Chapter 8: Then Taste It!

"My breakfast?" Selene was confused. "I thought I wasn’t allowed to dine in the dining hall?"

"That is true."

"So then?"

"A meal is still prepared for you, Miss. Otherwise you’ll starve. The Alpha will not be happy with that." The maid gestured. "Please come with me. There is a little dining table in the kitchen. You can enjoy your breakfast there."

Selene was hungry. She was basically feeling sick. And so, she got on her feet quickly, walking past the maid to head to the kitchen. But she had only arrived at the door when the maid grabbed her arm.

She stopped.

She turned around and lifted a brow. "Is there...a problem?"

The maid bit down on her lip. She was fidgety, nervous, and anxious. There was guilt in her eyes and body language, one that Selene could sense.

Why?

She frowned.

"Is something...wrong? Is there something you’d like to tell me?"

The maid met her eyes.

"Well..." She struggled. "Please be careful."

"What...do you mean?"

"I don’t know, Miss." She shook her head, her curls bouncing. "I think...some people in this manor want you dead. A-and I just want you to be careful. Please don’t eat just anything or trust anyone."

Selene stared at her. Something was wrong. And she wasn’t willing to say anything.

Knowing she wouldn’t get anything out of the maid, she gave her a smile and walked out of the living room towards the kitchen.

She stepped inside.

There was only one maid in sight. She was blonde with hazel eyes. And she stood with hands in front of her, quietly watching Selene as she closed the door behind her.

Truly, a proper breakfast had been prepared for her. Selene could already sniff the aroma in the air.

"Take a seat, Miss."

Something felt so strange. Why have they meticulously made breakfast for her?

Why in the world would Dante, who wouldn’t even let me in the dining hall, have these maids make breakfast like this for me like some princess?

She narrowed her eyes.

Something was very wrong. Not to mention the maid’s behavior.

Cautious, she walked over to the table. She settled down on the chair and scrutinized the sets of well-made breakfast.

"Go ahead and enjoy yourself, Miss," the maid said.

Selene eyed her. She gave a smile and reached for a bowl of soup. "You made soup?"

"Yes. You haven’t eaten since you arrived. The alpha wanted us to make sure you ate well today."

"Did he now?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Huh." Selene picked up the bowl of soup and used the ceramic spoon to turn it. She scooped up a spoonful and brought it to her lips. "The alpha really asked for such a nice breakfast to be made for me?"

"Of course, Miss."

She nodded and brought the spoon closer to her mouth. She parted her lips just about to drink it off the spoon when her nose twitched.

She caught a smell.

One thing about Selene was that she had a nose far more sensitive than any other wolf. And that aside, she had the tongue of a gourmet. And so, gradually, she lowered the spoonful of soup, looked at it, and sniffed it again and again.

The maid watched her curiously. She frowned. "Miss, is there...a problem?"

Selene sniffed the soup again.

"Is something wrong?" the maid pushed.

"Come closer."

Though hesitant, the maid walked closer. She stood next to the table.

Selene tilted her gaze up. "Don’t you think this soup smells a little weird?"

"W-what do you mean, Miss?"

"Oh, I don’t know." She chuckled. "This is a soup I am very familiar with. And this smell in it is strange...you know?"

"Um...well, that couldn’t be, Miss."

The maid laughed awkwardly.

"We prepared everything properly. We couldn’t have added an unwanted ingredient there."

"But you did," Selene pressured. "My nose never sniffs wrong. Something that shouldn’t be in here is inside this soup. What is it?"

"Miss, this—"

"Answer me. What did you put in here?"

"Nothing, Miss!" The maid panicked. "Are you implying that we are trying to harm you?"

Selene raised a brow. "I didn’t say nor imply that. I simply asked a question. It could have been that a bad ingredient I don’t like was added inside. Why did you assume I was implying harm in any way?"

The maid froze.

"M-miss..."

"Actually, hm...take this." Selene gave the bowl to her.

The maid swallowed fearfully. Cold beads of sweat were beginning to bubble all over on her forehead.

"Miss, this... What is the meaning of this? What are you trying to do?"

"There is no problem with the soup, right?"

"Yes." She nodded frantically. "That is right, Miss. You have to trust us, we’d never harm you."

Selene shrugged. "Well, I don’t trust any of you. This pack is unfamiliar. And considering that is the case, I’m going to need you to taste this soup for me."

"Miss—"

"Taste it."

"I can’t do that."

"If you don’t, then I’ll assume you poisoned this soup."

"I didn’t!" The maid shook her head aggressively. "I really didn’t!"

"Then taste it!"

Selene demanded.

"Now."