I had been assigned a room. The pack Alpha had been more than accommodating in allowing me to spend more time within his pack in a bid to get to know his daughter. The man was desperate for the marriage to occur, and I did not doubt he would do next to anything to ensure it did so. Their invitation for dinner was something I had expected, but Grace's offer of late night drinks had taken me by surprise.
I craved the presence of the women who I was certain was my moonlit figure in white. The girl who had saved my life, and would soon become my partner for life. I was happy to enjoy some time under the light of the moon with her.
I had sought out the sight of the maid on multiple occasions during the dull and dreary dinner, but she appeared to have evaporated into thin air. I needed to find her to request that she complete the rejection. I may have said my part, but I needed her to accept my rejection. I did not wish to stay attached to her, when the woman I wanted was right there waiting for me...
All throughout the meal my eyes darted around the room, awaiting for Wren to appear in providing the food for us, but she never materialised. Not so much as a brief appearance to offer her assistance to Grace. Some maid she presented herself as... But, my tireless search provided me with a distraction during the dinner, whilst Alpha Alexander droned on about facts about his pack, and how marrying his daughter would benefit me.
I had never been more grateful for a meal to end, even if it had not brought about the result that I needed. And, finally, once again, I was alone with the woman I wanted. Her scent was teasing at my senses...
Grace's stunning eyes looked exquisite under the shimmer of the moonlight. The sky was dark, littered with stars as we sat within a fairy-lit gazebo in the depths of the packhouse garden. A glass of wine in our hands, as we chattered about anything and everything. It made me smile to learn that the two of us shared a love for horse-back riding. And had a love for travelling. It seemed we did not only have our past in common but perhaps our interests too; and that only filled me with hope.
"Maybe once we are married we will be able to explore the world together." I offered a suggestion, and Grace gave me an encouraging smile.
"I don't think I could argue with that." Her smile was gentle, as her eyes wandered to the gardens. She seemed almost lost in her thoughts, and I could not help but wonder where her mind was taking her. She had not been herself since we had sat down. A little quiet, I felt. Though, the way her father had taken over at dinner, I had to say, I was perhaps not surprised. He had silenced his own daughter rather rudely on more than one occasion. The man was unbearable...
"Is your father always so..." I began ,and my words were interrupted by a chuckle.
"Insufferable?" Grace said with a sigh, giving me a sideways glance. The expression told me that she was more than used to the way he behaved. I had heard many rumours of his demands during Alpha meetings, but did not expect him to be quite so demanding and abrupt in person. "Yes. You learn to ignore it." She gave a quick smile before once again looking away, almost as if she was ashamed.
The girl had nothing to be ashamed of. She was not to blame for her father. "Do you think you will miss it here when you move to be with me?" I asked, my mind wandering again to our marriage.
Grace did not look back at me but her brows were raised, like she was surprised by my words. "You mean will I miss my father? Hmm, what do you think?" She gave another chuckle, before her eyes wandered back to the garden and an awkward silence fell upon us, making me wonder if I had spoken out of line.
The uncomfortable silence lingered between us, and I could not help but grasp desperately for conversation ideas that would be acceptable. Her father evidently was not one...
"Strange how destiny brought us together don't you think?" I asked Grace with a smile, wanting to steer the conversation back to the night I cherished within my memory once again. I desperately wanted to know what else she recalled. Learn if there was more than I did not know...
Grace lowered her gaze, scuffing her shoe into the ground at her feet. "Hmm, fate is a funny old thing ..." She said, her tone was a little different this time. Less confident. Less cheerful. And I swore she edged a little away from me upon the double gazebo swing within which we sat.
I could not help but glance over to her, already enjoying every opportunity to study her delicate features. But those features were currently taken over my a frown. Deep in thought. "Do you ever wonder what life may have been if we had been allowed to be with our fated?" She said almost at a whisper.
Her words took me by surprise, and my heart pounded heavily within my chest. That seemed like an odd thing for her to have said. Especially after today. My breathing felt like it had grown erratic, and I swore my vision was even a little fuzzy. Panic was setting in. Did Grace sense that I had already met my fated mate? Would she be able to sense such a thing? She was of Alpha blood after all... Could that be where the sudden change in her had come from? If she had been pondering over the very thought...
I eyed the woman I was holding all of my hopes upon nervously. There would be no reason for her to know, would there? But she refused to meet my eye.
'Maybe we should tell her. Allow fate to take its path.' My wolf all but hissed, forcing me to push him back, so he could not interfere further. I did not want to risk him causing issues. One misplaced conversation with her wolf could ruin everything.
"I can't say I have." I admit truthfully. The only thoughts of a fated mate I had honestly had were when I had clung desperately to the hope that my fated was one of the same as the moonlit figure in white that I searched so carefully for. But now that she was sitting next to me, my fated mate more than likely hiding inside, what fate had planned for me suddenly did not seem so important...