05  I needed to be strong.

Willow,

I woke up in the middle of the night with a troubled heart. While I thought of the past, specific questions gnawed at my mind. Why was I framed? I wasn't having an affair with Christopher; he did not show me love or interest. Why did Aida hate me so much, and why was Christopher Killed? These were questions I would have to find answers to succeed.

Getting Aida and Mark out of Christopher's life was a daunting task that a crybaby good girl would not be able to achieve. I needed to succeed. I did not know what would happen if I succeeded, but I knew what would happen if I failed.

I knew Aida wasn't good for him. I also knew he didn't love her. Their marriage was arranged by the werewolf king, and Christopher had to honour it because he was under the monarch. It was a way of the monarch showing he favoured Christopher, but I knew better. Christopher was the strongest werewolf alpha. The only reason he wasn't king was that he wasn't from the royal bloodline. The werewolf king must have joined him with his daughter to secure his throne and keep the crown in his family. It was simple. His daughter will bear children with Christopher, and even though Christopher will be king after him, his children, which will be the king's grandchildren, will take the throne when the time comes.

Unlike Christopher, who chose to make the union work, Aida secretly followed her heart to be with Beta Mark.

I was sure of one thing: I would not let Aida know that I was aware of her affair because that was her biggest motivation against me.

"We need to figure out who killed him, Willow. We know everything that will happen, but we do not know who killed him. Aida seems to be the biggest suspect. Perhaps, he found out about her schemes? But we have to be sure she did it so we don't fail. We have to think of everyone close to him with a motive," Raya said, and I sighed, turning to the side of the bed.

"Perhaps he found out about her affair. We need to be ahead of her, Raya," I told my wolf, realising the only way we could win was to get close enough to Christopher to find the culprit.

"Hopefully, our plan works. I do not want to be damned, and I believe he deserves better than that lying piece of shit he calls his wife," Raya said, and I giggled.

"Hope we are ready for next week when they will make their first move?" Raya said, and I laughed. I knew exactly what she meant.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK

The day had finally come, and I dressed and hid in my metal locker. In the past, someone hid Aida's royal necklace under my mattress. I needed to know who so I could counter it.

The crime was supposed to happen today because Aida would start crying about the necklace just a few hours later. I knew the person put it in my room when all the workers were away from the living quarters. Thanks to what happened with Ingrid, I had some liberty. She wasn't going to look for me in the morning, so I stood comfortably in my locker and stared at the bed through the opening that served as an air vent on the locker door. The design came in handy.

I stood in the locker and peeked through the vent, waiting for the wicked person Aida used to set me up.

ONE HOUR LATER

"Maybe it wasn't placed in our room in the morning," Raya said, tired of standing in the locker, but I refused. The morning was when I worked away from the servant quarters. Whoever did it placed the item in my room when they knew no one would see them. Workers are never in the quarters in the morning.

"Be patient. The person has to plant the necklace this morning. This is the only opening they will have," I told my wolf, and she was silent. It wasn't long before we heard someone let themselves into my room. I peeked through the vent and saw Ingrid in my room. I wasn't surprised. I watched her place a blue cloth under my mattress and let herself out.

I wanted to laugh with joy, but I couldn't. I had suspected she was the one.

Thirty minutes after Ingrid left, I let myself out of the wardrobe and checked under my bed. It was the same damn blue cloth. The sapphire and Ruby pendant of the necklace showed beautifully, and I laughed. This was definitely going to be fun.

I took out the necklace using a clean handkerchief so it would not have my scent, placed it in my pocket, and then left the cloth under the bed. They will find the fabric but not the pendant. I wanted Ingrid to know that I know. I wanted her to be afraid of me. I stepped out of my room and went to Ingrid's room. Knowing all the servants were not in the quarters, I was confident. I let myself into her room. I lifted her mattress and cut the mattress's fabric, then placed the necklace inside it without letting it touch my skin, just as a thief would hide a stolen item. I walked out of Ingrid's room and went to serve breakfast in the hall. I entered the hall. Ingrid smiled at me, and I returned the smile.

"Where were you?" She asked, and I smiled.

"In the forest looking for herbs. I got a rash this morning, and I needed to soothe it." I said, and she smiled lovingly at me.

"You should have gone to the clinic. You do not need to rely on herbs here." She said, and I thanked her. I could not wait to see what would happen when her plans went belly up.

"Gamma Luis asked that you serve his meal," Leeana told me, and I smiled at her.

"I think you caught his eye, Willow," She squealed, and I smiled at her. I had a task and no time for romance, but they couldn't know that.

I looked at the high table where the high-ranking officers were, along with the Alpha and Luna. Gamma Luis smiled, and I bowed my head but did not smile at him. I carried Luis's food to him. I greeted everyone at the table politely but did not look at Christopher. Though I ensured I greeted him politely with all the respect I could manage. I did not allow eye contact.

"You serve my meals henceforth, Willow," Gamma Luis said, and I bowed and started serving Luis's food.

Luis was too friendly and nice toward me, and I respectfully smiled at him once in a while. Everyone saw he was into me, and I did not discourage him.

Breakfast ended, and I went to attend to my other chores. When I was done, I went to the servant's waiting room to wait for my orders. Ingrid soon ordered me to go and clean Alpha and Luna's room. Most workers were shocked; I was shocked in the past, but not this time. I now knew why. This was the only way they could establish I took the jewellery. How else would I steal the necklace if I wasn't in their room?

"Do you think it is wise for me to clean their personal space? I just got here," I said to benefit the people around me.

"I do not want to get into trouble," I added, and Ingrid disagreed.

"You will be fine. Just clean the room and leave," She said, and I nodded. I took the cleaning items and went to the room.

I knocked, but no one answered. So I let myself in.

I began to clean the room. I was about to make the bed when Christopher walked in from the bathroom. He was shirtless with just his shorts, so I averted my gaze.

"Sorry, Alpha. I knocked. I thought no one was here. I will leave now," I said, getting ready to leave.

"No," He said, stopping me, and I froze by the door.

"Look at me, Willow," He said, and I turned to look at him.

"Is the bond the reason you never look at me?" He asked, and I looked away. I could not be honest with him about my reasons.

"I dare not look at you," I said, and he was silent.

"Willow, our bond isn't broken yet, so I feel everything you feel. I didn't like how you were with Luis, my Gamma. I am not against you moving on, but his intentions might not be pure. I am just looking out for you," He said gently, and I did not know what to say.

"I am sorry. I had no choice. I am just a servant." I said to him in truth, and he nodded. He walked to his table and put on his computer. His scent filled my senses, but I blocked my mind.

Tears threatened my eyes. He was meant for me. He was supposed to be mine, but I was too late. Now I just had to make sure we didn't die. Whatever happens after then is up to the universe. Tears threatened to fall down my eyes, but I held them. I needed to be strong.