Esmeralda
I was able to look past the annoying little piece of clothing that Identified me as one of the workers of the Blood Moon Pack and acknowledge that I was beautiful.
Beyond this uniform, I was beautiful.
Staining my cheeks in the shades of a rose as a blush worked upon it, I ran my hand over my hair, giving myself one final look before leaving the mirror.
Work called.
But I found my legs taking me to the huge window that revealed the sight of a garden.
I couldn’t tear my gaze from it. No matter how I tried, I just couldn’t.
Turning deaf ears to the voices in my head that instructed me to walk, I ran my hand over the window’s edges, feeling its smoothness. A spark of emotions flashes through me, jolting me like I was electrocuted.
Alpha Kade was here. No doubt
His scent was overwhelming.
“Look at this flower, Jade,” I gasped as my gaze was locked with some beauties who stared at me in return. I remembered how excited I was to know how it felt, how it smelt like that I practically ditched Jade on the spot we stood to have a look at the beauties that captured my attention. It looked so humble, yet elegant.
Its delicate ball of fluff hung majestically on its stem, dazzling brightly under the sun, making other flowers go jealous.
A fragile plant, yet so powerful.
I couldn’t wait to wish upon every one of them with one puff of air.
Plucking it carefully so that its pappus won’t fall out, I shoved it in Jade’s face with the widest grin. But I was greeted with a horrid look.
“Dandelion,” Jade whispered in shock, throwing me into a State of confusion.
“Yes, it is a dandelion,” I replied, watching colour drain from her face.
It’s just a flower, girl.
Why so emotional?
Maybe she was overwhelmed by its beauty. But a tiny part of me knew there was more to the shocked expression.
It’s just an innocent dandelion.
“How stubborn they are,” She scrunched her face.
“Why?” I asked, feeling a little crossed.
“They were uprooted. I don’t know how they managed to grow again,”
“Who uprooted them and why would they do so?”
“You will not tell anyone that I told you this,” She stated, pinning her eyes on mine.
I knew that look.
She wanted to know if she could trust me.
“Can I trust you, Selene?” A memory sprang into my head, “Can I trust you?” I remembered giving Selene that look when she asked to be my friend after spending days in the woods, running away from the monster that swore to take my life. Turns out I made the best choice.
“Can I trust you to keep this between us?” Jade’s eyes watched mine, searching desperately for answers.
“You can trust me,” I said, slightly nodding my head. I could see the relief in her eyes, “Your secrets are safe with me,”
I wasn’t the type that spilt secrets to anybody. Except for Selene. As best friends, we couldn’t hide anything from each other.
“That’s good. Except it is not mine,”
My brows knitted in confusion, “Whose secret are they?”
“The Alpha’s,” She revealed, earning a gasp from me as my eyes travelled to the Alpha’s window.
“Don’t look!” She said in a low stern voice, making me peel my eyes from the tinted window at once, “He might be there,”
“Oh,” I swallowed hard, gripping the dandelions tighter.
“The Alpha once had a sister who loved dandelions. She was his favourite and they always spend time in the garden together,”
He did? But he didn’t tell me.
How could he tell me when he hated me.
My eyes begged Jade, urging her to continue, “After a tragic invasion, she…,” Jade paused before lifting her eyes to meet mine. But they were red and moist, “I miss her a lot. We were close and we used to spend time here. She didn’t look down on me because I was a maid,” Jade heaved a long sigh, wiping the tears with the back of her hand.
“What is her name?” I couldn’t help but ask. A pang of guilt pricked me for not consoling her but asking her more questions to satisfy my curiosity.
“Amelia,”
“Amelia,” I repeated.
A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.
Even if I hadn’t seen her, judging from her brother’s look, I knew she was a beauty queen.
My eyes travelled to the window again, watching it keenly, ignoring Jade’s warnings.
A gasp worked its way out of my mouth as a pair of gemstone-green eyes glared at me. Even if I couldn’t see it through the tinted window, I felt it. I felt his presence, watching me like a hawk behind the window. My heart raced in fear as I tore my gaze from the window and the dandelion fell from my hand.
I wasn’t comfortable anymore.
A sudden wave of curiosity hit me, urging me to know more about Kade’s past.
Does he have a family? Where were they?
“What about her? Amelia. Where is she?”
“Let’s go. The garden session is over,” Jade ordered, turning her back against me immediately and walking out of the garden.
Who is this Amelia?
Was she alive or was she dead?
Snapping myself back to reality, I hurriedly grabbed the cleaning equipment and started cleaning.
Shit. I had wasted time and Alpha Kade would be on his way back.
I didn’t want him to meet me here.
I didn’t want my heart to be broken today.
A part of me missed Jade’s presence. A huge part of me. Especially her helping nature that was similar to Selene’s.
Speaking of Selene, I missed that soul dearly and I couldn’t wait to see her. I couldn’t wait to show her the beautiful garden.
Even if it was just for a day or some hours. I was afraid that I might fall sick if the separation continued.
Should I speak to the Alpha about it? Maybe he would permit me to have a day with her.
I didn’t even know where she was. The last time I searched for her, I almost got caught.
How was she even coping without me?
Urgh!
Grabbing the cleaning equipment after spending hours making Alpha Kade’s room look spotlessly clean, I took tired steps to the door, opening it and locking it immediately before proceeding to drop the equipment in the store.
Tiredness hit me like a wall of bricks as I made my way out of his quarters, to my room.
With each step I took, my body protested, screaming for rest. It was as if a fifty-pound dumbbell was placed on my shoulders. My muscles ache badly.
I couldn’t wait to go to my room, have a shower and drift to sleep on the large pink bed.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My ears caught faint footsteps behind me before they stopped.
I shrugged. Maybe it was my imagination.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A shiver ran through my spine as echoes of loud footsteps followed mine. It reverberated throughout the hallway, making my heart race at a ridiculous pace.
I walked faster, pinching my nose bridge to confirm if it was a bloody nightmare.
But It was afreaking reality.
Fear cloaked me like a garment, making me shiver as I submitted to the strangely familiar aura that almost suffocated me.
Summoning a mustard seed-sized bravery, I turned back sharply, daring to see who it was. But I was met with Silvius glaring at me intensely.
A gasp rolled from my lips, “Beta Silvius,” I bowed, submitting myself to him, not daring to look him in the eyes.
“If it isn’t the new housekeeper…”