Chapter 55

• Oh Goddess
• HAERA
• I turned again, trying to block out the murmurs just like I had been doing since heaven knows when. My body was protesting against my frequent twists and turns but what could I do when my roommates had become chatterboxes. "You can never rest in this hellhole." Dezra complained. She was more exhausted than I was because I knew she was probably up all night to heal me. I was up with her but at some point, the pain consumed me and I slipped into slumber. Nursing and treating broken bones back to their unbroken structure was a painful process. Even Dezra agreed with me with a low howl that I almost missed. "Let's sleep for a few more minutes. I don't think it's morning yet." I whispered back to my tired wolf without opening my eyes to confirm my speculation and just like that, I used my pillow to cover my head, attempting to block out the noise from my roommate's gossip time. "Where is Haera?" Dina! Oh, dear goddess. Dina's voice rang in my head and although Dezra didn't want me leaving bed when she just used all her energy on me, I had no choice but to fly off my bunk bed. I blinked my eyes hastily, struggling to adjust them to the brightness of the morning. Morning! Holy hell! "Hi, Dina." I tried to clear my throat but it still sounded like Dina's usual voice. Dina was standing in the middle of the room and upon hearing the way I sounded, she threw a bottle my way, I'm thinking I was mimicking her. I barely managed to duck just in time for the bottle to fly past me Where the fuck did she get a bottle from! "Are you too big to get yourself to the kitchen after the mess you left there last night!" Dina yelled. I scurried down the ladder as actuality hit me. The three old maids ruined all the preparation I was putting together last night. There was no way making breakfast would be fast after what happened last night. I was happy none of my roommates witnessed the incident because they would be questioning why I healed quickly. I was happy I had one of the best wolves though. Dezra made my life much easier. I apologized to Dina as she stormed out of my room while I changed into my uniform. "No one knows what they did." I heard someone say this but I wasn't paying attention. Some of my roommates had formed a circle after Dina left. They were gossiping and I wasn't in for such. I had to prepare the Alpha breakfast while they had nothing to do. "Are you sure the news is valid? No one saw them leaving the pack. They were possibly assigned to do something secretive for the Alpha." At the mention of the Alpha, my interest spiked up. Who left the pack for the Alpha? I was getting the gist wrong. I had never been good with gossip. "I saw them leave and they weren't laughing. They were pleading to be pardoned." A younger maid with blond hair entered my room, joining the rest in their gossip. I wished I could stay to hear more but I had to reach the kitchen as soon as possible. That is if I still want my head on my neck. Dina can be really scary. I didn't care but I couldn't afford to be beaten... Not after what happened to me last night. I left my room, heading to the kitchen. I saw different groups of maids gathered along the hallway and corridors. They were whispering but I caught on to some of their words. .....Three maids... .....Banished... .... No reason... ....Alpha Zachary... The list went on and on but I had no time to waste. When I turned to the corner that led to the kitchen, I tried my best to position my legs like it was still broken because I knew the three old maids would be in the kitchen with Dina. I didn't want to explain why I was completely healed to any of them. Imagine what they would do to me if they found out that I heal quickly... I might turn into their personal punching bag. "Took you long enough!" Dina shouted when I walked into the kitchen as I dragged my left leg with me. I didn't raise my eyes to catch a glimpse of her angry expression. I also felt the presence of three others which I assumed to be the three maids although they smelt oddly different, that was not my concern. I didn't look at the maids too as I took my position and began to do what I do all day and everyday- cooking. I was surprised the three old maids weren't passing insulting comments about me as they stood on the same spot like newbies and Dina was also treating them like newbies too. "You don't even know where the seasonings are. Why did the Alpha choose to punish me like this! You all are useless!" Dina lamented, insulting and complaining about the three maids in the kitchen with us. The situation wasn't making sense until I took a sneak peek at the three maids in the kitchen. My mouth dropped open when I saw that the supposed old maids weren't old at all. In fact, they look too young to be chefs or kitchen maids. I wanted to ask questions but I figured I would know if I listen closely to Dina's tirade. It was only a matter of time before she spewed everything I needed to know. And I was right but the problem is, if I had listened to the other maid's gossip I wouldn't have had to pretend that my leg was broken. I connected all the words I picked up earlier that morning and it all made sense. A whole lot of it. The three old maids had been expelled from the woodlands! The spatula I was holding fell onto the ground. Dina was too busy to shout at me and one of the maids picked it up for me. I thanked her absent-mindedly. I asked the maid for details and she filled in the incomplete clip of the puzzle, talking silently under her breath to avoid Dina's wrath. I was more than convinced that the three old maids' banishment occurred as a consequence of what they did to me last night. But how? Nobody witnessed the incident except- Oh, dear goddess! It couldn't be that he reported the maids because of me. But how? Every pack member of the imperial pack knew too well that Alpha Zachary and Alpha prince Tybalt don't see eye to eye. They are both like fire and water. I didn't know which was which but it could only be him- The Alpha's brother, Tybalt. "You have forgotten about the mysterious man that helped you last night? Already? So soon?" Dezra chimed. I didn't forget him. I just hadn't possessed the time amidst this chaos to think about him. The Alpha's breakfast had to be prioritized over the thought of my supposed hero. "Did he report them?" I asked myself again. The pack members were making speculations but I didn't hear anyone mention his name in any of their assumptions. I didn't picture the former Alpha prince, now a guard, to be a nice and friendly person. He had never been! I didn't need to be told about his cruelty and likewise his kindness. I had seen him in action but I had also experienced his kindness firsthand. Twice, if I must mention again. I told myself I had to find him. I made sure I inserted seeing the new guard into my to-do today list. I wanted answers to why he did that. I wanted to understand his motives. That is if he has one. "I was pleased with my former kitchen maids. The Alpha didn't even give me reasons for his decision. Exile!....." Dina began her complaints again but I blocked her out after I heard the word Exile. A teeny weeny part of me pitied the three old maids. Being removed from their normal life unexpectedly was a very harsh punishment that they might not survive. I pitied them. I wish the Alpha's brother didn't report them. I was eager to see him again though bu- "I don't give a fuck about their well-being. I could have killed those hag last night if you weren't such a thick head." Dezra's hatred for the three maids wasn't surprising nevertheless, they didn't deserve to be banished because of me. "You are being ridiculous. They got what they deserved. If Tybalt or The new guard or whatever you call him actually reported them, I think he isn't as bad as he had painted himself." Dezra said, cooing at the end of her sentence. My wolf didn't know it wasn't as easy as she was making it sound. I just have to find the Alpha prin- I couldn't even stick to calling him a specific name. The former Alpha prince. The new guard Alpha prince. No wonder Dezra was confused earlier. I should just stick to calling him the Alpha prince. "Are you planning to starve the Alpha and his Luna?" Dina shouted at me and I flinched because I wasn't expecting her to direct her frustrations at me. I didn't understand her reason for being furious about the banished maids. We all knew Dina doesn't like anyone but herself. I heard Dina murmur something like "He should have exiled this ugly frog instead." She was definitely referring to me but I couldn't care less. My curiosity was the main focus. Dina could drown in the pack well for all I care. Well, I didn't care! I soon left the kitchen, following Dina while the new girls were right behind me. Dina inferred the new maids and me as the four dummies of the infamous imperial pack. How she came up with different insulting words never ceases to mystify me. It could only be heaven-given talent. Dina opened the door to the dining room but not after she told the new maids the dos and don'ts for the hundredth time. Dina acted like she was a damn perfectionist but in reality, she was just a wicked bully chasing after the favor of Alpha Zachary and princess Ilvira. Princess Ilvira was already seated in her usual seat beside Alpha Zachary's seat. The Alpha wasn't in the dining hall yet which gave me the chance to relax a bit. "What took you so long? Should I be begging y'all for food now?" Almost. I almost relaxed for a bit but the Princess's outburst didn't allow that. Dina quickly tendered her apology, giving her Luna all the excuses she could think of without mentioning the Alpha's sudden decision to send the three old maids out of the pack as the cause of the delay. Not like that was the reason but typical Dina would have blamed anymore for her mistakes. I guessed she couldn't blame the Alpha. Throughout the exchange between Dina and the Princess, I could sense the princess's eyes on me just like I could perceive her irritation. I didn't make any attempt to apologize to her nor did I cut my eyes to hers. "You don't think you owe me an apology, ugly bit-" The entrance door slammed Princess Ilvira's words back to where they came from as the Alpha entered the dining hall. I smirked as I took a quick peep at her face. Cat got your tongue, Princess? Dezra reacted to my question with what I knew to be her version of a chuckle. The Princess forgot about me instantly, focusing on Alpha Zachary. The Alpha on the other hand wasn't paying attention to her and I could smell his anger rolling in waves. Princess Ilvira tried to make my mate feel better but his scent didn't change. "His frustration is upsetting me." I detested that I felt the same. I moved to serve him his food when I caught him staring at me. It was so unlike him. He always ate his food without acknowledging my presence or anyone else except his mark mate's. Nothing in the whole woodlands could have prepared me for the question he asked as I dished his food. Absolutely nothing. "Are you okay?" I could hear and see the tenderness and shock in Alpha Zachary's words. I didn't believe his question was for me at first. I thought he was asking his marked mate but he was gazing at me with an emotion that stunned the shit out of me. Relief He was relieved that I was okay? What the fuck was going on? No one could answer my question. I saw something else in the depth of his eyes. Something similar to disbelief. Was I not supposed to be okay? I held his gaze just in time to notice the curiosity in them. That actually made the two of us because I was curious about whatever was going on in his head. I had been curious since the beginning of that day but this was different. "I asked if you are okay, Haera." My destined mate affirmed and I almost turned to liquid under his gaze and the tone he used to speak to me.... Just kill me! I was speechless but I managed to nod my head. Alpha Zachary didn't take his eyes off me until I used my words to assure him that I was perfectly okay. He nodded his head slowly while I left his side quickly. I was shocked. Dina was stunned. And princess Ilvira? She was livid and embarrassed. The princess waited for Aloha Zachary to explain his action but the Alpha merely concentrated on his food. I couldn't get my mind off his questions as he ate the food I made with my hands. Alpha Zachary savored the taste after he dumped a spoonful into his mouth and I could have sworn I heard him groan. He fucking groaned because of my food! He just made me the happiest chef ever. I smiled all the way back to the kitchen much to Dina's distaste. I told myself Alpha Zachary's question was as a result of the report his brother made to him. I couldn't think of any other explanation. I wasn't even sure his brother actually made a report about last night's episode. I continued my chores in and out of the kitchen like I always did but this time I was wishing I would see the one I had been seeking to see all day- my mate's half brother. Sadly, I didn't see him throughout the day and it was time for me to work late into the night again. I got busy and bored as Dezra wasn't available to keep my company. My wolf was still recovering her lost energy. "The entire place smells amazing. What are you cooking?" I jumped at the sound of his voice because for one I wasn't expecting him to show up that night and secondly, last night started with an unexpected sound too. I didn't want a repeat of that. "They will never get to you again. I won't let them not even if they find a way to sneak back into the pack." My wolf threatened, making me feel loved. "Did I startle you? I'm sorry." His voice called out to me as he apologized like a gentleman. My fear had made me forget that he was standing in front of me so I had to smile to ease the tension between us. The Alpha prince Tybalt ran his eyes over my body and I knew what he was thinking before he asked. "If I may ask, how did you do that?" The Alpha prince asked. He didn't specify so I chose to play dumb instead of providing answers. "What do you mean? The food? It gives me pleasure an-" "Don't pretend not to know what I'm talking about. I carried you last night so I know more than anyone that you shouldn't have been able to stand up straight but look at you." Prince Tybalt gestured to my body after cutting me off in the kindest ever I have ever experienced. I didn't know what to tell him and Dezra wasn't helping me. I stalled, thinking... I stammered some incomprehensible gibberish as I tried to not show him that I was lying or about to lie to him. What should I tell him? I was practically crying out for help in my head when one name dropped into my mind. One name that would be able to save me and I used it without hesitation. "Opaline." I stopped stuttering and voiced out boldly this time. The Alpha prince was confused which aided my lie pretty well. I told him that my friend, Opaline, gave me a healing remedy that worked like magic. He scrunched his face at my cook-up story but he didn't question me further. The Alpha prince stayed with me as I cooked and damn did I enjoy his company more than I would admit to myself. He tasted the soup I was cooking after much persuasion from me because he claimed he should be seen tasting the Alpha's food and I assured him that there was no one around to see him. He liked my food and I liked him instantly. I didn't question him about the three old maids. I didn't ask him whether he reported them to his brother or not because I was preoccupied.... Not with the dish I was cooking but with his jokes and wittiness. He was the only one who could have reported the incident. Who else? We stayed in the kitchen together. I cooked and he cracked jokes. Tybalt was funny and I liked it.