Chapter 120: Friendship
Winnie sat in her usual seat at the dinner table and when Maya walked in through the doors, she got up and rushed toward her. Her hands were wide open and a smile hung on her lips.
"Maya," she called excitedly, closing the distance between them.
"Winnie," she grinned and stepped closer for a hug. Winnie was mindful of her shoulder.
After the hug, Winnie quickly stepped back, peering a little too hard at Maya’s neck. "How was your night?" She asked with a small smile.
Maya instinctively adjusted her hair. "It was fine," she muttered and walked toward the dining table.
Winnie giggled behind her. They both took their seats while the servants set the table for breakfast. As they sat, Maya pretended she couldn’t see Winnie’s curious eyes staring at her.
"How’s your arm?" She asked instead.
Maya turned and shrugged. She lifted the arm to show Winnie. "Not too bad. I am supposed to take the bandages off today."
"I remember. When will you take them off?"
"I was thinking I should at least leave it until lunch, since we are going to the workshop today."
Winnie nodded. "I won’t keep you there for too long. I don’t want you to tire out."
"I am stronger than I look," she said with an exaggerated stern look.
Winnie chuckled. "I agree," she said and her eyes lingered on Maya’s neck again.
Maya once again pretended not to understand what Winnie was alluding to. She didn’t want to address it but she could tell Winnie was itching to.
Surprisingly, she wasn’t embarrassed. Winnie seemed pleased rather than judgmental. She didn’t bring up the subject but she didn’t shy away from letting Maya know that she knew.
Her brows furrowed as she remembered Winnie had told her she was in love with Keenan and she hadn’t denied it. She didn’t even think to decline at the time and even now as she thought about it, it didn’t feel like an exaggeration of her feelings.
Keenan chose that moment to walk into the room and she turned her head, meeting his gaze. Her heart sped up, and a smile appeared on her face before she could help it.
However, the excitement was short-lived when Alaina appeared next to him.
"Alpha," she squealed and attempted to lean into him, but Keenan walked ahead, barely avoiding her brushing against his arm.
Maya didn’t like the bitter taste in her mouth as she watched them. Unfortunately, Alaina wasn’t deterred and followed after him, leaving Theo to drag behind them.
"Alpha," Maya mumbled as he took his seat.
He lifted his eyes in her direction and his gaze moved to her bandages. He looked about to speak when Alaina interrupted.
"How was your night, Alpha?"
He grunted his reply and turned his attention to his plate as the servants began to serve. Theo was already seated and she noticed Winnie exchanged a nod with him.
"I was thinking about stopping by the orphanage today. Is there any message you’d like me to pass to Asher, Alpha?"
Her eyes flickered to Winnie briefly as she mentioned Asher, and the corner of her lips tilted upward.
She was leaning unnecessarily toward Keenan and it bothered her that Alaina was that close. Her mate was right next to her but she only seemed interested in other men.
"No," Keenan said coldly.
Maya nearly chuckled out loud but by the look the entire table sent her way, the sound had slipped. She locked her eyes with her plate as Alaina loudly scoffed.
Keenan stood up after breakfast was over, a stern look on his face. "Theo, come with me," he said as he walked toward the door.
"Yes, Alpha," the light brown-haired man stood up but not before looking toward his mate—who didn’t even spare him a glance.
He rushed toward the doors and exited the room with the Alpha. As soon as the doors shut behind them, Maya could feel ants crawl on her body. They had to leave the dining room as soon as they could.
She turned to look at Winnie and she was already wiping the corners of her lips. "Shall we, Maya?"
"Running away, huh?" Alaina cut in. "Whatever this is, it’s not going to last. You’re trusting her blindly. I always knew you were stupid. If I hadn’t looked after you all these years, who knows what other stupid tricks you would have fallen for."
Winnie stood up without responding and turned to Maya, who didn’t waste any time doing the same. She couldn’t bear to hear Alaina talk to Winnie like that because of her.
"Don’t think things are going your way, Maya. I am still here, and I will show everyone who you really are."
She was glad when the dining doors shut. She didn’t want to hear Alaina’s voice for another moment.
"I am sorry you had to go through that because of me," Maya mumbled as they walked away from the dining room.
"Because of you? Please, even if you weren’t here, Alaina would find a way to be mean to me. I am grateful for what she did—I really would be lost without her, especially since I can’t remember a lot of things from my early childhood—but it doesn’t change how cruel she can be. Do you want to wait in my room before we have to head out?"
"You don’t mind?" Maya asked.
"Of course I don’t," she giggled.
Maya blushed and nodded, following after her. She had seen the sadness in Winnie’s eyes as she spoke about her sister and she knew despite the front she displayed, it must hurt to have your sister treat you in this manner.
Maya couldn’t help but smile at the similarities between them. They both had terrible love stories and sisters who were cruel to them. A friendship designed by fate.
"What’s so funny?" Winnie asked.
Maya shrugged. "I am really glad I met you, Winnie."
Winnie stopped walking and turned to her with sparkling amber eyes. "If you say that suddenly, what am I supposed to say in response?" She asked with a pleased smile on her face.
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