Chapter 2

Eleanor's POV 

As I left my dad’s presence, I couldn’t return to my room. I had to go stay with two of my cousins who were just my age, Bella and Nella, they were twins and we were a trio, best of friends, always sharing secrets with each other. 

I walked through the corridor that led to their apartment which was beside their parents. Seeing my tightened face, Bella, who was playing chess with his sister, stood up and walked towards me, her hands spread wide. Upon seeing this, Nella followed suit. 

“What’s wrong, chipmunk?” Bella asked as she often called me. I would smile hearing her call me this at other times but right now, my heart was heavy. I wasn’t only thinking of the decision dad had already made to arrange me in a marriage with the monster, Alexandro, but that he saw me as a commodity, rather than a daughter. 

I released a deep breath. By now, Bella had pulled me into her arms and Nella came around engulfing us in a tight hug. 

“Cheer up Eleanor, what’s the matter?” Nella asked. 

They grabbed my hands from both sides and led me to the row of the sofa which they sat on. Nella brushed my left cheek with her palms looking so concerned into my eyes. 

“Hmm,” I sighed. “Dad called George and I.” The tears swelled up in my eyes, I sniffed, trying to prevent the tears from falling. “Imagine him giving the lycan king position to him, his adopted son while he asks me to get married to that wicked, cruel Alpha of the North–” 

“Alpha Alexandro?” They shouted in shock, shuddering. Their faces turned and they shook their heads in revolt. 

“Why would he want his daughter to marry such an Alpha that kills anybody without any justifiable reason, the son of the devil and a deadly gang member?” Bella began to list them one after the other that I hit my lips several times gesturing to her to keep quiet. I didn’t know, this was just a subconscious act to show who Alexandro really is, no one can stand him. He’s one of the most powerful Lycans in the world. 

“Come on, baby girl. He’s not here!”’Nella gingered. I nodded. 

“Yes, I know but–”

“Please stop thinking and rest.” Bella heaved a heavy sigh, shifting towards me. “Will you play chess?” 

I slowly turned my face, sending her a quick warning glare. She understood it right away and raised her hands in apology. It was so pissing expecting to talk about a serious talk and she was bringing in games. Well, it’s her own tactics of draining down the tension in me a bit. 

She hit on my thigh, squeezing it and looking into my face. “Eleanor, you’re unlucky to have such a man as your father. Look, he doesn't even give you the freedom you deserve. Like tomorrow we’re travelling to Greece for a three-day fun-filled vacation,” Bella screamed with her sister joining her. 

“How I wished you could come with us!” Nella’s excited tone went low and as I turned to look at her face, it was all a frown with raised eyebrows. Bella dropped her face to her palms, swallowed up by thoughts. 

“You said the Alpha is coming when to get you?” Bella asked. 

“Tomorrow,” I said and sniffed. She caressed my shoulders till I caught up with new energy. “I will have to meet that evil monster tomorrow.” I dragged. 

They each pulled closer, flicking their eyes at me. “You’re not getting married to that beast, we will help you!” 

I raised my brows, cocking my head to my side. “Which way?” I was curious to know. 

“You can come with us, we’re leaving tonight. You just sneak out of the house so no one notices you’re gone and when Alexandro comes for you, he won’t see you.” 

“That sounds like a good idea,” I reacted with a steady nod. “But–” My head sprang up with a flash of anxiety. “He’ll still come for me later, they might think I ran away and would look everywhere for me.” 

“It won’t work then,” Bella concurred. “You’re gonna come back and they will still have you.” To this, a new idea set into my mind. 

There’s only one way Alexandro will reject me and anyone the king might want to arrange me in marriage to will as well.

Being claimed by another male wolf! 

“I have an idea!” I shouted out with excitement to both of them. My eyes glowed and my body swayed in ecstasy as I thought about this. “It’s gonna work,” I said to myself. 

“But first we need to leave this palace.” I then said out loud. 

Evening came in a short while and I’d already packed secretly. Just as Bella and Nella had advised, I kept a casual demeanour, not showing that something was going to happen. As usual, mom and dad, with George and I, had dinner in the dining room and dad repeated the same talk of me marrying Alpha Alexandro and him coming to the palace tomorrow for the introduction. While this went on, I kept quiet not saying anything, just nodding and thereafter returned to my room. 

It was 7 PM when the atmosphere had already begun being dark. Nella sent a text message. “Get ready! We’re gonna leave anytime soon.” 

“You should come over!” Bella messaged three minutes later. 

I sighed and took one last but careful look at all the items I packed, little though so as not to arouse suspicion, I sneaked out. I had all my stuff in my pink teddy bear handbag. I met with some staff at the palace but due to the simple style I was dressed in, they must have thought probably I’m visiting the mall or cinema. I sneaked out rather than tell my parents this excuse because I knew I wasn’t gonna come back until after three days. I didn’t want to feel that guilt of lying, rather I wanted them to miss me and get to discover what made me go away. 

We succeeded in going out of the palace without arousing suspicions. The flight ordered by Bella was waiting at the airport terminal for us, we were all from rich families, money wasn’t an issue for us. 

We arrived at the airport in an Uber can and boarded the plane. Though this wasn’t the first time, yet I felt this relaxing aura. Settling on my seat near the window, I breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that I’m not gonna see Alpha Alexandro tomorrow. 

“Goddess! I wish I could meet my mate on this trip and bring them back home.” I prayed silently, maintaining an optimistic mind. 

After three hours of flight, we arrived at our chosen destination. Greece. Domes Zeen Chania, a luxury collection resort in Crete. The lodge and hotel suit here was top notch, one of the best five star luxuries I’ve come across before. We settled on our booked three room apartment with a central living we could all gather at anytime to spend time together. 

“What’s today's schedule like?” I asked after we’d finished packing in. Bella gave me a witty grin. 

“I know you don’t really love stuff like this,” she said with sarcasm and I began to wonder what she meant. I lowered my brows with curiosity. “We’re going for a night party here at the grand hall of this hotel. It’s mainly for youngsters like us and it’s held biannually, most elite young gees would be in attendance.” 

She snapped her fingers, tapping on my shoulder. “You could find a mate or mates to take back home.” To this, I cocked my head, reacting with disbelief. I scoffed, turning away to walk towards the window. I didn’t want to hold on to my hopes too high before I got disappointed. 

She grabbed my arms, I turned around and she pulled off a steady gaze with a nod. I could sense her telling me that this might happen. 

Bella, our stylist got our dresses ordered. It was gonna be a special event as Nella said. We’re like sisters, so we got to dress similarly. The three of us slid into our mini-lace gown that went mid-hips, sexy and glittering with silver heel glass shoes. Cold swept through my body, I felt as exposed as I’ve ever felt before, at the same time I felt this budding feeling of satisfaction and freedom in me. Just wishing I could catch a mate and release this budding feeling in me, wishing myself to be noticed. 

We sat and she styled our hair, same as hers. Makeup was on her as well, I heard she took some courses on this some time ago while in high school, she was pretty much an expert in this beauty and fashion field. 

“Stand! Stand!!” She gingered on us, clapping her hands. “Look how beautiful we look in the mirror.” 

We all lined up at the extra-large wall mirror here in the dressing room. “Glam Princesses!” Bella uttered, blowing kisses. I blushed hard checking myself out. I was dressed in red, Bella in yellow and Nella in Lilac. 

“Thanks so much, our pretty stylist!” I whispered into her ears, blowing her a kiss. Giggling in ecstasy, we got set to leave. 

“The party starts by 8 PM.” Bella announced and I lifted up my head to look at the diamond clock on the wall. It was 7:45 PM. 

“Let’s go down lest we’d be late!” Nella urged, then she turned to me. “Watch out, you could catch a man.” I grinned and left with them. 

We arrived on the ground floor, I saw many beautiful girls scantily dressed, some walking pretty naked, the guys were so charming, dressed in suits and some white shirts with trousers. I stopped, trying to grab the aura this setting was giving. 

“Come on!” Bella grabbed my arm. “It's a youngsters ' party with elites from all over the world attending. What did you expect?” She tried to persuade me. Just as she was talking, I heard the MC made his intro from inside. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this strip elite party. We’ll hope you will enjoy the maximum freedom right here, grab your handsome gee or babe, fuck and–” Using a loud mic, his voice was quite clear from the outside. I widened my eyes, turning around to both Bella and Bella. 

“Didn’t you–” 

“Relax!” Bella grabbed my wrist. Nella grinned. I wanted to shout at them for luring me into this. 

“Remember!” Bella started and Bella stepped forward to complete. 

“Alpha Alexandro is coming for you tomorrow, he will come for you again when you return. So–” She leaned towards my ear. “Feel free, grab a guy, let him mark and claim you. That’s the only way you can escape him forever!” With this, she smiled wider and grabbed her sister’s arms, walked in, leaving me staring. 

Her words hit deep. It’s the exact thing I planned, only to be reminded by her. I remained fixed to the spot, with my eyes poking out in a wide stay. I didn’t know how long I remained in this posture but the moment I was about to leave, I felt this domineering aura surrounding me. My body felt gripped to the spot, my wolf captured me so that I couldn’t walk. I could only turn. 

“What the hell!” I whispered to my wolf, falling my face immediately. 

Four handsome guys, all identical and dressed in shining black suits surrounded me, their eyes radiant as fire, faces glowing like angels and bodies fitting into the world’s male model type just so that they looked huge and muscular as well. Complete and perfect! 

“We’d love to take you for the night!” The deep voice of one of them came up pulling me into a string of emotions that left my knees weakened and my body nearly sinking to the ground.