Page 1 of A Winter Awakening
ChapterOne
What am I doing? Sweet Mountain Mother, what am I doing?
Gael clutched at the reins as he rode, trying to force himself to breathe.
What am I doing?
Daisy, Gael’s horse, galloped, hooves thudding along the path and kicking up snow as Gael urged her on. The bells threaded on silver ribbon through her white mane jingled. His horse decked out in all her finery to match her master on his wedding day.
My wedding day! Dang and blast it!
Gael fought a wave of nausea as the reality of his situation hit him. He’d run away on his wedding day!
But it is too late to turn back now. I just need to keep going. I just need to get away.
Away from Castle Evermore. Away from his family. And away from Alisa, the woman he was supposed to marry, a woman he’d been betrothed to for most of his life. His intended. And his dearest friend. He squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want to think of Alisa. He didn’t want to think of the pain she must be suffering at this moment. And all because of him.
She must hate me now.
He disgusted himself. But he couldn’t marry her. He just couldn’t!
He truly was a bloody git. A complete and total bumble-head. That was what his sister, Gracie, always called him. How Gracie must hate him now. After all, it had always been the three of them. Alisa, Gracie, and him. The closest of friends.
What have I done?
His stomach turned, and another wave of nausea hit him. Drawing Daisy to an abrupt stop, he dropped from her saddle into the snowy path. His stomach heaved as he bent over. He retched, not for the first time that day, but nothing came forth, his stomach empty. He had barely been able to eat the past few days, and anytime he’d managed it, he’d thrown it back up.
Daisy stood on the path. The broad, regal filly watched him.
“I couldn’t marry her, Daisy. I just couldn’t.”
She flicked her white tail. Bells tinkled. She looked glorious, tall, and proud. Silver-and-white fur blankets draped across her broad back. He’d been meant to ride into the courtyard on Daisy. Gael and Daisy would have been a magnificent vision of silver and white on his wedding day.
Judgement glowed in Daisy’s dark eyes. But surely Gael imagined that. Or did he? After all, Daisy had always liked Alisa. Everyone liked Alisa! Gael adored her. But that didn’t mean he could marry her.
“I tried,” he said to Daisy. “I promise I tried to go through with it.” On shaky legs, Gael walked towards Daisy, clutching at her mane. He let out a breath that sounded like a sob. “I’m so sorry, Daisy. I just couldn’t.”
Touching a hand to the medallion hanging from his chest, he squeezed his eyes shut. The medallion of the family crest. The family he’d let down.
Hoofbeats approached. His heart racing, Gael’s eyes snapped open, and he looked back the way he’d ridden. He let out a weary breath.
Several riders but none he recognised. A small travelling party.
“My lord,” they greeted as they passed, eyeing his clothes.
No doubt it was odd to see a lord out this early, dressed in silver-and-white wedding garb with a large white fur draped over his shoulders.
“Good morning,” Gael said cheerily. “May the Mountain Mother grant you safe travels.” He smiled broadly.
After they passed, he glanced towards Castle Evermore. What if that had been his father or mother coming down the path searching for him? What if it had been his sister? Or Alisa?
Gael scrambled into the saddle. He couldn’t face them. He couldn’t face any of them!
He needed to get away. Now!
He urged Daisy into motion. Daisy galloped as fast as his heart. The winter forest whizzed past in a blur of white and dark, bare trees. He spotted the travellers ahead. He’d pass them in a moment. They’d think him mad.
Perhaps he was. Perhaps he was as foolish and empty-headed as everyone he knew thought him to be. How could he argue with that after his behaviour today?