The Man in the Garden

My life has never been so easy for a wolfless like me.

As I watch all the people miserably at the birthday party, I cannot tell how many glasses of wine I have already consumed while trying my hardest not to have any eye contact with the noblemen standing not too far from my seat beside my father’s. 

It is my eighteenth birthday and they say that I am of legal age to wed one of the noblemen who came into this palace to ask for my hand. The larger the land, the better. As if I am some kind of livestock being prepared to bring in more possible allies from other countries. And I heard that it was because Helena suggested it to my father. Helena, his top favorite among his concubines is awkward and sickening because we are just the same age. I have no idea what Kingdom she came from but father was so crazy about this lady. She's supposed to be in here though but she left yesterday to visit one of her cousins. The suffering I have now is all of her doing and I will never forgive her and her evil whispers to my father.

“Princess Eodelle, where are you going?” One of the servants tried to stop me from going down the platform and I gave her a cold look in the eyes.

I pulled my skirt up, high enough for me to step down the stairs without my father, Emperor Oswald Wycliffe, bothering to look at me. He was having a conversation with one of the Kings he intended for me to marry; A forty-year-old man whose wife had just recently died due to malaria that spread through his Kingdom. 

But he is the wealthiest man in this banquet and is assumed to be the highest bidder once the auction starts. I could see the glare of other nobles against the King and his boastful smirk just gave tension to other bidders.

I heard the disease in his Kingdom was a disaster though. But before that happened he and my father had allied against a huge Clan of werewolves from the east that refused to bow to my father’s authority.

I heard they eliminated the whole pack and didn’t let anyone escape. My father was there and he kept on bragging to everyone that he killed the Alpha and Luna as a warning to every Clan that they will face the same fate if ever they refuse to bend their knee. 

It happened so many years ago when I was still a child and was imprisoned a lot in one of the towers of the palace because the emperor just hates to see me. He blamed me for my mother’s death and kept on reminding me how miserable his life has gotten since I was born. 

There was a time when he almost beat me to death after I broke the vase that my mother loved and he rained curses at me, saying that my life would never be happy because I am a disease to this family. Or if he could even call it a family.

And it’s terrifying to think that they only see me as a beautiful face, like a trophy to win as these men stare at me with their raven eyes. Especially King Richard who had been eyeing me from the platform with his creepy smile. I cannot believe I spent almost four hours with my maidservants dressing me for this occasion, only to feel miserable on the day that is supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life.

So many guests had arrived that the hall became so crowded I had to squeeze myself through them just to head straight to the garden where few people went. I smelled the fresh scent of the bushes and flowers and filled my lungs with air as I enjoyed the small freedom I got, away from my father's eyes and from everyone. 

But I smelled something that made me close my eyes… the scent that almost took my breath away as I walked between the tall yews towards the maze garden. It was so dark in here and I could feel the excitement rolling down my stomach. I can't help but smile as I felt the thrill crawling on my skin.

It’s crazy because I should be feeling scared by now but my inner wolf tells me to enter the maze and my feet just move on their own while my mind was filled with utter curiosity about why I am feeling this way.

When I adjusted my eyes through the darkness, a tall human figure appeared in front of me, and in surprise, I lost my balance. But the stranger had amazing reflexes and he caught me immediately by my waist, his hands steady and his arms strong while his eyes stared down at me, both surprised and shocked while one of my hands instinctively grabbed the sleeve of his coat. 

"Are you alright, Miss?" 

His gentle baritone voice mesmerized me. And I failed to respond fast because I was smitten by his handsome face. Even through the dark, I can still see how perfect his jawline is, his small pointed nose, and his almond-shaped eyes. 

What is a handsome man doing in this part of the palace? I can't believe I am being swept away by a man I just met. And his eyes glint from the faint light of the moon that shines above us, making it look silver.

I feel so drawn to him. Emotions that are so strong I almost couldn’t breathe. It spirals down in me, making me feel like we’re the only people in this place. I couldn’t feel or hear anything other than his arms on my waist and the chaos that rumbled in his chest. I have never felt like this for someone before. And my inner wolf screams at me the word "Mate".

"Yes, I-I apologize for what happened," I murmured to him without taking my eyes off his handsome face and he smiled at me. His sexy pinkish lips and perfect set of white teeth made me bite my lower lip because I had to stop myself from feeling too delighted in front of him. 

“No worries, My name is Aster by the way,” he introduced himself. I am glad that despite my awkwardness, his smile didn’t fade.

Is he one of the bidders? I cannot believe I would find my Mate in this desperate time of my life. And I know he can also feel this ecstatic feeling while he stares down at me with excitement and wonder in his eyes.

I was about to ask him what Kingdom he came from but I heard quick footsteps coming toward us and I know my short time of freedom is up.

“Princess! We have been looking for you around! You cannot disappear just like that! You have to go back! The Emperor wants your presence!”

I must have murmured something bad out of panic because I saw Aster's face turn cold all of a sudden. He looked down at me and the smile that I once adored turned stoic. I could even see him clenching and unclenching his jaw.

“It’s alright, your Grace, my fiancee is already waiting for me inside,” he uttered flatly, his lips in a straight line, and his eyes went so cold he became a different person in just a matter of seconds.

I felt like my heart dropped down on my feet and my mind went numb after what he said. I didn’t take my eyes off him even when he left and walked out of the garden while my maid kept on urging me to hurry to come back inside. I just feel so devastated when he told me he already has someone special waiting for him inside the hall.

But why is there sudden hatred in his eyes?

Who is he?