Chapter 62

• ALPHA ZACHARY
• The order was put into effect immediately and Haera's punishment began. I didn't bother to confirm with my eyes if she was really getting punished as much as I wanted to. Deep down, I was afraid I would do something I am not meant to do if I see her suffering for the offense she supposedly committed. Even as I walked to my mate's Chambers to check on her, thoughts of Haera's teary eyes clouded my mind. Her eyes begged me to believe her and I was torn between whatever it was I felt for her and my duty as a mate and as the Alpha of a pack. Haera was the one getting punished but I was getting my own fair share of it from my Wolf who wouldn't stop growling in my head. He has grown so out of control that I was unable to block mind-link and he abused the opportunity as if knowing he'd never find one like that again. "Pathetic..." I must add that, that particular word has become the one I hated the most and as if Serge knew–because he knew, he kept piercing through my heart with the same word over and over again. "You're so pathetic!" "I've had enough already Serge, would you just stop making me feel worthless?" "I'm glad you feel that way. How could you have let her off with such mild punishment?" Mild? There was nothing mild about the punishment meted out to Haera. The palace was a big one with a large expanse of land that calls for a great deal of hands to work there day in , day out. The scrubbing, the washing,the weeding, the cleaning and a whole lot of other things that could break even five people if assigned to them. I assigned all of these to a single maid who was an Omega with barely any strength and Serge thinks it's mild? I had a hard time even opening my mouth to pronounce such against her. I didn't let my mind dwell on if she really did it or not. I would only drive myself insane with the thoughts. "Look, you can grill me about this later. All night if you must but right now, we have to see if Ilvira is okay." Serge surprisingly stopped raving and I blessed the moon goddess for the silence that finally descended upon me. As I inched closer to Ilvira's Chambers, I feared for her safety and that of the pup that might possibly be inside of her. "About that...I don't think Ilvira is–" "Save it Serge." I didn't know what he was going to say but I shunned him before he could let it out completely. The harshness in tone made him back off and sulk the rest of the way to the Luna's chamber. I sincerely hoped she was okay or I would blame myself for the rest of my life for not being devoted to my mate. When I stopped in front of the door to her room, it was slightly opened. I moved to announce my arrival by knocking but my fisted hand stopped mis air as I heard the sound of something crashing to the floor and breaking like a result of someone throwing a feat. I panicked and suspended my first attempt to knock and placed a hand on the doorknob to turn it open. Gennora, ilvira's personal maid's voice rushing out the next words I heard, stopped me immediately. "Princess Ilvira...you need to calm down. I'm sure the Alpha would understand if you told him the pregnancy was just a false hope." That was the first blow my heart suffered. Ilvira wasn't pregnant. "If you had just listened to me when I wanted to tell you." Serge commented begrudgingly. I didn't know how to feel about the news that my mate wasn't pregnant as we guessed. Even in my State, my heart went out to Ilvira and how she must be the one is more pained by it. It must be why she was throwing a fit. I remained there to listen to the rest of their conversation from inside the room. "The pregnancy is the least of my problems Gennora! I do not care if I am pregnant or not after all it was just an excuse to buy time for you to get here in the first place." Ilvira seethed. Her words and the venomous weight they carried gave the second blow that made my hand fall away from the doorknob to my side as my legs took me a step away from the door like the door itself housed venom. It was all an excuse from the start? My freaking mate lied to me using such heart wrenching method so she could get a common maid here? The hand that fell to my sides bunched up in a tight fist that I wanted to use to knock the fucking door down and grab her by the arm so she can tell it again to my face that it was all a lie. I knew there had to be a bigger picture or my mate was just crazy. I didn't believe Ilvira was capable of such deep lies. I've always known her to have a temper but never known her to be a liar. If she wanted the maid, she could have just asked and I would have gladly agreed to it. Why did she have to do this to me? Serge was silent but I could feel him brooding too. I held my anger and disappointment in, as much as I could because I needed to learn more. Deep down, I had the feeling that there was more to it than she was letting on. "And now I'm here my princess. You have nothing to worry about again since my presence here has revived your scent. There's no way he'll doubt you anymore." Gennora appeased. "I hope this is not what I'm thinking..." Serge growled. I didn't need to know what he was thinking because I was thinking the same thing and they definitely weren't good thoughts. I tried to pretend I didn't just hear the maid attributing her arrival to the scent of my mate which I just suddenly realized had gotten stronger in the last few days. I was blinded and distracted by the pregnancy assumptions to notice how strong her scent had gotten single the arrival of the old maid. As if the confusion of sensing the same scent between two women wasn't enough,I now have to deal with a Maid's presence serving as an energy to revive a Luna's scent. Just what the hell was going on? "As if that will change anything without that ugly thing gone! I can't believe I risked my life by eating something I'm allergic to so he would actually punish her with death or something and what did he do? He merely ordered her to do chores! Stupid chores!" I held back the angry growl that threatened to leave my lips. I felt my veins go taut in anger, enough for anyone to see them pop out over my skin. Just how many lied has Ilvira told me? First the pregnancy and now the staged allergy attack? Why does she hate Haera so much? The hatred for her was deeply etched in her tone when she spoke so bitterly. It made me question everything I knew and thought of my mate all this while. "My princess, the punishments are only to make her know her place. We both know she can't die. The owner of the scent has to be alive for the spell remain eff–" "Wait" Ilvira cut the old maid off abruptly. I sensed caution from her even if she was inside. "Do you smell that? I can sense his presence." The sound of Ilvira sniffing around the air was my cue to leave the place and suspend all plans of going into her room. Before she could open the door to check, I was gone. As swiftly as an Alpha male could. I hastened my steps, wanting to get far away from ilvira's breathing space. I suddenly felt stuffy and suffocated and needed air. Haera... Her name was what came to mind and even on my lips I whispered it repeatedly like it was the air I needed. I punished her for something she didn't do and the guilt was heavy laden on my heart. Serge was awfully quiet we if coming to terms with a lot of things just I was coming to terms with the same things. I was damn confused. I knew there was bigger picture. In fact I expected it, I just didn't know it would have Haera painted boldly on it. And what was this about spell and scents? Spells could only mean one thing; Witches. Witches and black magic. And Ilvira was no doubt involved in something shady. I was disappointed and angry at myself at the same time. For one, it felt like Karma coming right back at me for lusting after another woman. I've been insincere to my mate yet her own insincerity hurt me deep into my bones. Ilvira sounded like someone with a plan. Spells. Scents. Death. "Do you think this has anything to do with sensing the same scent on the both of them?" Serge asked. I didn't know how to answer to it because even I wasn't sure. This much was sure though, ilvira's scent had gotten Strong lately because of the Maid's presence and It took me this long to even notice it. I knew what I needed to do. The question is why the maid's presence influenced ilvira's scent so much. And the answer? I was going to find out. Finding the answer to the first question will explain why Haera is in the picture and just what it was Ilvira had planned. I summoned Alan the moment I got to my chamber. "I want you to keep a close watch on Ilvira." I said curtly. I had no plans of explaining things to him. He'd find out anyway. His brows furrowed in confusion. "The Luna?" "Watch every move she makes, where she goes when I'm not around, the people she talks to. Every little detail about her and do it as quietly as you can." "Alpha, is something wrong?" "It doesn't end there. I want you to find every witch you know. Wring out confessions out of them, forcefully or not, I don't care. I want to know every single spell attached to a Wolf's scent." Alan stared hard at me with a questioning gaze but said nothing and only bowed to show he has received my command and will do as I say. He walked out and then left me alone with my thoughts while I hoped whatever news he brings back doesn't shatter my resolve.