The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 729: GOLDEN EAGLE

Well," Ethan said finally, taking a step backward. "I should get back before the training master starts looking for me."

"That would be wise."

He pointed at me.

"And you."

I sighed.

"What now?"

"Stay out of trouble."

"I don’t look for trouble."

Ethan barked out a laugh.

"That’s exactly what someone who constantly finds trouble would say."

I rolled my eyes.

"I have to go deliver these herbs to the kitchens."

"Fine." He started walking away before glancing back over his shoulder. "Be careful, Ruby."

The teasing was gone from his voice.

For a moment, he sounded genuinely serious.

My chest warmed slightly.

"I will."

Only when he disappeared down the corridor did I continue on my way.

The Pack House was like a maze.

Long stone hallways twisted around one another. Servants rushed past carrying baskets of vegetables, folded linens, and trays of food.

Fortunately, I had been here enough times growing up to know where the kitchens were.

The closer I got, the stronger the scent became.

Fresh bread.

Roasted meat.

Herbs.

Spices.

By the time I reached the double doors leading into the kitchens, my stomach was growling.

The moment I stepped inside, organized chaos greeted me.

Cooks hurried from station to station.

Large pots simmered over fires.

Knives chopped vegetables at incredible speed.

Orders were being shouted from every direction.

Standing in the middle of it all was Head Chef Martha.

She was a large woman with graying hair tied in a bun, her apron dusted with flour. Despite her stern reputation, she had always been kind to me.

The moment she spotted me, her face lit up.

"Ruby!"

A smile immediately spread across my lips.

"Hello, Chef Martha."

She wiped her hands on her apron before pulling me into a quick hug.

"Oh, it’s good to see you, child."

"You too."

Her eyes immediately fell to the basket hanging from my arm.

"Your mother sent supplies?"

I nodded.

"She asked me to bring these personally."

The woman’s shoulders visibly relaxed.

"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess."

She took the basket carefully and peeked inside.

Bundles of herbs.

Bottles of medicine.

Dried roots.

Her expression softened.

"My daughter has been terribly ill these past few days."

Concern immediately filled me.

"Is she alright?"

"She’s improving." Martha smiled sadly. "But only because your mother has been treating her."

I felt relief wash through me.

Mother always seemed to know exactly what to do.

"She’ll be happy to hear that."

"Tell her I’m grateful." Martha carefully set the basket on a nearby table. "I don’t know what this pack would do without your mother."

"I wish your mother would simply take up the offer of working as the pack healer. There is ample space for all of you. Including your father, too." She said unhappily.

I smiled at her. "You know how mother is. She can never let go of her garden and her home. She loved working from home."

Martha sighed. "Alright, Ruby. That’s fine. But do tell your mother that the offer is always available on the table as long as I am here."

I nodded. "I will surely let her know. You know how to make the medicine, don’t you? Or do you want me to help you?"

She gently touched my shoulder and shook her head. "You have done more than enough already. I remember how to go about it."

Martha was one of my mother’s kind-hearted friends.

Her daughter had fallen ill a while ago, and her mother had been consistently treating her.

It surprised me that the offer for the mother to be the official pack healer was still on the table.

"Well, your parents have always been on the road; I am not surprised she wouldn’t want a restrictive job." She said casually.

I paused. "What do you mean, they have always been on the road?"

That took me completely off guard.

"Oh? You don’t know?" She asked me in surprise. "Well, your parents were gyspies before they moved here. You must have been really young and don’t remember."

This was the first I’d heard of this.

A bell was rung, and that quickly took away our attention.

"That’s the bell." She said, gathering her skirts as she headed towards the oven.

A dozen kitchen staff flooded in.

"Thank you for coming, dear, and do get home safely. And please don’t fight with anyone."

My face went red, and I tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Mother will come visiting in a week to check on her health," I shouted through the busy crowd, but I doubted she even heard.

I turned on my heel and returned the way I had come.

As I walked down the pack grounds, I couldn’t help notice how much more of a hustle and bustle it was than usual.

I prayed not to run into Aston.

Anything but to avoid that dreadful wolf.

I had never heard of the pack Alpha visiting this place since I grew up here.

Our pack was just one of his many annexed territories.

There had been no cause for him or other members of his family to come, so they left it to Aston’s father, who pranced around as though he owned the place.

I was going down the gravel path, trying not to draw attention from the small cluster of men guarding the gate nearby, when I heard an eagle.

I looked up and saw it was not just any eagle. But a golden eagle, and it was hovering around so majestically.

I smiled, admiring it.

Golden Eagles were so rare to see these days, most especially because wolves hunted them down for exotic sport.

Seeing one delighted me.

I watched it, and it seemed to watch me too, when all of a sudden I heard a large swoop in the air.

I turned and watched an arrow fly past.

I gasped, and just before I could turn around and scream to alert the bird, it was shot down.