CHAPTER FORTY
BURKE’S POV
I lay on the bed, very tired to go to my board meeting today, but I had to go; it is compulsory I go because my father was recently murdered and an investigation had to begin.
I talked to my domestic staff, and they all said Ava was the last person they saw visiting my father, making me confused about who strangled him; Ava can’t hurt a fly, not talk of her blood father, and Harley was with Catherine and me when my father was murdered.
“Your bath is ready,” One of my maids said as she left my room, but I wasn’t in any mood to bath.
I haven’t seen Catherine since today, which was getting me worried, based on how scared she was last night.
Suddenly, a hand touched my chest, and I almost flew out of bed; I turned to see Catherine sleeping soundly on my bed.
“Shit,” I caused under my breath when I remembered that Catherine had crashed in my room yesterday because she was scared to sleep alone after finding out that my father was murdered in his room.
“Are you heading somewhere?” Catherine asked as she opened her sleepy eyes; she was wearing a pair of my pajamas, although I didn’t remember giving it to her last night.
“Yes, I have to go to some board meeting,” I replied to her question as I opened my hand wide for her to come up to my chest.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” She said, resting her head on my bare chest; she used her fingers to draw an imaginary circle on my chest.
I scoffed at her thought, why would she even think this was inconvenient? I would stay in this position if I didn’t have a board meeting to attend.
“You know this isn’t inconveniencing; I wish you could be scared more often if that’s what it takes to get you in my bed,” I said, and she playfully hit my chest.
“The maid said your bath is ready. Aren’t you getting late for the board meeting,” She asked, still drawing imaginary circles on my chest, making my heart beat faster and the mate bond stronger.
“Mate mate,” My wolf yelled again within me, making me adjust my position.
“Are you okay?” She asked, getting off my chest.
“Yes, I am; it’s just the mate bond getting louder as you drew circles on me,” I told her truthfully, and the discomfort on her face was obvious; I hated the fact that I caused her discomfort.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized immediately, and she smiled in response.
“I actually wished I could feel the mate bond because I have never felt a bond, but even if I feel the mate bond I won’t still get married to you Burke, you hurt me seven years ago,” Catherine said, getting off my bed before I could say another word, Catherine had already left my room without even hearing from me.
“I messed up, and I can’t fix it,” I told myself, hitting my head on my pillow; if I was close to a wall, I would have punched it.
Without wasting time, I got off my bed to prepare for my board meeting. My father’s murderer had to be found.
I got into the bathroom and took a quick shower; luckily, I am the Alpha, and I will be late for the meeting, meaning I don’t have to hurry.
I took my time to get dressed, and soon I was in a black suit, and my hair was combed backward; that was how Catherine had loved my hair to be since we were kids.
As I walked to the board meeting, Catherine’s words rang in my head repeatedly. The fact that she said she would not marry me had hurt me greatly, and the only thing I could think of was ways to make it up to her.
“Good day Master,” The guards in front of the board room greeted me before opening the board room for me.
As I entered, All my board members stood up in respect for my presence.
I strolled to my seat and sat down before my remaining board members sat. And there was silence, everyone waiting for me to speak up.
“My father is dead,” I said loudly, and there was still silence; no one was shocked, and that wasn’t surprising because the news of my father’s death had spread like wildfire.
“So the doctor couldn’t save him huh?” My counselor asked if he was against Catherine treating my father because she was a woman.
“No, I thought you all heard he was murdered,” I said, and there were gasps and murmurs in the courtroom.
“Silence. Respect the Alpha’s presence,” Jack said, hitting the table loudly, and silence followed immediately. Jack was good at being my second in command; he was damn good at his job.
I smiled at Jack who returned my smile with a silent hiss making me smile harder.
“Now we need suspects because my father was strangled,” I continued, and my Adviser stood up to his feet and said something.
“The culprit is no other person than Jack,” His elderly voice came as a whisper, and the board room was noisy again, I didn’t know if I was hearing correctly.
“Why the hell would you blame Jack?” I asked because Jack was too shocked to speak.
“A few hours before the former Alpha died, I saw Jack with a rope heading to your mansion,” he said and took his seat.
I turned to look at Jack, and it appeared that he was heading to my mansion with a rope. But I decided to ask anyway.
“Is this true Jack?” I asked, and Jack looked at me with disbelief.
“Yes, I was holding a rope heading to your Mansion, But… ”
“But you didn’t see me; rather, you crept to my father’s room and murdered him,” I finished his statement before he could complete it; I was already filled with rage that my best friend could kill my father.
“You don’t believe I did this, do you?” Jack asked.
“Take him away,” I ordered one of my guards.