Chapter 48 Should Be Mine
Althea endured the hunger in silence. It wasn’t the first time she had been locked away without food. Back in her own pack, under Luna Meena’s cruelty, it had been the same routine. Some things never changed.
She sat quietly in the corner, knees hugged to her chest, ignoring the smell of food as her three guards ate their dinner. She didn’t bother wasting her energy reading their thoughts because her body needed rest more than anything.
After a while, footsteps echoed, followed by a familiar voice.
“My Lady!” Melva burst out.
Althea’s head snapped up. The guards moved to block her, but before they could, Simon’s calm yet firm voice cut through the tension.
“Let her inside to bring the meal of the Alpha King’s breeder.”
“But—”
The guard posted by the cell bars tried to argue, but Simon’s sharp tone silenced him.
“Are you ready to lose your head once the Alpha King arrives? The head mistress might earn lenience, but not you. She is not just a breeder. She is his fated mate… marked by the Alpha King.”
The guard paled, his throat bobbing as he swallowed nervously. Without another word, he fumbled for the keys and quickly unlocked the door.
Melva rushed in with a steaming bowl cradled in her hands. The rich aroma made Althea’s stomach twist painfully. She knew instantly what it was… Melva’s rice bowl soup, packed with meat and vegetables. A dish Melva had invented, and the only one that had ever managed to soothe her weariness, as always.
“Quick, eat this while it’s still warm,” Melva urged, placing the bowl in her hands.
Althea didn’t hesitate. She dug in, savoring the warmth that spread through her body with each bite. She needed the strength.
“The Alpha King?” Althea asked between spoonfuls, her voice low.
“He won’t return until morning,” Melva whispered. “But Gamma Simon already sent word of what happened.”
Althea’s gaze flicked briefly toward the three watchers, then to Simon. “Has the investigation begun?”
“Yes,” Simon answered, his voice steady. “They’ve already filed the case with the Law Councilor. The trial will begin tomorrow in the royal court.”
Althea’s brows drew together as she quietly finished her meal. Her mind, however, was far from calm. She had no doubt that Lady Ava was behind all of this—she had seen enough through Elsa’s fleeting thoughts. But the deeper question gnawed at her: why orchestrate such a scene?
Lady Ava had deliberately placed Elsa in harm’s way. If Althea hadn’t acted, the girl would have died in front of them all. That wasn’t a mere scare tactic—it was a calculated risk.
Her fork paused midway to her lips. ‘Does Lady Ava know about my healing gift?’ The thought chilled her. ‘How?’ As far as she was aware, only the Alpha King and Melva knew. No one else. Yet this scheme had been set so perfectly, as though her intervention had been anticipated.
Her gaze dropped to her plate, a frown tugging at her lips. What is your endgame, Lady Ava?
Was the goal truly for Elsa to die, framing Althea as the culprit? Or was death only one path to success? If not, then Lady Ava might have intended the opposite, that Elsa would survive and, in doing so, slip into Althea’s good graces as a servant she could “trust.”
The possibilities circled in her head, tightening the knot in her chest. For some reason, she felt restless, uneasy, as though every move was being watched, every decision already accounted for.
She clenched her spoon slightly harder. ‘I need to see Elsa again…’ She wanted to peel back the girl’s thoughts, to dig deeper. Only then could she confirm what role Elsa was truly meant to play in Lady Ava’s game.
Althea knew she had no choice but to play along; however, at this rate, her movements were becoming increasingly restricted, and her freedom was being stripped away. If she wanted to survive this, she would have to outwit them at their own game.
“Let us go, if you’re already done,” Simon said, breaking Althea from her thoughts.
She looked up at him, then softly asked, “If possible, I would like to see Elsa and talk to her. Please?”
Simon frowned and shook his head. “That won’t be possible. At this point, they won’t allow Elsa out. She’s under house arrest until she’s summoned for the trial.”
Althea sighed and nodded, accepting his answer. Turning to Melva, she reminded gently, “Make sure you eat and rest well. Please don’t worry too much.”
Melva gave her a small, encouraging smile before hugging her tightly. “Stay strong, My Lady. No matter what happens, I’ll stay with you. You’re innocent, and soon everyone will see that.”
Althea stroked her back comfortingly. “Yes… so take care of yourself while you wait for me.” She then pushed her gently away and added, “Go with Simon now.”
Melva nodded, her eyes slightly teary, and followed Simon out.
At the South Palace, Royal Estate
Unknown to Althea, her every movement was being watched, monitored not only by the Queen Mother, but also by Lady Ava. The very moment Althea set foot inside the North Palace, Ava’s eyes and ears were already upon her.
“So she really does have the ability to heal,” Ava hissed under her breath, her face twisting in disdain. “Not with mere herbs or poultices... but with inner energy. A healer mage?”
The reports she gathered unsettled her. That human breeder, the supposed traitor’s daughter, was not ordinary at all. From what Ava had learned, Althea had spent most of her time in the apothecary of her former pack, assisting healers and tending wounds. Nothing remarkable—until now.
It was no accident Elsa collapsed before Althea. That was Ava’s test. The servant had taken wolf’s bane by Ava’s order and crumpled on the ground, forcing Althea to reveal her hand. Either the girl would die under Althea’s so-called healing… or survive and be bound to her, loyal to Ava’s schemes.
Failure was not an option. Elsa understood well: if she did not fulfill her role, it was Ava herself she would have to answer to.
Ava’s nails dug into her palms as she paced the room. Now she found herself confined within the four corners of her assigned quarters at the South Palace—the grand residence of Alpha Lords, nobles, ministers, and visiting dignitaries—reduced to waiting like some cast-off concubine until the Alpha King deigned to summon her to warm his bed.
“How dare he… how dare that wretched breeder…”
The North Palace, Gavriel’s true domain, the sacred place reserved for his mate, the Alpha Queen, his Luna, was supposed to be hers. Yet that lowborn hybrid was already residing there, enjoying privileges that no filthy traitor’s daughter should even dream of.
“She sleeps in the chamber beside him… the very chamber meant for me.”
Her teeth clenched until her jaw ached. Rage burned in her chest, threatening to choke her. It was humiliation enough to be left waiting here like a servant, while that woman was allowed to sit beside the King, touch him, perhaps even whisper to him in the night.
The thought twisted in her gut like poison. “He should be mine. That bed, that chamber, that honor—mine.”