Chapter 63

• HAERA
• If 'tired' was a person, I'm not so sure it would be me because that word failed to convey the depth of what I was feeling. Dina had severely depleted all of the energy I woke up with that morning. I must give her accolades for performing her duty as my supervisor with utmost zeal. I was unable to feel my bones by the time I finished filling the reservoirs with water from the lake and all through my journey back and forth between the lake and the reservoirs, Dina sat close to the reservoir to inspect what I was doing. "With that done, you have to pull out the weeds in the garden behind the Alpha's palace." Dina had announced when I poured the water from my last trip into the last reservoir, filling it up completely. My weak legs turned to jelly and my mouth fell wide open. The distance between the lake and the reservoirs should have been referred to as "the journey from the surface of hell to the bottom of it". "Relax, Haera. She isn't even watching right now." Dezra said when she saw how I was struggling to hold the broom in my hands. I told my wolf that she should stay alert because I had to sit for a while and Dina could sneak out from any corner of the palace. I sat on the bare floor without minding the dirt. How do I put this level of tiredness into words? Do I call it fatigue or exhaustion? Why was it so hard to get a word that suits what I was feeling? I groaned in pain as I thought of all the chores I had carried out that day without the slightest break. From fetching water to weeding. From weeding to dusting every surface of the palace decorations and furniture. I finished those only to start washing the clothes of multiple people that I had never met in my entire life. The pile was cloth was almost the same height as the gigantic structure of the Alpha's palace. I should stop thinking about what I had done because my brain was starting to hurt...if that was possible. "We need evidence. Gennora can't get away with this, not after what you went through today." Dezra was crazy about getting justice for the injustice we had to face. It was late at night but I was still sweeping the palace hallways despite not resting during the day. "What if it isn't Gennora?" I asked stupidly. I knew Gennora was the real culprit and I was the victim of her conspiracy, not Princess Ilvira. My wolf was right, I had to get my hands on any evidence that could prove my innocence. Although I couldn't do much thinking due to exhaustion, I was puzzled by Gennora's action. How did she get the shrimps into the food I made and when? It couldn't be when I was there because I wasn't that dumb not to notice such sneaky attempts. "Someone is coming this way." Dezra said to me and I scrambled to my feet once again. My back and my joints protested my swift and forceful action but I didn't want to face Dina's wrath by that time of the night. I grinned my teeth when my backbone released that cracking sound that comes along with fatigue as I tried to crouch. I bent my back and resumed sweeping as the sound of footsteps reached my ears. "Haera! Are you still at this?" I dropped the broom immediately when I heard Tybalt's voice instead of Dina's who I was expecting. I slipped back to the floor, resting my aching back on the closest wall. "All thanks to your brother and the two wit-" I stopped my words abruptly because I didn't know what Tybalt would do if I insulted the Aloha in his presence. He was after all meant to be a loyal guard and servant of Alpha Tybalt. "They deserve whatever you call them, Haera. You look awful." The Alpha prince pointed out the obvious as he bent to my level, staring at me like I was his precious flower and someone had tampered with me without his permission. "You think so? That means you believe that I didn't do it." I silently hoped he believed me because all other pack members that I ran into today, had labeled me as a murderer even though their Luna was breathing like all other living beings. "I know you didn't do it." Tybalt didn't wait for me to ask him how he had such knowledge. He snatched the broom I was using from the floor and continued what I should be doing. "You can't do that, Alpha Prince. Someone might see you." I was back on my feet before he knew it and I tried to stop him from helping me. Sweeping the corridors was the last chore I would be doing that night according to Dina and I didn't want to provoke her because that might make Dina change her wicked mind. "You shouldn't call me that. Call me Tybalt and I'm patrolling the palace tonight so no one can question my presence here." The Alpha prince said, leaving me stunned as he continued sweeping the corridor. "I can question why you are doing that though." Dina's voice echoed in the hallway as she barked at Tybalt. Her voice and presence were sudden and my legs reacted quickly. I collapsed to the floor forcefully. Ouch! That hurt.... "Get your lazy ugly self off the ground and complete your punishment if you don't want me to report you and your friend to the Alpha." Dina yelled at me and I complied. I tried to stand up but I couldn't apply pressure on my knee. When I forced it, pain shot through my body and I slumped to the floor again. Tybalt ran towards me, asking me where I was feeling pain. I was unable to respond due to Dina's outburst. "Don't dare me, Haera!" Alpha Zachary really should have killed me..... "She isn't obliged to do any of that as from this moment." Tybalt yelled at her and Dina jumped backward in fear. "B-but the A-alpha commanded that she work throughout the day and-" "That was yesterday. It's past midnight and she isn't under that order anymore." Tybalt clarified and a few seconds after, the huge bell that usually signified the time rang loudly, proving that Tybalt was indeed right. "Huh!" Dina grunted before turning back to her room. She would be happy that she doesn't have to supervise me anymore. At least she was finally getting the rest other maids had enjoyed throughout the day. I deserved the rest more than anyone but there I was groaning in pain as Tybalt massaged my swollen knee. It was only a matter of time before Dezra would heal it but that doesn't reduce the pain I was in. "You should have tried to prove your innocence. I should have been there because I could have testified that you didn't do it." The Alpha prince expressed his care and worry for me. I was lost in his eyes for some minutes. Something strange surged inside my stomach but I was extremely jaded to dwell on such a feeling. "You should have seen how my defense was dismissed because I couldn't prove it. You wouldn't have been able to help." I responded as he gathered me into his lap, cradling me like a child. I loved it. I loved it more than I should which explains why I didn't complain when he began to massage my tense and aching body. He started from my shoulders, making me sigh from pain and relief. "Trust me I would have helped you better than anyone." Tybalt informed me. "How?" I asked simply while he added light pressure on my shoulders. "I saw her. I saw the new maid of the Luna coming out of the kitchen in the early morning before dawn." Tybalt mentioned. He went on to tell me how he was patrolling the kitchen area and he heard sounds from the kitchen. He went to check, thinking I was the one but he saw Gennora coming out. "I saw her leave and when I went to the kitchen, I didn't see you or any other kitchen maids there. Isn't that suspicious and enough evidence to make her a suspect?" Tybalt said, ending his statement with a question that I didn't respond to. Tybalt's hands shifted to the middle of my back as he continued to massage my body. "I don't like the way he is touching you and I don't like him but I love his information." My wolf voiced out her irritation and appreciation. I had thought any piece of evidence would help but now that I had one, I couldn't shake off the skepticism that settled on me. Who would believe a maid and a guard? Would Alpha Zachary take the words of someone he assumed to be after his mate's life over that of the woman who appeared to have saved her? Would my destined mate even give his brother the chance to defend me with non-verified evidence while my accusation was committed by the trusted head of maid and chef? I doubted the Alpha would believe anything Tybalt and I say. "I know what you are thinking. My half-brother won't believe either of us and I hate to say this but you are right." Tybalt said like he just read my mind. I remained quiet perhaps I was too tired to use my tongue or I was thinking about Gennora Cruelty. I could have died and she wouldn't give a damn about it. Tybalt carried me into a less dark corridor to inspect my knee and I allowed him. I had gotten more comfortable with the way he carried and touched me like we are best buddies. And I couldn't agree more. Tybalt did all he could to make me less tired before he dropped me off in front of my room. I thanked him and he gently kissed my forehead like the gentleman he was. "I hope you will be agile by the time I see you in the morning or at night. I'm sorry you had to experience that, Haera. You don't deserve it." Tybalt whispered into my ears as he hugged me. I relaxed in his embrace, telling myself that it was because he said I didn't deserve his I had been treated. "You are becoming excessively and unnecessarily touchy. Can you go to bed, please? You might think you are tired but I'm exhausted too. If I didn't share my energy with you, you would have been dead long before you finished the first task that was assigned to you!" "Shut up, Dezra! You are talking too much for an exhausted wolf and just so you know, we would be dead if you didn't strengthen me. There can't be you without me." I chattered back before I excused myself from Tybalt. I opened the door to my room and it took all of my self-control to not strangle my sleeping roommates. "You might exist without me but you wouldn't survive the harshness of the weak without me. You would have been a very very weak weakling." Dezra muttered as my head hit my pillow. I smiled because she was right about that and I never wanted to experience a life without my wolf. With Dezra, I could fight and if possible, win Gennora's dirty game. "Let's beat her and the all too perfect Princess at their game." Yeah, Maybe Tomorrow. I was off to the land of nightmares before I knew it. That's what tiredness does to anyone....even me.