Our Other Mate: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ella's POV

Sunshine streamed through the window lighting a small part of the room when I woke. The unfamiliar room startles me at first, I had never been here before. Sitting up I see that I am still in my wedding dress and my messy curls had come unpinned for the updo I had.

Where am I?! I could feel my lycan pacing as if she was scared. What it is? I search for her. He brought us here.

I am not sure where 'here' is but he left us here. No sooner had I thought than I see an older woman walk in, startled to see me awake.

"I'm sorry your Grace, I...I thought you were still asleep" her small voice stutters.

"Where am I and who are you?" I yawn sitting, sitting up in the bed.

"I am Miriam. I am your Lady's maid and you are at Greenvine Manor, Your Grace." Miriam bows showing me her neck, a sign of subservience and something I was used to from growing up in my castle.

It always made me uncomfortable to have someone show me their neck and duchess or not it made my skin crawl.

"You don't have to do that Miriam." I flash a smile in her direction and she looks at me confused.

"Your Grace, this is ...the way things are done" Her face was now red with embarrassment. " Another thing we can stop with the whole "Your Grace" thing...It's not the middle ages. You can just call me Eleonore or Ella." I smile at her as I uncover myself and stretch. When I look back at her to ask for some help getting this dress off, her eyes are wide. Guess she has never met a royal like us, my lycan pokes. I grew up in a very normal way, I mean except for being a princess. But to me, it was always just a title, nothing more.

"Yes, Your Gr...Ms. Eleonore" She give me a slight smile I could tell she was uncomfortable but if this was to be my home I didn't want the members of my household to 'Your Grace' me every time we spoke.

After helping out my dress she shows me the fully stocked closet that had been bought for me, a gift from Merrick. I picked out a black and blue summer dress that has flowers across the front. After a quick shower, I was ready to find the duke and apologize for falling asleep before our reception.

"Miriam, where might I find the Duke?" I ask popping out of the bathroom.

"Oh, Ma'am... um, he is not awake just yet, and we have orders to not wake him unless it's an emergency." She looks terrified as I wave and skip out of the door.

I have never been to Greenvine before but my father had told me so much about it from his many trips. It was the ancestral home of the Saint-James'. It had been built in the 17th century but had been updated since then a few times. I remember my father telling me about the gardens and beautiful library that were now mine for the time being.

The corridors were magnificent and beautifully decorated with large paintings of past family members and landscapes dating back to when the manor was built. Along the way every servant bowed and gave me a glimpse of their neck. I would have to talk to Miriam about that and see if she could get the message on my opinion of that. Down the hall a bit from my door I walk into a beautiful sitting room with doors that led outside to the gardens.

I step out to get some fresh air and inspect the gardens. They were more beautiful than my father had described them. From the top of the hill, I can see the Mediterranean's dark blue waters and the ships that float by. Flowers bloom in every direction and exquisite marble statues seem to come to life in the sunshine. I bask in the sunshine and the beauty I am surrounded by. Turn after turn, a new plant I had never seen before or a flower I had never smelled. All of a sudden I see a huge patch of the most delightful moon lilies.

I walk closer to admire them when I am jolted to a stop. Standing there in from of me is the duke, staring at a statue. It was of a woman covered in a vale and looking down at the glorious patch of moon lilies. I can see a plaque but from this distance, I can't make out what it says. Beside the duke I see a man in a suit, watering the lilies. Unlikely that he is the gardener, not in that getup I giggle to myself. Once looking at his face I immediately recognize him as the driver of the limo. I wonder what he is doing here I think to myself. I remain hidden until they leave and I can no longer hear them.

I head over to the statue and take a peek at the plaque. I am frozen in when I read what it says:

In memory of Alliyah Michele Abbott Born: September 2nd, 2002 Death: December 14th, 2020. Loving and True mate of MDSJ, May you lie under the moon lilies until I join you in eternity.

I can feel tears start to well up in my eyes, I know this feeling all too well. We had both lost our true mate and that pain will never go away. In our world, our true mate is our everything, and losing one most of the time kills the other partner unless they have only been together a short time. It was only a few months they shared since mates can only be found after their 18th birthday.

I wiped away the tears that stained my cheeks and picked myself up. I quickly set out to search for flowers. I went throughout the garden making my selections and coming back to the statue I place the exquisite bouquet I had gathered and wrapped in a vine from the large willow that sat on the far edge of the garden. Standing to admire my new addition I feel a jolt of electricity shoot up my spine like I did as a child when I was in trouble. Turning quickly I see Merrick and the man from earlier. The man was just startled to see me but Merrick with a furrowed brow and a furious look in his eyes.