Chapter 90 KARMA

Chapter 90 KARMA
Kali's POV 

I’d never been more confused in my life. No, I'd never been at crossroads that felt this dire before. I was literally in between a rock and a hard place and believe me when I said it was nowhere near funny. 

My mind raced to a million and one directions all at once, and I hated how none of the many roads seemed to lead to a reasonable solution or answer to the obvious problem. 

What the hell was I supposed to do now? 

Frustration gnawed at my sides, and even though it wasn't conventional, I just knew it wouldn't be too long before I burst into tears. A small part of me considered begging the guard to do something, but I knew there was nothing he could do. 

He wasn't the one who had murdered the wiry man, and worse part, it wouldn't be long before Diego came asking for answers. I might have done a splendid job ignoring him, but I couldn't keep up with it for too long. I knew it. 

It didn’t take long for karma to catch up with me. Or more specifically, I fell into fate’s cruel trap almost instantly. 

I’d barely made it ten steps from the hut before I caught the sight of two soldiers walking towards me. A small delusional part of me tried to convince myself that they were probably on patrol, but the moment they stopped in front of me, I just knew I was doomed for. 

“Hi.” My voice barely came out as a squeak and I hated it. “Can I help you? Is there something….”

“Alpha Diego wants you.” The first one cut in, and if there was anything I got from his tone, it was the fact that there was only one end to this. Trouble. “Now.”

“But…” I trailed off, not knowing what else to do. If I protested too much, I doubt that would look good on me, depending on what they'd heard. 

Their tone left no room for hesitation. My stomach sank, but I kept my face still, following them through camp and towards Diego while every muscle in my body screamed at me to run.

Diego’s quarters were already lit when we arrived, the fire in the corner throwing sharp orange light across the walls. He was behind his desk, but the moment I stepped inside, he stood.

“Shut the door.” That voice, that command. I'd heard it before, but the effect it had on me were so dynamic it had me squirming, not purely out of fear though, but with a hint of something else. 

I deliberated keeping it open for a while, but I knew it wouldn't help my case, so I did as I was told.  The sound of it closing behind me felt final, but I fought myself to focus on the happy memories I could grasp. 

“Kali.” He didn’t waste time. “The man is dead.”

There was no question in his voice, just fact. One that held every bit of accusation in the world too. 

“I know.” I kept my gaze steady. “I heard about it not too long ago.” 

“So? Is that all you have to say?” His eyes narrowed, and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head. “You went to see him.”

“Yes.” I hated how taut my responses were, but I hated how he made me feel under the spotlight, and not in a good way mind you. 

“Why?” The word was sharp, too sharp it made me flinch. “Why is that so?” 

“Because I was trying to figure out how to tell you what he said.” The words hung on the tip of my lips, but I didn't dare say them out loud.  “Because I didn’t trust him, because I didn’t trust you to hear it the way I needed you to.” 

None of those answers felt safe, so I said the first thing that came to mind after that. 

“I needed more time with him.” I let out slowly. “I needed to….” 

“More time?” He stepped out from behind the desk, each stride closing the space between us. Without even realizing it,I found myself taking a shaky step back,like that was going to help me in anyway. “You were given until sundown yesterday, and you ignored that.”

“I…” I had barely gotten any more words out before he cut in again. 

“You didn't come for breakfast this morning.” He continued. “Did you think I wouldn't notice? And what did you do after that? You ran off.”

“I was trying to…” he wasn't having it

“You ignored me.” Diego cut in again, and somehow that did it for me. His words cut through me, stunning me and leaving me shocked all at once. 

The weight in his voice made my throat tighten. I honestly thought he was going to go on, but he just stopped just in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat rolling off him.

“Tell me exactly what happened in that hut yesterday,” he said. “Every word.”

“Diego, I….”

“Now.” His voice was icy cold and firm. “Don't let me repeat myself.” 

“He didn’t give me much.” The lie slid past my lips as my pulse pounded in my ears. “Just hints. I thought…” 

“You thought you could control it yourself.” I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek at his words, because he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Now he’s dead, and you’re the last person who spoke to him.” Diego’s gaze was unblinking. “Do you know what that looks like?”

“Yes,” I said quietly. “Yes, I do.” 

“It looks like you silenced him.” His hand lifted, not to touch me, but to point toward the door. “It looks like you didn't want him speaking.” 

“I didn’t—”I felt the blood drain from my face

“Prove it.” The words hit harder than a slap. Again, since I arrived here, I'd been asked to prove that I wasn't guilty of the accused crime. Was this how I was going to live my life from here on out? Proving my innocence to everyone and anyone? 

I searched his expression for something, trust, doubt, anything, but his face was a blank mask.

“I can’t prove something I didn’t do,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant. 

“Then find who did,” he replied, stepping back. “Before I decide it was you. You have until dawn.”

Dawn. That was all. Another ultimatum I wasn't sure I could keep up with this time. 

I searched his face one more time, but it didn't take too long for the hope blooming in my chest to quickly die out the moment I realized nothing was making him change his mind. And without so much as a single word in his direction, I walked out. 

When I left his quarters, the night air felt colder than it had any right to be. Somewhere in camp, someone had killed that man to keep him quiet. And now, Diego was giving me a single night to drag the truth into the open or wear the blame myself.

Great. Just fucking great.