CHAPTER FOUR

Sebastian's pov

I sat in my office going over last night's event.

Who started the fire and why?

It was a question no one had an answer to. Not even I had an answer to it. There were no traces of gasoline or fossil fuel. There were even no traces of match boxes or a lighter or anything that could start a fire. It was as though the fire started on it's own and that was impossible. Fire didn't just started by itself. There had to be a manmade interference. Someone caused this fire but who?

A light knock snapped me from my thoughts and I looked up. It was Luca, my beta.

I leaned back into my seat, wondering why he was here. “Yes?”

“Sir, the meeting is about to begin.” He said.

Oh, the meeting with delegates from the Bloodfang pack. I had completely forgotten about it.

“Sure. Let's go.” I said.

Usually, I would take the shorter way to the meeting hall but this time, I felt like I needed to clear my head from last night so I decided to take a longer route though the hall leading to the garden.

As Luca and I walked in silence, I overheard muffle arguments coming from outside.

“What is that?” I asked.

Luca took a step back and looked at the glass window. “It's just the ladies are about to have their usual argument.”

“Oh?” I didn't stop walking. “The maids?”

“Not the maids, Sire,” he replied quietly. “Your wife and your mistress.”

That made me pause in my step. “Really?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Let me see.”

Never in my life had I ever imagined hiding behind shrubs to eavesdrop on women. I'm sure Luca was shocked because he hadn't stopped staring at me.

“If you're uncomfortable, you can leave.” I told him.

“I'm fine, sir.” He cleared his throat.

I shushed him. “Quiet.”

“If it isn't Eleanor, the girl that looks like a butter knife.” One of the maids said.

She was insulting Eleanor? How come I never knew about this?

Eleanor retorted sharply. “Your insults are as weak as your ego. Maybe you should sick to what you're good at : being ugly.”

Ouch. That's got to hurt.

The maid gasped. “What the!”

“You will not speak to my girls like that, you wench!” Alessia raised her hand to hit Eleanor but she caught her wrist just in time.

When did Eleanor become this confident?

“And you,” She heaved a tired sigh. “Im not sure what's more frustrating, listening to your rants or watching you try to come up with a decent comeback.”

Alessia's face turned red and she raised her left hand and Eleanor caught it too. “Let go off me, you stupid bitch!”

“I'm thinking of starting a charity to help people like you who are struggling with common sense.” Eleanor let go off her hands and she swayed, dropping to the floor.

“Mistress Alessia!” The girls ran to her side to help her.

One fo the maids fisted her hand and rose to her feet. “Hey! What is your problem? Are you that jealous that our mistress had the Lycan King's attention than you’ll ever have?”

Eleanor laughed and all of a sudden, I felt my heart skip a beat. I haven't heard her laugh before but now, I have, I wanted her to laugh again. “Jealous? Of that? Oh please, I've seen better people and I'm far jealous from that thing you call a mistress.”

“What?” Alessia yelled. “How dare you, Eleanor! I'll deal with you!”

“Oh please, you won't, Alessia,” I dropped to a squat. “You think you're higher than me but all you are is Sebastian's sex toy. I might not have his attention but at least I have his ring on my finger. You're nothing more than a bad joke — annoying and never funny. I used to think you were ignorant but now I realise you're just willfully stupid.”

“Woah.” Luca gasped. “Was Lady Eleanor ever this bold?”

I didn't have an answer to that question but I was loving the new her.

“Sir, the meeting.” Luca reminded me when Eleanor walked past.

“Oh sure.”

We slipped say from the garden to the meeting hall where the delegates were already waiting.

The meeting lost my attention the moment it began. I couldn't stop thinking about Eleanor. How did she become so beautiful in less than an hour? And why was my head beating faster?

“Sir?” Luca called my attention.

I looked up from my desk. “Oh. Sorry, you were saying?”

Luca began his explanation. “We were thinking of raising the taxes on the masses to fund Lady Alessia's birthday. You wanted her birthday this year to extravagant but our funds were low. Sir?”

It was noon. That means Eleanor would be having her lunch soon. I had to de her.

“We'll discuss this later.” I pushed my seat and hurried out of my seat.

Now, I know why heart raced when I thought of Eleanor. She was my mate. My true mate. I had been so stupid and selfish to realize that.

“Sire!” Luca called behind me but I ignored him, racing towards the dining hall.

All these while, I had mistreated her and called her terrible names. I hated myself for it and I wish I hadn't down those things to her. My only wish was to see her once again and to hear her laugh. Eleanor, I'm coming.

I arrived at the dinning hall and pushed the double doors. It was empty.

“Eleanor?”

“She's not there, sire.” Grace, Eleanor's maid replied.

“Then where is she?” I demanded.

“She’s.” Amelia's voice began to break.

“Where is she!” I yelled.

“Eleanor's gone!” Amelia sobbed. “She's dead.”

“What?”

Immediately, a sharp pain tore through the back of my skull and I fell to the floor. My chest tightened and I found it difficult to breathe.

“Sire!” I heard Grace scream. “Help! Somebody help us!”

Luca rushed to my side. “Sire! Sire! What's happening?”

My vision became blurry as I fought to stay awake. The pain was nothing I had ever felt and I couldn't hold it in.

“Eleanor, I'm sorry.” Those words left my lips along with my last breathe.

“Sebastian! Sebastian!” I heard a familiar voice yell my name.

I heard a light classical music playing in the background and threw my eyes open.

What the?

This place looked awfully familiar. The music playing in the ballroom, the people dancing and exchanging partners, the sigil on the wall. This was the mating ceremony of 2 years ago. The same year I met Eleanor.

“But how?”

Luca gave me a light nudge on my shoulder. “You said you wanted to marry one of Alpha Caddal’s daughter. There she is.”

I scanned the crowd for any sign of Eleanor but I couldn't find her.

“Sire, there she is — Loretta Caddal.” He pointed at Loretta. She passed two champagne flutes to Eleanor just like she did years ago. That was the same drink that led me to sleep with Eleanor.

I didn't care how I ended up here in the past but I was glad I got to see Eleanor again and when our eye met, she was as beautiful as she had always been.

“Is that glass for me?” I offered her a smile and reached for it.

“Umm…” she looked down at it unsure of what to do.

“Thank you.” I took the glass and downed all the content.

“Sure.” She smiled.

“You mind joing me for a stroll?” I held out my arm to her.

I knew what would happen in the next few minutes and I couldn't wait. Having Eleanor in my arms again was something I wanted.

“Okay.” She linked arms with me and we left the hall.

That night, I had her in my arms again. I let the potion or whatever it was work it's way through me. I felt Eleanor in my arms. I had her where her wanted her and I marked every inch of her body. She was mine now and no one else's. Our passion reached the climax till we couldn't reach any higher. I pulled away from Eleanor and drew her into my arms. I would never let her go. Ever.

I awoke with the light chirping of the morning birds. A beautiful way to begin the day.

Eleanor murmured something groggily and I smiled at her cuteness.

“Morning, beautiful.” I lifted her chin to look at me.

She threw her eyes open and my face fell. The eyes that stared at mine were brown and not silver. This wasn't Eleanor.

“Who the hell are you?”