Chase Me Alpha (Daria and Caleb) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Caleb’s POV

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I refrained from the urge to groan and curse at whatever games the goddess was playing with me.

“What now?” I demanded. It was only a few minutes ago that the maid had been taken to the cells.

It was barely daylight and I had yet to get a minute of damn rest to myself.

The person that ran in looked disheveled, hair and glasses askew I recognized them to be one of Elder Gerome’s trusted aides and walked towards them.

But I noticed something, his gaze wasn’t even fixed on me, instead it was fixed on Daria.

“You,” The aide growled, looking more murderous than I’d ever seen him. “You murderer.”

What?

I raised my brows in confusion as he pointed at her with no hint of hesitation. My confusion grew deeper and deeper as the seconds went on.

Even Daria gaped at the man, likely wondering what was going on.

“Hang on,” she raised her hand. “What do you mean? What have done?”

“What you would have done you mean,” The aide seethed. “If it weren’t for quick thinking we would have lost Elder Gerome ages ago.”

His words sounded more manic as I watched him turn to me and, pointing at Daria, he yelled, “Alpha Caleb, this Healer is not only a fraud, but also a murderer. She has attempted to kill der Gerome.”

“That’s impossible. Elder Gerome is perfectly fine,” Daria countered and folded her arms across her chest. “In fact it’s due to my treatment methods that he survived.”

“Your ways are seemingly to help him but we know the truth, you have been poisoning him slowly. The proof is there in your damn medicine box,” the aide yelled at her.

Daria growled out of frustration and opened her mouth to speak

“Enough,” I stopped them both. Already the argument was drawing not only looks but also whispering.

I asked the aide who panted with fervor burning in his eyes, “You have made your accusations. But do you have any proof?”

His immediate response was to nod eagerly, “Yes Alpha. It is in er medicine box, in Elder Gerome’s bedroom, we found proof of poisons being administered to him Alpha. You have to et justice, she must not be allowed to live.”

Daria scoffed openly. She sounded so sure of herself even in the ace of open accusation and I knew there was no way she could do such. If anything, she’s the reason Elder Gerome is aliv

“I insist it’s impossible. You can check, Alpha Caleb. My medicin box is full of medicines only to help Elder Gerome.”

The only way to sort this out was to get a proper survey of the medicines done. Not that I doubted Daria and her skills even our own resident Pack doctor couldn’t handle elder Gerome’s cafe or identify the cause of his illness so easily like she had.

I sat uncomfortably as we waited in the study for results of the peliminary investigation. The sun had risen and the pack was fully awake and going about their individual lives.

1/4

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18:55 Sat, Feb 7 D

Chapter 31

སཾ ༢, 35 –

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Daria sat quietly, her hands placed on her lap. Her expression was inscrutable. Aside from myself and her, two others were in the study were Jacob and a guard.

Soon the door opened and the pack Doctor walked in side by side with the side. Two guards trailed after him.

“Alpha.” The pack Doctor bowed and addressed me with no small amount of respect.

My fingers drummed on the desk, impatient and dreading the revelation to come.

“What news do you have to report?” I asked.

“The plants and tinctures in Healer Daria’s medicine box seem a little odd for healing. The pack Doctor was about to continue but Daria suddenly jumped in.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” She demanded in an irate tone.

I spoke calmly, “Daria. Quiet.”

She didn’t look at me and only turned away with a small exhale. She didn’t look happy, if anything she seemed a little antsy.

“Ahem. As I was saying Alpha Caleb,” I didn’t miss the dirty look he gave Daria. “The herbs and tinctures we found there and I analysed are only useful for inducing paralysis and hallucinations. They aren’t used for healing nerve damage or anything of the sort, in fact I suspect it would cause a fatal reaction for Elder Gerome if we hadn’t caught it in time.”

“I see,” I spoke measuredly, it was a lot to take in.

“This is a joke. I don’t keep such poisons in that bag.” Daria insisted.

The aide decided to speak now, his tone full of accusing and finger pointing at Daria.

“Then why don’t you start to explain how they got in there, you don’t give access to anyone do you?”

“No. Only I have the key to open it. It’s not easy to break into. So how…”

She looked adamant but her voice wavered, her eyes flickered around as if trying to gauge the situation. I sighed heavily, already a headache bloomed so easily in the damn morning.

Two matters before and now this. Daria of all people.

“There is nothing we can do but to investigate further, Alpha Caleb. The truth will out and by the goddess we will not be fooled.” The pack Doctor said with certainty.

My fingers twitched.

The doctor was right but that left what to do with Daria.I looked down at my clasped hands feeling the weight of every second pressed down on me. If it were anyone else I wouldn’t hesitate.

My values and the pack laws were clear, every person under investigation has to be placed in the cell.

But now that I should have ordered it, I hesitated.

“Alpha Caleb, please make the call fast. Elder Gerome’s health is important,” the aide insisted.

I looked at the guards who flanked a pale and silent

Daria.

She didn’t look at me, somehow that alone brought a heavy and eated feeling to my chest.

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18:55 Sat, Feb 7D G.

Chapter 31

35%

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“Healer Daria had been the only one to tackle Elder Gerome situation. I don’t believe she is capable of harming him.” I spoke up, my voice firm.

“But we have evidence against her, Alpha.”the aide pushed, his voice cold and accusing. “Or is Healer Daria not fit to her crimes, all because she’s the former Luna?”

“Enough!” I cut in sharply

My gaze flickered to Daria and then to the guards and few others awaiting my judgement.

I swallowed, my voice low, “Send her to the cells.” My chest tightened. “Make sure she doesn’t get access to any information until the investigation is complete.”

My words were final but I never felt it more keenly than now as Daria willingly bowed and left the study without a word.

The guards kept a firm hold on her arms but she didn’t react or pull away. She didn’t struggle.

The heat in my chest grew deeper and deeper until I could barely concentrate.

I knew I’d done something wrong.

Once everyone but Jacob and I had exited the study I stood and walked over to the bar wordlessly grabbing the bottle of whiskey. I poured two fingers into a tumbler and downed it immediately.

Jacob then spoke, “You don’t think she did it, do you? Tried to kill my grandfather?”

“No. I think there’s something at play here. Something that we haven’t yet grasped.” I replied as I poured another glass and slid it over to him. He caught it effortlessly and instead of drinking it straight up, looked into the glass in a thoughtful gaze.

“She hates us though. You and everyone in this pack, if anyone has the motivation to do it then she would.”

The ache in my chest made me stiffen. I brought my hand up to rub at it with a low growl.

Something in me wished to lash out but I didn’t know who to. What was going to happen to Daria?

“She would have just left without saying a damn word again instead of going through the trouble to poison Elder Gerome. She may not like us… but she’s a dedicated healer.”

I knew it was true. If she could put aside her dislike for me and work to fish out the spies that had threatened myself and elder Gerome’s life before then she wasn’t easily convinced to take revenge.

But that left a question.

“Who do you think is framing her then? Because they went through the damn trouble of placing those poisons in her bag. It couldn’t just be anyone,” Jacob mused with a dark expression.

I nodded mutely and then the door burst open.

Sabrina rushed in panting and her eyes red with unshed tears. All of a sudden Jacob stood and moved toward her.

“Don’t. Alpha Caleb,” she turned to me with eyes full of sorrow.” thought you had changed. Pardon me for saying this but how could you let Daria be taken to the cells? She’s never deserved to be treated like this, she’s innocent.”

Jacob was the one that spoke with even tones, “You’re right but we just need to hold on until the investigations are over. So–”

“I am done with waiting.” Sabrina countered. She glanced at Jaco and only then did I begin to suspect something else was going on. “I have no interest in going along with what you want. Daria is my friend and she comes first.”

Jacob inhaled sharply like he’d been struck. Sabrina turned around and stormed out the same way she came.

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18:55 Sat, Feb 7

Chapter 31

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Silence filled the room and Jacob walked over to the tumbler ofhiskey if given him before. This time without hesitation he swallowed it all in one large gulp and dropped the glass on the tole with a loud thud.

“Fuck this.” He growled.

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