CHAPTER 11. Leads?
**— VITA.**
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"Derek?" The name escapes involuntarily, and I immediately regret it because his scent invades my nostrils strongly, and I feel weak, with a moan escaping my lips. I try to cover my mouth and nose, but it's too late; his anger already intoxicates me.
"What's the meaning of that?" Derek's eyes glow an intense yellow as he raises his voice harshly, "You dare have an affair in this very room where you killed Alice? Right after the anniversary of her death?"
I try to stand up, even though my legs are weak and threatening to take me to the floor. My throat is tight, as is my chest, but I still try to say, "It's not what you think, Derek..."
"Isn't it?" He laughs wryly, glaring at me. "And what are you doing here, Vita? Come on, make up another one of your lies; I'm dying to hear them!"
I stop just a few steps away from Derek, holding on tightly to the neckline of my dress, trying to relieve some of the painful sensations in my chest.
He's doubting me as always, but I need to tell him...
"This man... He knows something, Derek... something about Alice's death!" I look at Mr. Raven, who seems surprised and somehow afraid...?
My eyes reflect confusion when Mr. Raven opens his mouth in disbelief. "Wait, what? What are you saying? I don't know what you're talking about... Why are you mentioning the princess's death so suddenly?"
"What do you mean by that? You called me, said you had proof of Alice's death, and called me into this room!"
Mr. Raven stands up quickly, shaking his head quickly and raising his hands in surrender. "Alpha! Please have mercy on me. I don't have any idea of what this woman is talking about!"
Wait, what is happening?
"Oh really? And what are you doing here with my sister's murderer, huh?" Derek casts his glowing eyes at the man, and he releases his strong pheromones more intensely, leaving me completely dizzy, with heat spreading through my body and rising to my head.
"Murderer? Goddess, I didn't know! This woman... She invited me into this room! I didn't find it strange that she asked for this specific one, but now... Oh, Goddess! Oh, Alpha, please have mercy!"
"I invited you?" I look at the man with confusion and add with bitterness, "No! He is the one who called me here... He called me and said he had clues about Alice's death! Look at my phone, Derek... I can prove it, the call is right there..."
"Clues? I'm just an employee, miss... please don't do this to me!" Mr. Raven sounds desperate, so different from the man who was touching my leg a few moments ago, suggesting I sell my body.
"You liar..." I growl, casting another sharp glance at this liar. "He's lying, Derek! I told you, get my phone, you'll see-"
"Can you prove that it was me who called you? Please show me this call; I have nothing to hide!"
I open my lips, but I remember that the call was an anonymous one... Even if I show them, there isn't enough proof... neither that this man said anything about Alice's death nor that he's the one that made the call.
He thought of everything!
"Derek... He's framing me..."
"Framing? I don't know why you're doing this, miss... I only came here because you tried to seduce me, insisted that I accompany you to this room, saying that you'd spent too long in the Wolf Jail and were missing having a good time with a man-"
Derek advances on me and grips my neck tightly, surprising everyone, including me. His strong hand fits perfectly around my throat and robs me of air. This uncomfortable grip makes my eyes widen, and I try to push him in the chest, slapping and punching his solid abdomen that doesn't move a muscle.
"Oh, do you miss spending time with men, Vita?" He growls against my cheek. I look directly into his eyes, finding something I don't quite know how to define, and then he breaks our eye contact and moves down to my parted lips that try to draw in air. Derek wets his lips, still looking at mine.
Suddenly, he loosens the grip on my throat, only for me to gasp and inhale his angry and dominating pheromones. "Are you sorry you weren't fucked earlier in this room before you were arrested? I think you really wanted to sleep with other men."
"No, of course not... why are you saying things like that, Derek? I'm telling you, this man is lying!"
My legs wobble, and I grab his shirt, almost going to the floor; if it hadn't been for his hand holding me tightly around my neck and waist, I would have gone down. His wolf-clawed fingers are digging into my skin over my dress, ripping the fabric under this rough touch.
"You say he's framing you... that you came here just to find evidence about Alice's death..." Derek slides the claw of his thumb along my jaw so gently it doesn't scratch and stops at the chin he holds between his fingers; the tip of the claw presses against my lower lip, piercing just enough for a small drop of blood to appear. "Is that what happened?"
"Yes!" I gasp and nod slowly.
"My love..." He brings his lips close to my ear and adds in a hoarse voice, "Your lies are getting lazy."
"No, Derek, I'm not lying... I'm telling the truth-"
"Telling the truth? Haha, I can smell the alcohol in your breath, Vita... You were drinking with another man!" He growls between his teeth, looking into my eyes again, but now with anger. "You really are good at seducing men... Your lies unfold so easily on your tongue that I feel sick... Aren't you really a cold bitch?"
"No, that's not true..." I gasp, inhaling even more of his intoxicating scent that makes me moan low.
I lean over his body, weak and with a blank mind. I rest my breasts against his abs, trying to climb up and recover the strength in my legs... And Derek does nothing but hold me, feeling my body pressed to his.
He tilts his face slowly, his lips close to my ear, and says, so low that only I can hear... "Are you horny now, Vita? What a fuck whore."
I try to push him away and trip over my own feet, but I don't fall because my back bumps into someone else's body. I feel hands on my arms, holding me down, and I don't like this touch one bit.
Derek's expression falters for a moment, but his eyebrows go even lower, leaving his gaze so fierce that my chest sinks.
"I understand, Vita," Derek says, at last, stepping closer again, and his hand goes to my face while Mr. Raven still holds me from behind. "It's my fault for not thinking straight."
"Derek..." My voice comes out with a sigh, and I feel my eyes sting with tears.
"Have you suffered enough these past three years?" Derek runs his hand down my cheek, "Tell me, Vita... and I'll be good to you."
My throat is tight, but I still open my lips and try to say that yes, I've had enough of his wrath, his revenge that I don't deserve, but no sound escapes... that's why I just nod and close my eyes, snuggling into his touch.
Derek gently draws my jaw with his fingers until he reaches my chin and holds it, lifting it, forcing me to meet his stern blue eyes...
"All right... Then go ahead, Vita... Take your clothes off."
My eyes widen slightly, and I rush to say it, but Wanda is quicker and moves towards Derek, grabbing and pulling his arm that touches me... "Please, Derek, don't do this!"
I watch the way she grabs Derek's arm so desperately, putting it between her breasts that are almost jutting out of her cleavage, making me go pale, without any reaction...
They've really grown close over these last three years, haven't they?
"Please, she's my sister..."
"Get out, Wanda," Derek says firmly, disengaging the arm she's holding, still looking me straight in the eye. "Your sister is about to enjoy life after so many years locked up in jail."
"But Derek..."
"Get out." He doesn't let Wanda argue and doesn't even pay her a glance — his eyes are firmly on me. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Wanda looks at me with regret, fear, and pity. She feels sorry for me. And this awakens a sudden fury in me, an anger that spreads through my chest...
Why does this always happen to me?
My sister turns her back on me and walks out of the room, closing the door and leaving me behind.
"Now, Vita..." Derek strokes my face again, but his sharp claw brushes slowly across my cheek... "Obey your Alpha."