Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 32

"Ugh! I should have known better than to follow her," Fiona muttered under her breath as she wandered through the unfamiliar part of the garden. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since her shift ended. The exhaustion from the day's work at the

infirmary was catching up with her, and the last thing she wanted was to be stuck wandering aimlessly.

She'd been walking in circles, unsure of where she was. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Why had she even agreed to follow Carissa in the first place? It wasn't like she didn't know what kind of person she was. Fiona should have seen it coming- the manipulative, condescending attitude, the offer to pay her off like she was some servant who could be bought.

"Money, jewels... as I'd care about that!" she thought bitterly. "Does she really think that's all it takes to make someone leave their life behind?"

Her feet ached from the endless walking. She hadn't been paying attention, too angry and distracted by Carissa's ridiculous offer. Now she was paying the price-hungry, tired, and completely lost. She hated the fact that she'd wasted her time on this nonsense. "What was I thinking?" she fumed silently. "I should've told her off right from the start. I should've just walked away."

The more she replayed the conversation in her head, the more frustrated she became. Carissa had acted so superior as if she had some right to dictate Fiona's choices. The arrogance! And now, Fiona was stuck, aimlessly walking in circles in a part of the palace grounds she didn't even recognize.

Her stomach growled again, louder this time. She hadn't eaten since midday, and it was starting to get to her. She didn't want to admit it, but part of her was furious at herself for even agreeing to meet Carissa. None of this would be happening if she had just gone straight back to Elijah's palace. Fiona sighed as she looked around, realizing she had wandered into some sort of maze. The hedges were taller than her, towering above like walls, and no matter which path she took, everything looked the same-endless green. She had stumbled upon a topiary once or twice, perfectly trimmed figures that almost seemed mocking in their neatness compared, to her current state of disarray. But beyond that, there was nothing to guide her out of this confusing mess.

""Of course, it

a

frustration rising

was almost laughable. The path twisted and turned, offering no clear direction, and she kept hitting dead ends forced to retrace her steps. The hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her feet ached with each step she took on the

day just keeps getting better,"

trying to remember if she'd already taken the left or the right earlier. Everything was starting to blur together, and she had no sense of direction. The air felt cooler here, shaded by the high

though she wasn't sure if she was being serious or just desperate. "I'm

be stuck in this maze for hours. The thought of being found wandering aimlessly, tired and hungry, only

she'd ever care to

off the hedge and forced herself to keep walking. She wasn't going to stand here feeling sorry for herself, but as she

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Chapter 32

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course." She sighed heavily, turning back the way she came, wishing more than anything that she had just gone straight back to Elijah's palace instead of wasting time on Carissa's ridiculous games. She could only hope someone

It was faint, almost distant, but unmistakable. Goosebumps crawled up her arms as a sudden chill ran down