CHAPTER 77. OUR CHILD?
RYDER
The blaring siren sounds awakened me from my slumber. I had a throbbing headache, coupled with the fact that I found it hard to shrug off the dizziness. I'd sedated myself to sleep and I wish I didn't. Now waking up was hard, and my nerves are weak. I tried again and it was futile.
I had to implore my wolf side and only then could I shake off the remaining effects of the sedatives. I was fully awake now, and yeah, the blaring siren sounds were real and fucking close.
I hopped down from the bed and hurried outside, dressed in my sweatpants and a loose shirt. The hallway was a mess.
“What's going on?!“ I asked no one in particular, as I brushed past running bodies.
“I think the humans are trying to start a fight!“ A random voice replied.
Everyone was in panic and it got me more anxious to hurry outside and see what the hell was going on.
I froze in my tracks when I got outside and saw a long line of policemen in my front yard. Also, they had guns and we're pointing them at my warriors and the warlords. What the fuck is this? What are these humans doing here?
“Son,“ Father frantically grabbed my arm, “They're demanding for you,“
“Why? What have I done?” I whispered back to him, taking note of the guns they held. It was no ordinary gun. They were exclusive guns that only used bullets made out of wolfsbane. I know my men are strong, but it's hard for a werewolf to survive shots from bullets made out of wolfsbane.
The last time I saw this gun was years back, before the peace treaty. Why are they holding it here, in my palace?
”Ryder?“ The head commander walked up to me. I could tell from his uniform and the aura around him.
“Yes, What're all these about? What's going on?“ I demanded.
”You've been identified as a suspect for the murder of a hundred human soldiers at the barrack next to the border between your pack and our world,“
“What?!“ His words were gibberish to my ears. Suspect for what? Killing humans? How did I wind up as a suspect in a crime I never knew took place until now?
“I don't have a clue what you're accusing me of, uh…“ I drawled, unsure of what to call him.
“Carter,“ He completed, flashing me his badge.
”I don't know what this is, Carter, but I haven't killed any humans. Why would I even do that?“
“I'm afraid we have every reason to suspect you. Where were you last two nights?”
”What?“
“Where did you go last two nights?“
I was silent. I didn't give him a response.
“Ryder, you gotta talk. Or we might be forced to start firing our bullets,“
“I was in my nightclub, had a few drinks with my warlords, and went to see a friend,”
”What friend?” He demanded intently.
“You know what, I need to see a shred of evidence that points to me as a suspect. Without that, I'm not answering any more of your questions,“
“We have a camera that caught you running the dark street in your wolf form,“
”I was running in my pack. How did your camera get in here?”
“A drone,“ He replied flatly, “You were in a murderous mood, so clearly, there's a chance you killed someone that night,”
“I didn't -“
“We found your Beta's dagger at the crime scene,“ The Carter man continued, taking out the dagger from his briefcase. I recognized it instantly. It was Jason's dagger. Ever since that day he went rogue, I haven't set my eyes on this dagger.
“How did you get that?“
“We believe this was the murder weapon you used to slit the throat of our soldiers,“
“Hey, hold on a sec. I haven't seen that dagger ever since Jason went…“ I cut off, no way in hell could I implicate Jason like this. If I tell them he went rogue, they'll kill him. Humans never let rogues live, it was against everything they stood for.
”Jason went what?“ He inquired.
“Nevermind, but I haven't seen that dagger in a while. So what you're accusing me of is ridiculous,“
”Is it? Ryder, you got a streak of running random men over with your car. Remember when you made the headlines?“
Fuck, so I get to be blamed for this just because once upon a time, I ran a man over for hitting Hara.
”It's either you made use of this dagger, or your Beta did, making him your accomplice in his crime. So I'll ask again, where did you go last two nights?“
I was speechless. If I told him I went to the pack house, no one would be a witness as I went in and out unnoticed. And if I told him that I was with Jason, he might continue with his assumption that Jason was my accomplice. Now if I told him that Jason is sedated and couldn't have been outside that night, he'll find out about Jason's condition and he'll wanna kill him.
I can't seem to come up with the right response.
Fuck. I know what this is. It's a fucking setup. Someone is pulling these strings, and tying me up in it. And I'm not sure who the hell it was.
”We need you to come over to the station for some questioning. We have a warrant, so don't try to fight us,”
”It's fine, I'll come with you,” Saying those words felt like I just put the ropes around my neck, ready to be hung. But I had no choice. It was either that, or they wiped off my men with wolfsbane.
I got dragged by the arm heading to the main gate. Father's relentless calls and the warlord's protest fell on deaf ears. But I was forced to halt when I heard her calling out to me.
I turned around and she was standing next to Father, still in her nightgown. With the sun's rays on her, she had a different, more surreal glow. She was in so much tears I needed to know why. So I did tap into her mind. But what I found instead made me pale instantly.
It was faint, almost unrecognizable but I picked up every bit of the heartbeat. Just like I did the first day I saw her in my office. The way I picked up the heartbeat of her unborn child. This heartbeat was similar. No fucking way! Hara's pregnant?!
I almost wanted to doubt my paternity to the child but the heartbeat synced with mine. I could already feel the bond, it was my child.
”Let's go,” They dragged me out of the gate. But my heart was with my family. I promise to return and protect you, Hara. Both you and our unborn child.
But Dese goddess, The war is tomorrow. Please keep her safe if I don't return before then. I can't lose her, not now that she's gonna be having my baby.