I remained seated upon the gazebo swing, and watched as my fated mate walked away from me. Still not having gained the acceptance of my rejection that I needed from her, and wondering how I could find a way to bring her to agree with me . There must be something the she-wolf would want that could make her consider my request, but first I would need to find the opportunity to catch her alone...
I could feel Grace's curious gaze upon me. Her eyes feeling like a laser burning through me as she studied me. She had caught me with my eyes upon Wren once again. I turned to her with an awkward smile, not wanting her to demand answers as to why I had my gaze lingering upon a woman she so evidently detested...
To my surprise when my eyes met hers, there was a look of concern there. "I saw the way you were watching her. You think I was too harsh on her?" Grace said almost shamedly. "You feel bad for her?"
My eyes narrowed, slowly shaking my head, not wanting to make anything more awkward between Grace and I. The truth was, I was confused by the clear animosity Grace held for her maid, but was it any of my business? I did not know. But, what I did know, was that I could not allow it to create a rift between me and the woman I wanted. The woman I planned to marry.
I had come here with their pack trying to convince me to marry their Alpha daughter, and at present, if things continued in this way, it would be me leaving for home having to try to convince them to allow me to marry her. Things were not going to plan, that was for certain. And, I did not want to lose the moonlit figure in white I had been searching for. I had arrived here upon my search, and found her so unexpectedly, and I knew that she was Grace...
"Wren is a complex creature." Grace said as she motioned for us to move toward the house. But to my surprise she followed a path that led us through the gardens. It would seem my girl wished to spend a little more time alone, and I was all for that. "Please do not be fooled by her, or think badly of me for keeping her in line, Kael. She is a maid, and sometimes I must remind her of that. She is a lowly woman. Not one that can be trusted I fear. Yet my father, as harsh as he may appear, took pity on her."
I felt the warmth of Grace's hand as she rested it upon my arm, and I smiled at her confidence. I offered her my arm, for her to willingly accept as we continued to walk through the carefully tended gardens. "Took pity on her?" I questioned, willing the conversation on, as I was curious now, only for Grace to nod with a smile, seeming to enjoy the attention her tale was earning her.
"Oh, absolutely! She was abandoned as a baby on our packlands, or close to the borders at least from what I believe. It is not something that is greatly spoken about, but I heard things from my mother and my father, of course. She was found on a border check one evening. A cold winter evening too. She was lucky to be alive. Another half hour, maybe less and she could have been dead..." Grace looked to me with raised brows, like she expected me to be surprised.
I simply nodded in agreement, assuming there was more to the story. It seemed Wren had been fortunate to have been found. "The warrior on duty found her, wrapped in a blanket, close to hypothermia. Called for doctor and my father was called, and as heartless as his reputation may hold him to be, he could not allow a weak little baby to die out there all alone like her mother had been about to allow her to..." She looked to me like she was checking I was still listening, and I had to say I was shocked by her words. I could not help but feel sorry for the maid. Imagine knowing you were abandoned as a baby. All but left to die...
'Imagine.' Varr grumbled. 'Unwanted. Un-needed.' His words were cold. I knew what he was implying without him saying more.
'This is not the same.' I argued.
'Oh, of course not.' My wolf hissed. 'Because this time she is fully aware of the fact she is unwanted and being tossed away.' He added coldly before stalking away to the nether reaches of my mind in anger, while I tried hard to focus upon Grace rather than the guilt forming in the pit of my stomach.
"Can you imagine?" Grace exclaimed, like she was trying to capture my attention again, aware my focus had been upon my wolf. "Leaving a poor baby to die. Who would have done such a thing? Dumping your baby not knowing if they would survive or be found. And she surely would have died had she not been found. I think she likes to forget that sometimes when she is so ungrateful for all she has." She gave a shake of her head, before continuing. "Well, my father could not allow her to be left there. Ensured she received the medical treatment that she needed. Before she was then brought into our pack. During her treatment time he had searches for her mother arranged, which amounted to nothing I believe. So, she was brought up by an omega. Wanted for nothing. Even gained an education. And the omega then trained her to be an omega, and maid, just like her. Becoming my maid as she came of age..."
The story seemed plausible I suppose. And the Alpha had done what any decent Alpha would do. He saved the child's life, and tried to find her mother. With no success, he had then chosen to provide the baby with a home. A future. No good man would allow an innocent child to die out there like that. Maybe I had misjudged Alpha Alexander. He may be a better man than I first thought. Grace must have seen the sympathetic expression upon my face as she cleared her throat.
"But despite the life she was given. The future she was provided with, she was not content with that. So unbelievably ungrateful. Life as a maid was simply not good enough for her, apparently. And she continues to try to find a way to better herself, at anyone's expense..."