*****Erika''s POV*****


    "That maid of yours?" Kat was surprised. Even though Pa was silent, I could see her shock too. Melisse was wide-eyed with shock and was about to flee the scene when two of my guards caught up with her.


    Anger boiled and spewed. I walked to where she was being held, the back of my hand went across her cheek harshly. "How dare you?!" Inded another one on the other cheek. "How dare you, Melisse?!"


    I was about to pounce on her but Kat and Pa held me back. This stupid girl! To think that I had liked her, she had deceived me with her phony innocence. Theugh she would have had behind my back, how stupid I was. How easily I had liked her and she had taken advantage.


    "What''s wrong?" Pa asked me.


    Instead of replying, I faced the guards. "Tie her and take to her to the meeting room, make sure she''s on her knees and watch her so she doesn''t escape."


    "Okay, Alpha." They bowed and took her away.


    I went into the room, removed my blood-sodden dress and walked into the bathroom. Thirty minutester, Pa and Kat too were done taking their baths. I walked out of my room with them following behind. They had been trying to ask me questions but I was too shaken with anger and disbelief to actually say anything.


    They understood my mood and left me while still ensuring their support andfort when and if needed. I went into the meeting and saw her.


    The guards were dutifully by her side while she remained kneeling on the floor with her hands tied to the back. The guards bowed as soon as they saw me. "Alpha."


    "Good job, guys." Imended them.


    "Thank you Alpha."


    I took my position on the Alpha''s seat, Pa and Kat took the other seat beside me, nking my both sides. I stared spitefully at her for a while, she was crying. "Alpha please, I''ve not done anything wrong."


    "What I hate is lying. Don''t lie to me." I warned her.


    "I swear I''m not lying. I swear Alpha." She sobbed, pleading.


    "Why did you attempt to run if you know you did no wrong?" I asked her.


    "B-because you a-asked them to a-arrest m-me." She replied between choking sobs.


    "It''s game over for you, Melisse. Who are you working for? Did you have a hand in what happened to my father?" I was trying to curtail my anger.


    If I was to handle Melisse, I would possibly kill her and I did not want to do that, she was the only one I knew as of the moment, the only possible link to what had happened.


    I had almost forgotten what Jace had said when he had called the first time, due


    to the tension, fear and nerves, I had not really paid attention. Searching for,


    rescuing and saving him had been the priority at the time. But now that I had time


    to think about and also seeing her at my door had made me remember.


    "Melisse, who are you?" My tone was low but I was vibrating within with rage. "Answer me!"


    She jumped and tried to move away but the guards shoved her forward. She kept mute.


    "Do you want us to do this the hard way?" I red coldly at her.


    She shook her head. "No, please. Alpha please I''m sorry."


    "What exactly are you sorry for?" My patience was running thin, I would hurt this girl so bad she would hate herself.


    So she was behind everything we


    had been going through? She was the mastermind? Always trying to be present everywhere and every time, and all these times I had thought she was been diligent and hardworking, I had even nned on increasing her pay and getting her a gift.


    I never knew she was getting information, trying to get her way deeply into this mansion so she could carry out her evil ns. I wondered how Jace had found out, but I knew he would not call her name if he was not sure.


    This girl was the reason my brother was lying on the hospital bed, yet she was refusing to talk.


    "Wait. I think I remember something now." This was from Pa. "Jace had made mention of arresting her when the call was on loudspeaker."


    "Exactly, Pa. How I never knew she was the mastermind..."


    "No. No. No. I swear, I''m not the mastermind. I''m just the m-messenger. I-I''m s-


    sorry." She hupped as more tears fell from her eyes.


    "The messenger, hm?" I looked at her.


    She nodded. "Yes."


    "What kind of messages do you give them?" I leaned forward to ask.


    She moved backward in fear. "I...I..."


    "One of you should get me the whip from the torture room and a knife too. The small one."


    She wailed louder. "Please Alpha, please."


    "Then talk." I gritted my teeth.


    She looked at both my friends, then at me. She shook her head.


    "So you won''t say?"


    She sobbed more and moved backward. One of the guards came with what I requested for. I did not bother to ask again, I stood, too the whip from the guard


    and whipped her three times across her back in quick session.


    She fell to the ground and rolled herself on the floor, mostly rubbing her back against cold marble. But was not done, I whipped her legs, she continued to scream. I kept whipping and kicking her until tears fell from my eyes.


    "You bastard!" I threw at her, a sob leaving my lips. "You caused me and my family


    this much pain."


    Pa and Kat immediately rushed to my side and gave meforting hugs, I reveled in it. I was tired. So tired. From the running breathless in an unknown forest, searching for my brother to the knife and gun wounds he''d sustained.


    "I''m fine girls, thank you." I pulled away from the hug gently. "Melisse, I promise I


    will kill you and feed your corpse to the beast of the sky."


    "No, Alpha." She was bleeding in some ces, her words were weak. "Please. I


    had to do it. They said they will kill my family if I don''t."


    "Who are the ''they''?"