Chapter 5

Eleanor

In the early morning light coming from the window, I gazed at Alpha Eli’s handsome sleeping face.

Like a lightning bolt, memories from last night struck me and filled my head to the brim until it was aching even more.

Finding Alpha Eli drunk outside of his room, sitting on the bed with him, kissing him, undressing in front of him, his hot mouth all over my body, kissing me, licking me, doing things to me that I couldn’t have imagined in my craziest fantasies… And finally, Eli made love to me.

Holy shit. I actually slept with him last night.

I’d lost my virginity to Alpha Eli.

My mind spun as I tried to wrap my head around this fact. My stomach flipped when I remembered we hadn’t used protection. Oh no, what if someone had seen us going into the same room…

But all my fears and doubts faded away when Eli’s arms tightened around me.

Why was I overthinking this?

My biggest fantasy came true last night. I should be enjoying the afterglow.

With a happy sigh, I rested my head back on his warm chest and shut my eyes. I shivered as I thought about the dirty words he'd said to me when his strong hands explored my body.

Oh my…

A jolt of excitement went down my spine but soon freezes halfway.

What if Eli regrets sleeping with me?

What if I woke him and he rejected me? What if he only slept with me because he’d been drunk and would have had sex with anyone who had helped him inside his room and sat on his bed?

What if Eli didn’t want me anymore? Could my fragile confidence really handle that?

I was torn as I stared down at hom. What if he opened his eyes and there was regret on his face when he saw who he had spent the night with?

At the end of my thinking, my rational side won out.

Slowly, I rolled off of him and stood from the bed. When our bodies were no longer touching, my entire being screamed in protest.

I gave myself one more moment to gaze at Eli’s sleeping face. His black hair was mussed, and his long, black eyelashes were fluttering slightly.

I slipped my dress back on, only managing to get the zipper halfway up when a jolt of electricity ran through my veins. Eli's hand was on mine.

“Where are you going, Eleanor?” he whispered.

My heart warmed at the fact that he remembered who I was but I couldn't face him. “Back to the attic. You deserve someone better, Eli. Not someone like me.”

He reached out to cup my cheek and my eyes went round.

I felt this inexplicable pull. There was no mistaking it. This is the connection I've been searching for.

Eli… was my mate? I thought I'd never find a mate.

Eli smirked, pulling me back into his arms. “Who would've thought you'd be my mate?”

I nearly lost my footing. “You… you're not going to reject me? You're the Alpha… you —”

He cut me off, stepping closer. “Reject you? Why would I do that?”

Surprised, I took a step back. “But I'm way out of your league. Everyone says your mate will be…”

His eyes darkened for a moment and my blood froze. “That's what everyone said but here's what I'm saying… I want you.”

Before I could protest, he kissed me then pulled away. “I don't care if you've been rejected before. If the Moon Goddess thinks you're mine then you're mine.”

A grin graced my lips. “Thank you.”

Eli chuckled. “Well, I guess it's time I start making up for all the months you've been waiting huh, then.”

I smiled for the first time that morning. “I'd like that.”

Eli, with a playful grin on his lips, pulled me closer. “You're mine.”

Everything suddenly faded into the background and it was just me and Eli.

I wasn't cursed after all. I finally found my mate, my crush, my childhood sweetheart. Now, I had him, I wouldn't let him slip through my fingers. Or so I thought.