Chapter 74 Betrayal And Blood
Chapter 74
Ryder's POV
"My lord!" Freya, one of the servants, stepped into the room. “The pack security team is here!”
I turned to her and my gaze, sharp. I was still caught in the deep sadness of Rosa leaving and not even informing me this morning.
She had been acting weird lately. I hope she had not found a way to know all my little dirty secrets.
Because she is smart and intelligent and always looking for ways to find out the exact truth when something does not seem right to her.
“At this hour? What do they want?” Those words parted my lips and I couldn't stop them.
“To see you, my lord, they said. It's very important,” Freya responded, bowing down and leaving my presence.
I sat at the edge of the bed pondering for a moment, my hand resting on my chin, while the other hand held the glass cup of ale. I had set it down on the table nearby.
Then I stepped out, getting into the living room, that was when I saw two middle aged wolves in pack uniforms. Tall, hairy and bald.
My breath spiked. I thought of my crew on the sea if something bad had happened again, or those waiting for my next line of actions at Stormfang pack had been caught.
I stepped forward, reaching for their hand in a handshake. Their wet palm brushed my mine without resistance.
I tried to study their body language if I could get a glimpse of why they were here. But nothing substantial was coming out.
Then one of them stepped forward, and finally spoke, his voice was sharp and thick. “My lord, we bring grave news…”
“Grave news?” The utterance hit me like a punch launched to my ribcage. My eyes darted between the two tall, hairy and bald headed obstacles in front of me . I pinched my brow, folded my arms.
Deep Silence reigned in the room. The air in it, laced with uncertainty.
The first wolf exchanged a heavy glance between him and his partner.
“Sorry to ask,?” He paused a bit, looking into my eyes like a healer who wanted to break the news of the death of his patience to his relative. “What kind of relationship do you have with lady Astra?”
“Astra?" I asked, tightening my brow.
"Yes lady, Astra my lord," He replied nodding.
“She is my …” I darted between his face and that of his partner, I paused a bit … I didn't know what would come after that, probably it would put me into more trouble or expose my hidden relationship with Astra.
Then I let it out finally, my fated mate, though hidden for now, but… “
He didn't allow me to finish before he quickly cut-in. “I am sorry to tell you that Lady Astra was brutally murdered in her room late yesterday.”
“Repeat that rubbish you just vomited now!” I commanded, my blood boiling.
“W… we are sorry but,” he stammered, clearing his throat a bit, “Astra had just been murdered in her apartment."
The room suddenly spun around.
"Nooo…. That is not possible!" I barked, like a wounded dog. My thickened voice almost sent the pillars of the building on its knees.
I dragged my legs closer to the other wolves that broke the news. I locked his jacket up. I drew it closer to me. I didn't care about his towering posture.
“Tell me….it's a joke.”
His eyes locked into mine and he nodded his head in refusal and stammered.
“I…I am sorry …”
“That is why, we are here to break the news… we were told you were the last visitor that paid her a visit before the incident occured…”
How am I to know ? I know I visited her place yesterday before meeting a few of those personnel that would carry out stormfang pack jobs.
I couldn't deny it. I couldn't deny the fact that Astra is my heart. Different from everyone including Rosa.
She came to my life when I least expected but her qualities had gone far beyond what any reasonable future alpha king can ignore.
Though I love Rosa too, the two of them have their roles to play in my quest to become the king of Stormfang pack.
“I am so sorry my lord," he uttered, his eyelashes fluttering with unease. “ I know news like this is always very difficult to bear.“
His other partner quickly chipped in, “we have instructed everyone in her mansion not to break the news yet to the king.. we need your co-operation and your own witness record for the incident to unravel the crime…”
But it will not happen here,” the first wolf quickly interrupted.
“Where?”
Only In her place… Everyone who was in the house last night is waiting just to give an account of what they saw or heard before this incident occurred…”
An hour later.
I couldn't believe the horror in front of me … like I was dreaming… how Astra was murdered…
Damn her blood spilled on the wall. Her face completely battered like she offended the gods. Her pregnancy… My heir.. The one I had promised to give my all to had been torn off from her stomach.
This was not just a murder but a vendetta. A score to settle..
Who could Astra have offended to have done this? That bloody wolf couldn't even pity her state. That bastard didn't pity my heir in her womb?
I could not withstand her horrifying state when I saw Astra's corpse. I knew the news of death would have spread faster had it been she lived in the same palace with her father.
“Would it be possible that someone trailed you here?”
“No… I am always careful anytime I want to visit her because I want to make the relationship as covert as possible.
The questions the duo had begun to ask had been irritating me… but I had pressed it down. You can't do that in Stormfang pack. I will gladly instruct you to get you arrested.
I didn't even know if my coming here was necessary. They should have asked me the necessary questions back in my house. I am just praying that someone who knows Rosa wouldn't be in this building and pictures would not have been taken.
The pack detective had interviewed everyone that I was on ground that day.
Until a maid came in… The face looked familiar like I had seen her somewhere. I couldn't place it.
The pack detectives were on their way out. They managed to bag the remains of Astra.
Then the maid approached me, whispering into my ears.
“My lord, I think I might have an idea of who killed lady Astra.”