The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 35: Dead end.

~Zarek’s POV~

"Jennifer!" The name rolled off my tongue in anger.

She had to be the one. The one who had paid Kane to hurt Dahlia as only she hated Dahlia that much. She was also the only one with just enough balls to carry out such outrageous mischief in my name, and now, thinking about it, I couldn’t help but feel stupid.

I should have known. I should have called her in for questioning as soon as I heard about it, but it is never too late though as she’d still have to pay for doing something as evil as that.

My hands balled into fists as these thoughts crashed into my head in waves, and in anger, I turned to my bodyguard, and drawled; "

"Drogon, I asked you to pay close attention to Jennifer. I asked you to report any suspicious behavior you find, why haven’t you reported anything yet?"

I cocked my eyebrows as Drogon bounced from foot to foot. He was a large man of about 6’5" feet tall and had tons of bulky muscles to match it up, but despite this, he feared me. Immensely. Not that I would blame him though.

"I didn’t notice anything out of place besides the fact that she’s been looking and smelling really alluring since the past day."

That’s true.

"Moreover, she’s mostly always in her room, and when she’s not in there, she’s stalking your throne room and chambers. I don’t think she’s up to anything else besides that." He said and I frowned as all those only pointed to one thing: she’s innocent. But I refuse to believe that.

A mixture of confusion and annoyance gnawed at me, and in unadulterated rage, I ordered; "Send for her. Tell her I intend to see her right now."

He bowed and with that, he stalked out of the room. As I watched him go, I couldn’t help but think about his words. I also could help but fear that I may be wrong about suspecting Jennifer, even though she was the only one I could suspect.

I mean, who else would try to hurt Dahlia besides her, especially after the not-so-subtle threat she’d given some days ago?

I was so lost in thoughts, thinking about these things that I did not realize when she waltzed into the room, and only realized this a moment too late when her floral perfume hit my nostrils. Thankfully, it wasn’t spiked with aphrodisiacs but there was a bit of soothing elixir added to it. I rolled my eyes.

"Alpha Zarek," she greeted, bowing slightly and I ground my teeth together when I noticed the sheer clothing draped around her body.

It was a simple blue dress. The fabric—a rich blend of velvet and silk—that clung to her curves like a second skin. The bodice, laced tightly with silver threads, accentuated her figure, while the neckline plunged just enough to hint at danger and allure. It also had a slit so high, it felt like I was staring straight at the devil’s peak; and that was concerning.

What was her deal with slutty clothes these days?

"You called for me." She said,

Her feigned innocence irked me. Even the way she carried herself with some semblance of grace made me almost rip the arrogance from her. I turned to face her with a scowl etched onto my face, and then I said; "Yes, I did... and the reason isn’t pleasant."

Her face fell. Even the sultriness in her voice disappeared when she said; "So what is the matter, my king?"

I leaned back against my chair, my eyes never leaving her face as I gauged her expression while I responded. "Someone tried to hurt Dahlia."

And as soon as Dahlia’s name slipped past my lips, the frown on Jennifer’s face deepened. She crossed her arms over her chest, successfully hiding the cleavage that she had so desperately put on display moments ago, and snarled;

"Not like she doesn’t deserve it, but isn’t she supposed to be in jail? Why would anyone still hurt her there after everything?"

By everything, I knew she meant the pain... the suffering and the punishment that she had ensured Dahlia suffered two days ago, and a chill ran up my spine at the thought. Only Hades knows what she must’ve put the poor girl through, but all of it was nothing compared to that stunt she had played with Kane and his cohort. She may be lying now but by the time I am done with her, she wouldn’t even have the balls to lie.

"She’s still in the dungeons but someone paid some guards to rough her up and rape her." I snapped, still feeling anger at the thought of Kane and Dan’s hands on my mate. "My best guess however, is you."

At that, her jaw dropped. I saw something akin to confusion fleet past her face before she toned it down and glared harshly at me, her unusually bright blue eyes dark.

"You think I would stoop so low as to do something like that?" Her tone was venomous, sharp and extremely sad. It almost made me feel bad for her—almost— that is until I remembered how manipulative she could be when she wanted to. And how she’d threatened to hurt Dahlia.

I shook my head. "I think you’re capable of anything." I responded unflinchingly even as her eyes darkened even more with each passing second. "You’re the only one who hates her enough to do something like that."

"And have you ever stopped to think that maybe everyone here hates her and her mutant child? Have you stopped to think that she’s a nobody, a foreigner and that your people consider her as such?! Or are you so lost in your obvious infatuation for her that you’ve suddenly ceased to see through your ’people’s’ eyes?"

If I was angry earlier then now, I was royally pissed. In a bout of rage, I pushed myself out of my chair and held onto Jennifer’s arm so tight that I was sure a bruise would form, and from how she winced in pain, I knew that it had hurt. But right now, I didn’t care. All I wanted was the truth and nothing else besides that.

I snarled, "Tell me the truth."

"I didn’t do it!" She hissed between gritted teeth.

"Jennifer..?!"

"What do you care, Zarek? Isn’t she a criminal? Why do you care so much about someone who’s meant to be beneath you?"

"And she was already being punished as a criminal." I spat back, my anger doubling with each passing second and with each word she spoke. "She did not have to be attacked while in the dungeons."

"I swear I had nothing to do with your little slave being vandalized while in jail but trust me, I wish I did. And I wish I was there to watch while those vile brutes ripped her off that feigned innocence that seems to have you in a chokehold. Maybe then, you’ll look away from her. Maybe then you’ll realize I’m the closest thing to a love interest you’ll ever have!"

"Kneel!" I growled in rage. I noticed how Jennifer’s eyes widened in shock but she reluctantly went on her knees all the same. I on the other hand, returned to my chair.

Her voice dropped, now sounding placating. "You wouldn’t do that, Zarek? I am your fiancée. Your Luna, you wouldn’t humiliate me before your servant because of some slut."

It wasn’t until she said this that I realized that Drogon was still in the room with us. But deciding that I do not care, I continued;

"Who paid Kane?"

"Gosh, I don’t even know who the fuck that damn fool is. You know what? Take me to him! I need to see him and maybe after he testifies against me— right in front of me— then you can do whatever you want with me! But just so you know, I’ll have to give him a penny or two for ruining your little flower."

Anger. That was my only response to her words. I tilted my head to the side as I regarded her, but after realizing that she was simply just annoyed and nothing more, I stated; "He didn’t. He never got the chance to."

The shock on her face was real. And the anger. She snarled; "He didn’t? Then maybe he deserves 50 lashes of a boiled whip for being a stupid idiot then another 30 for trying to get into that slave’s undergarments."

Her responses only proved one thing: she didn’t know him. She didn’t even know he was dead and she had no idea about Dahlia’s attempted rape.

I frowned. "Let me take you to him then." I said and with that, I rose from my sitting position.

Jennifer on the other hand, rushed up so speedily that I was almost blown away by her speed. And then she led the way as she began to skid towards the direction of the training ground only to stop and turn to me.

"Where is he? At the dungeons too?"

"No, at the hospital."

"What? He got injured? How?" And then as if a thought struck her, she turned to me added; "Don’t tell me you punished him for touching a slave, Zarek! She’s a whore!"

I didn’t even flinch. I didn’t respond either as right now, I was only stuck with the realization that Jennifer was innocent. But if she is then who was responsible for it? And who could be so bold as to do it in my name?

"Zarek...?"

"He’s dead." I replied quickly. "He was found dead with foam in his mouth and a bottle of..."

She froze. "...poison."

Now her rage was real and from the burst of pheromones emanating from her, I knew once that she was more pissed at the fact that I had dragged her out of the house than anything else. In fact, she was mad that I had accused her.

But for what reason? Why had I done all of this just to prove a point?

Anger like no other slammed into me and with it came a tinge of confusion. My first suspect was innocent— my only suspect actually and that made me so annoyed that I felt this irresistible urge to punch into something.