The Alpha's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 434

Chapter 434: THE BODY

Erik froze.

For a moment, it felt like the world narrowed into that one image, Rudy’s lifeless body, swaying gently from the rafter like a hanging toy.

The rope hung and the atmosphere was stagnant with the small of deaths

Fiona gasped behind him. "Gods..."

Erik took a shaky step forward, instinct kicking in even as dread shook his entire being.

He reached out and grasped Rudy’s ankles, trying to steady the body as his other hand fumbled to cut the rope. It took longer than it should have.

His fingers trembled. His mind raced.

And as he did it, he thought about how he didn’t want to be here.

How he wished he was anywhere but here even if it meant being in the same space as Anna.

Why was it now Xaden wasn’t here that everything was going into complete chaos.

How would Xaden handle such atrocities committed in the pack?

The boy’s body fell into his arms with a thud that knocked the breath from his lungs.

He lowered Rudy to the floor, cradling him as if that could still make a difference.

But Rudy was cold. Limp. His mouth hung open in a silent scream. His eyes still wide with something Erik recognized.

Terror.

He didn’t look like someone who expected suicide.

He had seen enough eyes of death to know.

He looked like someone who truly feared.

Fiona knelt beside him, one hand covering her mouth. "Oh noo... oh, Gods..."

"He’s gone," Erik said, barely recognizing his own voice. It was hoarse. Hollow.

He barely knew Rudy.

Just the few things that he has moved to the pack four years ago and was so good at the horses, he had preferred to be a ranch boy than pursue a rank in wolf hierarchy.

"But why?" Fiona whispered, eyes darting around the barn. "Why would he? Oh my Goddess he was just a boy."

Erik scanned the shadows, his wolf sharp and restless under his skin. "I don’t think he did this."

Fiona’s gaze snapped to him. "You think someone... murdered him?"

"I think someone wanted him quiet." Erik gently shut Rudy’s eyes, but it didn’t help. The image would be burned into him forever.

He stood, wiping his hands on his trousers like it would somehow rid him of the weight settling on his shoulders. "He was supposed to answer questions. About the horse. About who gave it to him. How convenient is it that just when I was about to ask he wound up in a supposed suicide."

Fiona slowly rose to her feet. "But if someone knew you were going to him...."

"They moved faster." Erik’s jaw tightened. "They’re covering their tracks."

"Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess." Fiona said as she raked her fingers through her hair in anguish.

Then she turned back to Erik and took a shaky breath. "What do we do?"

Erik looked at her then, really looked.

Her cheeks were pale, her lashes wet, but she stood there, unwavering.

Her hair was wild and unbraided, loose strands hung from her front head.

Despite everything.

She looked beautiful

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