The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 425: THE INTERVENTION

”Why would you involve Uther in any of this?” Lily asked as she grabbed Anna by her the front bodice of her dress. ”He is loyal to Xaden. He could tell Xaden and then that would be the end.”

Anna pried Lily’s hands free from her grip.

”Take it easy.” Anna said. ”I know what I m doing.”

”Really?” Lily chuckled. ”You know what you’re doing? By going to meet young uncle the very same man who raised me and would do anything for this pack that we are trying to kill Jasmine.”

”He hated Jasmine.” Anna pointed out.

”I know he hates Jasmine! But you don’t go around telling him these things. They don’t work that way.” A frustrated Lily expressed.

And then she shook her head.

”No I’m not doing this anymore. You were the one who assured me that working with you was going to be the best thing. Now I need to take a step away.”

Lily turned around to leave and then Anna caught her arm and held it.

”You can’t leave.” Anna said.

”Of course I can.” Lily said jerking her hand free. ”And it’s much easier for you to say because you weren’t almost eaten alive by a stupid wolf.”

Anna sighed in. ”That’s not what I’m trying to say. You are already in this. Even if there is a trace that you are involved walking away won’t just solve the problem.”

Lily eyes Anna but realized what she was saying was true.

”So what do you suggest?” Lily asked folding her arms.

”I think. We should trust him.” Anna said. ”He hates Jasmine more than any of us do. Her family is the reason why his family

Was wiped out. He wants her gone and I think that’s enough for us to believe him.”

Lily let out a slow breath, thinking. ”What did he say about Erik?”

Anna’s jaw clenched, just for a moment. ”Nothing useful. Just rumors.”

”Rumors you believe?” Lily asked sharply.

Anna hesitated, then shook her head. ”It doesn’t matter. Erik is loyal to Xaden. He’ll fall in line when the time comes. If he doesn’t... we’ll deal with him too.”

Lily studied her for a long moment. ”You’re slipping, Anna.”

”What?”

”You’re letting this get personal,” Lily said coolly. ”This isn’t about Erik. Or your fantasies. This is about Jasmine, and removing her before Xaden returns. If you can’t focus, I’ll go to Uther myself.”

Anna’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. ”Try it, and I’ll make sure he knows who botched the first attempt.”

The two women stared at each other, the air between them thick with hostility.

Then, slowly, Lily smiled.

”Fine,” she said. ”We stay the course. But next time, I’m choosing the poison.”

Anna nodded. ”And I’ll choose the timing.”

”Good.” Lily moved to the mirror and adjusted her hair. ”Because Jasmine’s starting to suspect. We can’t afford another mistake.”

”What actually happened?” Anna asked.

”It’s that ugly wolf.” Lily expressed as she massaged her forehead. ”I don’t know, but he knew something was wrong. He just knew and right after he had knocked down the tea? He turned on me.”

”We have to be more careful.” Lisa chirped in. ”We can’t make any moves now. She might suspect something is wrong, and if we attempt anything anytime soon, they might point a finger at us. So let’s take a two days to think about it straight. We have to come up with something better next time.”

They all nodded in silent agreement.

”But we have to be quick about this decision.” Lily said. ”Xaden should be back before the next full moon.”

”She won’t make it to the next full moon,” Anna whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

There was a knock at the door and all the women were thrown into panic.

No one said a word.

The knock came again.

”Anna it’s me. Jasmine.” Came Jasmine’s voice and all the women were thrown into a state of chaos and confusion.

Lily’s heart was beating so fast it seemed it was about to jump out of her chest.

”I’m so sorry to disturb but I have been looking for Lily.” Jasmine said and Lily froze instantly. ”The guards say she came up the way to your bedroom so I followed to find her.”

All the other two women Instinctively turned to look at Lily.

There was a strained silence and thoughts were running through Lily’s mind.

There was a knock again.

Did Jasmine now know what Lily had done? Was she merely suspecting her?

Was this a trap?

And then she walked up to the door and very gently creaked it open as it seemed Jasmine had turned her back to leave.

”Lily.” Jasmine said delighted.

Lily stepped out of the room and closed the door shut.

”I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I had been looking for you everywhere and then I was told you had come to see Anna.” Jasmine said fidgeting with her hands.

”It’s alright.” Lily smiled. ”She wasn’t feeling fine so I came to see her.”

”Oh?” Jasmine rose a surprised brow. ”Anna sick? I truly had no idea.”

Lily managed a tight smile. ”She didn’t tell much people. You don’t think it was wrong for me seeing her do you?”

”What? No. No of course not.” Jasmine said. ”My condolences. If you could pass them on to her for me.”

”Of course I would.” Lily said.

”Lily I came to see you because I had to apologize for what Kire did to you this

Morning .” Jasmine apologized.

Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

”You came to keep me company and rather Kire acted out.” Jasmine stated. ”I don’t know why he did that. But he has usually been a good wolf. I’ll makes sure that he steers clear of you.”

”It’s fine.” Lily smiled relieved that Jasmine didn’t suspect her. ”These things happen. And I’m grateful for you coming to meet me.”

Jasmine smiled. ”Thank you. You’re a good she wolf.”

Lily smiled back and then Jasmine turned around and went on her way back.

Lily watched her leave and the hatred she had for Jasmine grew much deeper within.

Nanny Nia found Jasmine in her room her feet gathered together as she lay on her bed deep in thought.

Nanny Nia sighed as she used her behind to close the door.

She set the tray down on the bedside table and sat down beside Jasmine.

She gently touched her shoulder.

”Jasmine.” Nanny Nia said

Jasmine was quiet at first and then she sat up and turned to face Nanny Nia.

”Your tea is ready.” She informed.

Jasmine numbly nodded. ”Thank you.”

Nanny Nia handed Jasmine the brewing cup of tea and watched as she sipped it.

Jasmine paused for a few minutes before resuming until she was done and then she handed the cup to Nanny Nia.

”Am I wrong?” Jasmine asked. ”Not telling Xaden about the baby?”

”No of course not.” Nanny Nia said. And then she sighed and gently set the tea cup on the bedside table before resuming to face Jasmine.

She adjusted her feet on the bed and said.

”It goes two ways.” Nanny Nia assured her. ”Xaden does have a right to know. He is the father of the baby. But if you believe telling him would make him terminate the baby, and decide to keep it to yourself then it’s up to you.”

”But it’s your duty for you to tell him.” Jasmine pointed out. ”If he ever finds out that you kept this from him.....”

Jasmine bit her lips.

She had no idea what Xaden would do but she knew it wouldn’t end up good.

Nanny Nia gave her a gentle patch. ”Not to worry. I won’t tell him. Not until you are ready to. And for Fiona. I’m sure she doesn’t mean to hurt you. She is just trying to protect you.” Nanny Nia said wisely.

Jasmine said nothing and then Nanny Nia got up from the bed.

”Now, I’ll leave you alone.” Nanny Nia said as she picked up the tray and headed out of the room.

Nanny Jia went past the steps and headed towards corridors until she was at the door of the kitchen.

One of the maids opened it for her.

She smiled and set the tray on the Island.

The cook was busy over the fire.

”Cook.” Nanny Nia announced her presence.

The head cook looked up, startled. ”Nanny Nia! You gave me a fright.”

Nia smiled. ”Oh, don’t be so jumpy, dear. I just came to bring down the tray I used for Jasmine’s tea.”

”Of course.” Cook nodded. ”The girls would clean it up. They are busy cutting up the pork for roasting. Been a while since I did that.”

Nia smiled and then turned to pick up the spoon that she had left in the initial tray she had prepared for Jasmine.

Was it just her imagination?

Didn’t she use a stirring spoon to turn the tea and then dropped it aside?

She wanted to dismiss it but decided against it, so she turned to the cook.

”This might be the most random question.” Nia said. ”But I had to ask this.”

”Of course go ahead.” The cook nodded.

Nia sighed in. ”When we returned back to the kitchen after the noises that were made outside, did anyone come in? Along with us?”

Cook frowned. ”No. It was just you and I.”

Nia nodded. ”And what about after I came did anyone come into the kitchen.”

”Yes.” Cool nodded without hesitation as he cut through a large loaf of bread. ”The girls working in the kitchen had to do some cleaning and prepare some of the dishes.”

”How many of them?” Nia asked holding her breath.

”Twenty four.” Cook said as he arranged the well split bread slices.

Nia wanted to lose her mind.

Twenty four?

How could she tell or any of them had tampered with the tea.

Nia had seen how aggressively Kire had behaved.

She didn’t really like the wolf, and he usually did his best not to get on her bad side.

But she had never seen him react aggressive and towards the tea that he just coincidentally knocked down.

And then to move on and almost violently attack Lily.

She didn’t understand that.

If anyone she expected him to attack and

get vicious at Anna or even Lisa.

Lisa was a slutty tramp who went around like she was the queen of the pack in the most illicit dressing Nia had ever seen.

Lily was rude and incredibly rude.

Nia tried her best to ignore her and was hoping and waiting on the day where she would hang her high on a tree.

But it was quiet and calm Lily that Kire has aggressively attacked.

Made no sense. Something was off.

and she was going to do her best to protect Jasmine