The Alpha’s Forbidden Love

CHRIS

“Your father’s killer is somewhere in this palace, waiting for the right time to strike.”

Who was the killer? I spent most of my time convincing Cade to spill the truth to me but he kept beating around the bush. I was beginning to doubt that he knew anything about my father’s death. Maybe he could be the killer like Lucy said and was trying to trick me into believing him.

” I know you have your doubts, Chris, but I’m telling the truth. I didn’t kill your father,” Cade had said.

“If you didn’t then why did you elope from the palace after his death?” I asked.

“I had to else I would be blamed for his death. As for Lucy’s father, he was set up by the killer. He walked into your father’s chambers right in time to be caught by the guards. He was framed by the killer who was close to both your father and Lucy’s father,” Cade explained.

“Why should I believe you? You tried to kill me before,”

“You don’t have to believe me and yes, I did try to kill you. The throne had always been my priority, it was meant to be mine but your father took it from him. But I won’t allow that killer to steal the throne from our bloodline.”

His words were too convincing and I found myself believing them again. But the question remained: Who was the killer? How could I defend myself and the throne if I didn’t know who I was up against?

“The night I got to your father’s chambers, I saw the killer sneaking out of his chambers holding a blade which I supposed he had used to kill your father. Your father died in my arms before he could reveal to me who the killer was. I ran off immediately after I saw Lucy’s father enter the chambers to avoid being accused.”

“But the killer had something significant about him. He had dark hair and was well-built, and he also had a mark on his right arm. From my assumption, he was probably a member of the council who hated your father,” Cade added.

A member of the council. I thought. I knew those elders had something up their sleeves but for one of them to have a hand in my father’s death, that was absurd. Though it wasn’t entirely impossible. They had always been against me and it wasn’t going to be a surprise if they treated my father the same way.

The bone of contention was finding who amongst the elders was the killer. Cade had made mention of the killer having a mark on his arm but there was none I could think of.

I returned to my chambers to discuss all I had heard with Lucy and find a way out of it. I explained all I and Cade had discussed while she paid attention.

“How do we know who this man is? He could be plotting another attempt as we speak,” Lucy said, her voice filled with concern for me.

“We need to speak to Lothar regarding this issue, he should know more about the elders than we do, ” she suggested.

She was right. If there was anyone who could help us get to the bottom of this problem, it was Lothar.

“Lothar should be of help since he has known the elders for long. He can help us identify who the killer is.”

After much discussion, I decided to go see Lothar but he was nowhere to be found. I waited for a while and when there was no sign of him, I returned to the palace.

On getting to the palace, there was a commotion and everyone looked frightened. I saw Lothar giving out instructions to some of the guards.

“Close the gates! Make sure no one leaves the pack unnoticed. Guard the area until we find who did this.”

“What is it this time?” I mumbled. “Those elders are bound to make my reign a living hell.”

“What is the fuss about?” I hissed. “What is the issue?”

“Someone broke into the palace,” Lothar explained. “Cade is dead. He was stabbed multiple times in the dungeon.”

I froze. Dead? How possible could that be? I rushed to the dungeon to find Lucy holding onto him tightly.

“How did this happen?” I asked, my voice shaky.

“I don’t know. I found him like this,” she said. “Someone must have done this to prevent him from spilling all of the truth.”

I paused for a second. “Could it be…”

“The killer!” we both said.

“What are you two talking about? What killer?” Lothar asked.

“Uhm… It’s uh…. never mind. It’s nothing important. Cade only mentioned a few things that didn’t seem to be true,” I explained, hiding the truth from him.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Lothar searched our eyes for the truth and after a long stare, he gave up. “The guards are scouting the area, hopefully, we’ll find whoever did this.”

“Thank you. Make sure the killer is found, seal the gates if you have to. I need him found,” I said, desperation etched in my voice.

“You have my word, young alpha,” Lothar assured.

I nodded, leading the rest of them out of the dungeon while I remained inside with Lucy. We stooped over the body to examine the nature of his death.

“Cade whispered something to me before he died,” Lucy said. “He said the killer was here in the palace and that we need to be careful.”

“Did he say who it was?” I asked. “I believe he saw the killer’s face.”

“He was going to before he passed away. He only whispered inaudible words that I couldn’t fathom,” she explained.

“What about the guards stationed at the entrance? Didn’t they see anyone walk into this place?” I asked again.

“No one did. I met them lying unconscious at the entrance,” Lucy explained. “He attacked them too.”

I paced around, confused and devastated. Whoever did this was definitely the person behind my father’s death. He killed Cade to conceal the truth but that wouldn’t stop me. I was going to find out who that bastard was and make him pay.

“Get me Orvyn,” I ordered one of the guards standing close by.

“What are you thinking, Chris?” Lucy asked.

“Those guards weren’t attacked. There is no sign of bruising on their skin, they were drugged. There’s only one person capable of such an act and that’s Orvyn,” I said.

“And….?”

“He’s the killer.”