stunned to her core

CHAPTER SIX

Eleanor's Pov

If only I could bring back the hands of time, not only would I change the last decision I made, I would gracefully destroy any dream I had of leaving my uncle's home because what I thought was hell with him was paradise when compared to what I suffered in the hands of the Alpha.

Had I known….

Just like most girls, growing up I've always dreamed of living in a big castle with a ballroom and chandeliers, grumpy butlers, and my very own wing where I can wear my princess dresses and do princess stuff and let's not forget the part where the prince comes to whisk me away to his even bigger castle and we all live happily ever after and spend his money. Yes, I'm materialistic—A girl has got to dream, sue me.

But unlike most girls at almost twenty years old, deep down inside that abused heart of mine, I still cradle that dream like a newborn. Maybe it's a coping mechanism or maybe I'm just stupid.

I chose to be with the Alpha because I was stupid. Because I let material things glitter my senses away and before my very eyes, my coping mechanism became my agony because I painted the image and fanned my fantasies to blind reality.

I felt new... It was a strange feeling of serenity? Happiness?  Peace? Maybe it's all there or maybe it's none. I wasn't sure and that is another point where I embraced fragments of my daydream.

The beta had said obedience and submission…I thought it was a simple thing to do until I got to the Alpha's house fully. Obedience and submission to the Alpha meant something else. Something too strong for a eighteen-year-old I was enslaved from all fronts and I lost my dignity. What I was ashamed of became a norm—because, in the Alpha's dictionary, obedience and submission mean zero pride, shame, and freedom. Why was I even still breathing?

But since I'd rather not look the gift horse in the mouth - not that I've ever understood that sentiment, I mean what's so wrong with looking at it in the mouth, it's a horse - I swallowed my tongue and only vomited it back to wipe off trials of my misfortune.

I was exhausted and so fell into a dreamless sleep, waking up every time I hear a noise and since the slave quarters were close to the forlorn area, surrounded by trees and animals, there were quite a lot of sounds.

On the night of the last day of the second month I've lived with the Alpha, I realized I had no reason to live!. No one was coming to bail me out! Not my family. Not my blood brother. Not my parents' ghost. Not a friend and definitely not the goddess. I would die and they wouldn't give two shits. This didn’t surprise me so I didn't know why I was crying into a pillow.

The first thing I did when my tears dried up was to take a shower, so what if my tears got mixed up with the hot water as it burnt the wounds that hadn't completely healed, even with my werewolf system. It wasn't just a shower. It was washing away the past and getting ready for my future.

After my shower, I picked a romance novel and pinned myself comfortably on the worn-out sofa in my designated room...not mine alone though, I had a couple of mice I shared the room with. Call me Cinderella. I flipped through the pages of my book as I tried to grasp what the book was talking about but I failed. My mind was stuck on the event I have for later at night. I know I should be resting if I must survive whatever brutality the Alpha had for me but I just couldn't school my thoughts…

*********

Mom please, I need…" I was cut short when the burning sensation on my wrist turned into an icy-cold and a prickling one.

My eyes immediately flared open….I was dreaming.

“Rise and shine, princess…..!” I heard an obnoxious voice called out faintly….or maybe I was hearing things.

"Aurora?" Another obnoxious voice said whilst I tried to open my eyes. 

"Nah, I don't think Aurora does Justice. How about Cinderella? Or Rapunzel? Or Tiana?...." 

"Perhaps Bella?" A third voice said and they laughed….. Angelo!

"Bella is too pretty for this frog…" now that was Cora.

"Obviously"

"I'd say Cinderella but that would make us the wicked step-siblings and Cora, the evil stepmother" Hunter said.

"If you ask me, I've been acting that part don't you think?" I heard Angelo's voice called out faintly. 

"And just like before, I'd be a shitty evil stepmother if I don't live up to expectations. Give me it!"

Suddenly ice-cold water poured all over me.  Its temperature made some parts of my body go numb and my injuries began to sting. With a pain-filled groan, I pulled myself into an uncomfortable sitting position, as even my sitting form was as painful as being bound. I felt my brain go numb and my eyes felt like they would fall out.

Just how much longer will I endure all of this?

"There's an assignment from the Alpha for you," the beta said in a stern voice.

…wait for all this for an assignment?

"What assignment?"

“its top tier secrecy. He wants you to do something for him and under no circumstances would you discuss the details of this assignment with anybody who isn't one of us here or the Alpha.  Do I trust you would deliver diligently?” I glanced up at the Zeta and shortly I returned my gaze to the beta smiling prettily. 

“Of course, your honor.” I bowed my head.

He tsked and snapped his fingers at the beta. “Give her the documents.” he said to Cora who handed a large brown envelope to me.

"I wonder why he chose her out of everyone else" Zeta hissed.

"Go through it, you'd find all you need to know about it and if you have questions, meet Cora. She would explain all you need to know" Angelo hissed.

"Go get ready and meet me in my office. I don't care whether you understand it or not. I don't want the Alpha's insult because of your mistakes. I don't want you to be late!"She was still talking before I broke through the window and ignoring the shards of glass stuck to my skin, I ran. I heard smutty laughs behind me, and I channeled my inner wolf to increase my speed even though I knew her not.

Moon goddess, if you exist, please let me get to the said venue on time. Please. 

So much for trying to be on time...

"Oh, my goodness. I'm getting a headache" I groaned lowly but somehow Cora, the head of slaves, and Zeta had heard my hissing and looked at me from the top of her professor-like glasses.

"And we haven't got started... " She said, closing what must be the latest version of the MacBook pro 16 inches, 2021 with a sleek, plastic Pad and Quill cartella slim case.

Fuck me!

After about ten minutes later, she peeked at me through the lenses of her glasses and shoved me away "That's all…You may go"

As I exited her chamber in the packhouse, I tried massaging my temples to ease the ache in my head but it wouldn't go away. What's with the impulsive news of being at the board meeting, when I was neither an executive at the division or management level. For God's sake, I was just a newbie. A mere sex slave.

I rubbed my hands with anxiety as I prepared myself for the meeting. if it's okay to call whatever I'd be doing in the meeting legal. The Alpha needed me to pose as a lawyer in a meeting that would be held soon in the pack and I was at a loss on how I was supposed to pull off the whole stunt. The hushed tones coupled with what happened earlier made me know how severe this meeting would be abs I could only imagine the hell I would be dragged through if I messed things up.

I walked inside the conference room and the first thing I noticed was the plenty of empty seats. Only two persons were seated around and about the fourteen-seater U-shape executive meeting table, in the fourth shade of Amber and certainly made out of what must be the finest Italian furniture piece I've seen in my entire life.

"Oh fuck, thank Goodness...well at least now I can choose a seat of my choice" I hissed out to myself. Eye-checking to see the best angle that would somewhat provide some discreet shadow to my figure. I quickly scurried to the seat at the far end of the left-hand side of the room. It was until I finished picking a seat that I took in my surroundings. Wow! I've never been to this part of the pack headquarters before.

The office interior decor is precise but bold and spacious and astronomical, with stark, expensively appointed furnishings of dark wood, a crafty Italian Rug, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook most of the bustling city of Milan. I was sure the night view from here would be just as magical. It was an office and environment fit for kings and other royalties. I felt out of place.

It is more aesthetic than practical; more warm and cozy than fluffy. Even with the mixtures of both dark, pale and bright colors —From the paints of the room to the piece of artwork hanging on the walls to the color of the furniture and then other accessories. 

While I was still taking in the majestic view before me,  people began to fill the room which is my cue to focus. Alpha Luca and his entourage—Angelo, Hunter, and Cora found their way to the seat and everybody else stood up to acknowledge his presence. A cold shiver ran down my spine when his icy cold irises met mine. He dared me to mess things up for him with that one stare and I could have sworn I pooped on my pants.

He finally sat down and the rest of us did after him. I raised my head to look at him but brought it down right before our eyes would meet.

This wasn't a time for a sneak peek.

How wrong could I ever be...I was compelled to look up by a strange force, the sound of approaching footsteps and a sudden alluring smell.

At the sound of the footsteps, all eyes turn and all necks craned to look at him. Tall, light-skinned, broad shoulders, heavenly-fine ass man, Chiseled Jaw. and as he advanced I drank him all in. My mouth started watering as I stared at his toned body underneath his white dress shirt…the peaking hair from his chest.

From the corners of my eye, I saw the majority if not all of the present female folks checking him out—almost eye fucking him.

Get a fucking grip, people!

I watched discreetly, as he walked further into the room. Yet slowly but surely approaching me. My heart thumped in sync with his advancing steps, until he finally sat on the empty seat next to me. His woodsy Cologne hit me unprepared and caught myself sniffing his air.

"Hi" he greeted, eyes locked with mine and I swore the huskiness of his voice and the intensity of his mesmerizing green eyes elicited a dampness in my panties.

Maybe I was the one that needed to get a fucking grip

This guy is definitely more than worthy of thousands and hundreds of sneak peek.

He exchanged small nods of acknowledgment with Alpha Luca and although they both had shimmers of smile plastered on the corners of their mouth, I could tell how fake it was. They looked so right up as though either of them would explode any second of the ticking clock. I looked at him once more and all appealing features of him were gone. He was suddenly stone cold!

What the heck? I muttered to myself as I recognized him.