Chapter 26: Chapter 26

My teeth dug into the bottom lip, enough to taste blood in my mouth. I couldn't believe that Ria pushed me aside to get the shot herself. More than that, colour bloomed in my cheeks at the Alphas condition. I was the reason he couldn't breathe, gasping for air while his face turned red.

Just then, it clicked on me—saltwater. In our pack, the method was used on pups to make the person vomit anything poisonous he/she might have swallowed. Hurriedly I rushed to the kitchen and poured a lot of salt in one glass, and added water to it.

Rushing back, I noticed that the living room got crowded but still no sight of Ria. That meant she did not find the shot yet. Instead of letting Aiden sit in pain, I thought the saltwater trick could be helpful.

"P-Please drink this. It will make you vomit every bit of food you have eaten."

His eyes burned into my skin; fists clenched my by his side. The Alpha averted his gaze away, staring at the door instead. It stung. I tried to be helpful, but he rejected my help. That shouldn't have come as surprising.

Beth came forward, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. She took the glass from me and inched towards Aiden. "Luna is right. We used to do this method before. Please, Aiden, drink it for my sake at least."

He snapped his head at her, shoulders slumping, and a sigh left his lips. Oh. So at least he listens to someone. The Alpha reluctantly got on his foot, stumbling and hitting his knee in the process. When I raced to his side, he opted to grip the table instead of taking my hand.

Somehow he managed to take the glass and gripped it, his knuckles turning white. What was he thinking? The saltwater technique works, and it's prescribed by our pack doctor.

I opened and closed my mouth. "Umm...you have to drink it one go."

Scrunching his nose, the Alpha bought the rim of the glass to his lips and gulped the entire contents in one go. A relieved sigh escaped my lips. His face turned green around the edges, throat bobbing with difficulty. Before we could ask anything, Aiden rushed to the nearest washroom.

I stared at his back.

That's when we heard footsteps from outside, approaching the door. Ria was heaving, her hand on the wall as her eyes scanned the room. I noticed that she had nothing in her hand. Did she not get the shot? Not that Aiden required it, considering his retching sounds from inside.

"Where is he?" She glared at me.

"Umm..."

"Did you poison him with something else while I was gone?"

Shame coloured my features, looking away at her words. They were harsh, grating against my ears and making me shrink on the spot. Before I could say something, the housekeeper stepped forward. "That's a low blow, Ria. I would choose my words if I were you. She's our Luna"

Ria rolled her eyes, stepping inside. "I need to take Aiden to the pack clinic. His shots box is nowhere to be found. Where is he?"

"I don't think that's necessary now," Beth said. "Rose found a trick for him to vomit."

The beta sneered at me; her eyes narrowed into slits. "Are we trusting the same omega who tried to kill our Alpha minutes ago? You people need to think clearly!"

I recoiled further, wrapping my arms around the middle.

"That's enough, Ria! She made a mistake as we all do."

"Whatever"

Just then, we heard the sound of flush before Alpha Aiden stepped out, positively red in his face. Sweat clung to his brow, chest heaving with loud, deep breaths. Still, he looked better than before, slightly flushed cheeks. The Alpha was clinging to the chair nearby.

Before I could take a step further, a loud voice rang in my ears.

"Aiden!"

Ria rushed to his side, her hand wrapping around the middle. She touched his forehead with the back of her hand. "You feel warm. Should we go to the doctor?"

Aiden let out a pitiful whine. "I-I think I need to sleep it off. My body feels dehydrated. I might have thrown up my breakfast as well."

I let out a relieved sigh. Whatever caused his allergy might have left his body already, leaving him dehydrated. Besides, emptying all the contents of the stomach does that to you.

Ria cleared her throat. "Oh, that means your allergy will come down now. Let me take you to the cabin."

My nose flared at that. Her scent would be all over our cabin, in Aiden's room, and that thought twisted my gut painfully. But I was not in the position to oppose after what I did.

Beth made a sound. "I don't think you should do that." She also made a compelling argument, her eyes boring into Ria. "He's your friend but not your Alpha. Rose, here can take care of him. Let him sit for a while."

Aiden pulled the chair and plopped down, putting his head between his hands. I wanted to thank Beth, but with everyone staring at me, I smiled at her.

"Luna, can you accompany me to the kitchen? I will make some glucose water for our Alpha."

I exhaled. "Sure!"

Following the housekeeper, I could feel Ria's stare digging behind my back. What was her bloody problem? Shaking my head, I focused on the matter at hand.

***

Beth turned to me, noticing my fidgeting behaviour. "Rose, take a deep breath."

Tears sprung in my eyes at her calming down, all the feelings I've been suppressing flowing in the form of tears. I almost killed the Alpha today. A sob tackled my body, shoulders shaking with the force of it.

Beth wrapped her arms around me, patting my back. "Shh, it happens, my dear. All is good now."

"I-I didn't know", I hiccuped, rubbing my wet nose, more tears dribbling down. The memory of his swollen face didn't help at all. What if I hadn't remembered the salt trick? Something could have happened to my Alpha. "I-I am so sorry."

"You didn't know. It's alright. Calm down." Beth whispered in my ears.

"Alright, Rose," The housekeeper broke apart from the hug, a weak smile curving around her lips. "Now, please try to remember all the ingredients you put in the pasta."

I listed down everything when Beths face morphed into a frown.

"Nutmeg", She whispered. "He is allergic to nutmeg and walnuts. Please remember that next time."

I frantically nodded my head. At the back of my head, I stored the information. Never use those things in any of the dishes.

"Beth?"

"Hm?"

"I'm... a bit scared to take Aiden to our cabin," I admitted shamefully.

Grabbing me by the shoulders, the housekeeper stared intensely into my eyes. "Rose! There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. He won't say anything. Get him to rest and then explain everything. Aiden will listen to you, I promise."

I hesitantly nodded my head, but despite the encouraging words, I couldn't believe in them. Because the housekeeper was wrong. There was everything to be afraid of.

Aiden would not believe a word I will say and might start yelling before I say anything.

***