Chapter 130: Helping the Enemy
"I don’t see what the problem is, Maya," Winnie said with a smile as she pushed open the dining doors. "I ate your chicken soup twice. I know just how good you can cook. Good enough to make a certain person almost lose her mind."
"Who are you talking about?" A loud voice echoed in the dining room.
Maya and Winnie simultaneously looked ahead. Neither of them had noticed that the dining room was not empty. Alaina sat at her usual seat and by her side was Theo. They were both staring at the doors and Alaina had a dark look in her eyes.
Maya stood rooted to her feet as fear crept upward but Winnie didn’t hesitate. As if suspecting that Maya might freeze, she stretched her hand backward and grabbed her wrist.
"I don’t think I mentioned anyone’s name, dear sister," she smiled as she pulled Maya toward their seat.
Maya felt cold sweat pour out of her palms but she didn’t feel as scared as she usually would. Things were different now and there was a warm grip around her wrist. She wasn’t doing this alone. She sat down and returned Alaina’s glare.
"Helping the enemy, Winnie. As always, my little sister won’t stop embarrassing me."
Winnie merely shrugged and turned her attention back to Maya. "You have to cook, Maya. Especially now. What better way to—"
"Theo, speak to her," Alaina cut in. "She doesn’t listen to me anymore. She thinks she is grown now and can make decisions herself. Yet, she decides to coddle the enemy."
Theo looked reluctant and he even seemed more nervous when Winnie narrowed her eyes as she met his gaze.
"Winnie, what are you doing?" He asked; he sounded stern but his eyes didn’t quite match his voice.
Her expression soured. "Perhaps I’m helping the enemy but at least I am not lying that I cooked the chicken soup the supposed enemy cooked. If you ask me, I’d say the latter is worse."
Maya let out a little gasp. She didn’t even know Winnie knew she was the one who cooked. She wondered how she found out. Did Agnes tell her?
Winnie looked right at Alaina as she spoke, clearly daring her to say otherwise. Alaina’s face reddened and she slammed her hands against the table.
"What are you accusing me of?" She yelled.
"Alaina, Theo and I know you can’t cook a day in your life. I don’t know why you think we would believe you cooked the tastiest chicken soup we’ve ever had."
"Are you saying she cooked it?" Theo asked in horror, looking from Maya to Alaina.
"What are you asking here, Theo?! Are you saying you believe the words of a traitor over your own mate?"
"I didn’t say that, Alaina," he turned to her. "I was simply asking. I-I know you wouldn’t do anything like that and Agnes would never let her into the kitchen."
Winnie laughed. "You might want to confirm before you say that again. She’s cooking your—"
"Winnie," Maya called. "That’s enough. I don’t enjoy hearing her call you names. It’s fine, really."
Winnie turned with a disappointed look on her face but the determined gaze in Maya’s eyes made her smile. "Very well, Maya. As you wish."
"You have some nerve, Maya! After what you’ve done to our Alpha and now you rub your sleazy hand all over my sister. Brainwashing her! Just what did she tell you? How dare you get deceived by someone who did all those evil things to our town?!"
Winnie leaned forward to speak but Maya grabbed her wrist under the table, and the young woman turned to look at her again. She slowly shook her head while Winnie’s eyes blazed. Eventually, Winnie took a deep breath and leaned back into her seat.
Alaina didn’t look satisfied. She leaned over the table and tried to reach for Maya but at that instant, the doors flung open. She scrambled back to her seat but it was clear that Keenan had seen her.
"Alpha Keenan," she said in a loud voice.
"What’s going on here?" He asked.
"We were just discussing the late dinner," her extra shrill voice pierced through the air.
He glanced toward Maya, who didn’t meet his gaze, while Winnie and Theo mumbled their greetings toward him.
Winnie glanced at Maya and she could tell that she was going to complain but Maya slowly shook her head. She didn’t want to make any visible trouble with Alpha Keenan until she was sure Alaina would not be able to twist it.
"Did you hear about Arlo?" Alaina asked, her voice sounding unnecessarily soft.
"I did. Palmer informed me moments ago." His eyes suspiciously swept the table again and Maya felt them land on her.
She didn’t meet his gaze again. She could still clearly recall their earlier interactions about the letter and coupled with what he had witnessed as he walked in, she was cautious.
"Agnes would be unavailable for tonight and most likely the whole of tomorrow," Winnie added.
"Is there a chance that we might run into this delay again tomorrow morning?"
"Absolutely not," Winnie said with a smirk.
Maya felt her heart knot. She didn’t want Alaina to know she was cooking tomorrow, but worse, she didn’t want Keenan to know. She wasn’t sure she could handle that pressure.
"Are you planning to help?" Alaina asked with a sneer.
"Me? No. What about you, Alaina? You did make that delicious chicken soup that one time. I am sure your help will be needed in the kitchen."
"What? No! I-I have work to do. I have no time to deal with such."
Her eyes blazed as she stared down at Winnie, but the latter just smiled in her face.
"That’s most unfortunate. I was hoping I would taste that chicken soup again."
"You sound certain there wouldn’t be a delay tomorrow, Winnie. Did Agnes tell you anything?"
"No, but she already put things in place. Please, don’t worry, Alpha Keenan."
His eyes narrowed and he turned his gaze to Alaina. "Isn’t this usually your job, Alaina? Winnie has to take care of the pottery workshop while you care for the main house. Yet you didn’t even know Arlo was sick."