Hermosa POV

“Take my card. In case he hurts you, give me a call.” Ragal stretched out his hand, holding a white card with his number written on it. I hesitated for a moment, doubtful that he genuinely wanted to help.

“Th…ank you,” I managed to say, taking the card. Without so much as a backward glance, I walked away from him.

I squeezed the card tightly in my palm, hiding it from prying eyes. For all I knew, my mate could be anywhere.

At least with his number, I’d be able to snap evidence and send it to the Alpha King—and maybe help my best friend, if she wasn’t already dead. Tears filled my eyes.

I inhaled deeply, sticking close to the walls of the hotel corridor, my gaze fixed on the floor. My ears perked up, alert for any sign of danger.

I quickened my steps down the corridor toward the hotel’s exit. The click-clack of my heels echoed off the tiled floor, drawing unwanted attention.

“Hey, you walk so fast, girl!” The receptionist’s voice made me freeze.

“Pardon me. Duty calls,” I said with a fake smile.

“The keys,” the receptionist mouthed softly, her smile wrinkling the corners of her face. I knew that look—she wanted details about how the meeting went.

“He’ll contact you about it,” I whispered with a sheepish smile.

“Ohhhh…” she widened her eyes in surprise, her fingers touching her lips as if to hide a blush.

I walked out of the lobby. Outside, people stood around chatting cheerfully with one another.

But their laughter didn’t calm me. It only made me more nervous.

Rapheal could be among them—laughing, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

A cold wind blew my hair into a mess as I struggled to get home on foot, still wearing my performance outfit. My thoughts spun wildly. Had I really seen my best friend’s dead body? Had Rapheal truly been forcing himself on me all this time?

No—it couldn’t be. I shook my head vigorously. My mind had to be playing tricks on me.

“Hermosa, where have you been?”

Rapheal rushed toward me and pulled me into his arms out of nowhere.

I didn’t hug him back. My whole body went stiff, but I still inhaled his scent—it was the only thing about him that felt familiar.

“I literally searched everywhere for you after your stage act! Where were you?” He pulled me back, his eyes searching mine for answers.

I knew he was lying. He owned the club, and most of the Omegas there worked for him.

“I went out to get fresh air,” I lied, avoiding his intense gaze. He cupped my face in his hands, but I couldn’t meet his eyes.

I was afraid I might see a monster.

“Are you sure?” He sensed something was off. I had never lied to him in our two years together.

“Yes,” I replied quickly, brushing his hands away from my chin.

“Okay… I’ve been looking for Cammy too. Any idea where she went?” he asked calmly, as if he hadn’t just killed her.

“I don’t know, Rapheal!” My voice rose sharply. “I have no idea. I just want to go home.”

That gave me away. I could tell. I turned and walked, leaving him standing on the street.

Images of Rapheal standing over Cammy’s body flashed through my mind. I picked up my pace.

He had killed her—and he wasn’t even remorseful. He acted normal.

I took a deep breath. My house was only a few more blocks away.

“Hermosa, stop!”

I froze. Rapheal never called me by my name. *He knows you were there,* my mind whispered.

I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the hem of the short skirt I’d worn on stage.

*Just play along,* I told myself.

“What is it, Rapheal?” I turned back, steadying myself with a strange smile.

“Your clothes… Why haven’t you changed?” He walked closer.

“Is this why you called me back?” I feigned annoyance and turned away.

He grabbed my arm. “You didn’t change because…?” A sly smile crept across his face. He stared into my eyes like he was savoring my fear.

“F**k you, Rapheal!” I whimpered as he twisted my arm, whispering in my ear.

“Because you saw what I did to Cammy… and you ran. Like a little bitch.”

“Let me go! You’re hurting me!”

I tried to wriggle free, but it was useless. The tiny paper slipped from my hand onto the ground.

“Answer me!” he yelled. His claws scraped my arm as I struggled.

Who was this man before me?

I stared wide-eyed at Rapheal. He wasn’t the man who had courted me for three years. He was unrecognizable.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Don’t you dare lie to me!”

He responded by choking me.

“Let me go! I’ll tell you the truth!” I scratched at his arms desperately.

He finally released me.

“Alright. Talk.”

He ran his hands through his hair as I gasped for air.

“Answer me, damn it!” he screamed again, rage consuming him.

“I saw her…” I admitted quietly, my eyes darting around the street. *If I screamed now, would anyone hear me?*

“Speak up,” he demanded.

“She was on the floor… and you were standing over her body…”

I said fearfully, watching his features darken. His eyes shifted to an otherworldly color. His claws sprang out fully.

“You shouldn’t have seen that. Now I’ll have to kill you.”