Chapter 61

• ALPHA ZACHARY
• Never had I anticipated an occurrence as much as this. I had experienced my fair share of anticipation but what I was feeling that morning before breakfast was different. I was yearning to see her. I was also hoping that she wouldn't be there....for my betterment. But the moment I stepped into the hall, my eyes found her effortlessly like they were made to gaze at her alone. I had sat on my sit like I usually do, anticipating the food Haera had made for me and when I finally tasted it, I wasn't disappointed. I had wanted to ask her what the dish was called but I told myself to savor the burst of flavor first. Breakfast had been going smoothly on my part. Or sincerely or more appropriately, I was barely hanging on due to the scents I had to perceive. The alluring scent of my mate. It was stronger than ever which was supposed to be a good thing but not when it was emitting from two different sources. My pregnant mate and The chef...Haera. I was barely hanging on but it had remained a tasteful breakfast until Ilvira became crimson red. My mate's flawless face was red like a tomato. It happened too fast or perhaps I noticed too late because I had gotten lost in the tasty meal I was eating. "Something is wrong with our mate!" Serge voiced out with worry laced with every word he said. I had wanted to shake it off, thinking Ilvira must have rushed the spicy food due to its deliciousness until Gennora offered her water but yet, the coaching fits didn't end. It only advanced into hyperventilation. That was when I knew it was serious. "What's happening to her?" I asked no one and everyone at the same time but my eyes were on Ilvira's personal maid who arrived yesterday. I stood from my seat, dropping my cutlery abruptly just to rush to my mate's side. "I really don't know, Alpha Zachary. I had given her water but it wasn't helping." Gennora was panicking as she responded. I scanned the room for anything that might help Ilvira bit my eyes simply met with Haera's confused expression. Ilvira pulled my shirt frantically, pulling my attention back to her. I was holding her limp body in my arms and I wouldn't deny that I was worried about her and m-my pup. "Forget about the possibility of a pup. Just save her." Serge yelled at me but what was I to do? I wasn't a healer nor was I versed in the medical field. I was confused. I quickly barked out orders for the pack healer to be summoned. "Al-alpha t-th-e fo-od...." It was hard to comprehend what Ilvira said and she was getting white by the seconds like her life was being drawn from her. "Tell me, Luna." Gennora crouched, bringing her ear close to Ilvira's moving lips. Ilvira repeated her words but I still couldn't understand them. Thankfully Gennora understood my mate's phrases. "The food? Oh, my Goddess. Your allergy?" Gennora scrambled to the plate of food Ilvira was eating before her episode of what I still didn't understand. Gennora perceived the food, examined it, and tasted it before exclaiming like Ilvira's food had been polluted with poison. "Who on earth prepared this food with the ingredient that the Luna is known to be allergic to?" Gennora asked furiously and I was amazed and confused by her reaction. She must have been really close with my mate which made me glad she was around to resolve the situation. "What do you mean? I made the food but-" "You added blended shrimps to the food didn't you, Haera? You know more than anyone in this pack that Luna Ilvira had been allergic to that! How dare you?" Gennora took charge of the situation, dominating the room like she was meant to be feared. She fired accusations at Haera with so much anger. I appreciated the caring gesture she had for my mate but I was still the Alpha and only I had the right to dominate in my pack. "Silence!" I roared, releasing my Alpha aura in order to suppress the commotion in my dining hall. I was furious. I wished there was a better way to describe my anger. I was blinded by it. "Do you know how to treat her?" I asked Gennora, ignoring the accusations because my mate's well being was the priority at that moment. She mattered most. "I do, Alpha but I must tell you that the maid knew the repercussions of adding shrimps to Luna's food." Gennora clarified, shooting daggers at Haera before she and some other maids helped Ilvira to her sleeping chambers. I was left in the dining room with Haera and some other kitchen maids. I drifted slowly but with threatening steps toward the woman who I had wanted to see more than anything this morning. But that instant, I wished she hadn't shown up at all because that way she would have escaped being accused. "You caused this. You gave her the impression that she was more than a kitchen maid to you and look where that got you. You almost got our mate killed because of lust!" Serge shouted, pushing for me to shift into his form so he could rip Haera apart. My Alpha aura made the maids whimper in my presence with their heads bowed to indicate their submission. All were bowing to me. All except one....who was holding my gaze as I moved to her. Haera. "How dare you!" I didn't shout at her. I said that coldly, piercing everyone in the room with each word. Haera's amber orbs were brimming with tears, and as much as I wanted to wipe her tears, Serge wouldn't allow it. It was also irrational. "You tried to kill my mate!" I shouted in her face this time, expecting her to back away from me like the rest of the maids did but she didn't. Haera stood straight and tall as I asked my questions. Her act of disrespect was enough to earn her a severe sentence. "I didn't do it, Alpha." Haera held my gaze as she defended herself confidently, leaving no room for doubts. I felt like she was pleading with me to believe her but I couldn't.....I didn't. Serge took it upon himself to remind me of how pale my mate became as a result of the food Haera prepared. He also reminded me that Haera claimed she was my true mate which he assumed was her motive. It was true. Haera had a motive that was strong enough to convince me that she committed the crime she was accused of. "You want to take her place?" I said with as much venom as Serge was pumping into my mind. "I swear by the goddess that I didn't do it. They are lying. I didn't add shrimp to the food. Please believe me." Haera defended herself again. She voiced her plea out desperately. I asked the head chef if she made the food and she said "No, Alpha. She cooked all the food we served fit breakfast." The head chef replied timidly and I ordered her to check if shrimp was used as one of the ingredients which she confirmed to be true. "Who did you say was lying? You?" I questioned Haera again and she shook her head, disagreeing with the odds against her. "I want you to sentence her to be whipped by the strongest wolves of the pack." Serge recommended but something in the depth of Haera's eyes was preventing me from making such an announcement. Did I mention her scents? Something in my heart was screaming at me to believe her but Serge on the other hand was shouting about how Ilvira deserved justice. I was torn between my mate and a pleading chef. My emotions were a mess. "Do it, Zachary. Everyone is waiting for you to get justice for their Luna. They are watching." Serge pressed further. "For what you have done to my mate, you'll have to pay with your sweat and your life." I said to Haera but it was loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. "I hereby pronounce a work-free day for all the pack maids except Haera. Haera is to work alone throughout the day as a punishment for whatever mistake she made in preparing the food that contained what the Luna shouldn't eat." I said fiercely but it sounded more like I was making excuses for Haera's action. Serge protested against my proclamation while Haera stared at me like I just sentenced her to death. Shouldn't she be grateful that I didn't kill her? I instructed the head chef to supervise Haera while she carry out her punishment before I stormed out of the dining room to check on my sick mate. "You are pathetic!" ************************ HAERA "He's pathetic as shit!" Dezra exclaimed in my head while I stared at his retreating figure. I honestly thought I was going to be killed by him initially. I could tell he didn't believe me which made me wonder why he didn't just kill me. I would have preferred death to the tiring punishment he made me a victim of. "This is the real meaning of death, Dezra." I cried out to my wolf, wiping the unshed tears off my eyes. Gennora and the princess had won this round with ease but being that close to death made me realize I could play along with them in their dirty game. I had nothing to lose. "You could have lost your life, Haera. How did that witch add blended shrimp to the food and you didn't notice? " Dezra pointed out but I knew Gennora must have somehow accomplished her goal last night when she came to the kitchen. How and when she did it was what I didn't know. "I wished he sentenced you to death by hanging instead. The maids get to rest but I have to supervise you!" Dina complained, ushering me to follow her in the rudest way anyone could ever imagine. Well, I wished he killed me too. Does he even know what it took the large body of maids to ensure that the pack was running smoothly? I'm hundred percent certain that he doesn't because if he knew, he wouldn't have asked me to do all those chores alone. I wasn't some kind of superhero with unbelievable superpowers. Poor Haera....poor Dezra... Dina led me to the water reservoirs. They were completely empty and I silently begged the supreme beings that she wasn't about to tell me to fill them up. Oh dear godd- "Fill them up with water from the lake." Dina informed me sternly and my shoulders fell in defeat. I thought begging her to spare me would help but immediately I pleaded with her, I regretted it. "You have thirty minutes!" Dina yelled. What the actual fuck! How was I supposed to fetch water from the lake which was far from the four reservoirs in thirty minutes? Dina's face held no sign of jokes as mine twisted to show that I didn't appreciate the injustice I had to pass through. He should have just killed me. I picked a water pot and left for the lake, cursing Gennora and princess Ilvira for setting me up. And the Alpha? He was probably about to curl up in bed with his fake mate. "To hell with them all" Dezra cursed as I stumbled along the bushy path to the lake. Let's the dirty game begin!