Chapter 30

RENZO'S POV

A knock came at the door, and it crept open before I could even usher whoever was outside in. My mind immediately told me it had to be Kyran. He was the only one who sometimes entered my office without waiting for my reply.

I let go of the werewolf girl and turned around, only to find my Beta, Alfonso, standing there instead. He stared at me, a look of shock plastered across his face.

"What is it, Royal Beta?" I asked, turning my gaze back to the werewolf girl. She seemed a little startled, and I hated that Alfonso had walked in before I could give her a heads-up about what I was about to do.

She needed to know. She needed to know how I intended to use her for my selfish reasons. She didn't deserve it. No one deserved to be used.

I'd had my fair share of being used without my consent since I was five. I knew just how badly it hurt, but I was left with no choice but to do the same to her.

If I wanted to find out who my enemy was, I had to make sure I had nothing to do with the people I was beginning to suspect. That way, I wouldn't have any reason to reconsider punishing them.

"I heard you called the head of the Blackwood family for an urgent meeting," Alfonso said, his fists clenched tightly at his sides as he stopped to stare at me.

I cocked an eyebrow, wondering how he'd found out. I'd sent Kyran, and unless he was working with them, Kyran would never discuss my orders with him.

I turned away from the werewolf girl and walked further into my office, heading towards my study to retrieve the document I'd prepared earlier, before leaving for the interrogation room.

With every passing minute, Alfonso gave me another reason to believe he wasn't on my side.

"How did you know about the meeting? No one knows about it except my messenger," I asked, craning my neck to look at Alfonso as he trailed behind me.

"I was with Guardian Orson when the messenger arrived," he said truthfully. His voice was forced and a little too low.

I could tell he was telling the truth because the information wouldn't have reached his ears yet if he hadn't witnessed the message being delivered.

I nodded, pulling out my chair and sitting down as I reached my study. Scanning through the documents on my desk, I realised they were exactly as I'd left them. Intact and untouched.

Over the past few years, I'd grown suspicious of everything. Even the food I ate. I always checked it for poison. I also made a habit of inspecting my office to see if anyone had been there behind my back. I knew what I was up against when I forced my way onto the throne.

"If I may ask, what were you doing at the Guardians' residence?" A sly smirk formed at the corner of my lips. I swivelled my chair from side to side, staring at my Beta with my arms crossed over my chest.

"I don't remember sending you there, so what reason did you have for meeting with the head of the Blackwood family? Alone?"

Alfonso seemed startled. It was certain he hadn't expected me to ask that question. He looked shocked, a little too shocked for someone who had nothing to hide.

"Lady Leila sent me there, Your Majesty," he blurted, moving his eyes around to avoid my gaze.

I scoffed, watching him in amusement. "The last time I checked, you weren't Leila's personal messenger. What reason do you have to answer to her?" It seemed ridiculous to hear him make such an absurd excuse.

Alfonso scratched his neck, gulping hard. "After hearing about what happened to her guard, which led to her being taken to the infirmary, I visited her to see if she was alright. She asked me to get her father," he mumbled, his eyes twitching nervously.

It was such a pity that a man like Alfonso had chosen to conspire against me. He'd been there the day I drove a dagger into the crook of my last family member's neck.

Alfonso knew just how much I cared about myself, and myself alone. He knew no one was beyond death at my hands, yet he foolishly conspired against me.

"Why would she want her father here? It's just a mere guard. Why was she so worried about me interrogating him?" I was confused. Just who the fuck were they all working for?

Who was the rogue leader? What was the connection between the Guardians and the rogues? Most importantly, what was Alfonso's relationship with the Guardians? What had they promised him in exchange for his involvement in their little scheme?

"On the night of the incident, I heard Lady Leila was in your building, and she was worried her guard would tell you during the interrogation. That's all there is to it," Alfonso said, licking his bottom lip.

This man was nervous. Which made it difficult to believe anything coming out of his mouth.

Why would Leila be so worried about me finding out she'd been in my building while I was away? Everyone knew I barely visited that place. It was still as good as new. There was nothing in my building that could be useful to their scheme. I was sure of it.

"Your Majesty, the head of the Blackwood family is here. So is Lady Leila," Kyran's voice rumbled through my mind.

The corner of my lips curved into a smirk as I stood up from my seat. Alfonso moved back a little when he saw me grab my dagger.

"Come with me," I said to Alfonso before walking out of my study. I heard him let out a shaky breath, but he followed me anyway.

"Hey there, little wolf," I called out.

Her head snapped towards me at the sound of my voice.

She hastily got up from the couch, her chest heaving as anxiety settled in her body. I hurried towards her, grabbing her hands and pulling her against my chest before she could hit the ground.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

She didn't look well, and I feared I might have been pushing her too hard. First, I'd told her she was going to be my mate, even though she was still mated to that shithead Alpha of her pack.

Now, I was about to force my burden onto her. Something about her made me want to protect her, but I'd never protected anyone before in my life, so I might have been doing everything wrong.

"Yes. Yes." She gulped, trying to move away from me, but I tightened my grip around her hands, holding her in place.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine with me."

Even my words sounded like a lie to my own ears. But I would make sure to protect her from the bugs scheming to eat me alive.

If she was the only person left in the royal buildings who wasn't my enemy, I was ready to turn her to my side so I would at least have someone on my side.

Even if she wasn't going to be of much help to my plans, it would still be nice to know that there was at least one person in the nation who wasn't against me.