4

ELEANOR

There was something different when I glanced around my room. I knew I was leaving, yet why does it feel like a mountain of rocks was weighing on my tiny shoulders? The suffocating feeling of despair and grief took its toll on my heart. So many childhood memories, followed by so many more images of me sobbing on my bed as my wounds and bruises healed. Every time the healing process would happen too fast the pain will feel too strong and eventually, my body often becomes too exhausted, sucking out every ounce of energy left inside me.

‘We’ll be okay, Ellie. I promise you that.’

I stood in front of the mirror and studied myself with it.

Sighing, I look at my reflection through my wolf's eyes.

'Are you saying we should just...go rogue?'

Ares nodded. Her grit and determination oozing off from her through her bright golden eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I shift back now I'm standing up at the edge of my bed.

"Okay." I glanced at the red velvet dress Mike had just thrown at my face like some garbage he tossed away in a trash can. Picking it up, I found that it was a short and sexy dress with a slit that would run from my thigh. It was too skimpy that I was sure if I wore it, the dress would easily tear apart. I discarded the dress and grabbed my neat oversized shirt, hoodie, and baggy pants instead. It took me just about five minutes to get ready, knowing damn well I shouldn't be taking my time. I then swung my backpack containing my things to my back.

Before I made my exit, I looked back at my room. The first and only place where I shifted. Not once did my parents allow me to make a run into the forest and stretch my legs, which was deemed necessary for the well-being of my wolf. I knew they did it to protect me. My father had forbidden me to shift ever again after that night, saying he did that because he loves me, and I believed him.

'Eleanor, we have to go.' Ares said urgently.

Heaving out a heavy breath, I stepped out of my room for the last time. I look around, my heart hammering against my chest as my hands trembled knowing what I'm about to do.

'Lift up your hoodie' Ares instructed.

I raised my hoodie over my head and just kept my head low as other members of the pack passed by, carrying a mountain of food in their hands.

"Desiree! Have you put on your make-up? Hurry! I need a quick retouch." One she-wolf yelled out.

"I hope I'm his mate. I heard he's the sexiest and most handsome alpha alive! God, I can't breathe."

"Keep dreaming. You all know I'm the most qualified to be his mate."

I mentally rolled my eyes, taking quick huge strides to get away from them as fast as I can. I'm tired of listening to all this nonsense about that alpha. Gratefully, their voices faded into the air. Suddenly I recalled what Mike had told me. Could he be telling the truth?

When we neared the exit, I stopped in my tracks, heading in the other direction that would lead me to Dad's office.

'Eleanor, what are you doing?' Ares asked in a panic.

'I'm just gonna talk to Dad. It won't be long, and he wouldn't know we're leaving anyway.' I can feel Ares become tense and face palmed herself, catching me by surprise. They can do that?

'Eleanor, are you kidding me?' Ares' voice sounded as if she was in disbelief. On the way, I ignored her who kept telling me to turn around and leave. I just wanted to see my Dad. Since I'd probably never see him again in the future. I was about to knock on the door when I heard different voices coming from the room. My hand stopped midair and I leaned a little closer to hear Dad and Mom talking inside the room.

"So are you going to tell Eleanor?" My mom said, making my brows furrow.

Tell me what?

My heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling nervous to hear Dad’s reply. What on earth are they even talking about? And why did their conversation include me, like they got something to hide?

“She doesn’t need to know. Besides, it will happen whether or not she knows it.”

My mom snickered.

“Bad girls need to be punished, I guess.”

Now my face has the question ‘What’ written all over.

“Ten years ago when I invaded the Red Silverwood Pack, everything was about to go exactly as planned. If it wasn’t for his father, their whole family would have been dead by now. The Blue Mountains Pack could have been stronger than ever.”

“What are you planning to do, Victor?” My mom asked.

I pressed my ear harder against the wooden door and lowered my breathing. It’s a skill most werewolves can’t master. After years of practicing day and night to make my wolf completely invisible and undetectable by any one of the pack, I finally got the hang of it.

‘What are they saying?’ Ares said out of curiosity.

‘I don’t quite understand them, Ares. Something about the past.’ I tell her.

“When Eleanor turned out to be the blood wolf that horrible night, I considered killing her.”

I gasped almost immediately as I quickly brought my hands to cover my mouth. As my brain tried to process my Dad’s words, loud and clear, I drew my head back from the door feeling my heartbeat race rapidly all of a sudden.

Incredulous, I focused my senses on the sound of their voices once again.

“Well, why didn’t you?” Mom said. I shook my head, both in shock and utter disbelief wondering how my own mother could have so much confidence to say those words like it weighed little to her, to me.

“If I kill our cursed daughter, her life would end up a waste, don’t you think? Instead of killing her, why not use her curse to our advantage?” He chuckled.

“So that’s how you’re letting us take advantage of her? Marry her off to that pathetic Alpha?” Mom suddenly raised her voice, as though she was not seeing the point of this at all.

There was a slight pause before I heard Dad continue speaking.

“If she mates with Alpha Alexander of Red Silverwood Pack, it won’t be long before an omen befalls upon him. Shortly he’ll be dead. And when that happens, nothing and no one…can stop me from claiming my rightful throne. I will finally become the strongest Alpha and with their resources, invading other packs would then be a walk in the park.”

I felt my knees instantly turn into jelly as I lightly placed my right hand on my parents’ door.

My heart throbbed and pounded extremely fast against my wounded chest. I stood perfectly still, giving in to the pain from their words that slashed my chest hard and deep.

‘Ellie…’ Ares whispered as though she was in utter disbelief as well.

I smiled bitterly to myself, blocking out the sound of their voices knowing my weak heart couldn't bear hearing them spat daggers disguised as words anymore.

Was this it?

Was this the reason they kept me alive all these years?

Was this the reason they helped me keep my curse a secret all along, and not to protect me?

This was the plan all along?

'Ellie, let’s go. NOW!'

Ares’ voice snapped me back into reality, and I turned my face away from the door. Panic and adrenaline coursing through me and heck, I'd forgotten how to breathe.

Thud!

“Ah!” I stumbled backward, my back banging on the wooden door making a loud thud.

“Who’s there?!” I hear my mom screech and I snap my head up to the mountain of a man I just bumped right into.

I bit my lip and clenched my fists, ready to glare at the person who shoved me onto the door with his large body.

Oh, how ready I was at that moment. Unexpectedly, the person standing in front of me was none other than the devil himself.

Dad’s beta, Mike.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?!”

I gulped.

The words I needed to say were caught in my throat.

His eyes trailed my body up and down, furrowing his brows closely as he returned his gaze to my face with a furious look.

“Why aren’t you wearing the dress, Eleanor?” Mike’s voice was clear and dangerous. As if he was strangling me with his words as I held his threatening gaze.

‘We shouldn’t have come here’ Ares whispered.

‘What are we gonna do, Ares?’ I asked her in panic. But before I heard her speak again, Mike grabbed me by the throat, squeezing my neck with his large calloused hands.

“What did I tell you about disobeying me, child?” Mike said with gritted teeth.

I struggled to gasp for air until I knew I couldn’t breathe anymore.

“That’s enough, Mike,” Dad spoke. I darted my eyes at the door, catching the look of anger and disapproval on my parents’ faces even as they watched Mike who was squeezing my neck tight.

The very sight stabbed my heart painfully. All of a sudden they were acting like they didn’t care what happens to me or the fact that Mike had just strangled me around my throat.

Disgust. Hatred. It’s all written in their faces and mirrored through their eyes.

I’ve never seen them look at me like that, except for that night when I turned on my 13th birthday.

Mike abruptly let me go and unceremoniously shoved me toward my parents. I stumbled forward very close to my father, yet I found myself hitting the floor face-first. My hands and knees landed harshly with a thud.

It was so damn obvious to me that Dad could have caught me in his arms to prevent the fall if he as much extended his hand to me yet he didn’t. I looked up at the man I’ve always admired and loved since I was a little pup. He used to tell me he would love me no matter what as a child. He also told me once he would make me the Alpha one day, but he never mentioned that to me again after that night.

I rose up slowly until I was standing on my feet, meeting my father’s intimidating gaze.

“Dad, I—“I was yet to utter the next words when I felt Dad’s palm land on my cheek.

Slap!

A violent jolt to my head caught me unprepared as Dad struck me so unexpectedly, surprising even my mom. My eyes widened, momentarily dumbfounded by what my father had just done.

I gently pressed my hand on my painful cheek. As soon as I touched my face I felt like I was stung by a thousand bees. Or was it because this has been the first time Dad raised a hand at me?

Everything around me went still and I heard a ringing in my ears. The sound of my breathing and the loud pounding of my heart were the only audible sounds at the moment.

I tasted blood in my mouth and couldn’t help but spit it out onto the floor. Slowly turning my head back to look at my parents, I saw their eyes had never left my face. Mom seemed awfully disgusted as she locked eyes with me. A tight knot twisted in my stomach, watching my own mother look at me like I’m a piece of garbage who lost its place in the world.

That was the first time Dad hit me with his own hands. And it was also the first time that I noticed. The coldness and hatred in my father’s silver-gray eyes.