Chapter 40
Azalea and Maya walked back to the grand hall, the tension between them hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Maya hadn’t said much after their time in the garden, and Azalea could tell something was bothering her. As they reached the doorway, Maya’s phone rang, and she instinctively glanced at the screen.
It was Bennett again.
Maya’s expression changed instantly, her face tightening in frustration and fear. Azalea noticed and stopped in her tracks, looking at Maya with concern.
“Is everything alright?” Azalea asked gently, her voice carrying a note of curiosity.
Maya snapped her head toward Azalea, her expression sharp. “Mind your own business, Azalea,” she spat out, her voice laced with irritation.
Azalea raised an eyebrow, surprised by the venom in Maya’s tone, but she didn’t press further. Maya turned on her heel and stormed away, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. As she disappeared down a side corridor, Vick, who had been standing nearby, stepped closer to Azalea.
“She’s behaving suspiciously,” Vick said quietly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Maya’s retreating figure. “But we shouldn’t worry about her right now. We have the arrangements to finish.”
Azalea nodded in agreement, though her gaze lingered in the direction Maya had gone. Something wasn’t right, but there were more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. “You’re right,” she said softly. “Let’s focus on the preparations.”
They both turned their attention back to the task at hand, leaving Maya to her own devices.
—
Maya hurried through the halls until she found a secluded spot, her heart racing as she pressed the phone to her ear. “What the hell do you want, Bennett?” she hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby. “Why are you calling me now? What do you want?”
Bennett’s voice came through the line, calm and mocking. “Oh, Maya, I just wanted to remind you that I’m always watching. I have eyes everywhere, and you’ll help me get into that ball. You don’t have a choice.”
Maya’s stomach twisted into knots. “You’re insane. I’m not helping you get anywhere near this pack,” she snapped, trying to keep her voice steady. “You have no business being here, Bennett. Stay away.”
But Bennett just laughed. “You think you can control this? You’re the crazy one, Maya. Don’t forget, I know everything. I know you just left Luna to take this call. Nice try hiding, but I see you.”
Maya’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately glanced around, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of him. Panic surged through her veins. How did he know where she was?
“Bennett, don’t-” she started, but the line went dead. He’d hung up.
She stood frozen for a moment, her hand trembling as she lowered the phone. Her mind raced with fear and anger. How could he know so much? Was he here, watching her? She felt exposed, like a prey caught in a trap.
Maya’s breath quickened as she realised she was deeper than she thought. Bennett wasn’t going to leave her alone, and now he was demanding she help him infiltrate the ball. The very thought of it sent chills down her spine.
But what scared her the most was how easily he seemed to be pulling the strings. Maya needed to think fast. She had to figure out how to handle this without anyone else finding out. If her past sins came to light, it would ruin everything she had built for herself here.
—
In another part of the castle, Leandro and Thomas sat in Leandro’s private chamber, discussing their plans. The brothers had always been ambitious, each vying for power in their way. With their father’s health declining and Federico positioning himself as the natural heir to the throne, they knew they had to act fast if they wanted to secure their place.
Leandro leaned back in his chair, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. “We need to start solidifying alliances,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “If we want any chance of taking the throne from Federico, we’ll need the support of the alphas and kings from the surrounding territories.”
Thomas, who was pacing the room, nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We can’t just rely on our status as the king’s sons. We need to build real power. If the other leaders see us as stronger candidates than Federico, they’ll back us when the time comes.”
Leandro took a sip of his drink, his mind already calculating. “The ball will be the perfect opportunity to start planting those seeds. All the key players will be there. We need to be strategic in how we approach them.”
Thomas stopped pacing and turned to face his brother. “What about Azalea?” he asked, his voice dropping lower. “She’s a wildcard in all of this. She may not have the political influence yet, but she’s tied to Federico. If she gains power, she could become a problem.”
Leandro smirked. “Azalea is nothing. She’s just a pawn in this game. She doesn’t even realize how insignificant she is in the grand scheme of things.”
“But she’s clever,” Thomas pointed out. “We can’t underestimate her.”
Leandro waved him off dismissively. “Federico’s obsession with her will be his downfall. He’s too distracted to see what’s coming. We, on the other hand, are focused.”
Thomas crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “We need to start working on the key alphas first. If we can win them over, the others will follow.”
Leandro nodded. “Agreed. I’ve already had a few private conversations with some of them. They’re not completely sold on Federico yet. There’s still time to turn them to our side.”
Thomas grinned a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Good. We need to make sure that by the time Father’s health takes a turn, we’re the ones holding all the cards.”
The brothers shared a conspiratorial look, both knowing that this power struggle was far from over. The ball would be their chance to start positioning themselves as the true heirs to the throne, and they intended to take full advantage of it.
—
Back in the grand hall, Azalea and Vick continued arranging the flowers, though Azalea’s thoughts kept drifting back to Maya’s strange behaviour. Something was off with her, but Azalea couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Maya had always been an enigma, but the way she had snapped earlier was unusual, even for her.
“Vick,” Azalea said quietly, glancing over at him. “Do you think Maya is hiding something?”
Vick looked up from his work, considering her question. “She’s acting strange,” he admitted. “But what could she be hiding?”
Azalea shrugged, her brow furrowed. “I don’t know. But we should keep an eye on her. Something about her doesn’t feel right.”
Vick nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep watch. If she’s up to something, we’ll find out soon enough.”
As they continued their preparations, Azalea couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. Between Maya’s odd behavior and the tension surrounding the upcoming ball, it felt like the air was thick with anticipation.
And somewhere, lurking in the shadows, Bennett was watching. Waiting for his moment to strike.
—
Maya stood frozen in the secluded corner of the castle, her mind racing as she replayed Bennett’s words over and over again. She knew he was dangerous, but she hadn’t expected him to be this bold. The fact that he knew about her conversation with Azalea, that he had eyes on her, sent a wave of fear crashing through her.
She had to find a way out of this. But how? Bennett had her backed into a corner, and now, with the ball just days away, time was running out.
Her only hope was that she could somehow navigate this without anyone finding out. Because if they did, her entire world would come crashing down.