In his study, Drakken went through the list of meetings to be attended the following week. The other piles of files on his desk lay there unattended, but they weren't his cup of tea. He had spent the whole day sorting out his meeting schedules for the weeks to come."Is this all?" he asked Duncan who stood a few feet away from him."I believe so. All meetings for next week are to be held here in the palace," Duncan informed him. "The alphas already agreed on it."It was a convenient arrangement for him. Drakken nodded in satisfaction, putting the files aside. Duncan seemed like he still had more to say but was unsure of himself."Is there something else I should know?" Drakken asked. "Tell me.""The vampire king wants to know if you'd be free tomorrow.""For what reason?" Drakken wondered. He'd been avoiding the man like a plague the same way as his daughter. Were his actions becoming too noticeable?"He says he has a lot to discuss with you and would be honored if you'd create time t
Gwendolyn was speaking to him but all Drakken wanted to do was go after Eleanor. His wolf threatened to burst out and Drakken took control of it this time, fighting an inner turmoil.If he left and went after Eleanor, Gwendolyn's suspicions might raise. Drakken felt like he was pulled in two different directions with his wolf wanting to act on impulse, and him trying to act rational about the situation.She shot up an eyebrow, expecting a response from him. "I want to know how you are connected with that girl. She would not have walked in here so easily if you both are not very acquainted.""She is..." his wolf wanted her to know Eleanor was his mate, but Drakken knew better. He paused, rearranging his thoughts. "She...""Are you perhaps sleeping with her? Is that what this is about?" her eyes searched his face to read his reaction to her accusation."I am not sleeping with her," he quickly denied. "She is nothing.""I am no fool, Drakken." Gwen stepped closer to him. "She is one of y
Eleanor came back from a night stroll that was meant to clear the disturbing thoughts from her head. She couldn't say it worked because she still felt worse. The image of Drakken and the vampire princess kissing played in her mind like a broken record. Eleanor could not get it to go away.Her plan to make him jealous was failing before she even began. She found Drakken's beta standing in front of her room when she climbed back up and frowned. What does he want?Duncan turned to stare at Eleanor as she approached him."Do you need anything?" she inquired."The AlphaKing gave instructions to check on you but you weren't in."She wasn't a child, Eleanor thought. He didn't need to act like he cared when he had another woman in his room."I went for a stroll," she replied. "I am fine on my own.""It's not safe to be out this late at night."A huff escaped her lips. "I'll do whatever it is I want."He waited as she went into the room and closed the door behind her, then she heard his footst
As more days passed and the healing school graduation ceremony approached, work doubled for all student workers. Including Eleanor. They were all gathered in the lobby that afternoon after an intensive medical practice session.Eleanor stretched out her bones while they waited for Emma, feeling sore all over from hours of standing. The chattering from everyone came to a stop when Emma stepped out of her office to address them.She did a headcount to check if they were all present, but just one person was missing."Why don't I see Merit?" Emma asked with a scowl.One of them from the crowd spoke up. "She told me she needed to attend to an important issue before running off somewhere.""What the hell could be more important than this?" Emma asked no one in particular, then went back to the matter at hand. "Anyway, I want to commend you all for such a job well done over the past months. I appreciate everyone who has contributed to this healing school wholeheartedly."Eleanor smiled at he
Seeing this two together was somehow strange to Eleanor. Merit and Benjamin were a pair she never thought she'd witness. They kept their voices so low she couldn't comprehend what they talked about, and when they finally noticed her presence, Benjamin smiled considerably, twisting in her direction to give her a good picture of his muscular physique.Then he took slow steps to where she stood. "There you are."Eleanor returned his smile with a confused frown. "What are you two doing out in the dark?""I was just asking Merit here your whereabouts. I couldn't find you anywhere around." He turned to Merit who was surprisingly quiet. So unlike her. "Isn't that right?"They shared a look and Eleanor felt like she was missing out on something. "He's right." The other bit out with a faux smile. "I spend most of my time these days studying for the exams that it's hard to get a hold of me," Eleanor admitted, not taking the matter seriously."And how's that going?" Benjamin asked as he walked
The more days that passed brought Drakken nothing but strife and agitation. He'd been watching Eleanor and his brother gallivant around the palace like lovebirds and he couldn't do anything about it. Drakken was mad at himself. Even his wolf had retreated and remained dormant.He watched Benjamin escort Eleanor to the palace after work through his study window every other night. She always looked happy talking to him and laughed often, more than she had ever done with Drakken. It never failed to make his stomach churn with jealousy.He'd made a fool of himself. Fighting his brother over Eleanor would make him look even more stupid. She was clearly mad at him, and getting closer to Benjamin was a bigger torment than ignoring him. But Eleanor did both.He had recently visited Emma as an excuse to go to the clinic, hoping to run into Eleanor there. Again, Benjamin was there with her. He was always there, tutoring her about flower potions and what they cured. Apparently, there was an exam
Eleanor got ready for another tutoring session with Benjamin that evening and hurriedly rushed out of her room. She was running late. He'd kept his promises when he offered to teach her all he knew about medicines, going out of his way to see to it that she understood everything he taught.She couldn't thank him enough for his kindness. Eleanor was finally making an increasing amount of progress with Emma's flower healing methods. She had not put what she'd learned to practice yet and that was to be the main focus for the day.It was what she looked forward to since she began taking lessons from Benjamin. To put her abilities to the test.Eleanor had almost gotten to the clinic where she kept Benjamin waiting when she heard a familiar voice call out to her. Halting in her tracks, she spun around and saw Gregory sprinting toward her.His face which was filled with worry created concerns for Eleanor. Gregory wasn't his usual merry self.He took a minute to catch his breath after running
Drakken stirred awake the next morning to the bright sunlight peeking out behind his curtains. He felt something wet on his forehead and picked it up, tossing away the wet towel.His head was light and dizzy when he tried to move and look around, so Drakken let it drop back to the pillow. It all started as a common hangover at first before it escalated into something out of his control.Drakken had spent too many nights drinking to avoid his problems and it backfired.It was after he regained full consciousness of himself and the surroundings that Drakken heard light snores coming very close to him. His eyes trailed down to his body, shocked to see Eleanor lying across his chest so comfortably in a deep sleep.Her lips were ajar as snores continued to escape from them, her eyebrows slightly drawn together. Drakken found her stunning even in that state and couldn't quite take his eyes off her.Days ago, he would've done anything to have Eleanor this close to him, now she was there on a