Chapter 144 Silent Repercussions
Chapter 140
Rosa's POV
I opened the wooden door of my quarters outside.
The weather was calm and damp on my skin. I needed fresh air like a dying patient needed oxygen. So the orchard came to my mind. I started strolling there.
Should I visit Freya?’ I wondered.
We needed to talk. We needed to make a plan. A plan to get rid of that stupid Ryder once and for all.
My hands curled into fists at my sides. Just thinking about him made my stomach twist with anger. The last time we talked, his words had cut through me like sharp knives. He was thoughtless. He was stupid. He didn't deserve to be an alpha.
I stopped walking for a moment. A new thought popped into my head.
Wait.
Why hasn't Ryder told anyone? Why hasn't he exposed me for killing Caramel?
I thought the police pack would have shown up at my door by now. I imagined waking up to loud knocks.
Bang, bang, bang!
Officers from Alpha Dominion's pack burst through, waving papers in the air.
"Rosa, you're under arrest!"
They would march me through the palace halls. Everyone would stare. Jax would see the warrant. He would read the charges. And he wouldn't help me. Not even a little bit.
He would probably smile and say, "I told you so. I knew she was evil all along."
But none of that happened. The police never came. My door stayed quiet.
Maybe Ryder is scared,”I thought. “Maybe he knows if he drags me down, I'll drag him down too. We'd both sink into the mud together.”
My feet started moving again. I walked between the apple trees. Their branches hung low, heavy with fruit. The smell of grass and dirt filled my nose.
My mind felt heavy too. Heavy with thoughts I didn't want to think.
I was so tired. Tired of everything. Tired of pretending. Tired of fighting.
Sometimes, late at night when I couldn't sleep, I asked myself a question I hated: Why did I let them kill Mila?
The answer was always the same. I hated her. I'd hated her since we were little girls. But that hate didn't come from me, not really. Mama had planted it in my heart like a seed. She watered it every day with her words.
"Mila is your rival, not your sister."
"Mila will take everything from you."
"Don't trust Mila. Never trust her."
Year after year, the seed grew into a dark, twisted tree inside me.
Now Mila is dead. Gone forever.
And what did I get? Nothing.
My throat felt tight. My eyes stung.
Killing her didn't fix anything. It didn't make me happy. Though it gave me the throne but not with the wolf I clamored for. Who happens to be Ryder.
When my secret fell into Ryder's hand that I couldn't have baby, started nurturing the idea of putting me on the throne just for the sake of fufiling all righteousness.
He didn't want to have anything to do with me again as his Luna. He just want to use me and discard me like piece of trash.
And Jax? He hated me more than anything. More than the waste that came out of his body. I messed up with him. I played my cards all wrong.
Everything felt empty. Like a bowl with nothing inside.
The only friend I thought I had, the only person I trusted, went behind my back and slept with my fated mate. Caramel betrayed me. She deserved what she got.
My jaw clenched. My nails dug into my palms.
I didn't regret killing Caramel.
Not one bit. She needed to pay the price. And I made sure she paid it when she least expected it.
I sent her to the afterlife early. Good riddance.
"Your honor..."
A voice came from behind me. I flinched a bit my eye lashes blinked.
I'd been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear anyone coming. But now there were footsteps. Soft footsteps getting closer and closer.
I spun around.
A man stood there. He was thin, with nervous eyes that darted left and right. He moved closer to me like he wanted to tell me a secret. Like someone about to give a kiss.
I stepped back fast. Too close. He was standing too close.
What if he has a disease?” I thought. What if he wants to hurt me?”
"I am not here to harm your honor," he said quickly. His voice was quiet, barely louder than a whisper.
I stared at him. Waited.
"Alpha Vexhood sent for you," he continued. His eyes dropped to the ground. "He said you must show up at the sanctuary before the sunset."
My stomach dropped. My breath caught in my throat.
The man looked around again. Left. Right. Making sure nobody was watching. Then he leaned even closer.
"Alpha Vexhood said..." His voice got quieter. "He said there would be repercussions if you don't show up."
Repercussions.” That word hung in the air like smoke.
"Hey... hey... that is okay!" I said quickly. I raised my hand like a guard stopping traffic. I needed him to stop talking. He looked like someone who brought bad news everywhere he went.
"I will show up at his place before sunset," I promised.
The man nodded once. Then he turned and walked away. His thin figure got smaller and smaller until he disappeared completely.
I stood there alone. My hand reached up and grabbed my hair, fingers raking through it roughly.
Fear wrapped around my heart like cold chains.
Alpha Vexhood wanted to see me. That couldn't be good. I knew exactly why. He was angry. Angry because I didn't bring Lyra to him like I promised.
Now I had to face him.
Roughly three hours later, the sun had set and darkness had covered everywhere.
I stood in the courtyard of Alpha Vexhood like I was a stranger.
A place once felt like home to me where myself and Ryder would be playing then when we were tender.
I dragged my legs along the floor like a heavy stone had been tied to it. Every step I took sucked the little energy in me. Fear permeated every part of me like soaked linen in rain water.
The courtyard looked huge. The distance between me and the door felt like miles and miles. Like I'd never reach it even if I walked forever.
I took one step. Then another.
My heart pounded in my chest.
The door seemed to get farther away instead of closer.
This isn't real, I told myself. It's just fear playing tricks.
I forced my legs to keep moving.
Then…
"What are you doing here?"
The voice came from my side. Sharp. Surprised.
I froze. My eyebrows squeezed together. I turned my head slowly.
Standing there, just a few feet away, was a face I knew too well.
"Alpha Ryder!" The words burst from my mouth.
My eyes went wide. My heart jumped into my throat.
What is he doing here?