Chapter 136: Well Done

"Did you cook all these?"

"Y-yes," she replied, sitting up stiffly.

"Lies!" Alaina cut in. "She just said the maids did."

"Yes," Maya replied nervously. Keenan’s expression only seemed to be getting worse. "I didn’t cook it alone, but I—"

"You have no reason to explain yourself, Maya. Nobody says Agnes didn’t cook simply because she has help. Besides, that’s the maids’ job. She gently placed her palm on Maya’s arm as she glowered at her sister.

"You cooked this," Keenan mumbled.

He glanced at Palmer, who had begun to serve the dishes. She stopped mid-serve and nodded.

Maya was glad Winnie was on her side; she couldn’t imagine having to deal with such a panel. Alaina, who constantly antagonized her and Keenan, whose expressions made her feel awful.

"I see," he mumbled. His eyes softened and he picked up his cutlery.

Relief washed over her like water. She had been very worried about breakfast but even more so by their interaction this morning.

When he asked if she had cooked the food, she had been worried that he might not eat it because of that. But he didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t even seem worried that she might have tampered with it.

"Don’t eat it, Alpha!" Alaina’s loud voice echoed in the dining room. "Before you walked in, she admitted to poisoning it and told me not to eat it."

Keenan didn’t reply as he put a scoop of the chicken soup into his mouth. Diced carrots, diced radishes and cuts of chicken floated at the top of the bowl. The intense aroma of the chicken soup filled the air.

"Hmm," he said as he chewed.

"Alpha!" Alaina was even more frantic as she called to him again. "You can’t eat it. We have to throw everything ou—"

He turned to look at her. "That’s enough, Alaina!" He yelled with clear irritation. "If you had a problem with her cooking, why didn’t you do it yourself? Or did you not know?"

Maya’s eyes widened. She didn’t expect him to approve, let alone query Alaina. She smiled to herself as she watched Alaina stare at Alpha Keenan with disbelief.

"I did know," she mumbled. She couldn’t say she didn’t—Keenan had already scolded her for her incompetence the day before. "But I can’t go against Agnes’s orders. You gave her too much power in the kitchen."

"Then shut up," he said coldly as he took another scoop. "You have no reason to complain then."

"Shu—" She stared at him in horror and then looked at Maya, who had a smug look on her face. "Okay, Alpha," she replied with a malicious glare aimed at Maya.

The rest of breakfast went smoothly and other than the occasional glares from Alaina, one might say she had a good time.

Keenan wiped the corners of his lips at the end of his meal and stared right at her. "Well done," he said and stood on his feet.

Maya’s eyes sparkled in disbelief and before she could recover enough to reply, he was already going out the door.

"Alpha Keenan praised you," Winnie elbowed her with a teasing smile.

"Yes," she sheepishly whispered with color on her cheeks.

"He must be very pleased. Alpha Keenan’s praise is rare," Winnie added with a grin.

Maya was about to reply when a loud scoff echoed in the room. She turned to see Alaina glaring at her.

"I can’t believe you’re trying to buy us with food. It’s not going to work. No matter how you try to deceive us that you’re harmless, I see you for exactly who you are!"

"Saying that with empty plates, Alaina, isn’t a good look," Winnie mumbled with a snicker.

Maya didn’t mean to react, but it was impossible to miss the irony of the situation and Winnie’s snickering only made things worse. She was laughing loudly before she could help it. Palmer tried to hide her laugh in a cough.

Alaina angrily stood up, her face red with fury. She dramatically slammed her hands on the table before rushing out of the dining room. Maya hoped she had had enough this time and would finally leave her alone.

Surprisingly, Theo didn’t immediately chase after her as he usually would. Instead, he stared at the two women with a curious expression as he stood on his feet.

"What is it, Theo?" Winnie asked with a slight frown when he didn’t step away from the table.

"It’s unlike you to choose a traitor over your own sister."

Winnie’s gaze darkened. "It will be nice to see you think for yourself instead of following her every whim," she replied angrily. "Perhaps, if you looked a little closer instead of pretending not to see all the time."

"Ouch, Winnie. That hurts."

"How do you think I feel when I hear you speak ill about my decision?"

"I hope it’s not a decision you regret."

He turned to look at Maya, and she returned his gaze. She didn’t need to know what he thought about her; she already knew which side he was on.

"Whatever," Winnie replied. "Don’t act as if you care about my feelings now. You chose my sister—don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong."

"Winnie," Maya softly called.

"Let’s go, Maya," she said and grabbed her arm.

"Okay," she replied and let Winnie pull her toward the door.

Theo was still standing when she glanced back; there was a conflicted look on his face as he watched them leave.

"I can’t believe he would say that!" Winnie was mumbling as she pulled Maya in the direction of her room.

"He only obeys her orders, and the first time he talks to me about his concerns—instead of the usual regular, casual, generic conversation about my day—he takes her side. He doesn’t even care to ask about me. I can’t believe him."

"I understand that you’re angry," Maya replied as they got to Winnie’s room. "But try to see where he is coming from. I am the traitor who tormented Alpha Keenan."

Maya didn’t want a rift between them. She didn’t want Winnie to dislike her childhood love because of her.

"So? It doesn’t matter what you did because this isn’t about you. It’s about me. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did—he should trust me enough to hear my side, not assume I am wrong. ’I hope it’s not a decision you regret.’ What?! His fated mate treats him like that and he thinks he can give me advice."

"Winnie, please calm down."

"I am calm, Maya. I am very calm."