CHAPTER SIX

Eleanor's pov

As I entered the room, I found a familiar silhouette.

“Who are you?” I asked, fearing the worst.

The person turned around and my heart skipped a beat.

It was Sebastian.

Sebastian stood in the center of the room, his green orbs piercing mine. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days and I wonder why.

I narrowed my eyes as he took a step closer. “Alpha Sebastian, to what I owe… the surprise visit?”

Sebastian cleared his throat. Despite his polished looks, there was something broken about it. Like I give a damn what it was. “You look different, Eleanor.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Different… Is that all you came here to say?”

His jaw tightened for a moment before he finally replied. “Loretta is miserable.”

I let out a soft laugh. “And how is that my problem?”

Sebastian took another step closer. “I don't know why she is but I figured you should know why.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and scoffed again. I did not just leave my potatoes for this.

“If anyone should know, it should be you, Your Majesty. After all, you're the one married to her. You should know why your wife is upset.”

“I don't!” Sebastian raised his voice then he heaved a sharp sign. “I don't, okay? I just…”

“Loretta should be living a fairytale life with you, Your Majesty. She should be happier, free, untouchable…” I took a step closer to frighten him. “Or are the rumours about you true?”

He snapped. “I am not a ruthless king!”

“Who said anything about you being a ruthless king?” I raised an eyebrow.

Sebastian opened his mouth to speak but said nothing.

Then he looked at me as if he was meeting me for the first time. “Who are you?”

I straightened my shoulders and smiled. “Eleanor Callad.”

Sebastian shook his head. “You’re different.”

I smiled. “You said that before. What's so different about me?”

“I can't put them in words, Eleanor. I…” he was fighting for words to say and I enjoyed every bit of his misery. I was once in his shoes before. I can't believe I was stupid enough to fall for someone like him in the past. Thank Goddess I was reborn.

Sebastian took another step closer. “Eleanor…”

“If that's not all, I'd like to be excused.” I said, taking a step back.

Sebastian shook his head, frustration clear in his eyes. “No, Eleanor. Don't go.”

“Why?”

“You were what I wanted.”

I squinted my eyes at his words. I had expected this to happen but not this soon. Just how miserable was he?

“It’s too late for that, Sebastian. You're married to my sister.” I said.

“No.” He grabbed my wrist gently and moved it to his face. “It’s not too late. It can't be.”

“Let go of me, Sebastian.” I said with no emotion in my eyes. That should tell him off.

“I can't. I love you, Eleanor.” His eyes began to fill with tears.

If he wasn't the asshole he was in the past, I would've accepted him back. But old bridges have been burnt badly.

“Let go of me, Sebastian. I won't tell you again.” I said with a glare.

He hesitated, then slowly released my hand. “Why are you doing this to me, Eleanor?”

I noticed his shoulders sagged and his voice broke. What a good actor he was. Maybe, I could pick a thing or two from him.

“And whatever am I doing to you, Dear Sebastian?” I flashed him a cold grin.

“This… All this… Please, understand that I wanted you and not your sister. I don't know what happened that night at the mating ceremony but… please, we're fated to be. You know that, right?”

My lips quivered as I bit down on a laugh about to escape my lips. “Us? Fated? I don't know if the Moon Goddess is blind or you are but we're not fated to be, Dear Sebastian.”

“If I could go back in time again, I would choose you. Everytime.”

“But you can't go back in time, Sebastian. None of us can.”

He pressed his lips into a thin line. “No. None of us can.”

“Now, if you'll excuse me, I have important things to do.” I said with a smile. “Guards!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” They chorused.

“Your Majesty?” Sebastian asked with a confused voice.

“Please, see His Majesty out.” I instructed.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Wait, Eleanor!”

I turned away from the living room. As the doors closed behind Sebastian, I pressed my hand to my chest.

This was what I wanted.

This was my perfect victory.

But what did it feel like?

Sebastian's pov

Damn it!

Damn it all!

My thoughts constantly returned to Eleanor as I walked through the halls of the packhouse.

Something was wrong but I couldn't shake the feeling.

Eleanor… was indeed different.

When I had first met her, she was bright, full of life, and absolutely in love with me. She would always take my side no matter what. But now… now, she was a total stranger.

Gone was the soft, gullible Eleanor. The Eleanor I knew was warm, caring, stupid even, me too trusting. That damned woman I met in the living room was not my Eleanor. She was cold, distant, resentful even.

What happened to her?

Her sudden change couldn't happen overnight. There was something more to it.

Then it hit me.

“Your Majesty.” The guard held open the carriage door and I entered, still lost in thoughts.

All the signs are there.

No. It can't be.

The carriage began to move.

The way Eleanor held herself, the way she spoke, the way she seemed to know which response to give.

No, it couldn't be.

Was Eleanor reborn too?

“That's crazy,” I buried my face in my hand. “It couldn't be.”

My mind drifted back to our last encounter. She had looked at me with a cold glint in her eyes. She had hated me even till the end. I made her hate me.

Goddess, I was such a fool!

I have to get her back.

Eleanor will not slip away like this. Not when I still have a chance.

But if my suspicion is correct and Eleanor was reborn… if she had memories of her past life, of everything that happened between us, then she would hate me more.

But I had to find a way to get her back. I have to break through her walls. I have to.

Eleanor might have changed but so have I.

I won't take her for granted anymore. This time, I'll fight for her the right way.

Eleanor is mine.