Flora’s P.O.V
When a knock sounded on my door the next morning, I was half expecting it to be Daphne and other half for it to be Ezra. However, neither of them stood outside my door. Instead, it was the person I least expected to see anytime soon.
“Hi.” Andre gave me a nervous smile. “How are you feeling this morning?”
He wasn’t wearing the military like uniform from yesterday; instead he had on a teal coloured shirt and dark grey pants. His midnight black hair appeared a bit wet and he smelled fresh and earthy. I hadn’t been able to get a good look at him yesterday because of everything that had been going on in my mind, but now that he was standing right in front of me, he did appear to be quiet handsome.
“Better?” I said a bit unsurely. Although I wasn’t a big fan of Malachi right now, I was still certain he wouldn’t be babbling to Andre about Clay. Especially since he was the one who told me to forget it all like it was all a bad dream.
“Malachi told me you were deeply affected by the shooting last night.” Andre looked genuinely apologetic. “It’s why you didn’t attend the festivities. It was my mistake assuming you would be happy. You’re a healer, a gentle soul that should be kept away from war and violence.”
I hesitated a bit, not knowing what to tell him. I think he was sincerely unaware of how I would feel in all of this, especially since he didn’t know my connection to the rogue Alpha. It’s not like I could ever tell anyone about my connection to him.
“It’s alright.” I told Andre finally. “You didn’t know.”
“Can I ask you something?” Andre’s grey eyes looked hopeful. “Will you come to lunch with me in the terrace? I want us to get to know each other better…that is, if you are free?”
I thought about his proposal.
My mind was a mess at the moment and I had no idea what to do next. But how long was I going to hide away and remain silent? I needed to move on in my life and figure things out as I went. And maybe, this lunch date would be a good thing?
“I’m free.” I told him with a small smile. “Where should I-”
“I’ll come to escort you.” Andre’s face lit up with a gorgeous smile.
“Do I see a date being planned?”
Both of us turned to find Ezra a few feet away from us. Her golden hair was braided to perfection with a few stray strands around her face in delicate curls and a small gold tiara around her head in a single thin band. Her long white gown was spotless and it swirled around her feet like water. She held a bag in her hands that were adorned with thin gold bangles.
“Yes, My Lady.” Andre bowed to Ezra to show his respect. “If…you permit.”
“Why, of course!” Ezra’s smile was wide and joyous. “If Flora agrees, then you needn’t ask my permission.”
“Thank you. My ladies…” Andre smiled and bowed to us both before retreating.
I turned to face Ezra as she came inside my room with the bag. “Here you go.”
“What is it?” I looked at the bag with a frown. It looked vaguely familiar.
“These are your belongings.” Ezra told me. “All clothes of colour. You are now free to wear them.”
“Why?” I felt lost for a second. “Lunar Maidens aren’t allowed to wear colours.”
“Yes, Lunar Maidens who haven’t found their mates.” Ezra pointed out. “But your mate is here now and soon enough, you two will mate and you will no longer be a Lunar Maiden.”
“You know this doesn’t make sense, right?” I told Ezra, taking a seat on the bed. “If this is about mating or sex, then I might not even be a virgin. In fact, even thought I don’t have my memories, I’m very sure I’m not a virgin. I’m twenty three, which means, I already went through Heat.”
“The moon is white, but it still has its spots.” Ezra explained. “I’m not the one who set these rules in place, love. But I have to follow them just like you and every other Maiden and as the Shrine Maiden, I must make sure the others follow them as well.”
Ezra was right. Worshipping the Moon Goddess was no easy fit, but I had grown accustomed to it. I had accepted my fate and had come to terms with the life I had here. But within the span of the last few days, everything that I had built in the last two years was now in shambles.
I had met the rogue Alpha and then I had found my mate…or rather, he had found me.
But the fact that I knew the rogue Alpha from my childhood and that I felt more of a connection to him than I did with my own mate? What was I to make of all that?
“Maybe this date isn’t such a good idea?” I looked up at Ezra, who had taken a seat beside me. “Everything is just a mess around me.”
“But maybe this is the perfect opportunity to untangle the mess?” Ezra shrugged and put an arm around my shoulder. “Maybe going out with Andre, getting to know him will finally be the solution you’re looking for?”
“Maybe…”
Andre and Clay. My mate and someone I used to know…
My once uncomplicated life was now at a crossroads and I had no idea what to choose. But even as I stood facing Andre, I could feel this invisible thread pulling me towards Clay and an unknown voice whispering in my head that this was just the beginning.
A storm was brewing in the horizon …a storm that just might uproot everything I used to know.