Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Chapter 57.

Kex’s POV.

| stared at her, my gaze intense and unblinking. “Do you still want Astel?” | asked, my voice low and serious.

She choked on her food, coughing hard. | quickly passed her a cup of water, and she gulped it down, hitting her chest with her fist. She set the cup down and looked at me, her eyes calculating.

“What kind of question is that?” she asked, her voice breathless.

| met her gaze, unflinching. “A serious one,” | said.

“What's your concern with me and my rejected mate?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

“| just want to know whether you’ve moved on or not,” | said trying to make my voice sound hard.

But | didn’t smile. “I don’t see why it's any of your business,” she said, her voice teasing.

I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s just that every time there’s even the smallest opportunity, you bring up Astel. It’s weird to me because he never cared about you,” | said, my voice rising with frustration.

She let out a soft laugh. “It’s funny how you think | should just accept my rejection and move on like that,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness. She gave me a small, sad smile. “I guess it’s not that easy for me.”

“Why, Nelly?” | said, my voice rising with irritation. “Why do you care about him so much? He’s moved on, he’s with Shantel now.

She shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve asked myself what's wrong with me that made him reject me?” she said, her voice shaking. “Do you have any idea of the humiliation | felt that day?

How can | just move on?” she demanded, her voice rising high with emotion.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” | said, trying to reassure her. “You're perfect just the way you are.” But she just laughed sadly.

“That’s not what you said the first day we met,” she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. “You told me | needed to lose weight, remember?”

| felt my face grow hot with shame. | wished | could turn back the hands of time, take Ill back that statement.

“| was wrong.” | said, my voice thick with regret. “I’m so sorry.”

“It's okay,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.

lyw I But | could tell she was still hurt by | sat there, not knowing what to say. watched her eat, her eyes far away, her thoughts a jumble of confusion. A part of me. wanted to take her in my arms and tell her it would all be okay, but | knew that wasn’t what she needed right now. | just needed to give her time to process her emotions.

| stood up, the chair scraping against the floor. “I'll be in my room,” | said, my voice sounding flat and hollow.

She nodded, still not looking at me. | could tell she was lost in her thoughts, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. | hesitated at the door, not wanting to leave her alone like this. But | knew | couldn’t stay, not now. | turned and left, my mind a jumble of emotions and thoughts.

| walked away, my mind racing. | decided | needed to talk to Emily, to get her side of the story. | made my way to the cell, my anger growing with every step. When | saw her, sitting there with a smug look on her face, | wanted to strangle her. How could |

have believed all her lies? She was just a manipulative, conniving woman who would do anything to get what she wanted.

As | approached the cell, the guards bowed their heads and opened the door for me. | stepped inside, and the door closed behind me with a heavy thud.

Emily stood up, and | could see the smug look on her face falter for just a moment before she replaced it with a sad, tear—stained expression. She began to sob, and | started to circle her, my footsteps echoing in the small room. | could hear her breathing quicken, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

| stopped in front of her and raised her chin with my finger, forcing her to meet my gaze. | watched as she swallowed hard, her eyes full of fear and uncertainty. | cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice.

“I'm not going to hurt you,” | said, my words ringing with authority. “But you need to tell me the truth. Who killed my late beta?”

| demanded, my voice cold and hard. | waited for her answer, knowing that it could change everything.

“|-I don’t know anything about his death,” she stammered, her voice quivering with fear.

But | had no patience for her games. “I don’t have time for this,” | growled, my claws.

Ill [e)

10:48 22 FE digging into her skin. She winced, her eyes wide with pain and fear.

“Speak!” | roared, my voice booming in the small cell.

She closed her eyes, as if trying to block out the world around her. | could feel my claws. digging deeper, and | realized | was hurting her. But | was desperate for answers, and | couldn't stop myself.

Emily’s face crumpled, and she let out a sob. “Il swear | don’t know anything, Alpha Kex,” she cried.

| let go of her, and she fell to the floor, her shoulders shaking with sobs. | was unable to bring myself to look at her, my anger boiling over. | turned away from her, and called out to the guard.

“Get a doctor in here,” | said, my voice cold and clipped. The guard hurried to obey, leaving me alone with Emily.

Emily’s wails filled the small cell, and | couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. But at the same time, | was annoyed that she knew something about my late beta.

| paced the cell, my thoughts racing as | watched her. | knew she had to be hiding something, and | was determined to find out what it was. | stopped in front of her, looming over her as she sobbed on the floor.

“You're the one who’s making me do this,” | said, my voice breaking with frustration. “Just tell me what you know.”

She shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know anything, my lord,” she sobbed. “When | found him, he was already dead.”

| felt my heart sink as she spoke, and | struck the floor in anger. She flinched at the sound. The door to the cell opened, and a doctor entered.

“Attend to her,” | said, my voice cold. | turned and walked away.

My hands were bleeding, but | couldn’t feel the pain. | walked past Nelly’s room, and | could hear her sobs through the door. |

was about to open it when | heard Aisha’s voice.

“Why are you still hanging on to Astel’s rejection?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

It was then that it hit me Nelly had not felt our mate bond because she had not formally accepted Astel rejection. My heart sank as the realization washed over me.