The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

8. His Shocking Accusation

KATALEYA.

My eyes fly open at those words.

“No, not at-”

“Don’t lie to me. What is it? Never seen an Alpha with a disability?” He throws at me venomously, his eyes filled with contempt as he sits back in his throne-like chair.

He doesn’t even need a throne. The power that radiates off him is enough of a reminder to show who wears the crown here.

He is the Alpha, there’s no doubt about that, but his aura intrigues me. How powerful is he?

“Are you going to stare all day? This isn’t a circus.”

My heart constricts at his words, and I shake my head. “No, it’s not that – I… Having a disability never makes a person beneath anyone or any less capable. My mother has a disability, but it does not stop her from being the most incredible woman ever. I admire her, and I can also see that you too are a great Alpha.”

He cocks a brow, scoffing contemptuously as he opens his drawer and takes out a cigarette, deftly placing it between those gorgeous lips of his, and flicking the lighter as he lights his cigarette.

I have never approved of smoking, even if we are werewolves, because I dislike having to get it out of upholstery, but he does look oddly… charming, in a naughty… sexy way.

“Don’t try to relate to me… Sit the fuck down, I don’t have time to waste on the likes of you,” he snarls, tossing the lighter back into the drawer.

I don’t want to waste his time, and so I sit down quickly, my wet hair falling in front of my face, but his frown only deepens as he looks at me, as if something I did just irritated him even more. I blow the hair, but it refuses to budge, and so I raise my bound hands and brush the strand of hair off my face.

He turns away, clearly irritated by me.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you,” I say quietly.

I’m just annoying him…

No… I mustn’t be too nice. What if he decides to let me go because I’m well-behaved?

We can’t have that happening. This is my chance!

Yes, I have to be rude.

Looking up, I stick my chin out, channelling Dad and Skyla. “Actually, I’m not sorry.”

There, I did good!

I am proud of myself if I do say so myself.

Well done, Kat.

His gaze snaps back to me and I think there’s a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but it’s gone as fast as it came and instead, he cocks his brow coldly.

He stands up and walks around the desk, smoking his cigarette. Once again, my heart fluttering at the fact that he is right here in front of me…

The gold of his small hoop earring in his right ear glints when it catches the light before he leans against his desk, crossing his ankles as he observes me.

“You might not look like a killer, but I’ve learned looks can be deceiving, one of the men that you attacked last night is dead.”

My blood runs cold as I stare into his hazel eyes as those words sink in like a bitter poison.

What?

I shake my head vigorously, realising what he’s insinuating. “That wasn’t me.” I defend my heart racing.

“Then explain to me why his wounds didn’t heal?” His voice is quiet, yet that in itself is extremely deadly. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

He picks up a few photos that had rested face down on the table and tosses them at me. I flinch, closing my eyes as one of them knicks my cheek, cutting into my skin before they scatter around me, and one lands on my lap.

Gazing down at it, it’s an image of an arm… those are the scratch marks I inflicted on one of my attackers last night.

They’ve not healed up, but… that’s not my doing… My attacks don’t kill, they only take longer to heal depending on the person, but even then they don’t kill.

“Don’t lie to me!” His words are cold and cutting. He tosses his cigarette on the floor, crushing it beneath his boot.

Suddenly, he grabs my throat brutally, choking me.

I gasp as I gaze up at him. “I’m not lying! My… It’s true! Th-that when I inflict a wound, it takes a little longer to heal, but it should have healed by morning and there was nothing more- Ah!” His nails are digging into my skin, his eyes blazing gold as he glares at me and for a moment, I don’t think he’s even listening to what I’m saying. Only his rage is rising. “I swear, I didn’t kill him.”

“I will be the one to decide if that is the truth or not.” He lets go of me as he looks away, his eyes returning to normal. “What intrigues me is that you aren’t afraid. Do you think that you can get away with whatever crime you commit? Regardless of how severe they are?”

“No! I told you I didn’t kill him. But you should be careful. If he’s dead, then something happened and instead of wasting your time accusing me, you need to find the culprit.” I say, unable to stop myself.

He scoffs mockingly, but there’s no amusement on his face as he tilts his head, a strand of his glossy chocolate locks falling across his forehead. One that I am tempted to touch…

“I know how to run my pack, I don’t need advice from trash. I have several means to find out exactly what happened to him, but I assure you if I find out it’s you… you will learn how we deal with traitors here in Puerto Rico.”

There’s something chilling about that and I nod, but I’m not deterred.

“And if I am innocent?” I challenge softly.

“You aren’t.”

My eyes flash at his confidence in those words, my heart racing. “I am, but if I am proven innocent, then what will you do?”

“You can leave and get off my island.” He says quietly.

“No. If I am innocent, then I want one request to be fulfilled by yourself, Alpha Enrique.”

“What will it be? What do women like yourself want? To have that cunt of yours fucked? It must be easy to spread your legs for every Alpha you come across, right? Tell me, do you want me to fuck you, Princesa?” he asks harshly, his tone mocking and degrading as his eyes rake over me, lingering on my breasts.

His words sting and my cheeks burn at what he’s insinuating.

How could he think of me like that?

Maybe I’ve thought of- no no no, not like this. Not when he’s insulting me!

“No thank you, you can keep your- your thing for the women at that club you like to visit. Only the one who is worthy of me will have me,” I reply defiantly, jutting out my chin.

His eyes glimmer gold as they dip to my breasts again.

“B-but I want one request that isn’t to do with that... fulfilled, please.” I continue, his gaze making me nervous. This is why I needed a bra!

He isn’t impressed, nor phased by my bravery, instead he scoffs.

“I’m everyone’s fucking type.” He replies arrogantly, and I can’t deny I agree with him. That jaw, those lips, and those dreamy eyes are enough to melt the heart of any woman. “Who do you think you are, Princesa, that you think I am going to grant you whatever you desire?” The dark aura that’s emanating from him, a warning that I am playing with fire.

“An innocent, held prisoner… and as an Alpha, one must acknowledge their mistake,” I reply softly, feeling like I will never get through to him.

His eyes flash as he grabs the back of my locks, painfully yanking me forward as his eyes lock with mine. My heart is pounding, his warm breath fanning my face.

“Don’t give yourself so much importance. When your dead body is returned to your family, they will learn how the Alpha who will one day rule every single Caribbean Island is not someone who will leave a debt unpaid. And he is not one that forgets…”

My breath hitches as I stare into those smouldering eyes, my heart sinking.

Those words… why do I feel like he’s speaking of the past?

Does he know who I am?

It doesn’t matter. My heart bleeds at the festering darkness that I can feel radiating from him. He’s hurting, and he’s turned that pain into hatred.

“And I am one who will always stand by the truth. If you are confident that I am the criminal here, then why are you afraid to accept the deal?” I whisper.

His jaw tenses as he lets go of me and stands up suddenly, his heart thudding.

“Very well… you have yourself a deal, if I find that you are the reason one of my men is dead… then I will kill you, and I assure you, I show no mercy.”

I gulp and nod.

“Deal…” I murmur, and although I want to tell him that anything I did was in self-defence, I don’t think he’s going to care.

“Get out.”

The door opens and I glance at his back, broad, stiff, and one that oozes dominance and power.

For once I have nothing to say, and when Alondra and Gabriela pull me from the seat, I feel like I’m failing already.

I sigh heavily as the door is shut by the large guard and he silently follows us once more. We’re heading back to the same room when suddenly I feel it.

A cold creeping chill that I have felt before.

Please, not now.

My heart pounds as I look over my shoulder and down the hall that now seems to fill with darkness, fear embedding deep into my bones.

They’re here.

And I know they’ve come for me.