Maya adjusted the mobcap that Bess handed her. She made sure all her hair was hidden from view under the scrutinizing eyes of the cook. When she tied the apron, Agnes finally had a look that wasn’t disgust and paid attention to her cooking.

She wiped her sweaty hands on her apron, feeling the maids’ stares. They leaned into one another to whisper, and without hearing their words, she knew it was about her.

Bess stood in the corner smiling and gestured for her to go on. She walked toward the maid who was almost done plucking the feathers off the chicken.

Maya felt her stomach twist as she walked forward. The maids chuckled amongst themselves, but they were careful not to draw Agnes’s attention. Agnes was busy at the counter, heating the pot as she prepared to put the ingredients over the hearth.

Maya was a little nervous. She had not done much cooking before, and she knew Alaina was counting on her failure. She couldn’t begin to guess what this would accomplish.

Did it have something to do with the Alpha? Was there something she was missing? However, Maya didn’t have a lot of time to figure out her thoughts. She had to prepare the chicken.

She stood next to the maid with the chicken, the latter stepped away as though she didn’t want to be seen next to Maya. Maya didn’t think much of it; all her thoughts were on the chicken.

Picking up a nearby knife, Maya got to work. She cut the chicken into smaller pieces and set aside the edible organs—the heart, kidneys, liver, and gizzard.

The liver required the most care. Attached to it was the gallbladder, a small sac filled with bile. If it burst, the bitter liquid would spill over the meat and taint the entire bird. Once that happened, there was little she could do to salvage it.

The cook in her father’s mansion could debone a chicken before cooking, but Maya had no such skill. She would have to simmer it first and remove the meat from the bones afterward.

She was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t notice half the kitchen had stopped to watch her. Bess stood in the corner, mouth slightly open, disbelief written across her face.

The next steps were simple, but they required time, and with dawn approaching, Maya didn’t have much of it. She set the pot over the hearth beside Agnes, cooking alongside her. The older woman didn’t spare her a glance.

After the chicken had simmered, she lifted it from the pot and removed the meat from the bones before returning it to the broth. Then she began the vegetables—diced onions, carrots, turnips, celery— and seasoning carefully as she went.

"What are you doing?" Agnes asked.

Maya was startled by the sudden question, almost dropping the nutmeg seed she held. It was the final touch for the soup.

She turned to find Agnes watching her with disapproval, pointing at her hand. "Put that away. That’s for baking."

"I know," Maya replied with a small smile. "But the fragrance works well in chicken soup."

Agnes narrowed her eyes. "If you’re going to ruin it, I won’t stop you."

"Agnes," Bess called from the corner. "You’re not supposed to help her."

Agnes clicked her tongue, muttering under her breath as she turned back to her own dish.

Maya grated a pinch of nutmeg into the broth. Covering the pot, she let it simmer for a few more minutes before easing the fire down.

---

"Where is she?" Keenan asked loudly before he even took his seat.

Alaina’s nose flared. She had hoped last night was a one-time deal. It was not. Keenan wanted her presence at the table. This time, however, Alaina wasn’t completely revolted by the idea. Maya had to be here, or else the humiliation wouldn’t count.

"I already sent for her," Alaina lied easily. "I don’t know why she isn’t here."

Keenan narrowed his eyes. "Send for her again." He commanded as he took his seat.

"At once," Alaina said with a grin. "Bess, would you?"

"Yes, Lady Alaina," Bess replied with a worried expression.

"What is it, Winnie?" Alaina asked as she noticed her sister looking at her from across the table.

"Nothing, Alaina," Winnie replied and turned her gaze to Theo, who was leaning back in his seat with a goofy smile on his face.

"You don’t look like you slept much, Winnie," Theo said.

Winnie shrugged. "I can always catch up on sleep. You look like you overslept."

Theo laughed. "You’re not wrong. I slept—"

Alaina subtly placed her hand on Theo’s thigh, silencing the rest of his words as he turned to look at her.

"Alaina," he whispered as he focused on her.

Winnie made fists under the table as she shrank. She glanced toward Keenan, but he didn’t spare any of them a glance.

"I was thinking we could go to the orphanage today and then the beach. I haven’t been there in a bit."

"Yeah," Theo agreed. "I need to visit Asher. We could go after breakfast."

Alaina watched her sister’s downcast expression from the corner of her eyes, and she couldn’t help the smile that escaped her lips.

Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Keenan, completely ignoring Theo. "Alpha, will you come with us?"

Keenan glared at her, annoyed that she would drag him into her nonsensical conversation. "I don’t care what activities you decide to engage in, Alaina."

"I was just wondering what your plans for the day are, Alpha. Is there anything you need my help with?" She asked sweetly.

No sooner had she asked the question than the door opened and Maya walked through the doors behind Bess. She had her head bent, carefully putting one foot in front of the other as she walked in.

Keenan’s reaction was instant. One moment he was barely giving her any attention, but as soon as Maya walked through the door, Alaina could see all his senses react.

His eyes turned in her direction, his nose flared, and he smelled slightly differently. Alaina bit her tongue. How was she losing to a woman he hated?