Chapter 28

• HAERA
• When princess Ilvira said I would go everywhere with her and stay by her side at all times, she wasn't kidding. She barely even allowed me to get settled in my new temporary room inside of the Alpha Chambers before I was called back into her room to start to prepare her for the arrival of her mate. The more the time for Alpha Zachary's coming drew nearer, the more my insides twisted and the more I want to do something about it even when I have no plans whatsoever, even if I did, I can't be able to realize my plans. For some reason, I already recognized the princess keeping me by her side as a ploy to keep me from digging and finding out the truth about her situation. But if feels like it's because of deeper reasons? What was she trying to do and what does she hope to achieve from it? The questions about it are endless and so I just resorted to waiting. Only that the wait must not be too long or it I would regret it. "Hand me the hair brush over there." Her silky voice dragged me out of my thoughts. Her voice sounded so pleasant to the ears and I would have admired it every single second I get if she was just a little bit nicer. I did as I was told , grabbing the brush from the beside drawer and giving it to her where she sat by the vanity, looking herself in the mirror with admiration dancing in her Brown eyes. I wondered why she was the one dressing herself up when there are countless maids who can do that but once again, I was left to assume that she just wants to be alone in the room with me. "How do you like your new room? Isn't it better? Don't you feel like royalty?" She asked, looking at me through the mirror. Now that she asked, that room is the only good thing about moving to the Alpha's Chambers. The room is the definition of perfection. I've always imagined what it would be like to have a whole room to myself and the room o was given went past my imagination. Just a single bed with bright lightening. The room was warm as soon as I stepped into it and I breathed in the fresh smell of lavender Usually, when I breathe in, it's the scent of sweat, food spices and a whole lot of things that maids smell of. Things were different now even though I kept telling myself that it's not permanent and it's not something the princess let me have because she adores me. If anything, I could tell that she hates. "It's okay." I replied as quietly as I could, standing at a corner and just watching her. I've been standing there for long minutes and doing nothing but watching her adore herself with all sorts of jeweleries. She scoffed at my curt response. "Just okay? You have never slept in a room like that on your entire life and it's just okay?" I couldn't tell if she was angry or just being her usual. I said nothing in response to her and just bowed my head. I had nothing to say to her. She said nothing either and continued with her spree. I haven't seen Gennora ever since she showed me into my room. I guess she's off to barking orders and tormenting the other maids now. I did notice something strange about Gennora though. That scary aura that flows about her seemed to be gone. From what I know about her history as a maid in the palace, she was the daughter of the previous beta of the pack who also served the previous Alpha of the pack before the current Alpha of the pack. She's of Beta blood and is obviously strong with an aura that's only a tad lower than that of an Alpha. Balfour was the one who told me the story including the one of her losing her child which has made her the cranky woman she was. Getting mated to Ulric, an Omega and a guard of the Palace made her lose her status as a beta blood. Relegating her to the position of a maid. But that doesn't change the fact that has had Beta blood coursing through her veins. It's the Aura around her that scares the shit out of all of us. But yesterday,it just wasn't there. The coldness around her everytime seemed to have dissipated. It made me think about Balfour's words. What If it was Gennora who lost her wolf to the spell and not the princess? Why would she go that far for the princess? Was it loyalty or was there something else underlying the entire thing? My bets are on the former. There is something else and I'm determined to find out. Seeing how I can't get the chance to see Balfour, I knew it was up to me to decide my fate. The princess didn't say anything and just continued with her shenanigans, my ankles were starting to ache and I was praying to the moon goddess for her to finish up and end this torture. As much as being with her is ruining my entire day, I was looking forward to catching a glimpse of my mate again. Scratch that...we, Dezra and I were looking forward to it. She wouldn't stop talking about it even when I drowned her out in my mind. She's on Alpha Zachary's side and doesn't believe that he's doing this to me intentionally. I wanted to believe it too but I needed more proof than my wolf prancing about in my head, defending the our mate. "Which one do you think suits me better?" The Princess asked looking up at me away from the mirror. She was showing me two pairs of earrings through the mirror. A golden one and a silver one Really? Why would she ask me something like that? "I--i'm not sure." I answered hoping she'd leave it at that but I should have known better than that. "C'mmon,it's not that hard. Because you don't use them doesn't mean you can't know that." I knew she was throwing a jab at me. I wanted to throw my own right back but what exactly does one say to that? "I really don't know which suits you better... I'm sorry." I said. She rolled her eyes and looked back into the mirror. "What was I thinking when I asked a petty maid." She muttered. Yeah exactly! What was she thinking. "Well, I'll use the golden one. It brings out my eyes. Don't you think so?" I just nodded. With a vague idea of what to say. She scoffed again. "Well... nothing you say matters anyway. As long as Zachary likes it." My ears perked at the sound of his name and my nose flared. The way she said his name so casually did something to my senses and it wasn't good. Her eyes were dreamy as I watched them through the mirror. How dare she look dreamy because of someone else's mate? My fingers dug hard into my palm. I've been trying to keep them by my side where i can see them so I won't get into anymore trouble than I could handle. But it seemed like princess Ilvira was bent on testing my patience. I said nothing to her comment and just turned the corners of my mouth up. I didn't know if I was frowning, smirking or even smiling at her words. "He said he likes my eyes and wouldn't admire any other eye color like he does mine... isn't that so romantic?" She said looking me directly in the eye through the mirror as if wanting to see my reaction. I tried to hide how mad I was. "I guess..." I trailed off in response. Her eyes were brown and mine were a bright shade of amber. Two different colours that can be told apart and noticable. We were so close that night. He was literally on top of me yet he couldn't tell us apart just by our eyes. I would never forget his grey eyes and how they made my stomach turn. That image of him is forever etched in my memory yet it took a stupid sash and a spell to convince him. I didn't know which was which yet but I'm going to just let myself assume that's the situation. "You don't know how it feels because you haven't found your mate...when you do, I'm sure he'll treat you just as Zachary treats me. Like a queen. That's if he doesn't reject you anyway." How can someone say such words with a soft and innocent voice? I wanted to scream at her and tell her I found my mate but she stole him from me. But I think we both already know that and she's only only doing it to taunt me. We shared knowing looks in the mirror for long minutes before a knock resounded on the door. It took our attention from each other and opened to reveal Erylis. "Alpha Zachary has arrived." She announced with a short bow. Princess Ilvira exchange looks with me again and smirked. "Really? I'm all ready. I guess it's time to meet my mate once again." She said while still holding my gaze. My throat burned with words to say to her but I looked away instead. She finished up and then stood up from where she has been sitting for minutes. She came to stand in front of me. We stood at the same height, eyeball to eyeball without much difference in both our stance. She was just like me. "Remember your job. Stay closely beside me." She reminded before swerving past me and walking away. I followed immediately and did as I was Commanded, standing side by side with her. As we walked the Hallway, my heart was beating fast at the thought of seeing Alpha Zachary again. A part of me wished things would change once he sees me. I let myself believe that he could steal smell my scent and know I'm his real mate. Unless he knows and he's just doing this on purpose because he just doesn't want me. I was going crazy with thoughts. Voices and laughters of people filtered through my ears as we got closer to the main room of the Alpha and his family. "Ahhh...there she comes. Our beautiful princess." The Luna of the pack praised as soon as we stepped in. I bowed my head before I could even catch a glimpse of my mate but I could smell him. His scent was strong, so strong that it was driving Dezra crazy. The princess didn't move and I didn't either. I heard footsteps approaching us and I didn't need to look to know who it was. My heart beat increased and threatened to tear out of my chest. I saw his legs first since I was bowing, clad in a black pair of shoes and then right beside me, he leaned in close to the princess. My breathing quickened and I didn't know how I did but I looked up, just in time to see my mate press a kiss on the forehead of his own supposed mate. Dezra went wild inside of my head. My head ached badly and it felt like I would go crazy from the pain. Is this what happens when your mate touches or shows affection to another Wolf? The Alpha and his Luna cheered him on while I just watched like a fool. Things were way more serious than I imagined as I barely kept myself standing because of my banging head. If just a peck to the forehead drives me this crazy, what would happen if more happens between them? That can't happen. I soon realized that whatever happens, I have to stop that mate bond ritual from happening. At all cost.