Chapter 4

The day sky had darkened, and Eleanor felt lonely in her room. Her help had left her a while ago, leaving her with a red button, telling her to press it whenever she needed her help.

Still conflicted by what was going on, Eleanor sat by her window, watching children play around a bonfire, while their mothers watched them. She couldn’t help flashing back to when she still had her pack. She remembered how she would sit with her friends not far from a bonfire, while she cuddled in the laps of her boyfriend and they all talked for a long time, not getting tired of one another. She also remembered how the children also played by a bonfire, while parents watched their children to ensure they didn’t get too close to the fire. There was also a time she and her friend would go for fun runs at night, laughing at their endless jokes and skinny dipping.

Eleanor felt her eyes water, itching at them in an attempt to send the tears running back. But, the tears kept flowing endlessly, causing her to leave the window and return to her bed. She still was very conflicted about if she was about to be executed or if her mate had pulled strings to help her stay alive.

Eleanor had her head faced towards her pillow when she heard a lively knock on her door, causing her to sit upright. She was expecting no one.

She sat upright in her bed, hoping that if she stayed quiet enough, the person at her door would leave. She someone felt reassured that it wasn’t going to be Claire.

“Hello,” a thin and lovely voice said from behind the door before the person knocked again. “Claire told me you’re in here. So I brought you your meal.” Eleanor nodded but didn’t say work as she went to unlock the door. She was greeted by the lovely smile of a young girl, who seem to have shared features with the man she had earlier seen. Her skin was dark and glowing. Her hair was packed into two puffs. She skipped excitedly into Eleanor’s room, causing her yellow flare dress to fly about.

She looked majestic in a way Eleanor couldn’t explain. “Can I ask who you are?” Eleanor asked.

Leana nodded with a wide smile as she dropped Eleanor’s food on the table in her room. “Yes, you can ask me who I am.”

“Who are you?” Eleanor asked with a frown as she sat down on her bed, not taking her eyes off the little girl.

“I am Luke’s younger sister, the last born of the family,” she replied with a smile as she hopped on Eleanor’s bed. “He has been hiding you from everyone, but when I found out Claire was in charge of you, I asked her for a tinny favor and she told me where you were. Luke can be so annoying sometimes,” she rented to Eleanor. “He actually is annoying all the time. Grumpy and always saying ‘Go away’ ‘Leave me alone’.” She outed before bursting into a chuckle. “If he keeps up like that, he is going to become a bald old man.”

Eleanor didn’t know the name of the man who she assumed was the alpha, but she couldn’t help imagining that the little girl had been talking about him. Imagining him bald, made her crack a smile, almost bursting into a fit of laughter. “Who are we speaking of?” Eleanor asked, trying to hide that she had been smiling widely.

“Luke?” Leana asked, tilting her head to examine Eleanor who still had a confused expression. “The alpha? Your mate?”

Eleanor's frown deepened. “I guess he even hid himself from you.” Leana shook her head. “I wonder what kind of alpha runs from his mate, his one true love,” she said with a blush as she crossed her hands on her chest, laying down on Eleanor’s bed while she looked at the feeling dreamily. “I can’t wait to find my mate.”

Eleanor forgot all the questions she wanted to ask about Luke and her mate, as she widened her eye and asked, “How old might you be?”

Leana chuckled. “I do look small right? But I am actually fifteen years of age. Claire says I need to change my way of styling my hair to be treated my age.” She shrugged. “But really I have a panic about growing older.” She chuckled.

Eleanor nodded. “I do think you look really pretty.”

“Really?” Eleanor nods.

“Thank you. How I wish I could record this message and play it to everyone.”

“I’m sure they all know, except they are blind.”

Leana blushed, sitting up as she looked at the time. “I have to go now,” she told Eleanor – who had started to enjoy her company, wishing she didn’t have to leave. “Would you want to see around the castle tomorrow?”

Eleanor quickly nodded. “That would be nice.” But Eleanor's facial expression soon changed as she asked. “Am I a free woman? I came in here as a rogue, aren’t I to be executed soon? Why should I follow you around?”

Leana’s widened. “Is that why Luke has been trying to keep you hidden?”

Eleanor didn’t have reply to her, so she simply stared at her.

“Well,” Leana said with a shrug. “All I know is that alpha is in love with you. So, he probably is never planning to execute you and I highly doubt you are a prisoner here. If you were, he won’t be assigning you to the room nearest to his and his favorite maid to you. So, relax okay?”

Eleanor nodded, though confused about how she had met the man that day and he already was in love with her, but that made her feel relaxed. And honestly, she felt a little turmoil in her belly when she thought of him and a tiny leap of joy when his name is mentioned.

Leana hopped off her bed. “Goodnight.” She was about to leave when she paused and looked at Eleanor then asked, “What’s your name?”

“Eleanor.” Leana nodded.

“You?”

“I didn’t tell you?” Eleanor nodded.

“Leana.”

“A beautiful name.”

“Thank you.” She blushed. With that, she began to leave. At the door, she stopped to add, “You should eat by the way. Have a beautiful night.”

Eleanor nodded. “And you too.” With that, she opened the food and began to eat.