THREE
1144 Words
KATHRYN.
Lazily, I roll and lie facing upward. The sun’s ray is directly on my face, causing me discomfort.
Something doesn't sit right with my body, but I keep my eyes shut, too tired from the marathon of last night, or perhaps I've grown to accept discomfort.
There's a sound, a faint sound and then it gets louder. In bits, my brain gets stimulated. First, it registers that it's an actual song...and then it's a human’s. Damn!
My eyelids shoot open almost immediately, taking in all that's before me. Noticing the unfamiliar environment, I sit up in haste and assess the environment with scrutiny.
The tall and well-trimmed leaves of the maze garden, my dress that's tossed to the side, my bare frame, and the emptiness afterward. I wrap my arms around my bosom to cover my racks from no one in particular, with my legs curling up too.
He's gone. Not a clue of him left to trail.
He didn't have the decency to wake me up or even wait on me, he just disappeared with the night. And to think that he's my supposed mate sulks the more.
Such an asshole. It's not enough that we live as servants, we struggle to survive ten times the alphas and high-rank members, and we also get the worst mates. So perfect.
Embarrassment washes through me. The sound of the humming that's getting louder pulls me back to fatal reality and has me scampering for my dress. I hurriedly put it on, and dust dirt off my body. For the first time, I’m grateful I have the simplest dress imaginable.
“Hey!?” A voice startles me. It's similar to the humming, the only difference is that it's intentional.
“Hey.” I manage.
He's with a pair of scissors and a water dropper. He's also having a green uniform on... He must be the Gardner.
"Who are you?" He asks, still in shock.
I clear my throat and try to act as naturally as possible. I was glad to be fully clothed before he walked in. It would have been more embarrassing.
"Hmm, I came for the ceremony last night and I must have lost my way.” I manage a white lie. "I must have drifted to sleep while finding my way out.” I add.
“Oh, poor dear.” He sighs. "I've always suggested to the late alpha to bring this lower a bit. I would suggest it to Alpha Damien...”
“Oh no, you don't have to bother.” I'm quick to object to his opinion. "It's perfect indeed, perhaps another strategy to expose curious people.” I bite down on my lower lip.
He scoffs. "I see what you mean."
I manage a smile and adjust my dress as discreetly as possible.
Let me show you out. This can be a lot to deal with.”
He offers his hand and I grab it for support, rise up, and begin to follow him like a toddler. While he leads me through the tricky rows of the garden, I keep watch for the guy from last night, but he's nowhere to be found.
Asshole. I cuss beneath my breath.
We get to the exit and he stops.
"You can now go straight and take your left, a guard will direct you out." He offers a goofy grin.
I fake a smile to show my gratitude.
“Wait, Mr.” I’m swift to call back when he turned to leave. "Did you by chance see a man leave this garden? Any man...” I stutter.
He makes a face as though deep in thought. "No. Just you, and you don't pass for one.”
He finishes, and with that, he turns around and leaves, humming as ever before I had the chance to bore him further.
Taking his direction, I'm almost at the main gate. The scent of the earth and musk come at me again. The strong conviction that he could be here, or perhaps it's his scent on me.
My frustration grows.
The site of a maid coming in my direction makes me straighten. She's quite fixated on where she's going.
“Hello!” I wave to her and hurry to her front.
She doesn't respond, rather she looks at me oddly.
"Hi.” I respond to myself. "I came last night for the ceremony and I met...” I pause, saying that outright would paint a bad portrait of me, and in front of a stranger is a bold NO.
She rolls her eyes in a keep-at-it way.
"So, I was with a guy last night and we were lost in the maze garden, sadly, I can't seem to find him.”
"And how may I be of help to you?”
"It would be helpful if you've seen him. Tall...” I stutter with his description.
“And somehow, I’m supposed to be carrying a journal about, bearing people that match this profile?”
She's quite uncouth, but she's right, regardless. It just dawns that I know nothing about my supposed mate other than his alluring scent and fine height.
Other than the memories he left and my sore bud, he only makes sense to me, and yet, just another imaginary guy.
"I thought so." She comments after the short silence. Then, she bends a bit and then walks past me.
Right, I deserve that. I stand for a moment, looking at the tall building that may house the stranger. Hesitating for a while, I decide to take the bold step. I start walking towards the small door, only then did I notice the guard by the side.
"Hello miss, How may I be of help to you?” His cold voice speaks.
"Good morning, I’m in search of someone and he might be in there, he should be working here.”
"Does this person have a name?”
"No.” I sigh. "I mean yes, but I don't know his name.” I correct. "But he's tall and smells like...” I pause, realizing how foolish that would sound.
"I'm tall myself, so are more than half of the guards.” He fakes a smile.
"I would know him if I see him.”
“And we don't just let anyone come into the pack house. You're in here because of the ceremony of last night, I presume.”
I nod. I look the part, roughly.
"So, that will be all. Please, you should leave at this point. Roaming is not acceptable.”
I fake a smile and take a U-turn. Reluctantly, I head for the gate and exit the pack house. It's odd how my first time in the pack house was memorable in both a sad and hilarious way.
But then again, he might be out there searching for me. I won't relent.
- Writer
