Chapter 175: Important Information

Getting rid of Theo was harder than she had expected. Even when she shifted and ran as fast as she could with the broken rib, he hung close. She couldn’t shake him.

He kept the same distance the whole time—not next to her, but close enough that she could see him out of the corners of her eyes. It was irksome.

However, when she crossed into the High Alpha’s territory, he stayed back and just watched. He never even asked where she was going, or if she needed help.

Nearly a year wasted. A year of pretending she could stand him. Thoughts of their intimate moments made her stomach churn.

He had his moments—she could give him that—but she only ever got with him because it made Winnie green with envy. Hypocritical, when she had her own mate.

She was close now, walking barefoot on the smooth road. She had asked for directions as she came through the town. If she headed down this road, she would find the High Alpha’s mansion.

The town was nothing like Verlassen. It was much bigger, busier, and carriages speedily rode all over the roads, lifting dust into the air.

There were probably only two carriages in Verlassen, and they were all used to send things out of Verlassen—like the pottery work Winnie was so proud of.

She tightly gripped her bag and walked on as her eyes fell on the huge metal gate. Scary guards lined the front, but Alaina wasn’t deterred.

She marched right up to them, noting their suspicious gazes as they noticed her. "Let me in!" She yelled.

"Huh?! Who is this?" One of them asked, stretching out his spear right at her face.

She supposed it was to intimidate her, but Alaina didn’t flinch. She could imagine how she looked—unkempt, dusty, and barefoot. It was pretty embarrassing, but she had fled Verlassen with hardly anything to her name.

However, this wasn’t nearly over. Her plan wasn’t completely thwarted. She was sure the High Alpha would want information about Maya.

She didn’t doubt that she would be handsomely rewarded. She didn’t understand why he was weirdly obsessed with Maya, but she would certainly use it to her benefit.

"I want to see the High Alpha! I have very important information about his daughter, Maya, that he must hear. The attack last night failed, right?"

Another guard stared at her oddly, then he yelled. "What is your name?"

"Alaina," she replied, smugly. Margaret had written about her to the High Alpha; he must recognize her name.

The guard moved his finger, and another guard walked into the gates. The one holding the spear to her face pushed it closer.

"Stay here! Don’t move an inch."

She didn’t need him to tell her that. She looked at the huge walls and gate. It was massive. This was where Maya lived and she still wanted Keenan. She narrowed her eyes.

The greedy little piggy.

The guard soon returned. "The High Alpha said to let her in," he said to the guards.

"I told you," she replied with a smile.

It was hard not to notice their judgmental gazes, but it was irrelevant now that she was through the gates.

It was hard not to show any reaction to the luxury before her eyes as she walked through the gates. Lush fields spanned as far as the eye could follow.

A little bee buzzed toward a white flower in the middle of the well-cared-for garden. Alaina didn’t recognize it. It certainly didn’t grow randomly in the wild.

"This way," a servant said when she got close enough to the mansion, and the guard that was with her dropped back.

Every part of the High Alpha’s home was beautiful. With every sight, she cursed Maya. This was where she was going to send her back to.

Such luxury, and she kept acting like it was the devil’s nest. If only she was the one chosen that day. What she wouldn’t give?

"This way, please," the servant said as he led her through the main entrance and into a waiting room.

Paintings lined the wall, and over the fireplace was a bold portrait of an older man. His eyes were bright and piercing. She squinted her eyes, wondering if this was the High Alpha. She had never seen him.

"Have a seat," the servant said and looked at her feet. He grimaced. "The High Alpha will be with you shortly. Please wait in here."

Alaina sat comfortably. Her current appearance was only coincidental. She wouldn’t look like this for too long.

The servant gave her one last glance before he nodded and stepped out of the room. Alaina clutched her bag as she looked around, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

A sound by the door drew her attention, and she sat upright. A young girl walked in first. She looked around sixteen, and Alaina thought she bore a slight resemblance to Maya—or perhaps it was just the fact that they had the same color of hair and eyes.

She didn’t walk in alone. Behind her was a man with streaks of gray hair. He looked like the older version of the portrait. In his right hand was a cane that hit the ground a little hard as he walked into the room.

"Alaina," he called, black eyes staring right at her.

"Yes," She was on her feet before she could even think about it. Something about him made her uncomfortable. She bowed and kept her head down.

"Get comfortable," he said.

"T-thank you," she whispered.

"You said you have some news for me," he said and sat across from her.

"Yes, I do," she replied as she took her seat, grateful there was a table between them.

"Out with it!"

"Y-yes. About last night, I apologize. She hadn’t woken up a little too early after I knocked her unconscious; she would be with you now."

"You struck her?" He asked with a frown.

At his comment, his daughter turned to look at him; concern flickered over her features.

Alaina glanced from daughter to father as uncertainty settled in her chest. "It w-was simply because I knew conversation was futile. She wouldn’t listen. I don’t understand why she wouldn’t come back to her own father."

"Understandable," he said with unnerving eyes. "Carry on."