020: MAYBE, YOU’RE JUST IN DENIAL

DAXTON.

I'd forgotten what she used to look like. In fact, I'd forgotten that I still had a photo left of her. I looked up at Arya, feeling like I'd just been sucker punched in the gut. I have been lacking energy lately. I never wanted to admit it, but guilt was slowly chipping away at me, and I was sinking into a familiar spiral of bleak oblivion. The thought that I'd actually killed her mother had been haunting me badly. So much that I had to ask Reina to move our hypnosis session closer.

"Won't you give me an answer? Who is she?" Arya demanded.

Her eyes were burning, shimmering with unshed tears.

Again, I was struck with awe by how much she resembled Anessa.

The officers pulled me to my feet. I didn't attempt to pull away from them this time.

"Anessa was my first mate," I said to Arya, and she frowned deeply.

"Does this mean I'm her reincarnation?"

I stared at her for a moment, my mind wavering. Could she really be Anessa? How was that even possible?

But the way she looked at me now…like she'd known me once, as if she was waiting for me to remember something I couldn't…..that terrified me.

Even though they looked alike and were stubborn, Arya possessed a different kind of fire. Her personality was much stronger and more intense, like a sharpened blade.

No, she couldn't be her.

"Dax, your nose," Mason said, and I turned to look at him, confused. "You're bleeding."

Sluggishly, I brought a hand to my nose and wiped it, my fingers were stained red now.

Forcing out a smile, I wiped off some more blood. "I'm fine. Let's go, officers," I said, and they began to lead me away. I could feel Arya's gaze on me the entire time.

A while later, I was thrown into a dimly lit interrogation room, the only light source a buzzing bulb swinging above my head like a ticking clock.

I barely flinched when the officer slammed his palm against the metal table between us.

I'd answered every single one of his questions, but it seemed we weren't getting anywhere. Now, two murder suspicions in a row were uncalled for. The first time….fine, the details were murky. Even I didn't fully remember what happened that night.

But this time?

I'd been lying low for days because I barely had the strength to do anything.

So, why? Why was this happening to me again?

"Admit it. Admit that you killed the victim," the officer said, and I groaned in annoyance.

I didn't even know who the victim was, why would I kill them? "Do you have evidence of my 'supposed' crime?" I demanded, and he glared at me.

"I'm the interrogating officer. Not you."

Yeah, sure.

How ridiculous.

"I already told you. I didn't kill him," I said through gritted teeth. Annoyance surged inside of me, and I itched to leave that lifeless space.

"You're not going to weasel your way out of—" I didn't let him finish, I shot to my feet and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, breaking my cuffs apart.

His eyes bulged in their sockets when my claws extended, nearly piercing into his flesh. "Now, you will listen to me," I hissed.

He nodded frantically, his face losing colour.

"I will walk out of that door," I said, pointing at the back door only a few feet away. "And you won't stop me."

His wide eyes were filled with fear now, his body trembling as I slightly pressed my claws against his throat.

"Tell your supervisors and superiors. Tell them I'm done playing their games."

He nodded again, sweat dripping down his temples. Tightening my grip on his shirt, I shoved him back into his seat and pushed my chair backwards with the back of my leg.

I walked out of the room and found three officers standing there. They stared at me, and I held their gazes, silently daring them to come closer. When they didn't, I took off.

...

Mason was surprised to see me when I strode into the house an hour later. Still, he didn't ask me what had happened. I knew he trusted me that much.

"Where's Arya?" I asked Mason, and he shrugged.

"She's been sulking in her room since you left. If you want me to notify her of your return—"

I shook my head, cutting him off. "I'm exhausted. I just want to rest."

He nodded, watching me walk away from him. But his next words stopped me short. "What if she really is your first mate's reincarnation?"

My stomach churned as nausea washed over me.

Gods, no.

She can't be.

If she really was Anessa, how could I stay by her side without thinking of the fact that I'd killed her in the past?

Sucking in a sharp breath, I clenched my fists.

"She's not Anessa."

"Dax...if you're still too tired to oversee the meeting with the officials, I can always reschedule," Mason blurted out randomly.

"No," I deadpanned. "The meeting will go as planned."

Without another word, I retreated to my room. The moment I opened the door, I smelled a familiar scent. Arya. A smirk tugged at my lips. I knew I could always count on her to spice up my day. The lights turned on, and there she was, seated on my bed like she owned it.

"Master, you're back," she said, rising to her feet. I turned away from her, quickly unbuttoning my shirt and taking it off.

"What are you doing in here, Arya?" I asked, tossing my shirt on my bed.

"I felt something when I saw that photo," she said, and I eyed her warily.

"And what's that?"

She swallowed hard, balling her hands into fists.

"Grief..."

I had a feeling it wasn't all.

When her eyes locked onto mine, they hardened. "And resentment. It was so strong, I couldn't breathe."

My chest tightened.

"You really think you're Anessa," I pointed out, running my fingers through my hair. "Unfortunately, I will have to disappoint you."

She scowled. "Maybe you're just in denial."

I stilled, my breath catching in my throat. In a way, she was right. I didn't want to believe it. No. I couldn't bring myself to.

"You should leave. I want to be alone." My voice was much colder than I'd intended. But Arya didn't flinch.

"I just want to know this," she said, and I tensed. "Did you really kill Anessa?"

A lump lodged itself in my throat, and a flash of images barrelled into my mind like a whiplash. Blood. So much blood. It was on my hands, on my clothes, and on Anessa's body. I could still feel the way her body trembled against mine. The way the lights faded from her lilac eyes, her fingers twitching against mine.

Yes. I'd killed her.

I wanted to say those words, but I could barely breathe. My vision had blurred, my heart threatening to explode in my chest.

Then without a word, Arya slipped out of my room, shutting the door behind her.

My knees buckled, and I sank into my bed, burying my head in my hands. Even while I drowned in denial, I knew that I deserved this torment.

...

A while later, I was seated in my study. My eyes were closed, my fingers rubbing against my forehead in circles.

"Are you alright, Alpha?" Skye, the pack's gamma asked, her voice laced with concern. I opened my eyes wearily, my gaze meeting hers.

"Just tired. Move on with the report," I told her, and she nodded.

"Well...there've been three deaths so far. Each of them was brutally murdered. They had traces of a vampire, werewolf and..."

I stiffened, my eyes narrowing at her. "Let me guess, a demon?"

She gave me a stiff nod.

"That settles it then. It's a set-up. Someone is definitely stirring up trouble with the hope of trapping you in it," Soren, the pack's delta, said, his eyes darkening with irritation.

"What if the alpha king has something to do with it? He's been hostile against you," Tyrone pointed out, and I grunted.

Would the Alpha king really stoop that low?

Definitely.

Even so, why would he go this far for Arya's sake?

Was he aware of her status as the stone keeper?

"Don't you think there's a much bigger conspiracy brewing here? What if it's somehow linked to the moonstone?" Mason asked, and I closed my eyes, rubbing my temples once more.

Gods, I was too tired and too fucking old for this.

At the sound of the door being jerked open, I opened my eyes and looked up. It was Arya. She was hiding something behind her. Her long hair was pulled away from her face in a high ponytail, and she was wearing a long black dress. She paused at the door for a moment, her gaze roaming over the faces in my study. Then she stormed in, towards me.

"Arya?" I blinked, leaning back in my seat. What was she doing—

My eyes widened when she lurched herself at me with a silver knife in her hand. Just before the tip of the blade could make its mark on my chest, Skye had grabbed her arms and shoved her against my desk before yanking the knife from her hand.

Arya's glowing lilac eyes met mine. They were filled with spite and murderous intent.

Oh well, taming her is going to be more fun than I thought.