Wren had refused to complete the rejection, but given the pained expression upon her face as I had shocked her with the words of my own, I could see that now may not be the best time to push her. The girl was an omega. She was weak. She seemed near breathless at the rejection tumbling from my lips. But I was not about to falter. I had found my moonlit figure in white, I was near certain of it. The flowers had confirmed it for me; and I was not about to allow her to slip away from me again. She was here, planning to marry me. What more could I have asked for?
Admittedly, a fated mate I now no longer needed was an added complication. But, it was one we could overcome. One I could overcome. I had no intention of making Grace aware of this new development. And, Wren would be given some time. I would be able to push her for her rejection soon enough. It was not like she was going anywhere. She was the maid to the woman I now planned to marry. A hired help to the woman I had been searching for since my childhood. Fate has surely played a cruel trick. But I would merely see it as a challenge. As Alphas we were often faced with those...
Watching Wren's figure rushing away from me, with her head downward in what looked like a saddened pose, I felt nothing but pity. Her words echoing within my mind. "Trust me, I am used to pain..." Why would she be used to pain? She was an omega. That did not mean she should be used pain anymore than any other wolf within pack. So, just what did she mean by that? Did she harm herself? Did others harm her? I mean, Grace certainly did not seem to like her maid, but she did not appear to be the type of person to hurt someone, did she?
The thought sickened me somewhat. I liked to think the woman I planned to marry was not that sort of a woman. I may be an Alpha, and yes, an omega was well below me in rank, but I was not the type of person that believed just because someone was below you in the hierarchy they deserved to be treated badly. Everyone deserved respect. Especially if they earned it or showed it to you. My father admittedly was a little more old fashioned. Another of our many arguments...
I wandered back along the hallway in a bid to find the lounge to continue my meeting with Grace but had appeared to turn the wrong direction. I had determined that my wolf was being awkward, and not willing to help me in directing today. He was not happy at me for rejecting the one chosen for us by the moon goddess. So I was working alone. Leaving him to linger in the nether reaches of my mind to throw his tantrum.
Varr had seen my search for my moonlit figure first hand in the years since I had come of age, but he had always assumed, like me, to some degree, that she, and our fated were one of the same person. Sadly, that had been the cruel twist played upon us by fate. And now it was bringing a rift between my wolf and me. I just had to hope that he would come around quickly. It was not like she would ever be far away. She would just never be ours...
"Kael?" I heard the voice of Grace as I wandered along the hallway looking for the lounge and her face was lit up by a beautiful smile as our eyes met.
"I got lost." I gave her a grin and she giggled. The sweetest of sounds. I once again took in the sight of her. The waves of beautiful blond hair falling freely around her shoulders. The simply black tank top she wore enhancing the curves of her body, and the high-waist, black boot-cut trousers to enhance the length of her long legs. But, the one part of her that drew me in were those beautiful eyes of hers. Violet. Near shimmering in their shade. So unique... or so I had thought until two people within the same pack had them.
Strange how I search for so long for my moonlit figure in white. The girl with the violet eyes. Only to come across two in the same day, I pondered...
"An Alpha getting lost?" Grace's voice snapped me from my wandering thoughts. "Hmmm, maybe you need to get some work done on those Alpha skills of yours before you take over." She teased, giving me a wink.
I cringed at her words, as they so closely echoed those of my father. Forever telling me I needed to work upon the skills required to be Alpha. Honing my abilities. Critical of how I thought. Negative of my capabilities. But I offered her a forced smile. The girl was not my father. She was simply teasing. "My wolf was being grumpy." I said, hoping that may explain why my awareness may be off.
She nodded as if in agreement. "So annoying when they do that isn't it?" She smiled again, showing nothing but friendliness. "Like big children."
"Absolutely. I am sorry I rushed off. I... erm..." I began, suddenly unsure how to explain my absence. Saying too much may make Grace question the link between her maid and I, and that was the last thing I wanted or needed.
Grace looked up at me through her long lashes. Those beautiful violet eyes near mesmerising me as she did so. "It is fine." She interrupted me. "Wren told me you were being kind and checking she was okay."
A pang of guilt throbbed throughout my body. Wren was making excuses for my actions to Grace. Defending me... and she really had no reason to considering what I had just done to her. To my surprise there seemed to be no resentment from Grace as she spoke, and there was warmth within her expression as she watched me. I smiled, and relief washed over me. Maybe this would be easier than I thought.
"I do not like to see others upset. My father is forever criticising me for it." I admitted, and Grace smiled softly, as she watched me with a look of almost sympathy within her eyes.
"I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, Kael." She rested her hand upon my arm. "But do not let my father hear you saying things like that or you will never hear the end of it. I think he is more like your father in his beliefs."
Wonderful, just what I needed. Another version of my father bringing into my life... "Old fashioned, you mean?" I suggested and she giggled again as we stepped into the lounge.
In spite of her giggle, I could not help but notice a look of what could almost be described as disgust passed across Grace's beautiful features. "Something like that." Grace said with a hint of something to her voice that I could not quite put my finger upon. Displeasure? Scorn? Disapproval? Maybe even unhappiness. I truly could not tell. But, allowing my eyes to drift over her and the way she reacted, I think there may be more to this girl than met the eye...