The Crown's Obsession

Calhoun looked at the hedge maze that came into view. The maze was built across a vast land that would leave one forever in there unless a person knew the tricks of how a hedge maze worked. The mazes that didn't belong to this castle had been grown and made so that it had entries and exit but not here. Calhoun had made sure to seal the other side that left only one place to enter and exit.

He had seen the way Madeline's eyes had dilated in worry when he had mentioned how his wolf, Maddox had taken in her scent. He had warned her after hearing her little heart beating in her chest. When he had asked her to step into the maze with a deal, he never had the intention to let her go. It was funny how she thought that he would agree to give her a carriage to ride back home when just a few several minutes before reaching the maze he had said that he wouldn't.

The girl wasn't bright when it came to picking up on his words, but that was alright.

When he reached the entrance of the maze, Calhoun who had a pleasant expression on his face stopped going in further.

"What's the matter?" asked Theodore noticing how Calhoun didn't walk further. When Calhoun turned around, he looked angry, and his eyes had turned dark. His mood turned foul, and his jaw ticked.

"She's not here," Calhoun couldn't hear her heartbeat, and he had been listening to it for a few minutes before leaving her to explore the maze, "Have the guards check the castle and the grounds," he ordered. Theodore didn't waste any time, and he quickly left the King's side.

Calhoun couldn't sense her in the maze, and he doubted anything had happened to her as the guards had been strictly instructed on who she was and not to harm her. He started to walk, trying to catch her trail of scent which was gone. This only meant she had left the maze some time ago.

Out of the castle, Madeline felt a sense of relief sink into her chest and mind. It felt as if a big problem had been solved. Now all she would have to do was get down in her village, speak to her parents and then think of moving to her aunt's house. But before even the village or the next town arrived, Lady Rosamund tapped the window of the coachman to say,

"Stop the carriage here."

Madeline took a peek outside the window to notice trees that stood outside the carriage.

"Get out," said Lady Rosamund to her.

Madeline slightly frowned looking at the woman. Her lips pursed, innocence in her eyes, "But this is not the town or a village," if she remembered correctly, there was still a journey of twenty more minutes by the carriage.

"Did you think the person who was the reason I was insulted would be given a ride in the carriage?" asked Lady Rosamund, the woman looked at Madeline as if she was stupid, but humans were stupid and thought they could surpass the night creatures.

Madeline should have known the lady would pull something like this, but she was desperate which was why she had asked and gotten inside the carriage, "Lady Rosamund, I apologize for what happened, but I had no intention to insult you." She had happily stood up from her seat in the dining room. She was going to leave if it weren't for Calhoun who had made her sit down again, "I have no wishes to insult you or your family. Please allow me to take a ride to the nearest habitation. I wouldn't ask for anything more. Please," she bowed her head, hoping the woman would be swayed.

"Mother is right," said Sophie, "Didn't you say something about us having a foul mouth? Step out of the carriage unless you want to be pushed or thrown out forcibly," said Sophie, crossing her hands and legs while looking at the human who looked pitiful. It brought joy to Sophie that the girl looked powerless.

"Humphrey," Lady Rosamund called the coachman's name so that he could throw this girl out.

"I will get down," Madeline responded.

"Quick. We have other things to do than spend time with someone like you," Lady Rosamund said, and Madeline saw herself out of the carriage. The door of the carriage was shut close, and the woman said, "Next time learn how to behave with people who are above you than showing you know everything. Hopefully, we don't cross path again, which is unlikely knowing our status. Drive," the horses neighed before pulling the carriage to leave Madeline in the middle of nowhere, trees surrounding her which was part of the forest.

She had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but then Madeline told herself that she had got a headstart compared to her actual plan. Not only had she missed the wolves to be roaming on the grounds of the castle freely and she didn't have to worry about the guards at the gates. Trying to see the positive side and being thankful to be getting a ride this far and out of the castle, Madeline started to walk, taking the path of the left.

All she needed was another carriage passing by her to ask for help, but she doubted she would be getting one right now. She raised her chin, her brown eyes looking at the sky that had turned dark. The evening had passed quicker than she would have thought it would, and it was the time of night.

The sounds of the forest surrounded her, crickets chirping and owls that she couldn't see hooting somewhere hidden in the trees.

When she heard a wolf howl, Madeline felt her heart jump out of her chest, turning around she made sure there was no wolf following her, and when she heard another howl, her feet moved even quicker than before.