Chapter 2

Eleanor's Point Of View…

It’s been over a week and I'm still astonished and surprised that Killian hadn't rejected me or severed his ties with me in front of his pack members. I suppose it's because he's been so preoccupied with activities and meetings at the various werewolf councils. It must have kept him engaged with so many things that thinking about me was the last thing on his mind at the moment. 

The news of Alpha Theodore, Killian's father, being ill shattered me completely.

“How is he? How is the Alpha?” I asked the maid responsible for his care.

Shaking her head with her face a picture of worry, she replied, “He’s not getting any better, your highness. His blood pressure is through the roof, and he has a fever. He’s lost his appetite and can’t eat properly..”

My breath hitched and I stifled a gasp as her words rang in my ears. His condition had worsened just after a day when we discovered he was ill. Shaking my head, I hurried toward Alpha Theodore's chamber, concern etched on my face. The maid followed closely behind me, and when we entered the room, my heart broke at the sight of him.

“Maya,” I said softly, placing my hand on the maid's shoulder and looking into her eyes. She nodded, eager for what I had to say.

“I will get some herbs to cure him. My mom lived as a salutary and a physician before she died. Because of my closeness with her, I've been able to learn how she treats people with herbs.”

“The Alpha has never taken herbs for treatment before. Are you sure this is a good idea or we should inform the physicians to try giving him some other medications?” Maya asked, her voice trembling slightly. I could see the fear in her eyes.

With my eyes flicking with assurance, I held her hands and replied, “You don't have to worry. I'm sure he's going to get better once I get those herbs to treat him. I'll be getting some chamomiles and Madeira Vines. They function quickly and magically and are easy to incorporate in liquids. It'll dissolve and get to work right away, and he will recover as quickly as possible,

"They're always ingested in order for them to function effectively. Given Alpha Theodore’s allergy to herbs, treating him with them covertly is preferable." I explained to her and she nodded, trusting me completely. 

“I'll be leaving for phoenix forest to get those herbs. Please watch over the Alpha while I'm gone,”

“I will, your highness..” She responded, her voice filled with assurance. When I saw the fragile Alpha on his sick bed, I was overcome with determination to treat him. Glancing at the maid one more time, I scurried out of the room and the pack before making my way to the forest alone.

A few minutes later, I returned to the pack with the herbs, feeling relieved to have been able to get them since they were pretty scarce, especially during summer. 

While I mixed the herbs In a beverage, I became queasy and gagged, a symptom of my early pregnancy. When I couldn't hold it anymore, I left whatever I was doing in an attempt to puke in the bathroom. 

Scurrying in the corridor, I saw Taylor smirking with her scornful eyes on me following my movement. . I ignored her and continued hurrying till I reached the bathroom.

****

The Alpha showed slight traces of recovery after drinking the herb I made for him. I left him to rest and I've been in my room for some minutes now. 

Killian's angry roar pierced the air, causing shivers to run down my spine.

“Alpha Killian is back, and he asked to see you, your highness,” A plump maid disclosed after walking into my chamber unannounced. She gazed at me with so much sympathy and I could tell something was wrong. My brows creased and I asked, “Why is Alpha Killian angry? Did something happen?!”

Her lips quivered, she was unable to mouth a word. Instead of her to reply, she bursted into tears, making me more confused. Sighing, I left my room for the chamber and the first thing I saw was Killian's murderous gaze .

“You killed my father! You murderer!!” He roared as he charged towards me and grasped my neck. My eyes widened as his words rang into my ears. How on earth would I kill his father? What is he saying?!

“You poisoned my father! Why would you do such a thing to him, you monster?!” He growled, sending shivers down my spine. My breath hitched and my heart thrummed with an erratic rhythm as I saw his reddened face and glaring eyes.

Poison?! Those herbs weren't poisonous..

“I would never kill your father, Killian! I only treated him with herbs! Those herbs specializes in treating illnesses like—-” 

"Don't you dare say a word! You poisoned him! You took advantage of my absence by killing my own father when he was ill. You did all of these because I planned on rejecting you?! How could you be so cruel?! How could you stoop so low, Eleanor?!" 

Killian snapped, his breath coming out in short spurts. He loosed his grip around my neck and banged the wall in anger with his fists, leaving a crack behind. Disheveling his hair, he growled and shifted his furious gaze at me.

“My father has always loved you. He approved your marriage with me and it's because of him I kept you all these while. You killed him just to get back at me, didn't you?!" He inquired, his voice thick with anger and emotion. He drew closer to me while I retraced my steps, fearing his ominous gaze. My breath caught in my throat as his words hung in the tensed air between us.

"You have to believe me, Killian. I never poisoned your father. My sole aim was to see that he recovers. Maya, you were there, weren't you? Did I ever have plans on killing him?” Shifting my gaze at the maid, I asked, hoping to see if she'd support me but she only remained mute, her face struck with panic.

Some physicians in white robes wheeled Alpha Paulinto the scene. He was on a stretcher, his entire body covered in white cloth. They lowered the cloth slightly to reveal his face and my heart sank into my tummy when I saw his blue skin.

“Your highness,” The oldest among the physicians called, grabbing Killian's attention. 

“We carried out the autopsy for the third time now and it's confirmed that he was poisoned. I believe the herb he consumed was laced with poison. We're so sorry for your loss, Alpha Killian."

Taylor's hands trembled and her entire body shuddered as she sobbed next to Alpha Theodore's corpse. She glanced at me with contempt and gritted her teeth.

“How can you be this evil, Eleanor?! Alpha Paulwas like a father to you. He even loves you more than he loves me and yet you did such a miserable thing to him all because his son chose to reject you..” She accused, her voice shaking with a slight undertone of anger.

Turning to face her, I shook my head, and said, "I didn't do anything, believe me. These plants have been known to reduce blood pressure. They're not poi-"

“Shut up!! Just shut up! Eleanor!!” Killian cut me off across my words, his chest heaving with his breath coming out in short bursts.

"Call the guards!" Killian yelled without turning to face me and my eyes popped out in shock.

“Killian Please! I'm – I'm bearing your child. I'm three weeks pregnant for you." I cried as I finally confessed but he wasn't moved at all. Instead, he turned to face me, his face a picture of scorn and rage.

"Killian.. Killian please.. don't do this." I cried in panic as he dragged me out of the room into the open space. He pushed me carelessly on the ground, his eyes shimmering with contempt. 

Some pack members gathered around to watch the scene unfolding. With his chest heaving, he yelled, “Eleanor Salvatore, I forbid you from going into the pack house. You are deprived of your rights as a member of this pack and you're not permitted to engage in any way with other members. You'll serve as a slave and after spending months in the outhouse, I'll make sure I have you banished for what you did." 

He stated and my heart squeezed in hurt.

"Eleanor, I'm going to make you regret your existence. You will be regarded as the lowest-ranking werewolf in the pack, with no single right. You will be nothing but a slave!!" His words did not alleviate the anguish that stung my fragile heart, and the sincerity of his statements was evident in his merciless gaze. Through my tears, I noticed a frighteningly familiar steely glimmer in his eyes that never failed to make my blood run cold.

I was led to the outhouse which was at the extreme end of the pack. The soldiers flung me in like a piece of trash, and I landed on the hard bricked floor.

****

Alpha Paulwas finally buried and I've been living miserable in this godforsaken dungeon as punishment for a crime I never committed. My pregnancy is now a month and it is starting to form a bulge. I fed on cold foods, stale bread and milk and the fear of birthing my child here creeps the hell out of me.

Perching beside the iron bars, I saw one of the maids approaching in my direction. My brow furrowed as I wondered what she was doing here after Alpha Killian had barred anyone from visiting me.

“Your highness, I came to see you because I was worried about you..” She mumbled, her voice soothing my spirit. She had a jar of orange juice and bread in her hand and she passed it to me through the spaces of the bars.

“You have to eat up, your highness. For the sake of your unborn child, you have to eat.” She replied as she wiped my tears with her fingers. Nodding, I took a bite of the bread and emptied half of the drink in my mouth. It's been a long time since I had such.

The maid smiled and got on her feet, staring at me with sympathy. Her whole body trembled all of a sudden and she wiped her tears with her fingers, making me crease my brows in confusion. I knew she was sorry for me but why was she acting a little strange…

“Forgive me, your highness. Do know that it wasn't my intention to do this. I was only carrying out an instruction,” She said that last word before fleeing away, leaving me even more bewildered.

My eyes traced her till she was out of sight. Suddenly, I felt a sharp wave of piercing ache searing through my abdomen. I was hit with an intense wave of cramps, clenching my stomach with both hands, I gasped.

“What- what is going on?! Why am I feeling this way?!”

I stifled a gasp as I asked myself, my eyes going wide.

“I poisoned your juice with wolfsbane, Aurora!” An evil high-pitched voice pierced through the air and I turned in the direction of the voice, my heart thudding frantically against my ribcage.

My eyes widened when I saw that it was Taylor. There wasn't a tinge of regret or remorse in her expression. Her eyes were cold, indifferent.

My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground. Biting the inside of my cheek to subdue the pain, I gazed at her with bloodshot eyes. She smirked, sensing my inner turmoil, not an ounce of sympathy on her face.

“The poison will spread through your body and kill your child in the next one hour..” She disclosed and I choked as I clutched my chest, trying hard to  breathe.

"I will not allow you to bear Killian's pups. I will be the only one, not you, murderer!!!"