MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 126: Self Doubt

Chapter 126: Self Doubt

The bird, sensing it had an audience, cocked its head to one side, its gaze fixed intently on Madam Katherine’s face, as if waiting for her to respond. On its leg, a small piece of paper was tied, a message waiting to be read.

Susan stepped forward, perhaps to drive the bird away or get the message, but before she could close the distance, a hand wrapped around her wrist.

"You may leave," Madam Katherine’s voice was low and husky, barely above a whisper, but it was a voice nonetheless, a sound that was both unexpected and welcomed.

Susan’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at Madam Katherine, her gaze meeting the woman’s eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of determination, a spark of life that had been absent for so long.

The hand around her wrist was cool and dry, but it held a firm grip, a gentle but insistent pressure.

"You may leave," Madam Katherine repeated, her voice a little stronger now, as if she was reclaiming her voice, her presence, her very self.

"Y– Yes, Madam," Susan bowed and left. But before she walked through the door, she glanced back at Madam Katherine, who was walking towards the carrier bird, and Susan’s brows furrowed slightly.

Meanwhile, Madam Katherine reached out a hand to gently stroke the bird’s feathers, her touch soft and soothing. The bird seemed to relax under her caress, its bright eyes gazing up at her with a curious intensity.

Madam Katherine’s gaze was fixed on the bird, her expression unreadable, but her fingers moved as she untied the small piece of paper from the bird’s leg.

She took the paper and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the contents with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

"I’m on my way, Mother."

The words on the paper seemed to ignite a spark within Madam Katherine, a spark that had been smoldering beneath the surface for so long. Her eyes, once dull and lifeless, now shone with a fierce determination, a sense of purpose that had been missing since Vivian’s passing.

Madam Katherine’s dry eyes welled up with tears as her gaze lingered on the words, her dry lips trembling slightly as they parted, "Kael." She whispered.

The bird, sensing its task was complete, spread its wings and took flight, leaving Madam Katherine standing alone in the room.

Finally, her son was coming home. Her pillar, her rock, her reason for still living.

The thought of her son’s return brought a mix of emotions: joy, relief, and a deep-seated sense of hope. Tears streamed down her face, releasing the grief and pain she’d been carrying since Vivian’s death.

Madam Katherine’s shoulders shook with sobs, her body trembling with the weight of her emotions. She felt a sense of wholeness, of completeness, that she hadn’t felt in days.

Her son was coming home, and with him, she knew that things would start to fall back into place - Revenge will be sought, her dreams will come true, and accounts will be settled.

....

Reana stared at the table spread before her. The steaming soup, roasted meat, freshly cooked rice, steamed veggies, and the delicate pastries, all perfectly arranged and garnished, with a plate of nicely sliced fruits, all waiting for her to take a bite, but she stood there, waiting with anxiety growing with every passing second.

Would he come? She thought.

She punished him for twelve days, and still invited him for lunch. Would he show up, or would he ignore her invitation and leave her standing here, alone and uncertain?

Reana’s anxiety grew with each passing moment, her mind racing with thoughts of what might happen if he didn’t come.

Mirian had been so sure that he would accept her invitation, that he would want to see her, and she’d believed it, but now she wasn’t so sure.

The food, once a gesture of warmth and welcome, now felt like a trap, a setup for rejection and disappointment. Reana’s eyes darted towards the door, her heart skipping a beat as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

Could it be him? Was he finally here?

But when the door was pushed open, Mirian’s face popped up. "Is he not here yet?"

Another wave of disappointment washed over her as Reana glared at her.

This was all Mirian’s idea.

"Ryder has not eaten in days, Luna. He saved us from monsters’ attack. He was the reason Alpha Killian helped us. He was also the reason the human village agreed to trade with us. Perhaps, he deserves a good meal as a reward."

She’d said. Now, where is he? Mirian had said he’d be elated and more than willing to dine with her, so why wasn’t he here yet? Was it until the food grew cold?

Mirian entered, clearing her throat as she smiled sheepishly. "Perhaps, he was held up somewhere," Mirian said, her voice trailing off as she glanced at Reana’s icy glare.

Reana’s eyes narrowed, her expression a mixture of frustration and disappointment. "Held up?" she repeated, her voice low and even. "He’s been held up for twelve days, Mirian. Twelve days of punishment and isolation, and now he’s too busy to show up for a simple lunch?"

Reana’s words were laced with sarcasm, her tone dripping with annoyance.

Mirian shifted uncomfortably, her smile faltering as she realized that Reana was not in the mood for excuses. "I-I thought he would be eager to see you, Luna," Mirian said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought he would jump at the chance to spend time with you."

Reana raised an eyebrow, her expression incredulous. "Jump at the chance?" she repeated, her voice rising in skepticism. "Mirian, you’re starting to sound like a naive pup."

She began, "I punished him, remember? Perhaps, he hates my guts."

All her years of being a sensible ruler, who’d never made any stupid mistake, this seemed to be her first major misstep.

Reana had never doubted herself, but this time, she couldn’t help feeling a flicker of self-doubt creeping into her heart.

Everyone thought punishing Ryder like that was excessive. They said nothing he did warranted such severe punishment. And now, she was also starting to think the same.