"Anyway," Cassian said, his voice barely above a whisper now, dragging me back from the whirlpool of thoughts threatening to consume me. "If you still want to keep living, you'd better keep your mouth shut about the killing of Betas and Omegas."
My breath caught in my throat.
"It's forbidden to kill Betas, much less Omegas," he continued, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer. "Omegas are rare prized. They weren't just rare but are considered walking wombs. National treasures in packs. Killing one could spark war hence if the control division find out about what happened, you'll end up just like them. Dead."
"What?" The word slipped out before I could stop it, confusion swirling in my chest. "End up like them?"
I stared at him, struggling to piece together what he was saying. He's the one who killed them and not me.
"You said you killed them because I asked?" I blurted, my voice hoarse with disbelief. "Why the hell would anyone kill Betas and Omegas when it's against the law?"
I've been dealing with murder case while on Earth and now I'm not going to be used as a scape goat here again.
Cassian let out a low chuckle, cold and without humor.
"The deaths of those Betas and Omegas will be pinned on you if you're not careful," he said, each word deliberate, biting. "You see, it's easy to spin a story. You were treated like filth all your life. Everyone knows it. Everyone remembers. You were tossed from hand to hand in that brothel, abused, forgotten. It wouldn't be a stretch to say you came out with a grudge and decided to take revenge."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"You killed those who hurt you," he continued. "That's the story that'll be told. That's the tale they'll believe. And with just enough planted evidence? Voila. You're guilty."
No! No! I won't be anyone's scapegoat, not here, not again."
"Just what are you talking about? I didn't...
"But is the story false or true?" Cassian interrupted, his smirk widening, sharp and dangerous. "That's the real question, isn't it?"
Now what is he up to now?
"I have to admit, Zane, you're smarter than I thought," he went on, his gaze locked with mine. "You really had me fooled. I almost believed you were just a naive little Omega who didn't know how things worked. But you're...Cunning."
He leaned forward, gaze piercing. "So allow me to refresh your memory... about the deed you did. Let me tell you the kind of person you are exactly."
My eyebrows struched up in utter confusion and curiosity.
"You drugged me," he said, his voice low and bitter. "You laced my drink to amplify my pheromones, pushed me into a heat so violent I lost all control. Then you lured in another Omega, someone you hated and threw him into my arms, knowing exactly what would happen. Knowing what I would do in that state."
What is this bullshit?! Another lie?
My heart stuttered. For a second, I almost believed him. But then he slipped, made me the puppet master. That was too far. Too wrong. Too false.
"You watched," he spat. "Watched as I violated him. Watched as the drug took full hold of me until I couldn't stop. Until he stopped breathing. Until I killed him under the weight of my own body."
"And then," Cassian continued, "when the brothel's manager who happened to be a Beta walked in and saw the whole thing, you stood back and let it unfold. Do you remember that part? How you made sure he saw just enough to understand? Enough to be a threat?"
My mouth parted, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I had no choice but to kill him too," Cassian said, his tone hollow now. "To protect myself. To protect everything."
He let the silence linger, his words ringing in my ears like a death sentence.
"I... I don't know anything," I finally whispered. "I can't remember anything Alpha Cassian. Is this a joke?"..
"Oh, right. You can't remember anything." Cassian chuckled, his voice low and dangerous, that wicked smirk never leaving his lips. "But don't worry. I'm not going to snitch on you. Not after spending that much money to buy you. I'll make sure I get the worth of every cent first. Make sure to claim you over and over again."
I swallowed hard not because of this whole murder case but because this bastard mentioned the word 'to claim me again.'
Now that I think about it again, I refuse to believe anything that just came out of his mouth. It was just a lie. Maybe I'll have believed it when he talked about him killing the betas and omegas because of me, to purnish them for the suffering inflicted on me since I'm aware of his pocessive and arrogant behavior which he had displayed today but then when he suddenly switched the story to that of me being the master planner, drugging him and all then I know this is all bullshit.
This bastard is just trying to manipulate me.
He'd already mentioned that this was a competition between him and his brothers hence I believe this is just a strategy of making me dependent on him, terrified of anyone else, using my lost memories as leverage to trap me at his side.
Such a fool!
Cassian leaned in again, that smirk never fading. "If I were you, Zane, I'd make sure to keep my legs closed for the others," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "I can guarantee your safety… as long as I have you first. Once you're carrying my baby, you'll buy your freedom and earn my protection too."
My stomach turned. I was right afterall.
What a bastard!
But I must commend him though. What a great actor. He fabricated a story just to keep me in check. But then I was able to see through it easily, thanks to years of performing all sorts of roles as an actor.
I can't also ignore the deeper possibility behind his words. There might have actually been murders of Beta and Omegas but then, I'll think about that later.
"Is that a deal, Zane?" Cassian asked suddenly, snapping me out of my storm of thoughts.
I blinked, startled, as my gaze locked with his. Then, with a practiced ease, I curved my lips into a warm, innocent smile and lightly tapped his hand.
Two can play this game, bastard.
I am not going to let him believe his little tricks worked. I'd seen better manipulation in the acting world. I've acted in courtroom dramas, cried on cue, even sold heartbreak with a smile. This bastard thinks I'd fall for a soap opera twist? Oh Please.
I'm not about to become someone else's pawn. No. I want him and his four bastard brothers eating out of the palm of my hand. Not the other way around.
I hate being controlled.
"You're so funny, Alpha Cassian," I said sweetly, allowing a small burst of laughter to escape me. "I almost believed everything you said just now."
Cassian's smirk faltered slightly, but I didn't stop.
"How could a lowly, weak Omega like me, stupid and timid, possibly pull off such a scheme?" I laughed harder, my ribs aching from the effort but I didn't care. "You're telling me I drugged you, lured another Omega, and manipulated everything right under your nose? And you, such a powerful, dominant Alpha only realized after it was all done? That's hilarious!"
I wiped a fake tear from the corner of my eye, still laughing. "I know you're trying to cheer me up after the life-threatening beating I just went through, courtesy of Alpha Alfie. And I have to say, you succeeded."
Cassian blinked, momentarily stunned. His gaze stayed fixed on me as I doubled over with laughter.