Kai’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you would have killed her yourself?”
Verena realized her mistake too late. Her blood ran cold and a shiver coursed through her. She racked her brain for what to say. The throbbing in her face was making it a bit too hard for her to think.
“What I mean is … I would have killed her…. instead… ” She clamped her hand over her mouth, a horrified gasp leaving her lips.
“What do you know?” Kai asked, his eyes flashing red.
Verena shook her head. She wished desperately that she had shut up. She wished that she could turn back time. “I don’t know anything…”
“Do not make me repeat myself. If you’re smart and value your life, you will speak”
Verena bit her lip hard till blood flowed into her mouth. She felt raw fear prick her heart with the level of hatred She saw in Kai eyes directed at her.
She knew she was fucked up.
“I did it for you!” She cried out, falling to her knees. “She was destroying you! And you…. you had no idea! She had these mind control powers and I was so scared….”
Kai’s eyes widened. “You did what?!” His voice rose with every word he spoke.
Verena burst into tears. “If I had known you would be like this… I would’ve…”
Her words got stuck in her throat. Kai grabbed her neck and pulled her up effortlessly her legs suspended in the air. She struggled against his choke-like hold, her eyes wide . Strangled gasps left her lips as she tried to breathe.
“You set her up?” Kai asked, his eyes blood red.
Verena nodded weakly.
Kai began to strangle her. Verena saw her life flash before her eyes. This wasn’t the reaction she had expected. After all she did for him… he would just throw it away like that!
“Kai!” Nicolas’ voice screamed out from the doorway
Karen felt her consciousness slipping out of her. She didn’t see what happens next but Kai dropped her to the floor. Verena coughed violently, trying to get as much into her lungs as possible. She grabbed her neck, tears dripping down her eyes.
“Nicolas, move.” Kai said dangerously, this voice full of anger.
“I’m not letting you harm her, Kai.” Nicolas replied. Verena crawled away, staring at Kai with wide horror filled eyes. Nicolas stood between her and Kai, facing him off bravely.
“I warned you.” Kai said to Nicolas. Faster than light he grabbed Nicolas and threw him to the side. He slammed into a wall with such impact that the wall cracked.
Kai stalked to Verena, his hand raised to strike her head right off.
“She’s my mate!” Nicolas yelled out, horror in his voice.
Kai paused, his hand slowly lowered and he turned to Nicolas. “Your mate?”
Nicolas nodded. “Don’t kill her, please I beg you.”
Verena’s eyes travelled between Kai and Nicolas as quiet sobs spilled from her lips. She rubbed her neck in pain, her eyes focused on Kai.
Kai was silent, glaring at Nicolas darkly. Verena couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“You two were in on it together weren’t you?” Kai asked, his suspicious gaze moving between the two of them.
“No!” Verena cried out. “No! Nicolas knew nothing about it! It was me! It was all me…. please ….”
The look of anger on Kai’s face briefly morphed into disappointment.
“Our relationship is called off.” Kai said to Verena. “I will give your father the news. I want nothing more to do with you.”
“My alpha please! I did it for you I swear! I couldn’t stand that man’s daughter….”
“You gave in to your anger and became a monster.” Kai said cutting her off. “The kind of monster that that slave couldn’t ever become. No matter the reason.”
“You can’t cast me away,” Verena cried. “We were going to be married!”
Kai was tired of this back an forth. It was grating on his nerves, making him more and more angry.
“Get out.” Kai spat in anger.
“Kai ” Nicolas said. But Kai ignored him.
Verena tried to stiffle her sobs, clamping her hands over her mouth. Nicolas offered her his hand. She got to her feet and knocked his hand away. He looked at her sadly.
“Let’s go.” He said. He noticed the red spot on her cheek and tried to touch her. She moved away from his touch, glaring at him through tears. “Verena…”
“Don’t touch me.” She hissed. She turned and walked out of the throne room.
She felt her entire body trembling with fear. Kai knew. He knew everything now. And he would kill her for it.
She was sure.
“Not you Nicolas.” Kai said to his beta.
***
Kai paced the floors of the throne room, his thoughts jumbled and all over the place.
Verena had set Karen up.
Karen was in deed innocent.
Kai felt rage brew inside him. He couldn’t explain how he felt, but in that moment he wanted to kill Verena.
Kai felt an unpleasant mix of emotions inside him. He was angry, he was relieved to know that no one had indeed touched Karen. He was more angry because she had vanished without a single trace.
It dawned on him that if she hadn’t escaped he would have killed her for something she didn’t do. The realization made his heart start to race.
This was it. This was the last straw.
All these while he had been putting up with Verena. Ignoring her when she stepped out of line. But this … this was purely uncalled for.
Kai tried to calm himself down. As much as he tried he failed.
He thought about Karen, how she must have felt when he ordered her execution. He remembered the look on her eyes as she stared at him, pleading her innocence, telling him how she could never commit such a crime.
Kai clenched his fists in anger, his jaw clenching so tight he felt his teeth hurt.
Nicolas. Nicolas who was so good at hiding his emotions.
Kai laughed bitterly. So Nicolas had been mated to Verena the entire time, and he never said anything. For five whole months, he had gone about his life like nothing happened.
Kai didn’t even notice a hint of feeling Nicolas could have towards Verena.
Suddenly it started to make sense to him. After the blood moon Nicolas started avoiding him. And when Kai asked about his mate, he would talk.
Who would have thought it would be Verena?!
Kai felt confusion inside his heart. Nicolas was mated to Verena. Verena arranged for Karen to be gotta rid off.
It was no wonder Nicolas started protecting Verena. Claiming it was a reflex. When in fact he was actually protecting his mate!
“Kai I’m really sorry,” Nicolas said at last. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“You didn’t know how to tell me? Have you ever had any trouble saying anything to me in the past?” Kai said glaring at him. Nicolas had the good graces to look ashamed.
“You were going to marry her! Why would I ruin that for you?”