CHAPTER9; I'm losing
724 Words
Brad’s POV
She left.
The gate closed.
And suddenly
the garden felt empty again.
I stared at the flowers.
At the watering can she had left slightly tilted.
At the footprints near the pond.
Then looked away.
Ridiculous.
I came here to think.
Not…
whatever this had become.
I walked deeper into the garden.
This place had always been mine.
No guards.
No meetings.
No pack politics.
No expectations.
Just silence.
After my mother died, this was the only place I kept untouched.
Nobody entered.
Not staff.
Not guests.
Not Linda.
Nobody.
Yet somehow
Camilla had stood here today.
Watered flowers.
Looked around with curious eyes.
And instead of feeling irritated
it felt…
right.
My wolf stirred.
Again tomorrow.
“No.”
I kept walking.
You already invited her back.
I ignored him.
Because he was right.
I did.
Not because she worked well.
Not because the flowers needed watering.
The flowers survived fine before her.
I stopped.
Damn.
The next day I went earlier than usual.
Which annoyed me immediately.
Why was I early?
I stood near the pond pretending to inspect plants.
Then, her scent reached me before I saw her.
Something about her scent always made me feel safe,
happy...and
my wolf go crazy
Everything inside me went quiet.
Not excitement.
Not desire.
Something stranger.
Like my body stopped preparing for battle.
Like my shoulders remembered they didn’t always need to stay tense.
Like something old inside me softened.
My wolf lifted his head.
Mate.
No.
Camilla.
Just Camilla.
I turned.
She stepped inside carefully.
Eyes lowering immediately.
But this time
she looked around first.
Like she remembered the place.
Like she expected to return.
Something about that bothered me.
And pleased me.
Both at once.
She looked at me.
“Good afternoon, Alpha.”
I nodded.
Too quickly.
She picked up the watering can.
No questions.
No complaints.
No trying to impress me.
Just quiet work.
I watched.
Not intentionally.
She crouched beside one of the flower beds.
Her movements were careful.
Like she was afraid to damage something.
Then she noticed a broken stem.
She frowned.
Lifted it gently.
Supported it against another plant.
Small thing.
Meaningless.
Yet....
she did it automatically.
She looked at things like they deserved care.
My chest tightened strangely.
I looked away.
After a while,...
she spoke.
Quietly.
“Why do you come here?”
I looked at her.
She froze immediately.
Like she regretted asking.
I should have ended the conversation.
Instead i opened my mouth,
I answered.
“…it’s quiet.”
She nodded.
Then after a moment
“You seem to like quiet.”
I stared.
She kept watering.
Like she didn’t realize she had said something dangerous.
Then quietly added
“People are loud.”
I looked at her.
Longer than necessary.
She noticed.
Her shoulders stiffened.
I looked away first.
Interesting.
She understood.
More than most people.
A breeze moved through the garden.
Her hair shifted
And suddenly I remembered that night.
Her hand around my wrist.
Her sleeping face.
Trusting me.
Without knowing.
My chest tightened.
My wolf spoke quietly.
Tell her.
No.
She had no wolf.
No bond.
No understanding.
And once she knew
everything would change.
She’d either fear me.
Or she’d stay because she felt she had no choice.
I wanted neither.
I wanted
I stopped.
Dangerous thought.
She stood and turned
then walked directly into me.
She gasped.
I hadn’t realized I moved closer.
Her eyes widened.
My hand automatically steadied her.
Again.
Too familiar.
Too easy.
Her breath caught.
Mine did too.
Her scent filled the air.
My wolf became restless.
Mine.
I stepped back immediately.
Cold.
Controlled.
Her expression changed slightly.
Like she noticed.
Like she was starting to see something.
I looked away.
“You’re done.”
Her eyes lowered.
“Yes, Alpha.”
She walked toward the gate.
Then stopped.
Turned.
Looked at me.
Then quietly asked
“Why me?”
Silence.
I stared.
She lowered her eyes.
“I mean…”
Her voice became softer.
“Why do I come here?”
Too long passed.
Then I answered
the safest lie.
“You work carefully.”
She nodded.
But her expression said
she didn’t believe me.
She left.
The gate closed.
My wolf spoke.
You’re losing.
I looked at the flowers she watered.
Then quietly answered
“…I know.”
- Writer
