Maya was in the kitchen preparing to start lunch when Maelle burst in, startling the maids and servants. They hurriedly gave her a bow, which Maelle didn't pay any attention to.
"He is here!" she muttered, an agitated look on her face.
Maya frowned with concern as she turned her attention to Maelle. "Who is?"
Maelle searched around as if looking for some way to express herself but then her expression darkened and she grabbed Maya, pulling her out of the kitchen without explaining.
"Maelle," Maya softly called as she let herself be pulled. "You can't. I have to make sure lunch is ready on time. Father won't—"
Maelle scoffed and glanced back at Maya. "Don't worry," she said. "You won't need to make lunch for us ever again."
"What do you mean?" Maya asked with a confused look, wondering if there was something she was missing.
"I know you're happy," she kept on pulling. "You wanted to join him before. Now, you're getting your wish!"
Maya pulled back, stopping Maelle. Her strength surprised Maelle, who didn't want to stop moving.
"What are you talking about, Maelle?" Maya asked as she pulled her hand from her sister's grip. They were in a quiet hallway, away from the kitchen, away from guards and servants.
"Didn't you hear me?" Maelle asked, closing the gap between them and standing on the tip toes so she was the same height as Maya. "I am sure you did, but as always you want to pretend you're oblivious. Your precious little Alpha is here, and as my elder sister, isn't it fair that you should marry him?"
Maya's eyes widened and she took a step back. She didn't expect that. He had been quiet for a month. She had been certain it was a ploy to scare them. After all, why would he want a mate from the family he hated most?
Besides, he was free from them. Loved by the citizens and the Alpha King, there was no reason why he would want…
But she could think of a few reasons, and it was those same reasons that made Maelle terrified, especially since Alpha Keenan was leaving it to Father to choose.
Though Maelle wasn't of marriageable age yet, Father might still pick her and ask Alpha Keenan to wait for three years until Maelle would be ready for marriage. Maya could see that happening but she knew it was much more vivid for Maelle.
Her sister hated her, and there was nothing she could do about it. It took years for that to sink in. This had ruined them both but perhaps, with her gone, Maelle might finally get what she always wanted.
"You should be the one who has to marry him, and you know that," Maelle said, chewing at the right corner of her bottom lip. Her eyes were red and filled with tears.
"Father won't let me."
Maelle scoffed. "That's the excuse you always make. He is my father, you know. You're nothing more than some orphan we picked from the street. I picked you! And you take my father from me! You should go!"
Her voice was coming out all scratchy now, the tears pouring out, and Maya instinctively flinched at the verbal attacks.
Maelle grabbed her again, digging her nails into her arm as she pulled, but Maya didn't fight her, didn't stop her. She let her sister pull her all the way to the front door.
As they approached, Maya could hear the conversation. Father was angry, but Alpha Keenan wasn't going to back down. Father would have to make a decision. He couldn't directly go against the Alpha King.
Suddenly, as they came upon the doors, Maelle opened them and pushed her out.
Maya blinked rapidly as she tried to adjust her eyes to the glare of the sunlight. She could feel gazes on her as soon as she walked out through the door, but one particular gaze felt stronger than the rest.
"Maya Olsten," he swore.
Maya's eyes adjusted and she met his, glaring at her. They were some distance apart, but it didn't dim the intensity of his green eyes. They were just as she remembered.
His blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and Maya didn't miss the emerald necklace hanging around his neck. He still kept it, after all these years.
He was bigger than the last time she saw him, much bigger, and she would have sworn he was taller. She bit the inside of her cheeks as she fought the urge to run and hug him. It had been so long since she had done anything like that, but worse, she knew she had no right to now.
She couldn't dare.
"What are you doing here?" Father yelled, and for the first time since she stepped out, his presence registered.
"Father!" Maelle squealed and rushed out the door, clinging to his arms.
Maya looked at Father and she could clearly see the anger and warning in his eyes while Maelle clung to him tightly. She lifted her head to look at Maya, tears pouring down her eyes that were filled with accusations as she glared at Maya.
Maya bowed her head. "I know it must cost Father to go against the Alpha King," she said. "Father no longer has to do that."
"Maya," he called sternly. "Let me take care of this."
"Father," Maelle pleaded, clinging to him harder.
Vilhelm tried to brush Maelle off, but she wouldn't budge. He was still struggling to get her off when she whispered something that Maya only heard because she was within earshot.
Vilhelm's demeanor completely changed. He froze, his eyes darkened, and he stopped trying to fight off Maelle.
Maya frowned, but there wasn't any time to think about what she had just heard, or the implications of it, or why it had been able to stop Father. From the stares she could feel from Alpha Keenan, his patience was running out.
Maya stepped forward, passing right in front of Vilhelm, but he didn't try to stop her. She didn't stop walking until she was a mere three feet away from Alpha Keenan.
"Alpha Keenan," she called softly. "Do I suffice?"