Chapter 2. Murder

Adrianna’s POV

No.

My eyes must be deceiving me.

I blinked once, then twice, but the scene I saw didn’t go away.

There, lying helplessly on the grass, struggling desperately for air, was my father. And over him, my mate Alaric had his hands clamped tight around his throat as if he was strangling him.

My breath hitched at once, my knees suddenly weakening beneath me. Right on cue, the dizziness rushed back, and immediately, I hit the ground with full force, while my mouth and eyes stayed wide with panic and shock at the evil happening before me.

I opened my mouth to scream, but hell, no sound came out.

“You shouldn’t be doing this… you’re supposed to be my daughter’s mate,” my father rasped, his voice filled with panic and pain as he struggled relentlessly with Alaric.

“Yeah, I’m supposed to,” Alaric’s voice was cold like ice—not the usual cool, teasing one that used to whisper sweet things to me. “Not that I really want t