The more I spoke with this girl the more I could see the two of us had so much in common. The pressures we felt as children of an Alpha were uncannily alike. She, too, like me, disliked the formality of being part of the hierarchies of a pack, and therefore avoided many of the inter-pack events, which could explain why she and I had never come across one another before. I most certainly had never met Grace before. I would have remembered her. Remembered those eyes...
The sound of her gentle laughter as we spoke was pleasing to my ears. And the way her face was so animated as she spoke made me smile. Her beautiful eyes had me truly mesmerised. I know this had to be her. The girl I remember. After all my years of searching, she had come to me when I had been close to giving up...
'So make her prove it.' Varr grumbled irritably. 'If you are so sure. Ask her.'
I faltered, while Grace told me another story about herself; this time to do with the past holiday she had taken. My wolf was urging me to question the girl on the night I held most precious to me. The night that she saved my life. The night that, if she could confirm details of it, would make our connection undeniable.
'Connection?' Varr hissed. 'Like the one we have with our mate? The mate you have rejected. A connection you have all but destroyed?'
'That is not fair and you know it.' I argued. 'You know why I have done that. I have been waiting so long to find this girl.'
'Yet she is not the one the Moon Goddess chose for us.' My wolf said with venom, and a swish of his tail as he stalked off to the nether reaches of my mind to sulk. Seemed my wolf was not quite as on board with the situation as I may have hoped. My wolf wanted our fated mate, like all werewolves did, and I feared he always would.
I was met with the curious gaze of Grace as she was watching me. Looking at me as if she was expecting an answer. Yet, the truth was, I had missed the latter part of our conversation due to my wolf throwing his tantrum. I smiled apologetically. "Sorry?" I mumbled awkwardly.
She gave me an awkward, almost disapproving smile. "Was your mind wandering there, Kael?" She teased, gently poking me with her freshly manicured nails. "I asked, have you had a favourite place you went away? On holiday or for work? I know as Alpha you often have to travel..."
Convenient... "Erm, there was somewhere I went as a child. Though I can't say it was a favourite place, due to what happened. But the memory of it stays with me for a whole other reason."
Grace's brows raised, seemingly intrigued as she settled into the chair. "Oooh, interesting, do tell."
"It was the Neutral Zone. Not too far from the southern borders of the main city, but about an hour or so out, you know in the rural areas?" Grace's curious gaze had gone and her gaze had dropped to her hands, but she nodded. I assumed from her response she knew exactly where I meant...
"I don't know if you have heard of it, Redcliff Creek. Not to far from the popular campsite, Red Horizon Retreat? Though I believe there are many sites along that route." Once more Grace nodded, opting not to meet my gaze, looking suddenly uncomfortable where she sat.
"You see, I was there training with my father. Alpha training from an early age. Pressure, you know how it is." This time Grace's eyes met mine and she smiled sympathetically, offering me a small nod.
"I was determined that trip to prove myself to him. Only he seemed disinterested, like he so often was. Still is, to be quite honest with you Grace. And, I got bored." I continued. Grace watching me with those chilling eyes of hers.
"You wandered off?" She questioned, and I smiled.
My heart flickered with anticipation. She knew. She remembered it. "I had a feeling you would recall it." I said softly.
Grace raised her brow gently, but I interrupted as she began to speak. "That night held so much meaning to me and the moment I saw you I thought there was something that reminded me of that night."
Grace pulled her lower lip into her mouth with her teeth as she looked to me almost nervously. "It must have been a difficult night for you."
"I was sitting at the riverside, or creek, as I suppose it is given the name of the place. Unable to sleep, my mind was busy with the many ways I had disappointed my father that day, and to be fair there will have been a lot, there always is. So, there was me, a young boy, the weight of the world upon my shoulders. Feeling like a failure, when I was distracted by a stick floating past, and I reached for it. Not even sure what I planned to do with it, in all honesty..."
Grace smiled. "You tumbled into the water. It is so easily done down there. The currents are tricky to read, especially in the dark."
I nodded eagerly. She remembered! I told myself excitedly. "I was terrified. Unable to manage to keep my head above the water for long, after hitting my head..." I began.
"On one of the many rocks around the edges of the creek." Grace added, only confirming to me more that she had been there. "As a child it would not take a great deal to hurt you enough to weaken you. You were so lucky you did not knock yourself out cold immediately."
I nodded. "I thought I was going to die. Until you came along..." I smiled across at my bride-to-be, and she returned the expression.
"And pulled you from the water. You were not the only one who could not sleep that night." She told me with an awkward expression, her gaze once again lowered. "It is odd you should mention Red Horizon Retreat, as that was the campsite we were staying at. The mention of the campsite took me by surprise. It did not seem like somewhere an Alpha would take his young daughter, I had to admit... But, Grace continued. "I had gone wandering long after everyone was asleep, and saw you tumble into the water, struggling to swim..."
"And that walk you took saved my life." I interrupted, reaching for her hand. "I do not know what you did, or how you did it, but you saved my life, Grace. That is what brings us together now, I am sure of it."
Her brows furrowed, like she was unsure of my words but she nodded slowly as if in agreement. "The past brought us together." She smiled up at me awkwardly. "Imagine that." And at that moment, I had heard all I needed to know to confirm that my moonlit figure in white was back by my side. Grace had told me she was there that night. That was all I had needed...