The Alphas Love

Sneaking Off

Sage P.O.V.

The morning went by rather quickly. Besides from waking up next to one another, I hadn't seen much of Leon all day. He ended up eating his breakfast in his study and hasn't come out since.

Currently, I have been waiting outside of his office for about an hour. And I am starting to get really pissed off. We made an arrangement of going to visit his mother and now he was avoiding us both. And to top it all off, I've had a searing migraine all morning.

I sighed and leaned back against the wall, rubbing my pounding temples. The pain from my headache was just making me angrier, and I was a second away from busting through that locked door and smacking the hell out of Leon.

A man is only as good as his word.

I stood up straight and placed my hands on my hips, looking forward at the double oak doors. I was sizing them up. I doubt I could really break them down, but maybe if I did at least kick it, he would get the message and get his ass out here.

Then a thought came to mind that made my stomach drop and my blood run cold. What if he was in there with another woman?

I let out a shaky breath as I let my arms fall to my sides.

Would it surprise me if he was in there with some girl?

Honest to Gods, maybe a little, but not really.

Since I came here, all I really see around Leon is women that show more skin than dignity. He is a man with needs, needs that I can't fully fufil. Maybe he was tired of just kissing.

I walked away from the doors sulking. I let myself be stupid enough to think he felt something special towards me. I'm only a complication to him, dealing with all these problems I have. I'm a nobody, just a simple human girl that hasn't even gotten to experience the normal things in life. I am nothing special.

Come on, Sage. Don't let one guy get you down like this. He's not worth the tears, you've not even known him a week and I doubt I'm on his mind as much as he is on mine. I'll be okay.

I picked my head up and cleared my head, the lump in my throat disappearing as well. As I made my way down the staircase, I noticed Kenny walking up towards me. He gave me a smile and simple wave and tried to get past me, but I grabbed onto his wrist to stop him.

"What's up?" he asked, giving me a concerned look.

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you could point me in the right direction somewhere."

"Sure. Where to?"

I took a deep breath and looked Kenny in the eyes. "I need you to show me the way to the former Queens home."

Just as I had suspected, I received a look of shock and then worry. I held my place firmly though, I had made plans and, unlike somebody else, I intend to stick to them.

"Are you sure that's where you're wanting to go?" he asked hesitantly.

"Positive," I stated firmly, surprising myself by my tone of voice.

I seemed to have surprised Kenny as well, since his eyes went wide. He didn't utter another word, he lowered his gaze and nodded his head, moving his hand as indicating for me to follow him. Which I did happily.

We walked through the dining room and kitchen, towards one of the back doors. As we walked out the door, I closed my eyes and breathed in the cool crisp Autumn air. I had chosen a white dress to wear today, it came down to just above my knees and the top part almost looked like a normal T-shirt. It was a soft cream white color and nothing too fancy. I adored it the second I laid eyes on it, Farah had done a good job with this one. I had paired it with some white flat shoes that had black tips to them.

I wanted to make a good first impression on Leons mother, while also hoping to earn a compliment or two from him, but I doubt that was going to be possible.

Kenny led me to the forest entrance on the backside of the castle. I was a little worried because this was the direction Leons big office window faced, but I didn't have the feelings of butterflies in my stomach or my skin burning hot so I know his gaze wasn't on us.

"Unfortunately, I can't be there to escort you all the way, but after you enter the tree line and walk a couple of feet ahead, you'll notice a little dirt path. You have to pay attention because it's not used too often, but if you follow it straight down you'll come upon the Queen Lunas cottage," Kenny instructed.

"Okay, thank you so much, Kenny. I owe you one," I said, giving him a hug.

"You bet your ass you do," he mumbled, walking back to the castle.

I watched him walk inside and turned back to face the forest. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and let it out. I looked forward at the beautiful colored leaves blanketing the floor and subconsciously took my first step into the thick woods.

It was a beautiful scenic route to use. The sunshine on all of the red and orange hues from the trees remarkably making them seem even brighter, the sounds of birds chirping and so many small creatures running amuck, I never wanted to be taken away from such peace. Plus, my headache was almost completely gone so I was pretty happy with making this choice.

I kept on walking for about twenty minutes when I noticed a break in the trees a few feet ahead of me. Nerves got the best of me and I started considering turning around, but I had the strong feeling that I needed to keep going forward. Like something was telling me not to stop now. I took a deep breath and willed myself to move my feet onward.

I remembered Leon saying something about having a guard here at all times, and I started worrying if I was going to be ambushed anytime soon. I looked in all directions around me, and although I didn't feel like I was being watched, that did not mean that I wasn't. I took a few more timid steps forward until I was standing in the tree line.

Right in front of me was the most adorable looking cottage I could have ever imagined. It was a pale yellow color with wooden window shutters and an old red clay tiled rooftop. It looked like something straight out of the fairytale books James had gotten me when I was young. All around the house were different kinds and colors of flowers beautifully arranged.

I found myself walking out of the shadows of the trees and into the open area surrounding the cottage. Bees were buzzing and butterflies were flapping all around me, even a few humming birds flew past at lightning speed. I crouched down to smell the blooming tulips when a voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Who are you?" a gentle but firm feminine voice asked from behind me.

I turned around and faced the owner of the voice. She was gorgeous, her long light blonde hair cascading down her back and shoulders, while her tanned oval shaped face held her soft features. She had soft pink lips and a straight but small nose. My breath hitched audibly when I looked into her eyes, the exact same hazel color that Leon had. She stood with authority but her aura seemed kind in nature, she was wearing a large straw hat and a white button down blouse and beige trousers. In her hands were more flowers and a small garden shovel to plant them with. She even still had her gardening gloves on.

"Forgiving me, Your Highness, for intruding uninvited," I said, bowing my head. "My name is Sage and I come from the Kingdom north of here."

"Hm," I heard her say.

I glanced up through my eyelashes and noticed her sitting her gardening tools down and taking her gloves off. She proceeded to walk towards me, my heartbeat quickening its pace.

"No need to be nervous, my dear. Give me your hand," she stated softly with no room to argue.

I did as told and she led me inside into a small kitchen area. She had me sit at the small round kitchen table while she went forward towards the stove.

"Tea or coffee?" she asked without looking back at me.

I honestly had no idea what either were so I just guessed my luck.

"Tea," I answered.

She nodded her head, still not looking at me, and filled a weird looking pan with water. She then placed it on the stove and took two small mugs from out of the cabinet. I noticed not many dishware or cutlery in the cabin. Afterwards, she walked back towards the table and sat down next to me, taking one of my hands again.

"So, tell me dear, what brings you here? I know you did not just stumble upon my home, since my son has forbidden anyone from coming this way," she said, locking her gaze on mine.

I felt my eyes widen at the information and started cursing myself for actually thinking it was a good idea to come alone.

"I apologize again, Your Highness, had I known this area was off limits, I wouldn't have taken the risk. But you are correct. Leon was supposed to accompany me today, yet he has been avoiding me this entire morning. We made these plans last night, and although he doesn't seem to want to follow through with them, I do. But now, I realize I probably should have thought this through rather than just acting on impulse." I have no idea when, why, or how I learned to speak so properly. I was surprising myself.

"So you do know my son?" she asked.

I nodded my head in response. The Queen sighed and stood up, walking towards the now whistling pot and taking it off the stove.

"Even though I can sense how pure and content your heart is, I must ask because of my sons behavior, are you two together? Have you come for my blessing?" Her question seemed to be mixed with venom and hope, confusing me.

She walked towards me, filling both of our cups with the boiling water and then placing a tiny sheer bag with a string attached in it. I watched as the water began to turn a slight shade of brown while Leons mother sat back down next to me.

"No, Your Majesty, we are not together. I have only known your son for four days, honestly. So I'm not quite sure what we are. The reason we were coming was so that you two could talk about what happened when you went to The Council."

"Oh, so he told you about his demons?"

"Yes, if you want to call it that. But I think the bigger problem for him was that he believes you resent him because of it. And I'm also fearful that asking him to come with me today has sent him back into his old ways."

She sat back in her chair and casted her eyes down. The look she had made me feel bad for her, but what Leon was feeling was completely understandable. They were both at fault for feeling the way the did and not even trying to contact one another since, yet both were still innocent. This was the reason I wanted to come along in the first place.

We sat in silence for a good while, I sipped on my tea which I found very delicious. I had thought back over her words about how she could sense I had a pure heart and wondered how it was possible. Could she be part witch, like Elaine?

"Your Highness?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Please, my dear, call me Grace," she said with a heart warming smile.

"Grace," I said, smiling from ear to ear. "You said something about sensing I had a pure heart. How was that possible?"

She gave a soft chuckle as she took a sip of her tea. "Royal wolves have something like a fifth-sense. Most don't ever get the chance to learn or even know about it because of all the duties we are supposed to uphold. I think my years of solitude and shutting my mindlink off have helped me to embrace mine. I can sense peoples intent, whether they be good or bad, and I knew the second I laid eyes on you that you were indeed a beautiful oddity with a positive outlook on things."

"Beautiful oddity?" I asked confused.

"Yes," she chuckled. "I can sense the blood running through your vains, both wolf and magical. Yet, I know you have no wolf or powers. So, I can guess you are either just a late bloomer or someone has taken these things away from you."

I felt myself pale and stiffen at her last words. Someone took those things away from me? I heard my breathing quicken and the room started to spin slightly.

"My dear, are you okay? Sage?" Grace asked worriedly.

"Forgive me, I am okay. I... I have just recently found out that I was cursed when I was younger," I said, looking into her eyes.

"Oh, Goddess, I see," she said, rubbing her hand up and down my arm. "Well, there is a coven that I know of not too far from the Kingdom. It is named the Gemini Coven with two high priestesses running it. I will go back to the Kingdom with you and we can talk to my son about it together, okay?"

I opened my mouth to answer her but was cut off by a masculine tone from the doorway.

"Or you could ask me now, mother."