Eileen hit the jackpot at dawn. Technically it wasn’t a jackpot in the literal sense, but it was in the form of her most favorite thing in the world; herbs. 

The garden outside her healer’s cottage was more than just enormous, it contained an array of herbs, in every color and variety that could be possibly found, and Eileen practically beamed as she plucked every type; filling her basket to the brim. It didn’t make sense for the garden to sport such a variety, considering these herbs were specifically all medicinal and the crescent blue didn’t have a healer before she got here. 

The cottage itself was newly built and even though all the herbs had grown fully, it was plausible to assume that the garden was new. Alpha Nathaniel had mentioned that he had the cottage stocked with her equipment in anticipation that they would be able to have her come over temporarily to work here, yet the cottage was so specific and elaborate…and didn’t seem temporary in the slightest. 

The thought of Nathaniel made her slow down, as a flush crept up her cheeks and she felt relieved that no one else was around to see her face. His actions last night- in fact, all his actions since the day they met, confused her to no end. She had the slightest inkling that being here, in his territory and spending time with him alone would have some consequences, and her mind reeled as she thought about their conversation last night.

After Marcus had left, Nathaniel had filled the doorway with his large, muscular frame. The cottage suddenly began to seem smaller as he walked inside and shut the door behind him. He approached Eileen slowly and smiled at her,

‘Well? Can you handle me, Eileen?’

His lack of propriety by using her given name made her speechless and she could only look at him. Releasing that he was expecting an answer, she had nodded- almost frantically, and he chuckled at her flustered state. 

‘I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, forgive me please.’ He motioned towards the cottage, ‘is everything to your liking? I tried finding all the equipment you would need. If there’s anything else you require, just let me know.’

She nodded, gratitude filling her, ‘yes..thank you, it really is lovely. And everything is more than enough.’ That made him smile, ‘I’m glad.’

‘What do you think of the city?’

He looked like he was about to say something but stopped himself. He raked his fingers through his hand and stepped back a little. As the distance between them grew, she exhaled a breath she didn’t realise she had been holding in.

‘My house is right there.’ He points to the cottage that was just across the road from her shed. She eyed it in anticipation and thought it seemed quite plain for the alpha himself to reside in. Her fiancé had made his own dwelling as obnoxiously outward and conspicuous as possible. As if he could read her train of thought, Nathaniel admitted sheepishly,

‘It’s not much. But it’ll do until i plan to get married’

She realised with horror that the image of him getting married caused a pang in her chest. 

‘Where will you live then?’

‘The luna’s mansion. It’s at the edge of the city, real nice place. Too big though, for just me. Once i have a Luna, I’ll move there..and hopefully have some kids to fill those rooms with.’

His eyes heated at this last statement and his stare hadn’t wavered from her mouth. She realised that mid-conversation he had somehow moved closer without her noticing and as she looked up, their faces were close. Too close. Close enough to kiss. Her heart thundered in her heart as the realization hit her that if he did kiss her, she probably wouldn’t mind. Even if it didn’t make sense considering they had just met and was..wrong. Right, she had another man’s ring on her finger. Sensing the shift in her intentions, he pulled back with what seemed like considerable effort and simply bowed in greeting, before walking out through the door. 

She didn’t think that she could face him today, or at all, after he must’ve seen her desires clearly all over her face, when he was just being polite. Her head turned towards the sound of a carriage being drawn and she lifted her face to see Marcus, who ducked his head through the window and smiled at her in greeting. 

‘Alpha Nathaniel wants to see you.’ The words made her palms feel clammy and a nervous sweat washed out over her, she forced a smile in return. Great, the last thing she needed to hear right now.

‘Right now?’ 

Marcus looked confused at the question but responded politely, ‘yes, if you can, that is.’

She gulped, before nodding and standing up. She brushed the dirt of her skirt and picked up her embarrassingly full basket of herbs. Marcus took it from her hand and placed it inside the carriage as she settled onto her seat. There was an awkward silence at first, which drove her crazy, so she asked, ‘so..where are we going?’

‘The barracks.’