"Oh—s-sorry! I didn’t see you—I mean—I did, but—" The girl’s words tangled over each other as she quickly grabbed a cloth, trying to wipe Raine’s sleeve.
Raine leaned against the wall; she was still exhausted from the long day. "It’s fine," she said tiredly.
The girl blinked, confused. "You’re... not angry?" She acted as if everyone had constantly been angry toward her.
Raine shrugged. "I’ve had worse things thrown at me." That seemed to confuse the girl, so she smiled and added. "If I got angry every time someone panicked around me, I would never survive anywhere."
The girl flushed. "I’m not p-panicking," she murmured, trying to deny the obvious.
Raine raised a brow, and the girl winced.
"Okay... a l-little," then she added quickly. "I’m Brianna. I w-work here."
"Raine. I also work here now, apparently. Against my will, though."
Brianna smiled—small and nervous, but genuine.
Raine was about to enter the kitchen, but she suddenly stopped and tilted her head, looking at Brianna. "What do you usually do here?"
The young omega blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "I—I prepare vegetables. Sometimes b-bread. I help with t-trays for the p-pack house."
"Okay. Now, can you help me, please?
"What c-can I help you with?" Brianna asked shyly.
"Introduce me to everyone here."
"To... everyone?" Brianna gasped.
"Yes."
Brianna looked terrified. She hesitated for a second, but then she nodded and did it anyway. They walked through the kitchen together.
The room was busy—steam rising, knives chopping, low conversation humming—but the moment Raine walked in, the sound changed. It wasn’t silence, but awareness. Some eyes glanced toward her, then looked away. It wasn’t something new for her. She had gotten used to that.
Brianna did her best to introduce Raine to the people in the kitchen, providing names and brief explanations. Some omegas nodded politely, while others ignored Raine entirely.
She didn’t take it personally. She wasn’t here to be liked or to make friends anyway. She was here simply for her second job. She sighed, thinking how troublesome it would be. "Can you show me Landon’s dinner?"
Brianna stiffened slightly; her brown eyes glanced around the kitchen as if checking who might be listening. "I can sh-show you," her stutter evident.
Raine studied her for a moment. She looked shy, kind, nervous, and yet observant. But definitely not stupid. She found her likable. "Alright," she said. "Lead the way."
Brianna guided her to a more solitary part of the kitchen. Raine felt it again—that quiet instinct settling in her chest. Something here mattered. This place held answers.
The tension in this area of the kitchen felt heavier. Some people just watched as she walked, but some didn’t even bother hiding their annoyance.
Raine leaned closer and whispered as they walked. "Do people always look like I insulted their ancestors?"
"They d-don’t like new p-people." Brianna whispered back, smiling shyly.
Raine snorted softly. "Relatable."
Brianna glanced at her, looking confused. But she continued walking, taking the lead toward a counter where a covered tray sat slightly apart from everything else.
"Is that his?" Raine asked.
She nodded. "Yes. I p-prepare vegetables mostly. And t-trays. And sometimes desserts when they l-let me."
Her choice of words piqued Raine’s attention. "When they let you?"
Brianna gave a small shrug, focusing very hard on arranging spoons on the counter. "You know, I’m not... fast."
Raine didn’t respond to that. Instead, she stepped closer, lifting the cover just enough to inspect. It was a simple meal, balanced nutrition, and clean.
Too clean. She reached for the tray.
A cold voice spoke behind her. "Someone already inspected the food."
Raine didn’t turn immediately. She lowered the cover slowly before glancing over her shoulder.
An older omega stood there with her arms folded, and an annoyed expression was palpable. Her gesture and expression screamed her thought that Raine’s presence in the kitchen was a nuisance.
"It’s okay. The Alpha has given me his permission," Raine answered calmly, showing her authority, and then entirely ignored the omega, who looked even more annoyed by her response. Shifting her attention back toward Brianna, she asked. "Who inspected the food?"
Brianna answered quietly. "Lady Ariana. She—she’s the beta’s mate."
Furrowing her brows, Raine looked back at the tray and reached out her hand. "Does she always do it?"
"Y-yes, er... She s-started after Master Landon got sick," Brianna responded.
Raine paused, her eyes gleaming as if she had just found something interesting. "How long has it been?"
Hesitating for a moment, Brianna replied. "It’s been about f—five years."
Five years.
Raine’s fingers rested on the edge of the tray. "Does no one else ever check it?"
Brianna shook her head. "Lady Ariana always c-checks his food. No one else is allowed."
Raine turned to the older omega, who was still standing nearby with a tense expression, refusing to go. "The Alpha has given me full access to inspect Landon’s food. So, do you mind...?" She said firmly; she didn’t like being closely watched by strangers. The older omega glared at her and admitted defeat. She turned around.
After the Omega left, Raine lifted the cover again, more carefully this time, her healer instincts moving automatically—the scent, color, temperature, and balance. Everything looked normal. But that didn’t mean it was. Then, deep in thought, she reached for the glass of water. Suddenly—
Footsteps entered the kitchen.
It was subtle, but the room shifted. People straightened slightly, and movements became quieter.
Raine noticed the shift and turned her body around. She saw a woman in her forties standing at the entrance. She had long red hair, and she looked elegant with an unmistakably high-ranking aura. This woman is pregnant.
Her gaze landed first on the tray and then on Raine. There was a brief pause before she smiled. "You must be Raine," she said. "My name’s Ariana. And you are Landon’s new healer."
Her voice was gentle and warm—the kind that put others at ease quickly, yet it gave Raine the opposite effect. She didn’t relax.
Ariana stepped forward, stopping beside the tray. Her scent reached Raine—fresh, clean... carefully clean. Something beneath the freshness felt hidden. The scent lingered longer than it should have, and Raine couldn’t explain why it bothered her. She felt uneasy.
"You’ve been checking his food for five years," she said. "Why?"
Ariana didn’t hesitate. "Because no one else did it carefully enough. Just like what you think. If something tries something, it will start with the food." Her statement was direct, not defensive.
"And you trust everyone here?" She asked further.
Ariana’s smile faded slightly. "No." It was an honest reply.
Standing near both of them, Brianna looked nervously between Raine and Ariana, squeezing her own dress and biting her lip, preventing herself from saying anything.
Still smiling gently—a smile that didn’t reach her eyes—Ariana turned to Raine. "You’re checking his meals now." It wasn’t a question.
Looking straight in her eyes, Raine nodded once. "Alpha Janson’s orders."
Ariana’s gaze flickered slightly at the mention of Alpha. Then she returned her gaze to the tray. "I’ve been doing this for years," Ariana said, sounding apologetic. "It’s become a habit." She smiled again, but the look in her eyes seemed to tell Raine that she had overstepped her authority.
"So, you don’t mind me checking the food too?"
"Of course not." Her tone was gentle and she stepped aside. "You can test it."
Raine focused on the tray, letting silence stretch as she continued to examine everything carefully. She checked the temperature, texture, and smell once more. She even examined the water but found nothing unusual.