Bride of the Cursed Alpha (Auren and Lucien)

Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Summer POV

The place smelled of fresh herbs, simmer

and sizzling meats. The challenge for the Luna trials was set the next day, which was a cooking

competition.

Brad had left yesterday in the evening. He wanted to spend time with me, but he had to leave because he had to prepare for what was coming next. Though I didn’t understand it, I could sense that it was urgent.

Pressing a kiss to my temple, his parting words were, “Do you trust me?” I was wrapped in his tight embrace, like he hated to leave me. When I nodded, he said, “Then please don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back

soon as possible. I’m going to make things right.”

I pressed my face in his chest, unable to bear this separation

He stroked my hair and kissed the crown of my head. “As

I hate to stay away from you,” he breathed.

and face another round of depression. “When will you return?”

as

possible.” He cupped my cheeks and lifted my face to press a kiss on my lips. “Goddess,

Me too, Brad. Where will this all lead to? I let out a deep sigh, and decided to tell him about the conversation Laura had with her father. He listened to it intently, after which he left.

So here I was. The outdoor cooking area was spacious, with large grills, an open flame pit, and stone countertops. There were wooden tables for food preparation. They were surrounded by shelves stocked with pots, pans, and spices. A canopy provided shade for us. Tables and chairs were set for the pack members who would come to eat the food we made.

All the participants had been asked to prepare a meal fit for an Alpha and his pack. The room was filled with activity as other contestants scurried around. As much as I hated to admit it, I was out of my depth here. I had no experience cooking for anyone but myself. And what did an Alpha even like to eat? I used to be a waitress where I served dinner, and not cook dinner.

I looked around nervously, seeing the sheer confidence in some of the girls’ movements. They were used to this–used to impressing people with their skills, impressing the Alphas with their prowess in the kitchen. Me? I was used to eating the remnants at the restaurant.

But still I had some knowledge. Like what was popular in my restaurant. I could use that knowledge to my benefit.

Tammy appeared beside me, her bright smile not quite reaching her eyes as she sensed my frustration. “Hey, you’ve got this, Summer. Just trust yourself,” she said softly in a low voice.

“Do you think they’ll like it if I make something simple, like pasta?” I asked, trying to hide the panic rising in my chest.

“Honestly? If you make it with love, they’ll love it. And besides, we both know it’s not just about cooking, it’s about showing your strength. You’ll nail it,” she reassured me.

Her words were reassuring, but I wasn’t so sure. I had no idea what an Alpha would enjoy eating. Pasta seemed too simple, too…plain. But it was the only thing I could think of that I could make without messing it up.

I grabbed the ingredients I needed–spaghetti, some fresh vegetables, chicken, garlic, and a bottle of olive oil. I worked quickly, trying to quiet the voices. of doubt in my head. The other contestants were already plating their meals, their dishes looking nothing short of gourmet. The girls were well–trained, unlike the uncouth me. I tried to ignore them and focused on chopping the vegetables.

Five hours into the trial, the place began to smell delicious. My fingers worked in rhythm as I seasoned my dish and added the final touches. The sauce thickened, the vegetables softened, and the chicken cooked to the level I wanted. I looked down at my meal, unsure whether it was good enough.

By afternoon, the pack members started pouring in. I stood in front of my table, watching them eat and praise the food of other contestants. An hour passed, and I had no one coming to my table. The rejection from the pack members hurt, and I didn’t even know why. Like it was a personal rejection. I blinked the tears away from my eyes. It was stupid. Why would anyone eat the pasta made? It was so regular that everyone had it in their homes on a regular basis.

Just as I was thinking of wrapping it up and calling it a major defeat, a young ten–year old approached. He took a long, deliberate sniff of the air, his eyes flickering with interest. “Hmm, smells good. What have we here?”

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Chapter 239

“Pasta with roasted vegetables and grilled chicken, sir,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though I was excited to see my last cuidamenoveldrama

I gave him a plate. He nodded, taking a bite of the dish. “Wow!” he exclaimed, “Your seasoning is so much better than mom’s

I chuckled. His compliment was small but enough to keep me going. Soon, my table was surrounded by young kids. They thronged my area in large numbers. Surprise couldn’t fit the emotion I felt. I felt honored and so happy that it drove away my depression. I had to ask the hielpers to get more vegetables and pasta to cater to the demand.

Most contestants‘ food didn’t finish for the first time also. From the coroner of my eye, I saw Daisy glaring at me. There were hardly four people on her

table. I chuckled silently. I guess, people liked regular meals more than the exotic ones.

I watched as people ate around my table. Most of them seemed to enjoy their food, exchanging praises and small talk. However, I noticed something was off when a few of the pack members started to shift uncomfortably in their seats.

One by one, murmurs began to rise from the table. “I’m not feeling well,” someone said. “Is this… a stomach bug?”

A loud crash echoed as a chair scraped against the floor. Another pack member rushed to the restroom, holding their stomach in agony. Panic began to ripple through the group as more and more people complained of nausea and cramps.

I froze. It couldn’t be. As the commotion grew louder, fear clenched at my chest.

“What happened?” I heard Tamara’s voice.

I looked up, only to see Daisy standing across the table with her friends, looking at me with suspicion.

“Isn’t it obvious?” she snapped, stepping closer to where I sat. “She poisoned the food.”

“What?!” I blurted out, my voice shaky. “I–I didn’t poison anyone. I cooked it just like we were supposed to.”

Daisy’s smile was thin and cruel as she continued, “Don’t pretend. Why else would everyone suddenly get sick after eating your food? No one else had this problem when they ate food prepared by others.”

“You’re wrong. I swear. I didn’t poison anyone.”

I scanned the room as chaos unfolded. Tamara looked back at Daisy, her jaw tightening. “You’re out of line, Daisy.”

“You can’t seriously believe her, Tamara,” Daisy hissed. “Can’t you see that she mixed some poison in her pasta, and now the pack members are ill?” All other contestants came to stand behind her.

“Everyone, settle down,” Tamara’s voice cut through the tension, She turned to me, her gaze softening. “Summer, did you use any unusual ingredients?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“You should throw her in the dungeons for poisoning the food!” Daisy shouted. “It is her! I told you not to trust humans. I cautioned you to throw her out of the content. Now look, what happened? How are you going to undo what she did, Luna Tamara? You should have listened to me. Now the pack members would never believe in humans. By the way, you can use this incident to erase that clause from the treaty. Oh, and you can thank me later.”

A murmur broke in the area. Everyone was staring at me like I was a criminal. But I hadn’t poisoned them at all. I mean where would I get it from?

I looked at Tamara and she appeared flustered. “A proper enquiry will be conducted in this incident,” she announced. “Until then, I suggest that all of you return to your rooms.” Then she gazed at me. “Until the enquiry is finished, Summer will stay in our house for safety reasons.”

“What?” Daisy exclaimed in shock. “Why?”

“Like I said–for her safety,” Tamara stated seriously.

“She isn’t in any danger!” Daisy protested. How can you upgrade her living conditions?”

Ignoring her completely, Tamara came to me. “Come on, let’s go.”

Chapter 239

Flustered and confused, I nodded and followed her. “I didn’t poison, Tammy,” I said.

She didn’t say anything, and led me to the car.

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