"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,
Eleanor woke up to an empty hotel room. Drakken was gone. She quickly got up and went to the bathroom to take a bath. The warm water relaxed her muscles. She washed her hair and scrubbed her body before stepping out of the tub.There was more she needed to uncover in that house. It wasn't just curiosity that drove her-though that was certainly part of it-It was also a desire to know more about herself and her family's history. Eleanor gathered up her bag and set off to the house.When she arrived, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She began to search the house for anything that might give her a clue about her family's history. She opened drawers and searched through cabinets, but found nothing of interest. She even ventured into the basement, where she found nothing but old boxes and cobwebs.Growing tired but relentless, she made her way up to the second floor. She ventured down a long hallway that seemed to go on forever. The dim light from the chandelier above flickered,
Drakken knew something was off with Eleanor, though he couldn't say what it was. She was quiet all through the drive back to the hotel. She sat slumped in the passenger seat, looking out the window with a distant expression. Drakken had never seen her like this before, and it worried him."Are you quite alright?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.She didn't respond at first, but after a moment she turned to him and said, "I'm fine."Drakken didn't believe her. He could see that she looked pale and exhausted, and there was a tension in her face that he hadn't seen before. "Did you find anything when you searched the house?" he pressed."No," she replied sharply, her voice barely above a whisper.He was still skeptical about her behavior. "Are you sure? You didn't see anything suspicious?""No, I didn't find anything," she repeated, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.Drakken didn't want to push her too hard, but he couldn't help feeling frustrated. "Why did you come here without me
Back at the palace...The palace was in chaos as news of the attack on the palace reservoir and the food store spread like wildfire. Panic and confusion had taken hold of everyone as they tried to figure out who could have committed such abominable mayhem. The former King was furious and had declared everyone grounded until the perpetrator was caught.He paced back and forth in his room, his face contorted with anger. Duncan and George stood before him, heads bowed in deference. "How could this happen?" he bellowed. "You incompetent fools! Where's Drakken during times like this? It is all his fault."Duncan spoke up, his voice steady despite the King's rage. "He had to leave for a mission outside the palace."The former King rounded on him, his eyes flashing. "Don't try to defend him, Duncan. I know he's out there to enjoy himself. He's probably off with his mistress while our people starve. I should've never made him king."George stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury, unable t
Eleanor paced back and forth in her room, her thoughts consumed by the recent attack on the palace. The flames had been intense, and the damage extensive. It was clear that the person behind it had intended to cause chaos and destruction. And Eleanor had a strong suspicion of who that person was.Merit.There was no doubt she was responsible for the Queen's death and now it seemed she was set out for more destruction. But why? What was her motive for causing such devastation?As Eleanor continued to pace, her mind was plagued with possible explanations. Perhaps, Merit had been sent by someone with a grudge against the royal family. Or maybe she was seeking revenge for some perceived wrong that had been done to her.Regardless of the reason, Eleanor knew they both needed to have a talk about their family connection.Eleanor's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her door bursting open. She turned to see her maid, Evie, standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. Behind her,