallon of oil he’d found in the trash.
But I’d never thought the person had intended to permanently end me.
“I’m not surprised,” I said, keeping my tone even. “I already knew my fall wasn’t an accident.” Her eyes narrowed, intrigued. She hadn’t been expecting that. I leaned my weight against my dressing table, leveling her a flat look. “There’s no way that much oil had gotten on the stairs out of the blue.” I gave her a smug smile of my own, taunting her. “Grayson told me about the empty gallon of oil he’d discovered and asked me to be careful.” Her teeth grinded. “So you see, I’m not surprised at all.”
“Oh yeah?” She retorted. “Did you also know I’d already found out Elena was the killer?” She jabbed, a sly smile spreading across her face. A new wave of shock spread through me as my eyes bulged. There was no way I had heard her right. My spine straightened and I knew the disbelief I was feeling was evident on my face. Her smile grew as I fed off my astonishment. “I was on my way to the pack house to check up on Grayson, like I usually did, when I saw Elena hit the back of your head with a vase.”
The memories began flooding back as she spoke.
She shot me a self-complacent look, satisfied with shocking me. “You want to know what I did?” She asked airily, batting her eyelashes in a way that was mocking. “I simply turned back and went home without saying a word,” Her voice sounded detached, like she was thinking back to that moment. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to watch things play out naturally.” Her icy gaze met mine. “I can’t lie, I’d really hoped Elena would end your life once and for all.” Horror washed over me, her words painting a chilling picture.
“You’d really what?”
I wasn’t the one who’d asked Ria the question. Our heads turned to find Grayson standing at the door, his eyes blazing with fury. Grayson’s gaze locked onto Ria, his expression terrifying. Ria’s smile faltered, and she took a step back. I felt a rush of relief, knowing Grayson had heard everything. “You knew Elena was the killer, and you did nothing?” His voice rose, anger boiling over. His voice was thunderous, his voice echoing in the room. Ria darted her eyes between us, her composure crumbling. She tried to save herself.
“Grayson, I -”
“Don’t even try to explain,” His growled, his voice low and deadly. “You’re going to regret ever betraying me, Ria.” His words sent shivers down my spine and I wasn’t even the one they were directed at. Ria’s face paled, and she took another step back, realizing too late that she’d crossed a line. Grayson’s expression twisted in disgust. “I’m so disappointed in you, Ria,” he said, his voice dripping with revulsion. She flinched. “I never thought you were this vile.” He spat furiously. He was meters away from me but I could feel the anger rolling off him in waves.
He marched into the room, his movements fluid and menacing. He gripped Ria by her wrists, his hold firm. “You’re going to face the consequences of your actions,” He vowed. My heart instantly skipped a beat at his words. What did he want to do to her? Ria struggled, but his grip only tightened. He marched out of the room, dragging Ria with him. I immediately followed, my concern for Grayson’s anger overriding my hurt at his betrayal. I had hardly ever seen him this mad.
“Grayson-” I started but he instantly cut me off.
“Stay out of this, Keera.” He warned, his tone sharp.
I felt a pang of hurt from his words and fell silent. He pulled out his phone and dialed someone’s number. Ria slanted a terrified look at him, still pleading with him and trying to break free of his hold. “Ryan, gather the pack. We have another pack member to banish,” He said, his voice cold. Ria’s pleas became even louder, but Grayson ignored her. He dialed someone else, bringing the phone to his ear. “Conall, I need you to come to the pack house with a bow,” He instructed. My blood ran cold.
A bow?
He wasn’t going to stake her… was he?
Conall’s voice was muffled on the other end, but I caught his question. Grayson shot Ria a dirty look. “In case she tries to do anything funny,” he replied. Ria’s eyes widened, fear creeping in. Grayson dragged her down the stairs and outside the house, where some pack members had already gathered. My team members walked out of their rooms, trading curious glances with each other. The air was a bit tense, anticipation hanging heavy. Ria’s struggles intensified, but it was all to no avail. Grayson’s grip remained unyielding. I followed, my heart heavy with guilt.
I didn’t want her to be executed because of her hate for me.
She had only been a victim of her emotions.
She hadn’t done anything wrong to the pack.
The pack’s murmurs grew louder as they sensed Ria’s fear. Grayson’s expression remained resolute, his authority unwavering. I knew Ria’s fate was sealed. The pack gathered around, their faces somber as they waited for the grave announcement. Conall kept his bow trained on Ria. “Ria, you have betrayed the trust of this pack,” Grayson declared, his voice echoing through the cool evening. “Your actions have brought harm to one of our own, and for that, you must face the consequences.” One of our own?
My heart stuttered.
I wasn’t one of their own.
I shot Ginny a concerned look. Do something, I almost yelled. I was afraid Grayson would regret his actions later and somehow find a way to resent me for it. He continued with the rites. “She tried to have Keera killed, and kept the news about Elena being the murderer a secret from us.” There was a collective gasp. Grayson didn’t waste any time. “I, Alpha Grayson of Moon Valley pack, hereby strip Ria of her pack membership and banish her from our lands,” He declared, his words final. Ria’s pleas turned to sobs. The pack’s murmurs grew louder, their chaotic mix of approval and disapproval palpable.
With a nod Grayson signaled Conall, who stepped forward with a small vial of sacred water. Conall poured the water onto Ria’s forehead, like he had done with Elena, marking her as banished. I wondered if the rejection was painful. She was wailing just as loudly as Elena had. The ritual ended and Grayson turned to walk away. He passed me on his way inside the house, his eyes locking onto mine for a fleeting moment. “You shouldn’t have gone that far, Grayson. She’d only kept quiet because she wanted me to be hurt, not anyone else.” I couldn’t help but whisper.
Grayson’s expression softened, and he shot me a small, sad smile. His response was barely audible.
“You have no idea the lengths I’m willing to go to for you, Keera,”