"Help!!!" Mila screamed as Isabella lost consciousness.
The scream got to Liam who was in the livingroom and he hurried to where the noise was coming from.
"What's happening?" Liam inquired as he entered the room.
"What did you do?" He questioned Mila in shock as he saw Isabella lying unconsciously on the floor.
"I didn't do anything." Mila protested.
"So why is she like that?" Liam inquired further as he took a closer look at Isabella.
"I... I don't know! I only came to inform her that dinner was ready but met her eating some food, then all of a sudden, she clutched her stomach and coughed up blood..." Mila rushed out, panting. Then, Liam was already crouching by Isabella's side to check her.
"She is not breathing!" He observed.
Mila sucked in a breath, looking frightened.
"No! Please..." She sobbed.
"We need to get the doctor!" Liam stated fearfully.
~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later, the family doctor was examining Isabella with everybody present.
Damien leaned against the wall, looking bored, while Liam and Lucas were expressionless.
"How could this happen?" Alpha Evan mumbled to himself as he sat in his wheelchair besides Isabella's bed.
Then, the doctor finally finished checking on her and he turned to look at the family.
"She was poisoned." He announced solemnly.
"What?" Liam, Mila and Alpha Evan had the same shocking expression at the announcement while Lucas and Damien appeared completely calm as if the announcement was about the weather.
"Before anything, I want to know, will she survive it?" The Alpha asked the doctor, gently.
"She willl recover. The poison hasn't reached vital organs, and her wolf blood is fighting it off effectively. She will just be bedridden for a while." The doctor explained.
The Alpha signed in relief.
"Thank you, Moon Goddess." He muttered, running a hand over his face.
"But how could this happen in our own home? We are supposed to be safe here!" Liam said, looking bewildered.
"Safe? Don't be naive, little brother." Damien scoffed.
"Silence, you two!" Alpha Evan bellowed at the two boys and immediately, there was absolute silence.
Lucas remained quiet, his eyes fixed on Isabella's pale form.
"You!" Alpha Evan growled at Mila, his eyes glowing with fury.
"You are responsible for all the food in this house! Now, tell me, how did my granddaughter get poisoned?" He bellowed at Mila.
Mila immediately dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Her whole body shook with fear.
"Alpha, I swear I didn't prepare that food! I would never..." Mila was saying but couldn't finish before getting cut off.
"Then who did?" The Alpha demanded, angrily.
"Have you decided to start working with our enemies now? Have they finally bought your loyalty?" He added in fumes.
"No! Never. I have served you loyally for years and do not plan to stop! I would never do anything to hurt her, especially not after what happened to her parents..." Mila was saying tearfully but the old man wasn't going to have any of that. Especially how she wanted to make mention of the incident.
"Silence! What do you even know, anyway?" The Alpha roared, making Liam and Mila flinched.
"Grandfather, if I may speak, please..." Lucas suddenly stepped forward, his voice gentle but firm.
Everyone turned to look at him as he approached the Alpha carefully. Even Damien seemed interested at that moment.
"Mila has been part of this family for as long as I can remember..." Lucas began calmly, placing a respectful hand on his grandfather's shoulder.
"I strongly believe she can't do this. She definitely wouldn't have the nerve to do that. Logically, she knows she would be the first suspect as the cook, and would definitely get caught. I'm certain she's not responsible for this." Lucas maintained firmly.
Mila looked at Lucas gratefully, still sobbing.
The Alpha's anger seemed to deflate slightly as he considered Lucas's words. He looked between his grandson and the kneeling housekeeper.
"I want to find the perpetrator! And when I did, the person will beg for death." Alpha Evan swore, seriously.
"I don't see why everyone is making such a fuss. She is not even dead yet. Just another dramatic episode in this house." Damien mumbled under his breath, pushing off from the wall.
"This girl... Everything was perfect before she came back." Lucas on the other hand, stated inwardly, shaking his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, Isabella's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Mila's worried face beside her bed.
"Isabella!" Mila exclaimed and immediately hugged her.
"What happened?" Isabella asked weakly, her head still fuzzy.
"You were poisoned." Mila replied softly.
Isabella's eyes widened with fear as the memories came rushing back.
"Poisoned? How...?" Isabella grunted.
"This is what I was warning you about. You can't trust anyone here. Not a single soul." Mila said firmly.
"And how am I supposed to live like that? Not trusting a single person? That is not living, Mila." Isabella whispered and chuckled dryly.
"If you want to live in the Alpha's manor, you have to. The Alpha's throne is a war front, and you're right in the middle of it now." Mila maintained firmly.
"I'm not fighting for any throne! I never asked for any of this!" Isabella protested, trying to sit up.
"Isn't one of the boys going to be the next Alpha?" Isabella pointed out.
Mila shook her head slowly.
"Yes, Lucas has been groomed for the position, and the pack loves him. He is the golden boy of the pack but things have changed now that you are home." Mila said.
"Wait, Is that what grandfather thinks too?" Isabella asked further.
"It has to be. Your parents were the rightful heirs. With them gone, you are next in line." Mila explained.
Isabella's eyes widened with understanding.
"No wonder Lucas hates me... He surely believes that I come to ruin everything he has worked for." She thought.
"Did they find out who poisoned me?" Isabella asked after a moment of silence.
"No, but your grandfather is investigating the matter." Mila responded.
Isabella suddenly stood up, her face set with determination. Her legs wobbled slightly, but she didn't care.
"There is no need for an investigation. I already know who poisoned me. And I am going to deal with them." She declared sharply.
Before Mila could stop her, Isabella had bolted out of the room furiously.