Late summer 2211, Invarnash Mansion
Naiya stared at the food simmering on the stove. Her gaze traveled over to the vial laying on the counter. For two years she had put the drug into Laylah's food and drink. It really pained her to do it, but trying to disobey an Alpha's power was like slamming one's head into a concrete wall. Utterly useless and death-dealing.
She sighed. Though Laylah seemed healthy, the little girl was unhappy. Naiya knew why. Laylah missed her father. Henry did not come around much. It tore at her heart to watch Laylah's hopeful expression slide into disappointment. So Naiya had decided to throw a secret party for her young charge. It would put a smile on Laylah's face and would give the rest of the staff a reason to relax.
The door to the kitchen opened and Jacques strode in with a grin. "The food smells great, Naiya."
She chuckled and patted at her graying hair. "I just hope she'll like it." She paused when she caught Jacques' angry expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just saw the medicine, that's all." He straightened and his expression changed to neutral.
She nodded sadly. "I don't like it either, Jacques, but Laylah seems to be better off taking it."
"That's not the point. We should be teaching her to love herself, not suppress it and make her into something she's not," he countered.
"I know that, Jacques, but please feel free to take it up with our Alpha. If Henry changes his mind, I'll stop administering the medicine. Until that time, I will do as I've been ordered."
"Doesn't it make you feel guilty?"
Naiya frowned and studied Jacques. Something else was going on with the Head of Security. She opted for truthfulness. "All the time, Jacques. All the time."
"I'm going to go pick her up from school. Will you have everything done?"
"Of course. After all, I am the cook," she laughed and bowed.
Jacques merely grunted and left.
Naiya shook her head and decided to run out to the garden to grab some strawberries to add to the side dish. She grabbed a basket and stepped outside. She had only gone a few steps when she felt the presence of another. She stopped and turned toward the forest.
Standing inside the shadow of the treeline was a white wolf with a gray foreleg.
"You shouldn't be here! Get going! You're not welcome here!"
Naiya and the wolf glared at each other for a few minutes before the wolf flattened his ears, bared his fangs and raced back into the forest.
Relieved, she hurried to get the strawberries. She had other things besides the wolf to worry about.