CHAPTER 51>>>>

Akira sat there a little longer after Brevin left, leaving her with a full table of food.

The last time she sat at a table like the one in front of her was a decade ago, whenever she was at the home pack or at her aunt's pack for holidays. She usually joined for breakfast and dinner with the Alpha family.

Akira ate the food slowly, her mind still reeling from what Captain Zain had just informed Dominus and Brevin.

They had caught the girls they believed were of pure Alpha bloodline.

She reached for a goblet of wine, taking a gulp to wash down the oysters in her mouth.

If they had caught the girls in question, then it was only a matter of time before they started to question them, and the real truth would eventually come out.

Her mind filled with different thoughts, each minute drifting away. Each bite of food started to feel tasteless in her mouth.

She continued to eat slowly, but her mind wasn't on the food; Captain Zain's words replayed in her head over and over again. She couldn't help it.

She dropped her fork and pressed both palms against her temples, hoping her thoughts would slow down. But instead, her heart continued to race. She reached for the goblet again, this time gulping slowly.

Then, just like that, her eyes narrowed back to the food. She stared at it for a few seconds.

"Whatever!" she hissed, dropping the goblet. "If I'm going to die, at least let me do it on a full stomach!"

And with that, she began shoving food into her mouth—not slowly or carefully, but in a frantic, ridiculous sort of way that might choke her. Meat, bread, whatever was closest to her plate—she stuffed it in until her cheeks were full.

Her thoughts continued to race, her mind jumping from one escape plan to another, but her hands never stopped moving.

If it was going to be her last supper, then she was going to make every second count.

However, the door suddenly swung open, and Akira froze immediately.

She stopped mid-bite, her cheeks still puffed with food as her wide eyes darted to the door at once.

It was two maids—Beth and Gilly.

Bethany's eyes went wide as soon as she saw her friend seated at a table meant for the royals.

“Oh. My. Goddess.” Beth’s hands flew to her mouth, muffling the little squeal that escaped her. “Akira! You’re… you’re sitting at their table, eating their food! You're not supposed to be seated there. What the hell are you doing here?”

Akira, still shocked to see Beth with her cheeks puffed out, quickly swallowed hard and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“What are you doing here, Beth?”

“I should be asking you that,” Beth replied. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you and couldn’t find you all throughout the night. You didn’t sleep at the slave's quarters.”

“Madam Estelle has also been looking for you since last night up until this morning,” Beth added, and Akira's face twisted into something primal at the sound of that name.

She wanted to tell Beth about where Madam Estelle had sent her last night and how she was pretending to look for her, but she held back.

“I was looking for you too before I got dragged to work,” Akira told her. “Where did you go all day yesterday?”

Beth winked at Akira, and she understood the sign at once. Beth was with her mate.

Akira rolled her eyes. “At least you could have told me! You could have given me a heads-up so I wouldn't be looking for you all over the place. I was worried sick about you.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know. Next time, I’ll give you a heads-up,” Beth quickly apologized.

“So what are you guys here for?” Akira asked, her eyes flicking from Beth to Gilly, who was still standing in sheer shock at the amount of food Akira was eating.

Beth glanced at Gilly before answering. “We came to pack up the dishes as usual. We didn’t know you were here.”

Gilly, however, stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, one brow raised so high it looked ready to escape her forehead. She let out a sharp, unimpressed “Puff” before stepping fully inside.

“What the hell are you doing here, Nia?” Gilly's tone was harsh. “Stealing in the northern pack is prohibited. Didn’t anybody tell you?”

Her eyes shifted to Bethany. “You didn’t tell your friend that no one condones stealing here?”

Akira arched a brow, surprised. “Stealing? Who's stealing?”

“Didn’t you sneak in here to eat all of this you’re eating right now?” Gilly snapped.

“Lie one more time, bitch, and I will tell Madam Estelle right away!”

“Once I do, you’ll be waking up in the dungeon tomorrow morning.”

Akira gaped at her, nearly choking on the piece of bread still in her mouth. “Excuse you!”

“I didn’t steal anything,” she set the record straight. “I was asked to come eat. I didn’t sneak in here to steal anything, so get your facts right!”

Beth shot Gilly a look. “You don’t have to be so rude. Can’t you see she’s been through a lot? We could talk this out politely instead of letting Madam Estelle get involved.”

“NO, I refuse!” Gilly rolled her eyes and waved her hand at the table. “She stole all of this, and I am very sure of it. She snuck in here right after the royals left. Look at her—face full of food like she hasn’t eaten in weeks. I will tell Madam Estelle. You’re only supporting her because she’s your friend.”

“Come on, Gilly, we are all colleagues. We’re supposed to support each other, not report or tear each other down. There’s no need to tell Madam Estelle or Lyra about what happened here.” Beth’s tone softened slightly. “Nia is new; she might not even know the rules. You need to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

Gilly planted her hands on her hips, clearly enjoying the way Beth was begging.

“Oh, I’m definitely telling Madam Estelle,” she said, her lips curling into a cruel little smirk. “You think this is funny? Sitting here like some royal, eating food meant for them? Just wait until she hears about this. She’ll have you scrubbing the floors with your tongue by sunrise—if she doesn’t throw you into the dungeon first or have some of the guards whip you in front of the hall.”

Beth’s eyes widened in panic. “Gilly, come on. It hasn’t gotten to that extent,” she begged, her tone almost pleading. “You don’t have to go that far. Maybe she really was invited here…”

“Invited?” Gilly cut her off with a sharp laugh. “Don’t be stupid, Beth. Look at her—” she gestured toward Akira. “You think a royal would invite her to have breakfast with them? Let alone Prince Dominus?”

Akira slowly reached for the goblet, knowing full well that Gilly was still watching her.

“Come on, Gilly, come have a drink and stop babbling around,” she teased mockingly.

“Nia, no.” Beth interrupted sharply. “Nia, let’s not do that. I’m sure Gilly was just trying to pull your leg; she doesn’t mean all of her threats.”

“Whatever, Beth. I don’t care. She can do whatever she wants. Look at how she’s standing there, acting like she owns the damn table or she’s the Luna. If she’s going to run her mouth, then so will I.”

Gilly’s face turned red instantly. “Bitch—”

“Oh, please,” Akira cut her off again, her tone mocking now. “Run along then, go fetch Madam Estelle.”

Beth quickly grabbed Akira’s wrist, whispering, “Stop, you’re only making it worse… She’ll go if you keep poking at her.”

Akira yanked her hand free, still glaring at Gilly. “No, let her talk. I want to see her try and get me punished for something I was asked to do. In fact—” she shoved another piece of meat into her mouth, chewing slowly and defiantly, “—I dare you, Gilly.”

Gilly’s jaw clenched, her nostrils flaring. With that, she spun on her heels and stormed off, but the sound of the door forced her to stop. It was Captain Zain.