Chapter 188: He Knew The Truth
Rebecca’s POV
Soft, gentle kisses on my temple woke me up.
I didn’t even realize when or how I had fallen asleep, but as my eyes fluttered open, I found myself resting on Kaden’s lap. A thick, warm blanket was wrapped tightly around my bare shoulders.
I looked up to see Kaden watching me with a soft smirk playing on his lips.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," he murmured, his voice smooth and unusually gentle. "As much as I love having you right here, you need to get dressed. The jet is landing in ten minutes."
I nodded silently, slipping off his lap. My face burned with heat as I picked up my clothes scattered across the floor and pulled them back on. Kaden stood up and dressed himself as well, adjusting his dark shirt with practiced ease.
Once I was fully clothed, I sat down on the leather seat across from him. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. Instead, I turned my head and stared out the small window at the pitch-black night sky below.
A heavy, awkward silence stretched between us in the cabin. The wild passion from earlier was gone, replaced by a lingering tension that made my skin prickle.
"Whatever you want from now on... just let me know," Kaden said softly, breaking the quiet. His voice was sweet—sweeter than I had ever heard it.
My brows pulled together in suspicion. I turned back toward him, searching his handsome face for answers.
"You aren’t treating me like a murderer anymore," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Alpha Kaden... do you finally believe that I am innocent?"
Kaden froze. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He couldn’t say a single word. He just stared at me, his jaw locked tight.
I looked away, a sinking feeling settling deep in my stomach.
Something isn’t adding up.
Yes, we might be second-chance mates, and the mate bond could explain why he was suddenly acting so soft and possessive. But this felt different. Something felt wrong.
Before I could dwell on it any longer, the jet’s wheels touched down on the dark runway with a loud screech. We had arrived at Alpha Kane’s pack territory.
A sleek black car was already waiting on the tarmac. We climbed inside, and after a quiet five-minute drive through the gated estate, the car pulled up to the grand front entrance of the mansion.
I stepped out into the cool night air and saw Alpha Kane standing near the stone steps, waiting for us. His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable as he watched us approach.
Kane walked right up to Kaden, blocking his path. "You haven’t forgotten the rules, brother," Kane said, his tone sharp. "She is supposed to stay here with me for a month."
Kaden didn’t say a single word in response. His jaw flexed, but he simply turned on his heel and walked straight into the mansion, ignoring his brother completely.
Then Alpha Kane turned his head toward me. The moment his sharp eyes locked onto mine, my stomach dropped. I could tell instantly from the flare of his nostrils—he could smell the unmistakable scent of sex and Kaden’s scent clinging all over me.
"Rebecca, come with me," Kane commanded coldly.
I didn’t want to. I felt a sudden wave of shame and embarrassment wash over me, but I had no choice. I swallowed my pride and followed him inside, trailing up the grand staircase behind him until we reached his private room.
The moment the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind us, Kane turned around to face me.
"You fucked him again," he said flatly.
I kept my mouth shut, looking down at the floor. I didn’t respond. The truth was, I didn’t even regret what happened in the jet. I know I’m foolish. I know I’m sick... curse me if you want, but I couldn’t stop myself.
Kane let out a harsh, frustrated breath. "Rebecca, this was not our plan."
My throat felt dry, and I swallowed hard, unable to meet his gaze.
Kane stepped closer, his voice dropping into a low whisper. "You are giving yourself to a man who already knows you are innocent... but chooses to keep you trapped as his slave anyway."
My head snapped up, my eyes widening in absolute shock.
"What... what do you mean?"
Alpha Kane scoffed, a bitter, dark laugh leaving his lips as he shook his head at me. "What do you think, Rebecca? Use your head."
He stepped directly into my space, his sharp eyes burning with a mixture of anger and cold pity. "Why do you think he’s suddenly acting so nice to you? Bringing you giant plush toys, buying you clothes, acting lovely, and looking at you like you’re something precious?"
My chest tightened, the air suddenly feeling thin. "Because... because of the mate bond..." I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to hold onto the only explanation that made sense.
"Silly girl," Kane spat, his voice dropping into a harsh, furious whisper. "You really are so naive. You think a monster like Kaden changes his entire nature overnight just because of a bond?"
He bent down slightly, bringing his face level with mine, his dark eyes locking onto my wide, terrified ones.
"Kaden knows you are innocent," Kane whispered, the truth echoing in my ears. "He knows you didn’t kill Helen. He knows you never killed anyone."
My heart stopped completely. The quiet room seemed to spin around me. "No... no, he doesn’t—"
"He found out the truth days ago, Rebecca!" Kane interrupted, grabbing my shoulders tightly. "He captured Monica and Brandon. He tortured them until they broke, and made them confess to everything! They admitted to framing you for Helen’s death!"
I froze, completely paralyzed as his words washed over me like ice-cold water.
"He has the proof," Kane hissed softly, his grip tightening on my shoulders. "He has Monica and Brandon locked in his dungeon right now. And yet, he keeps that silver collar clamped around your neck. He still calls you his slave. He lets the entire world think you are a murderer, all so he can keep you locked in his cage and trapped in his bed."