Chapter 21

• HAERA.
• I ran as fast as my legs could carry me because I didn't have the heart to stop. As I ran, my tears poured down in torrents down my face and I kept bringing my hand over my face to wipe them off. The tears blinded me, so much that I kept tripping on things as I ran and barely saved myself from falling from each trip on something. I had just one place in mind. The only place that has been my solace ever since I was old enough to serve as a maid in the pack. I've always looked cooking and so the kitchen was like a second home to me asides the cramped up room that sleep and wake up in everyday. Balfour would tease me and say my mother probably gave birth to me while she was cooking in the kitchen. Each time Gennora had her eyes on me because of something I did or mostly because the very day was my birthday, I would run to the kitchen and help Balfour with things around the kitchen. I was assigned to the kitchen at age thirteen on his demands. He told the head maid as the Alpha of the pack that I was a good asset and a good cook who could take over as the palace's chef when he steps down. Gennora begrudgingly allowed me to work in the kitchen but still finds ways to get me out of there to work other odd duties. That woman is the very bane of my existence who seems to want to take Everything that makes me happy from me. But the smell of mashed dough, fresh veggies, boiling soup, grilling meat and a whole lot of other things makes me forget my misery for a few moments. I wasn't familiar with this particular place or its kitchen. But it didn't matter at that moment. As long as it has all of the smells that relieve me of my burdens. Asides that, I didn't know if I was being chased by anyone. Perhaps the elder has sent his guards after me to get "the wench" that ruined his expensive silk. I messed up pretty bad. And a lot of things could go wrong with me. A lot of things could happen to me. I messed up in front of a host of Royal births. I could get banished, sent packing out of the entirety of the woodlands and become a rogue. Being pack less, homeless and leading a miserable life prowling about the werewolf community. Unwanted anywhere or by anyone. Becoming a rogue was like a death sentence to any wolf. But who was I kidding, I was as good as dead anyway. What's a wolf without her mate? Nothing. I'd just prowl the earth with no purpose or direction in life. I'd rot as nothing and live the rest of my life as a maid knowing my mate was somewhere but yet out of reach from me. Dezra was purring sadly inside of me. She wasn't there to dry my tears this time and even I couldn't dry hers. I finally ran into the empty kitchen and found an enclosed spot where I crouched at and began to cry loudly without holding back. The reality of what I would become was unknown to me. I had nothing. My life took a 360 degree turn in just two days and it has left me dizzy and unable to pick myself up again. Did you...did you think I was going to reject you? His words from yesterday make an appearance in my head. Don't run from me anymore. The sincerity in his eyes flash before my own eyes. Don't go anywhere... anywhere until I'm ready to mark you and make you fully mine. I don't care who you are. You're my mate. That speaks more volume than anything else. Lies. All lies. He lied to me. He said he didn't care about my identity yet he announces another woman as his mate the moment he wins the Duel. Of course! Who was I kidding? He's an Alpha. He'd pick another woman over me. He'd pick a woman who was an Alpha blood and of Royal birth. He wouldn't need a weak and useless maid like me who can't serve any purpose to him. He would pick someone in the same class as him even if she wasn't his real mate. Looking at Princess Ilvira, I could see why he chose her over me. Yet I foolishly believed he really didn't care and he'd be happy with me. What was I doing living a fairy tale of a prince falling in love with a pauper? Every of my thoughts only made me cry harder. The smell in the kitchen wasn't providing any form of solace for me or comfort in anyway. I just kept crying harder. What would become of me? It was like I was rejected but not directly to my face. "Haera!" My name rang through the whole kitchen. I didn't leave where I was crouched at even if I recognized that voice too well. I wondered what punishment I would be getting after the mess I made at the feast. Gennora would probably whip me till I bleed before allowing me to be thrown outside the walls of the pack. "Haera! I know you can hear me. Show yourself before I find you myself and I tell you it won't go well if I do." "Go away!!!" I didn't know where the confidence to talk back at her came from. This could earn me more than a few whips but I didn't care. My life was over anyway. I saw her legs step in front of me before I looked up to see her face. She had a smirk on her face instead of the usual arrogant glare that's usually there. "There you are." "Go away!" I was wiping away my tears. I promised myself not to let her see me cry. "You left a big mess Haera, who do you expect to clean it up while you ran like a fucking twerp!" She yelled at me. "I don't care! Okay? Do whatever you want with me. I just want to be alone." I yelled back at her expecting a smack on my face as soon as the words came out but none of that happened. Instead, Gennora crouched down in front of me and looked straight into my eyes. The look in her eyes was one I haven't seen before. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a look of care but of course, I couldn't be fooled by a cunning woman like Gennora. "Awwwww, poor Haera. You must be so heartbroken right now. I understand you." What's she playing at now? I eyed her carefully, past the tears that formed like mist in my eyes. "I warned you didn't I? I told you but you didn't listen." "You must have thought your life would take a massive turn. We have all had moments like that Haera, you're not alone. We've had moments when we thought things would change but life doesn't always go the way we want. You have to be smart and take what life doesn't give you by yourself. You my dear,are foolish." Her face now held a sneer. I should have known. "There are somethings you don't aim for or even think of Haera but you don't know that. That's what makes you foolish. The Alpha was never meant to be yours. What made you think he would really choose you? Look at yourself. Why would he choose a maid with no origin?" Her intentions weren't good. She has only come here to put me down, mock me and make me feel worthless but yet I couldn't escape her harsh words. She wouldn't let me. "Things like this require common sensdy Haera not fate. Fate won't help you in situations like this. Fate can be changed but it takes ones smartness to understand that. Wake up from the fairy tale dream Haera. There's no prince coming to save you from this life you have. You are nothing! Alpha Zachary chose who he deemed fit to be his Luna and you stand no chance. So you can keep crying or come to your senses!" She then stood up, obviously satisfied by looking me at so broken and totally out of it. "But of course, you don't have the power to choose anyway because you will get up, follow me and clean the mess you made. Just as soon as you wake up from that stupid dream. You will have the Alpha and no power on Earth can ever make you a Luna either!" With that, she turned and left. Her words hit the spots they were meant to hit and cut through like a dagger. More tears welled up in my eyes as I bawled my heart out. It hurt for a lot of reasons. It hurt that I was stupid. It hurt that I dreamed too much. It hurt that Gennora was right about everything she said. As long as I am maid with no origin, I was nothing. Not even to my mate. Realizing all of these, I pushed myself off the floor and followed Gennora. With heavy steps, I walked back to the dining hall where the feast was being held. I walked in, preparing myself for what was to come and the punishment I would receive for running off like that. The feast was over when I got there and the only people who were still around were the maids, cleaning up the place. Everyone paused their activities to look at me and the began to mumur. It caught Dina's attention and she turned in her direction. Her face squeezed in anger as she barreled towards me. "You wench!" "I'm so sorry." I choked. "You almost ruined the feast I worked so hard to make perfect! How could you be so stupid? What got into you?" I just kept apologizing. More tears formed in my eyes. "If anything else had gone wrong, I would have killed you myself! Get out of my face! I don't want you touching anything till you leave for your pack tomorrow." She stormed away from me. I was holding back the tears again but it was hard. I turned to leave since I wasn't even wanted there but someone held a napkin out to me. I looked up to see Opaline balancing a mop in her other hand and pretending like she was concentrated on cleaning I smiled at her through my tears before taking the napkin from her and heading out of the hall. As I walked out, another sight made my heart hurt so bad. Dezra wanted out and almost lost control but I was better at keeping my cool than the wild wolf inside of me. There my mate was, holding his supposed mate's hands and helping her into his palace up to his Chambers. My eyes watered all over again and I turned away from the painful scene. It will all be over tomorrow and I won't see him again and I will fight to forget I never met him and that he broke my completely. As much as it pained me to say that.