Chapter 32

• HAERA
• A week has passed since Balfour died. And I'm not going to bullshit myself or anyone and say pretty much nothing has changed since his death because a whole lot has changed. Even in the world outside my head. The Palace and the activities seemed to go into default mode. Everything was slow. Everyone was slow and it was obvious that his death affected the palace more than anyone was ready to admit. I knew that most of these changes wasn't because of his service as a Chef in the pack for longer years than I could ever imagine. It was mostly because of how it left everybody shaken. The fact that a wolf had died in the Palace of the Alpha was enough to drive everyone crazy about it. More than once in the week that has passed, while still in my confinement that was called the Alpha Chambers, I have heard maids who came by, gossip about the death of the fat chef. The news had already spread wide and wild the next day after his death and it had blown out of proportion. Rumours too began to fly around like they owned the air. Some said he killed himself because he had been lonely all these while. Others shook their head and their voice held pity for him because he died as a rejected mate. There were also conspiracy theories. Some spoke of murder, others spoke of other supernatural Powers responsible for it. It was as if they were writing up fiction stories in their little heads with their peanut brains. The world inside my own head was a bigger mess than the one outside. I had thought I would be able to handle it after that first day and that it would be fine and that Balfour wouldn't want me to cry but it was all bullshit because every night of that week, I bawled my eyes out and cried my heart out upon realizing the bitter truth that he was gone. His death was indeed investigated but they found nothing. Ulric had met up with me at a corner in the Alpha's Chambers to tell me the worst news after the news of Balfour's death. According to him, they found nothing incriminating to show he was murdered. No signs of Wolfsbane in his blood and so piercing that showed silver was driven into his skin. "I'm sorry Haera...but we can't help but believe he committed suicide." He had said that night. The word suicide made my head reel. "We both know Balfour wasn't suicidal. He never showed any signs of it so I won't take that bullshit from anyone." He has just sighed in response to me snapping at him that night. I couldn't blame him.It wasn't any easy on him too. Balfour was his best friend too and I could tell how much it hurt him that he was even making findings. As much as I couldn't prove that Balfour was murdered, I wasn't ready to believe he would kill himself either. Everything was so complicated. "Look Haera. We tried our best. The Alpha is willing to honor him with a burial procession and a befitting funeral. Dragging it any longer won't change anything." And they did give him a befitting burial. After days of rumours flying about and everyone not sure if the palace was safe, they were shut up by the funeral that was held in Balfour's honor. And maybe the speech the Alpha gave that day of the burial also did more to shut off all the rumours completely. "There's no denying the great loss that has befallen this palace and the pack at large. We are grateful for his years of service to this pack and insensitive words after his death is something that shouldn't be heard from the lips of anyone. The least we can do is to remember him as a good soul who has done his part as a member of this pack. Give honor to whom honour is due." Balfour wasn't buried in the palace and I didn't see his body even up until he was buried. Her had no family of friends anywhere but the Alpha remembered where he'd picked him from the first time. It was his family's house where he used to live alone in the outskirts of the Moonstone pack. And be was laid back to rest there as everything was expected to return to normal. "I implore every member of this palace to return to their daily routine. As planned before this unexpected occurrence, the Mate bond ritual of Alpha Zachary of the Imperial pack and the princess shall begin in earnest." That darned ritual. It only made my stomach twist and turn whenever I thought about it. Maybe it was because I had nothing I could do about it and Balfour was now gone or because the god-damned woman who stole my mate on top of all things showed no form of remorse , pity or sympathy regarding Balfour's death. Apart from the war going on in my own head, I was going crazy over the one that I had going on with the princess even if we hardly talked about it. Our constant stare offs and glares said it all and she has shoved it right in my face more than once that there was nothing I could do about it. The princess was as hard as steel and barely even cared. She nagged at me and made me stay by her at all times. All she talked about was how his "stupid" death was delaying things for her and making it hard for her to finally be with her mate. All she cared about was that there were still people around who would make her her meals daily She did little to make it obvious that the death of some chef didn't matter to her, at least to me she did. While in the midst of her family or any in the large crowd that seemed to form constantly after his death. She even gave a speech that would come off as heartfelt to anyone else on the day of the burial but hypocritical to me who had suddenly became her personal maid overnight. "I really can't believe he's no longer with us. He was the best cook ever...he was more than a cook and I'd say he did more than any of the guards do. By cooking meals for us, he practically had our lives in his hands but he was gentle with it. Words can't explain how much my heart is in grief right now but I can only hope that he's in a good place, resting from the evils of this world." I almost cried bullshit in front of the crowd. It took some restraining on Dezra not to pounce on her. I wondered why I was the one who saw the fake look she portrayed to the world. I could see right through her facade yet everyone ooed and ahhed her speech because it was so fucking beautiful to them. I remember her gagging as soon as we entered her room after the burial and I knew it was because of her own speech. I said nothing though. I've been trying to keep things calm and low and I knew it was grieving Balfour that did that to me. The Alpha's family seemed like they were doing fine because a lot of maids worked in the kitchen in place of Balfour to make their meals. As much as I wanted to go back to cooking, I was stuck with a bitchy Princess and not to even bother, the thought of sweating myself out to cook for her didn't sit well me. Everything returned to normal like the Alpha said and the preparations continued for the ritual. My grief over Balfour took over my desire to fight for my mate. I didn't even think I cared anymore. I hardly saw him but my mind still went to him occasionally. When I wasn't staying close to the princess, I was in my room, doing nothing but just lying around. That's the only good thing about this confinement. Even Dezra wasn't complaining. I did nothing. And that was how I was again today. My mind drifted back and forth from the thoughts of the ritual that begins tomorrow. I was still in that State when my door swung open. I didn't expect her to knock anyway but I didn't expect her to be in my room too. "Get up." I hardly saw Gennora too and it was why I was surprised that she came barrelling into my room. The times her I saw her, she was either going into the Princess's room or standing dutifully in a corner as the Alpha's family are. I noticed how much time she spent in the Princess's room and it made me suspicious but I was too devastated to do anything about my suspicions. It was very obvious that they both had something going. "Get up Haera. The Alpha has requested your presence." Well...that made me sit up. "The Alpha?" "You heard me." "Why?" I stuttered a few times before I was even able to let the words out. "You'll know that if you stand up and heed the command. You don't expect me to answer that." Bitchy as always. Cranky as usual but really, there was something different about her and it bothered. Not as much as her words bothered me. The Alpha specifically requested for me? For what reasons? I've never had any personal encounter with him and so it left me both fearful and eager to know what he wanted to see me. Either one, it made my heart thump so hard that it felt like it would jump into my mouth. The Alpha didn't even know, well that's if he's been paying attention to the maid that clung around his daughter like a twin. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew I shared her birthday with that too. Princess Ilvira has given no room for other surprises for me. Even as I walked towards the dining hall where they were all seated; The Alpha's family and Alpha Zachary with his Beta standing dutifully behind me, my steps were faltering and it was like I was near my own death, ready to go meet Balfour wherever he was. I got there earlier than I intended to even as I tried so much to stall on the way. Gennora was already there and once I stepped in, all eyes were on me. It made me want to shrink right there and then. To the size they would never see so I can get away from their open scrutiny. I stood by the entrance and looked everywhere but in their faces. My eyes locked with Alan, Alpha Zachary's Beta and he was watching me skeptically. He recognized me. I could tell. And there was something in his eyes that told he knows something. His eyes held a promise of later that I so wasn't looking forward to. "Come closer child. Come stand beside me." The Alpha called softly towards me. His voice was so patient and kind that I wondered where the hell their daughter got her bitchy attitude from even as her mother, the Luna was nice as well. I did as I was told. Taking slow and steady steps towards the seated Alpha and I bowed to him as I did. The princess was sitting beside him and I could tell from the look on her face that she was pissed about something. It couldn't be more than the fact that I was there for reasons I had no idea about. "What did you say her name was...hae---" "Please dad. I really don't get why you never listen to me. She's my personal maid not some chef!" The princess ground out. Chef? What was she talking about. "Silence Ilvira. You've really being on edge these days and I'm going to let it go on the grounds that you are getting mated soon." The Alpha's tone was condescending. One that said he had had enough. The princess took the hint and trimmed her lips in a thin line. The Alpha turned his attention back to me. He was a massive man worthy of his title and his face had an intimidating feel to it. It made me really really really want to shrink. "What's your name child?" He asked again. His soft voice really betrayed his looks. "Haera." I said quietly. "Good Haera. There's something we need to talk to talk to you about" My heart began to pound harder wondering what it was he had to say to me. And when he did say it, i felt myself go pale. "I have chosen you to be the new Chef of this palace."