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
Drakken announced that he was going for a run and would be back later after he'd dropped her off at the hotel. Eleanor watched him go, then decided to head up to her hotel room. She had something important to do, something she had been waiting to do.When she entered the room, she made sure to lock the door behind her. Then she went to her suitcase and retrieved the diary.Eleanor opened the diary carefully and began reading from where she had left off the last time she had read it. The luna talked about her mother's family, a pack called 'Nightcrawlers'. She missed her mother's people, especially her grandparents, who she had grown up hearing stories about.Eleanor skipped ahead a few pages, eager to find out more about her family. It wasn't long before something caught her eye. The Luna mentioned having a niece.The luna's twin sister had recently given birth, but she didn't mention the gender of the baby. Eleanor felt a surge of emotion as she read on, but as she continued reading,