Chapter 176: Hospitality

Maelle sat stiffly across from the strange guest. They had just finished lunch when a servant walked in with the news. It was the first time she had heard about this plan.

However, there had been a commotion late last night. Margaret had returned to the mansion, but Maelle didn’t see her. She only heard rumors.

According to servants, she was locked up in the dungeons with some guards. She was just now realizing it was because of a failed attempt to bring Maya back here.

"You see, I was going to have her sent to you this morning," the woman with straight blonde hair was saying. Despite her disheveled appearance, her hair kept its shape. "Alpha Keenan no longer wants anything to do with her—"

"But," Vilhelm cut in. His grip on the sofa was tight.

Maelle was disappointed and terribly heartbroken. She had assumed this business with Maya was over. It had gone on for far too long.

Why did her own father so desperately want someone that wasn’t his daughter?

However, he had been in such a foul mood since she saw him this morning that she hadn’t dared to make a squeak. Even now, she knew it was dangerous to speak out of turn.

"There was an incident," she replied. "I kept her safe, but she was carted away."

"Carted away?" He hit his cane on the floor. "By who?"

At first, Alaina wanted to hide the fact that Maya had used her powers to stop the tsunami, but the ice wasn’t something that could be hidden, and it was best he heard the information from her first.

"A tsunami attack," she whispered. "Out of nowhere, and Maya froze it. I didn’t even know she had that kind of power."

"Tsunami?" His left eye twitched. "Who carted her away?"

Alaina shifted. He didn’t seem surprised about Maya’s powers. Was that why he wanted her? "A strange woman," she replied, repeating Winnie’s words.

His grip on the wood tightened. "And what did this woman look like?" He asked.

"Black hair, blue eyes, and she claimed to be Maya’s mother. I don’t know where she went."

Maelle felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Something about the description didn’t sit right with her, but it was her father’s reaction to it that raised the alarm bells in her head.

Vilhelm’s features relaxed, and he let go of the chair. "Her mother, she said?"

"Yes."

"Maelle," he said.

"Father," she replied; something about his tone bothered her.

"Would you be kind enough to make some tea for our guest? The one your mother loved."

Maelle felt a chill go down her back. "Tea?" She heard herself say.

"Do you not know which one? You once proudly stated you do."

"I-I do," she replied shakily. "It’s just—"

"She is a very important guest, and she has brought me tremendous news. She needs to be treated with the utmost care and hospitality."

Alaina adjusted in her seat as a smug look crossed her features. "Thank you so much, High Alpha. You are most generous."

He smiled and locked eyes with Maelle. "You know how to make it, do you not?"

"I-I do," she replied and forced herself to her feet.

He had not mentioned a single word about the comment she made the day Maya was dragged away from the mansion.

She had mostly said it in desperation. She assumed there was a perfectly good explanation and that maybe she was wrong—she didn’t really get a proper look.

The tea wasn’t the problem; it was the kettle. It looked like a perfectly normal kettle from the outside, but the inside was made of silver.

"Add some snacks too. I’m sure our guest is exhausted. I can tell it must have been a long journey to get here."

Alaina nodded. "It was." Her ribs still hurt from all the running she did, but it was clearly worth it.

At first, she had been worried about the High Alpha, but he was clearly pleased about the information. She wondered what else she could get out of it, but there was no reason to get impatient yet.

"Is there any more information you can offer? Anything about this strange woman that stood out?"

"Oh, she came with a gray wolf."

"And Maya happily went with her?"

"Yes," she easily lied. "She didn’t care about her father. After everything you’ve done for her, I don’t understand what daughter wouldn’t listen to their father."

Alaina couldn’t help the words that rolled off her tongue. All she could think about was currying his favor. If the High Alpha took a liking to her she too might be able to live in such a lavish place.

"You are right. Sometimes I wonder where I went wrong. Who else knows about this? About who took her?" He sized her up as he spoke. His tone was friendly but his dark eyes were not.

Alaina frowned slightly. "Not many people, but she is no longer in Verlassen. That would be common knowledge pretty soon."

"Hmm."

"Do you intend to get her back?" Alaina asked.

"Most definitely. I am not going to let some strange woman claiming to be her mother take her away. Her mother, unfortunately, died a few years back." He glanced toward the door. "Ah yes, bring it in, Maelle."

Maelle nodded and shakily stepped into the room holding the tray. She placed it on the table, pushing it closer to Alaina.

"Treat your guest properly, Maelle. Pour her a cup."

She stiffly nodded and poured a generous amount into the ceramic cup. The green floral smell of tea filled the air as steam rose from the cup. The snacks were slices of strawberry fruit tart and some cupcakes.

She placed the kettle down and took her seat. Surprisingly, she wasn’t as bothered as she thought. She was more bothered by the fact that her father was still going after Maya.

"Wouldn’t you be taking her from her real mother if you went after her?" She asked as she looked at her father.

Alaina immediately put the tea to her lips, drinking a generous amount. She didn’t want to leave any clue that she knew Maya wasn’t his daughter.

However, his actual daughter didn’t approve of Maya, and she was quick to state her disapproval despite her presence.

"What nonsense are you spouting, Maelle?! I am her father, and you are her sister."