Eleanor's heart pounded in her chest as she realized the gravity of her situation. Her breaths came in short gasps, and her body trembled as the beasts circled her. She felt like a trapped animal, with no escape.The red eyes of the werewolves glinted in the darkness, and Eleanor felt a chill run down her spine. The creatures were massive, easily twice her size, and their fur bristled as they bared their teeth. Their snarls were terrifying, and she knew that she had to keep her wits about her if she wanted to survive.Eleanor's mind raced, trying to think of a way to escape, but her thoughts were jumbled and her fear consumed her. She felt completely helpless and vulnerable, with nowhere to run and no one to turn to for help.As the werewolves closed in, Eleanor's terror peaked. She could smell their hot breath and feel their fur brush against her skin. Their howls filled the air.Eleanor opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. One in particular was ferocious, dripping saliva
Eleanor woke up groggily, her body aching and her head feeling heavy. As she slowly came to, she realized that her knees and legs were throbbing, and when she tried to sit up, sharp pains shot through her limbs. Confused and disoriented, she looked down to see that her legs were covered in cuts and bruises.A wave of panic swept over her. What had happened last night? She couldn't recall anything, and the more she tried to remember, the more her head hurt.She could only remember running from the wolves, but then her mind went blank. It was as if something had happened to her, something that she couldn't quite remember.Eleanor caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror when she made her way to the bathroom. Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.As she was lost in her thoughts, Drakken entered the bathroom and she stared at him from the mirror. She could see that he was perturbed, and she knew that he was going to ask h
Eleanor's heart was pounding as she dashed out of the room, the photo album she had just discovered still clutched tightly in her hands. Her mind was racing with a million thoughts, but the only thing that mattered in that moment was finding Drakken. She could feel the weight of the book in her hands, reminding her of what she'd seen.She saw Drakken going through a box when she reached downstairs. Without a word, she thrust the album into his hands, her whole body trembling from the panic that had seized her.Drakken looked at her, concern etched into his features. "What's wrong, Eleanor?" he asked gently."I... I found my mother's photo on one of those pages," she stammered. "Turn the pages to the sixth."His fingers moved quickly and flipped through the pages. True as Eleanor claimed, her mother was with a woman, smiling back at the camera. He remembered that familiar eyes crying for mercy years ago when he snuffed the life out of her without remorse.Drakken snapped the album clos
As the sun began to rise, the room was filled with the soft light of dawn. Drakken and Eleanor lay tangled together in the sheets, naked and spent from their passionate night of lovemaking. They were both exhausted, but the feeling of being wrapped in each other's arms was too comforting to let go.Drakken's arms were wrapped tightly around Eleanor's waist, while she snuggled up against his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder, and she could feel his steady heartbeat against her cheek.But his peaceful sleep was interrupted by a sudden jolt in his mind like someone was calling out to him through the mind link. He opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of them."It's me, Alpha," the voice said, still in his mind.It was his spy he had sent on a mission to investigate Eleanor's past. He had given him specific instructions to find out everything he could about Eleanor and spent weeks waiting for feedback."What is it?" Drakken asked, still groggy from sleep."I have some news
Drakken was reluctant to take Eleanor back to the house when she asked. He had made it clear that he didn't want to go there, but Eleanor had insisted. A part of him was terrified of what more she could find about her parents. This was supposed to be a mission to find out more about his mother's death, but Eleanor's past kept getting in the way. A past he wished could be kept buried forever.He didn't like the idea of going back to that house. It held too many memories, and not all of them were good. But he could see the determination in Eleanor's eyes, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.When they reached the hotel's lobby, Drakken held the door open for Eleanor and followed her outside. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city. Drakken took a deep breath of the crisp evening air, trying to calm his nerves.He drove them back there and they soon found themselves on the same dark path where the old house stood ahead of them.E
"What's that?" Drakken asked curiously, taking note of the way she curiously examined the leaf in her hands."It's silverweed," Eleanor replied, holding it up for him to see. "The same kind of leaf that your mother had been sick from."His eyes widened with shock as he tentatively took the leaf from her hand. Drakken stared at the leaf closely. He knew that he should have taken better care of his mother, and now it was too late."I did some research on it on how to produce an antidote for your mother's breed," she explained, still staring at it. "But what is it doing here in the diary?"Eleanor lunged forward and snatched the book from Drakken's grasp. Her eyes scanned the pages frantically, searching for the spot where the leaf had fallen off. Drakken protested, but she ignored him, flipping through the pages with increasing urgency. Finally, she found the page.Eleanor's eyes scanned the page, devouring the words written in the diary. The Luna described the leaf as salvation to thei
Eleanor slowly opened her eyes, taking in the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. As she lay there, still half asleep, she became aware of a faint rustling sound coming from the direction of the closet.Turning her head slightly, she saw Drakken standing in front of the broken mirror, buttoning up his shirt. He was completely absorbed in his task, his movements smooth and efficient.Drakken's back was to her, so he didn't notice when she opened her eyes. She lay there, content to watch him, taking in the way his muscles flexed as he moved. She felt a flutter in her chest, remembering how he'd declared her his mate last night.He had kept her warm all night long, his body pressed against hers, and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, and she didn't want it to end. The way he had touched her, the way he had made her feel, it was like she was the only woman in the world. She had never felt so alive, so wanted, so loved.
Drakken and Eleanor stepped into a small, retro diner on the outskirts of town. The neon sign outside flickered with the name "Mel's Diner," while the black and white checkered floor and red leather booths inside gave off a vintage vibe. The scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air.The waitress, a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile, led the duo to a booth in the corner. Drakken and Eleanor slid into the vinyl seats, each picking up a worn menu."This feels somewhat like a date," Eleanor glanced around the place. "I've never been out with you like this." In the palace, it was either she met up with him in his room, or him in hers. They never even shared breakfast together.Drakken's brows shot up. "A date?" he repeated. "You mean something like the one you went on with Benjamin?"Her mouth fell open in shock. "How... How do you know about that?""I have eyes almost everywhere in the palace." His lips quirked up when he saw how uneasy she seemed. "B
EPILOGUE"Magdalene, come here this minute!" Eleanor screamed at the top of her lungs as she chased after her last child who seemed unaware of her mother's rage she giggled heartily, racing down the well-trimmed meadow at the back of the house where they went out to relax every day. "Magdalene!""Daddy!" The girl squealed, changing course from her favourite hiding spot at the back of a tall tree, towards her father who was smiling as he stretched his hand to catch her. "I am going to make sure you are sent off to a boarding school just like your older brother!" Threatened, Eleanor, tapping her forehead. She had been chasing the little foot from the house, refusing the help of the guards whom she knew her daughter feared greatly. Drakken had insisted his daughter was never to be left at the mercy of the brutes under any circumstances."Forgive us, Luna, we have sinned." Drakken made a face as they approached her, rephrasing the biblical words. "You spoil her, baby and then you leave
ONE MONTH LATER."I can't believe this is finally happening, dudes. Can y'all believe it?" George asked as he took a long swig from the glass in his hand, his face squeezing from the strong taste of the brown modern ale. "I can't believe it too," Duncan let out cheerily, his face a mask of smile. "So... I thought to ask Evie out today.""What!" George thundered, half sitting up from his seat in astonishment as his eyes widened in shock. "Eleanor's maid?" Duncan was nodding his head, his smile not breaking. "I haven't approached her yet, but I have been keeping tabs on her and know her real mate rejected her which somehow works to my advantage, you know.""What about your mate?"Duncan shrugged casually. "I have been crushing on Evie for as long as I can remember, Geroge. I am telling her tonight. If there's anything I'm certain of, is that I see the way she looks at me sometimes in a sneaky way.""That didn't answer my question, Duncan. Do you want to break her heart in the future?
Drakken threw himself at Benjamin at his words, already deciding within himself that if Benjamin wanted the throne then he had to win him for it. But one thing was for sure; he was done tolerating the bullshit called his stepbrother. As the situation was right now, someone's head had to roll for peace to reign.He delivered a clean punch to his guts and Benjamin toppled over, spewing out blood. When Drakken went to punch once more, Benjamin was very fast to move away, giving Drakkn a kick to the face. George rushed to carry Eleanor from the ground, getting Benjamin's attention who was on the verge of attacking Drakken and Drakken used the opportunity to clasp his big hands around his shoulders and crushed it over his knees. There was a painful growl and Benjamin started transforming into his hideous wolf.This was part of the reason Drakken had never been comfortable around Benjamin. When he was born, he overheard his father telling Benjamins's mother that he was never going to accep
Eleanor’s hands shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. The world had stopped making sense to her. How could she have been so blind to the truth? The man she had trusted with her heart and her secrets had been the one responsible for the greatest tragedy of her life.She remembered the day when her family was murdered, the horror and pain etched into her memory forever. It had been Drakken who murdered them. And to think, she had trusted him all this time.But that wasn't the worst of it. The spy had gone ahead to reveal the thing that made Eleanor's heart sink to her stomach. Drakken was the one who had violated her, stolen her innocence and left her with scars that would never heal. And Nicky, the boy she had grown to love as her own, was the product of that brutal assault.Eleanor felt like her whole world was crumbling around her. She had lost everything, her family, her dignity, and her love. How could she face Nicky now? How could she tell him that the man he was s
Drakken charged through the palace, his eyes scanning every corner and room for any sign of Eleanor. His mind was in turmoil, his thoughts consumed by the fear that something terrible had happened to her. He could feel his wolf inside him, agitated and restless, struggling to break free in his anger.Every room he searched, every door he opened, brought him no closer to finding her."Drakken, you need to calm down," George said as he approached him. "Destroying the palace won't help us find Eleanor.""I can't just sit here and do nothing!" Drakken snapped, his voice rising in frustration. "Eleanor is out there somewhere, and make sure she is safe."Duncan stepped forward and placed a hand on Drakken's shoulder. "We understand how you feel, but we need to approach this logically. We'll cover more ground if we split up and search different areas of the palace."He took a deep breath and tried to reign in his anger, but it wasn't easy.Just then, Emma appeared at the end of the hall. She
Merit’s hands closed around a heavy object when Benjamin turned back to Eleanor. Before she could even raise the object to strike, Benjamin lunged at her with incredible speed. Merit tried to dodge, but he was too fast. He caught her by the throat and lifted her off the ground, squeezing with all his strength.Merit gasped for air as she struggled to break free, but Benjamin's grip was too strong. She could feel her vision starting to fade as the world around her turned black.Suddenly, Benjamin was thrown back by a force. Merit crashed to the ground, gasping for breath as she tried to regain her bearings. When she looked up, she saw that Eleanor had somehow managed to break free from her restraints.Eleanor was wielding a chair, her hands still bound tightly to it as she swung it at Benjamin. Merit watched in horror as Benjamin dodged the blow, and the chair hit her instead.Merit's head spun as she tried to shake off the blow. She could feel the blood rushing to her head as she stru
Eleanor slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing with a dull ache. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness that surrounded her. Panic rose within her as she realized that she had no memory of how she ended up here.As she tried to get up, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle and winced. Her heart was pounding now as she looked around the room, hoping to find some clue as to where she was. But the room was empty, except for a single chair in the corner.She tried to shout for help, but her voice was hoarse and barely audible. Suddenly, the lights came on, and she squinted, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness.To her horror, she saw two figures standing in front of her, smirking evilly. It was Merit and Benjamin.She attempted to get up, but her ankle throbbed with pain, and she collapsed back onto the ground."Merit!” She said in shock from seeing her. “What the hell is going on?" Eleanor demanded, her voice strained.Merit stepped forward and delivered a hot sl
Drakken sighed heavily as he stood up from his desk, shuffling papers into neat piles before grabbing his black leather jacket from the back of his chair. He had been looking forward to this meeting for days, hoping to persuade the Vampire King to leave the palace and take his daughter with him. He was also about to send word to Eleanor that he wouldn't be joining her tonight. But now, with the news that George had just delivered, his mind was elsewhere."You were right about Gwendolyn," George was saying. "I caught her...with one of the palace guards."Drakken shook his head disapprovingly. "I told you so. It's best to forget about Gwendolyn. She isn't good for you. You'll find your mate soon enough."George nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And you deserve to be with yours.""I will be dismissing Gwendolyn and her father from the palace tonight. It's long overdue."As a slight frown appeared on George's face at the news, Drakken felt frustrated with his fri
Eleanor stirred in her bed and tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. She rubbed her bleary eyes and groaned, dragging herself out of bed as the carpeted floorboards protested beneath her weight as if voicing their own complaints about being disturbed so early in the morning. Eleanor stumbled into the bathroom, staring at her haggard reflection in the mirror and wondering how she would make it through the day.She was feeling restless that morning, and so she opted for a run. That was the only thing that could calm her, or at least she hoped.Eleanor put on her running shoes, tied her hair in a ponytail, and started to jog toward the forest at the back of the palace.As she entered the forest, she felt the cool breeze on her face, and her mind started to clear. She was running at a steady pace, but soon, she felt that same sensation that she always felt when she came here- like something was about to burst out of her.Eleanor stopped in her tracks and knelt down on the ground. She