CHAPTER SIXTY THREE
RYKER
Fabiola looked uneasy at my question. She took a deep breath and began to explain, "I was busy with work that day when Kara brought the letter to me. She said she needed me to give it to Roxanne."
I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. "And why couldn't Kara give the letter to Roxanne herself?"
Fabiola sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "Kara said she had been prohibited from seeing Roxanne since everyone thought she tried to poison her.”
I nodded, urging her to continue. Her eyes filled with unshed tears as she spoke. "I asked Kara who I should say the letter was from, and she told me to say it was from you, Alpha."
I felt a flash of anger. "This isn't the first time Kara has used my name, is it?"
Fabiola looked terrified, as if she feared retribution for speaking the truth. "No, Alpha. It’s not. When Kara was alive, she used to sneak around and collect parcels, hiding them under her bed. This went on for a year. One day, I confronted her about it.”
"What did she say?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.
"She claimed the parcels were yours," Fabiola said.
I was baffled. "I don’t receive parcels. I only get letters from neighbouring packs, and Beta Miles handles those."
Fabiola continued, "One time, I went through the boxes. I know it was wrong, but curiosity got the better of me. The parcels were full of letters.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. "Letters?"
She nodded. "It seemed like Kara was corresponding with someone. When I confronted her again, Selina intervened, claiming the parcels were hers and that she had asked Kara to use your name if the guards questioned her."
My confusion deepened. "Selina?”
Silent tears rolled down Fabiola's cheeks. "Yes, Alpha. Kara and Selina were very close before Kara died."
I pressed on. "What happened to the parcels?"
Fabiola hesitated, then said, "Kara used to hide them under her bed. But, Alpha, didn't Beta Miles tell you?”
I frowned. "Tell me what?"
With a serious expression, Fabiola said, "Roxanne came back for the boxes, saying you needed them.”
***
I glared at Beta Miles, frustration boiling over. "Why is no one saying anything?" I demanded.
Beta Miles shifted uneasily. "Alpha, I wanted to tell you because I found it strange, but I didn't know how to approach it."
"Spit it out," I growled.
Beta Miles nodded, gathering his thoughts. "When you went hiking that day, Roxanne came back in a moss dress, looking really pissed. I greeted her, but she waved me off. There was something odd about her. She kept going to the wrong doors, saying she was stressed and needed my help finding her room. She then asked to see Kara.”
He continued, "Kara was reluctant, kept saying she didn't want to see Roxanne. I heard them having a heated argument. After about an hour, Roxanne stepped out of the dungeon and asked for Kara's parcels, claiming you wanted them.”
I cut him short, anger seething through my veins. "That’s not true. Roxanne never left my side during the training.”
Beta Miles looked genuinely perplexed. "I noticed she was different, but I dismissed it as stress. I never imagined someone could impersonate her."
My mind raced with possibilities. Could Roxanne's attacker be impersonating her? It had to be someone who knew Kara had told on them and was going to expose them, someone who could hurt Kara and frame Roxanne for it.
If the imposter could infiltrate the pack house to harm Kara, then Roxanne wasn’t safe in the dungeon.
***
Selina frowned at me, arms crossed tightly on her chest. "So you think I killed Kara?"
I fixed her with a steely gaze. "What was your relationship with her, then? As long as I've known you, you've never been friendly with any of the maids.”
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Kara was calm and obedient. I can't kill her. You keep accusing me of every bad thing. As long as it’s connected to Roxanne, you think I have something to do with it.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. "How can I trust you? Why did you say the parcels were yours?”
Selina's eyes flashed with irritation. "Fabiola was nosy and wouldn't stop bothering Kara, so I had to defend the girl. I also wouldn’t hurt Roxanne, regardless of how much I despise her.”
Fabiola shrugged and stared accusingly at Selina. "You think I don't know you're lying? Whatever happened to Kara, you knew about it."
Selina glared at Fabiola. "What are you saying?”
Fabiola's eyes narrowed. "You know I'm the neglected one, and I have eyes. I know everything that happens in this house.”
I was getting confused. "Fabiola, what are you talking about?"
Fabiola took a deep breath and said, "Kara and Selina met a lot of times in secret places. Selina threatened Kara.”
Selina sat up, the hairs on her neck standing straight. She opened her mouth to speak, but I raised my hand to stop her. "Quiet, Selina. Let Fabiola finish.”
I turned back to Fabiola. "How do you know Kara was being threatened?"
Fabiola's voice wavered slightly as she continued. "Kara was furious one time after coming out of jail. She said she was taken to jail for someone else's crime. Kara thought I was asleep, but I heard her lamenting and writing a letter. She didn't know how to keep quiet when reading or writing.”
I listened intently as Fabiola went on. "Out of curiosity, I trailed Kara to her secret spot. I saw Selina appear, and Kara was telling her she couldn't hold back anymore. She said everyone saw her as a suspect and she needed to tell the truth. Selina said, 'After all I cover up for your secret parcels, what more do you want?' Kara said she wanted justice. Kara warned Selina not to lay a hand on Roxanne and said that if she did, she'd show you the video of Selina poisoning Roxanne's tea.”
Selina paled and started shouting at Fabiola to shut up, but Fabiola stared back defiantly. "So much for an Alpha's sister. Remember how you made me beg Kara for your rotten lies. I've always disliked you.”
"Selina was the one who poisoned Roxanne's tea in secret. No one believed Kara because she made the tea. But after Kara caught Selina poisoning the tea, they struck a bargain: Kara would keep quiet while Selina covered for the letters. But ever since Kara said that she didn't meet up with Selina and Selina had been sending her death threats and now it has happened. Can it be a coincidence?”
I stared at Selina in surprise. Kara didn't lie when she said she couldn't hurt Roxanne. But still, the puzzle wasn't fitting. I thought I knew everything that happened within these walls but it turned out there was so much I didn't know.
BETA MILES
I walked into the Alpha's office with a stern look on my face. In my hand was an identical hammer to the one we had found in Roxanne's bedroom. With me was one of the security officials, who carried a box in his arms. He placed it on the table, then bowed to Ryker.
"I was called by the Beta for a thorough investigation," the security official said.
Ryker looked at me, puzzled. "Why?"
"Because I know Kara's death happened within the pack," I said firmly. "And we have to get to the bottom of it."
Ryker's eyes narrowed, his suspicion clear. "But your mate Selina threatened Kara. She has a motive.”
"I know Selina threatened Kara, but she wouldn't actually harm her," I countered, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to consider all possibilities."
The security official spoke up. "We found this hammer and box in Fabiola's things." He gestured to the items on the table.
Fabiola's eyes widened in shock. "You're trying to frame me because I spoke out!" she exclaimed.
The security official opened the box, revealing various writings in both Roxanne's and the Alpha's handwriting.
Fabiola hastily confessed, "I was trying to learn how people forge writings. I wanted to write a letter to my family without them knowing."
I turned to Ryker. "This is the same hammer that was used to damage Kara's head. Now you see what she's doing? She's trying to frame Selina for Kara's death with just a little proof.”
Ryker shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "An evidence is an evidence, Miles. Selina isn't less of a suspect. She poisoned Roxanne and threatened Kara, and Fabiola swore Kara was in depression."
I sighed, frustrated. "Fabiola didn't like Kara either. So it means one thing. She killed her and tried to frame Selina for it because Selina had sent death threats.”
Ryker leaned back in his chair, his expression one of deep contemplation. "This isn't just about evidence. It's about understanding the motives and the lies. We can't make assumptions without proof. We need to investigate further, without bias."
I nodded, acknowledging his point. "Agreed. But we need to keep both Selina and Fabiola under close watch. There's too much at stake here.”
Ryker glared at the security officials. “I can't trust anyone in this pack, even you guys handling the case. First it was Roxanne, now Selina and again Fabiola? I'm going to recruit new team because it appears you and your team can't do your work properly.”
I agreed with the Alpha. Kara's death came with the revelation of many secrets and I was disappointed in everything.
Ryker stood up, his decision clear in his eyes. "Let's get to the bottom of this. We'll leave no stone unturned. Kara deserves justice, and so does Roxanne.”