CHAPTER 71

CHAPTER 71


CALANTHA

I pushed through the swinging doors of the kitchen. Servants darted between stations, carrying trays and preparing ingredients for the evening meal. The familiar scent of herbs and spices brought a momentary comfort— one of the few places in this palace where I felt some sense of control.

Not today.

Head Chef Maria's eyes narrowed the moment I entered. "Lady Calantha," she said, her tone clipped as she placed herself directly in my path. "What can we do for you this morning?"

I straightened my shoulders. "I'm here to prepare meals. What else am I supposed to be doing in my kitchen?" 

Maria's lips pressed into a thin line. "I've been instructed to handle all meal preparations myself, my lady. Alpha King's orders."

The kitchen fell silent. Every eye turned toward us, hands pausing mid-task.

"That's ridiculous," I scoffed. "I've always prepared meals for everyone."

"Not anymore." Maria crossed her arms. "I have explicit instructions from Elena herself. You've been relieved of kitchen duties."

Heat rose to my face. "Move aside, Maria. I won't ask again."

"With all due respect, Lady Calantha, I cannot disobey a direct order from the Alpha King."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a dangerous whisper. "I am still your Queen. You will step aside now."

Maria didn't budge. "Please don't make this difficult."

"Difficult?" I grabbed a nearby bowl, slamming it onto the counter. "I'll show you difficult if you don't—"

"Is there a problem?" Elena's voice cut through the tension as she appeared in the doorway.

"Tell this woman to step aside," I demanded. 

Elena's expression remained neutral. "Lady Calantha, Alpha King Arlo was quite clear. You've been relieved of all household duties, including kitchen responsibilities."

My hands trembled with rage. "So now I'm to be treated like an outsider in my own home?"

"Those were his exact words, my lady," Elena replied evenly. "You wished to be treated as any other pack member. This is the consequence."

The kitchen staff averted their eyes, pretending to be absorbed in their tasks again. I could feel their pity and curiosity rolling off them in waves.

"This is absurd!" I grabbed a nearby knife, pointing it at them. "What is wrong with you, you, everyone?" 

Marla stepped forward, her own anger rising. "Put the knife down, Lady Calantha. You're causing a scene."

"A scene?" I laughed bitterly. "I haven't even begun to cause a scene." I slammed the knife down, embedding it in the wooden cutting board.

"Lady Calantha," Elena's voice hardened. "I must insist you leave the kitchen now before I'm forced to call the guards."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You would threaten your Queen with guards?"

"I would follow my Alpha King's orders," she replied simply.

Something in me snapped. I lunged forward, grabbing the bowl of prepared herbs and flinging it to the floor. Green and brown flecks scattered across the tiles.

"There!" I shouted. "Now you can start over!"

Maria's face flushed crimson. She stepped forward, her finger jabbing toward my face. "That's enough! You may be Queen, but this is my kitchen now. Get out before I throw you out myself!"

"Try it," I challenged, stepping closer until we were nose to nose. "I'd love to see you try."

Elena moved between us. "Lady Calantha, please. Think of your position."

"My position?" I spat. "My position is being stripped from me piece by piece by my own husband!"

"If you have grievances," Elena said firmly, "take them to the Alpha King. Not to my kitchen staff who are only following orders."

I glared at her, then at Maria, then at the silent onlookers. Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out, nearly knocking over a young servant in my fury.

My feet carried me through the corridors, up the stairs, past startled guards until I reached Arlo's chambers. Without knocking, I flung the door open.

Arlo looked up from his desk, his expression hardening when he saw me. "I don't recall giving you permission to enter."

"Permission?" I slammed the door behind me. "I need permission now to speak to my own husband?"

"When that husband is the Alpha King, yes." He set down his quill with deliberate calm. "What is it, Calantha?"

"You've forbidden me from the kitchens?" I demanded. "From performing my duties as Queen?"

"Those aren't duties. They're privileges," he replied coldly. "Privileges you forfeited with your behaviour at the council meeting."

I paced before his desk. "So this is my punishment? To be humiliated before the servants? To have that witch Maria take over my kitchen?"

"Your kitchen?" His eyebrow raised. "I wasn't aware you owned any part of the pack house."

"Don't twist my words," I snapped. "You know what I mean."

Arlo stood slowly, his height and presence filling the room. "I know exactly what you mean. You still think you can do whatever you please with no consequences."

"I did nothing to deserve this." 

"You undermined me publicly!" he thundered, slamming his fist on the desk. "You challenged my authority in front of everyone!" 

I didn't flinch. "Someone had to! You're too busy playing diplomat to see what's happening!"

Arlo circled the desk, approaching me with measured steps. "What I see is a Queen who refuses to understand her place."

"My place?" I scoffed. "Behind you, silent and obedient? That's not what you married me for!"

"No," he agreed, his voice dangerously low. "But I certainly didn't marry you to publicly contradict every decision I make."

We stood facing each other, neither willing to back down. The air between us crackled with tension.

"One more outburst like this," Arlo said quietly, "and you will be under room arrest. Is that clear?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "You wouldn't dare."

"Test me, Calantha," he challenged. "See what happens when you push me too far."

Something in his eyes— a cold, implacable resolve told me he meant every word.

"This isn't over," I warned, taking a step back.

"For your sake," he replied, returning to his desk, "I hope it is."

I turned and left, closing the door with forced restraint though I wanted nothing more than to slam it off its hinges. Outside in the corridor, I pressed my back against the wall, fighting back hot tears of rage and humiliation.

My wolf howled inside me, furious at the submission, at the threat. Room arrest. Like a disobedient child.

I pushed away from the wall and stalked toward my own chambers. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. If Arlo thought he could break me this easily, he had forgotten who I was.

I was Calantha, daughter of Beta Orion, Queen of the Eastern Territories.

And I would not have him treat me like this. I would do something. I would fight for myself.