There was a convoy of cars waiting behind a white Limousine outside. Arisa, stepping out of the quarters had to do a double check to ensure she was seeing clearly.
The guests for the Blood Moon Ceremony... had they arrived already? But the cars all bore the symbol of their pack, Night Howler's pack.
"Good morning." She turned to the direction of the voice to see Aisha heading towards her dressed in the same uniform and apron as she was in.
"Good morning Aisha."
She turned back to the cars and Limousine sitting in the compound. All the maids, including the Pack guards paid little to no heed to It at all, so she was curious.
"Oh. That's the Limousine that takes Ares to school everyday."
"And the convoy of cars happen to be...?"
"Security," Aisha giggled seeing the look on her face. "They weren't this much, but due to recent attacks on our people, they had to do this for preventive measures. You know he's the heir of Night Howlers' pack so his safety is everyone's priority."
"I see."
"Where's Ruby?"
"Still sleeping. I have to cook breakfast and prepare a list for shopping before she wakes up or I won't be able to have much done this morning."
"I'll get you a customized list Miss Olivia made. That would be much easier since we're almost out on foodstuffs."
"Oh. That would be great, Aisha. Thank you so much."
Approaching the kitchen, she tried her possible best to greet and acknowledge everyone she met on her way. It wasn't necessarily to get people to like her, but If she was going to build some certain level of trust between her and her 'pack members', It had to be so.
"Her daughter looks nothing like her... I doubt they're even related. Have you seen the differences in physical features?" As she approached the kitchen from the backyard, she froze on hearing voices inside.
Her hearing senses were heightened so well that even before she approached the door, she had already heard the first woman. She could sense two women inside.
"... it could be she's not her actual daughter but she's using her to gain favor. Why do you think she was already able to get a job here so easily, and can you Imagine us having to work with her as our head cook. Just what did she do to the Alpha and Luna that made them promote her so quickly."
"Who knows? She thinks everything will go smoothly for her here onwards, but she's..."
Shaking her head, she just swung the door open, having heard enough. She noticed how they both fidgeted in their position, twisting and turning the pleated skirts of their uniform with their heads down.
She snorted. Knowing they weren't even worth her time at all, she didn't even bother mentioning anything what she heard. People will always have negative things to say about you no matter how you portray yourself.
"I'm guessing you're the cooks who'd be helping me. Before we begin, what are your names? I'm Arisa." She didn't even bother smiling, but her expression was blank, her eyes cold and made them unsettled as they glanced at her from time to time.
"I'm.. M- Marissa." The girl with short black bob hair and matching black charcoal eyes said, fidgeting even more when her eyes met hers before she lowered It.
"I'm Annaliese..." The other curtly replied, arms folded.
"Marissa... Anna. I'll be your Head cook and I hope we can be able to effectively work well together for as long as we get to serve our Alpha and Luna."
"Miss Arisa... we're already well past the time for preparing breakfast as It's almost 6:00am."
"That's fine..." Arisa curtly responded as she reached out to grab a matching net and apron which she put on. "We have time."
Soon, with Arisa's help and proper execution of orders, Marissa and Anna had a large bulling pot of food for the Pack guards and maids cooking while Arisa specially worked on the Alpha's household meal. Pancakes with a dripple of syrup, blue berries and whipped cream and fried eggs, but since Ares didn't eat eggs. she substituted eggs with sausages for him.
"The food smells really nice, Miss Arisa." Marissa couldn't help but say as she bent over the large pot cooking to take a tentative sniff as Anna stirred It with a large spoon.
"Thank you." Arisa replied, not taking her eyes off the sausage which was frying in a pan over the fire.
Marissa met Anna's eyes and sucked in her lips on seeing the glare directed at her.
Once Arisa was done, well aware that Ares would probably be the first to come downstairs since he had school, she decided to serve him first.
"You... call in the others to help carry the pot to the quarters dining room and I'll take this to the Alpha and his family. Marissa, come with me." Without waiting for a reaction for them, she began pushing the trolley out and could soon hear Marissa's soft footsteps behind her with a rack of plates and cutleries.
The dinning room was empty, giving them the time to set the table and set out the meal. They covered the food neatly to ensure It was still warm when they got downstairs. Expecting everything to be over, Marissa turned to head back to the kitchen when Arisa called her back.
"Do you know where Ares's room is?"
Marissa found the question strange and turned to see a plate of pancakes and sausages in Arisa's hands.
"Miss Arisa, Ares can have breakfast downstairs with his parents. You don't have to take It up to him in his room."
"I just want to ensure he's getting ready. I mean, he has to go to school early, does he not?"
"I assure you, he's probably on his way downstairs now as we speak. His personal maid is Aisha. You must have met her. She's well capable and ensures he's downstairs in time to go to school."
At this point, Arisa didn't even have the energy to argue or explain herself, so she just pursed her lips in a forced smile before setting he plate down. Is that so? Okay then, you can join Anna. I'll meet with you later."
Marissa bowed slightly before she turned and walked away, a confused look still etched on her face.
Arisa sighed as she directed her eyes to the stairs wondering how she's going to get the little boy to eat before going to school. Part of her was trying to convince her that she shouldn't be going two f*cks about the child of the two people she bore hate for, but part of her, her motherly instincts would eat her up with guilt having to know a kid like him would go to school hungry when she knew she wouldn't let Ruby suffer the same fate.
"You're not a Omega... " She felt a presence behind her and turned sharply, gasping when she saw Alpha Stephan standing dangerously close to her.
She took careful but staggering steps back, almost dripping the plate of food from shock but she maintained her composure immediately and clearing her throat.
"Alpha Stephan, Good morning."
"The aura around you..." Her heart began beating seeing how his eyes bored suspiciously into hers but she tried to calm down and lowered her eyes to the ground to show submission so he wouldn't further suspect her. Normally, a acommon Omage couldn't stare into the eyes of their Alpha. Not only was It disrespectful, but they just couldn't. "I was uncertain about it yesterday, but I had barely stepped into the dinning room and I could feel your presence exuding dominance."
"Alpha... I have no Idea what you're saying..."
"I won't repeat this question again. Who are you?"