Ch - 4: Mate?

~ Eleanor ~

*Ashford's Chamber*

The door swung open as Isabella entered his chamber looking stressed out.

“Father, you called,” she said, bowing her head slightly as she took a seat and relaxed in the backrest of the rocking chair.

“Yes,” Father replied as he stood up from another rocking chair.

“What are you and Victor planning again? It wasn't part of the plan to get her to leave the pack. Eleanor is in a dangerous situation,” Father began.

“Oh, c'mon, father, she can't possibly remain here after everything. Besides, I heed your plea not to kill her. I don't want that shit interrupting my married life, so yes, Eleanor cannot remain here in Moonshadow,” Isabella mumbled.

“Mhmn…” Father agreed silently, not saying a word.

“Yes, I do not want you to get yourself tainted, but I also didn't want her to get such a punishment. Besides, she's done nothing wrong to the beta. Cursing her to be a lone wolf for life is too extreme!” Father remarked, and Isabella's eyes widened in shock.

“Honestly, father, I don't know whose side you're on. Is it mine, your biological daughter, or that slave bitch daughter who you picked up!?”

“Stop it, Isabella; I didn't raise you to become like this,” Father snapped at her. He paused, his facial expression contorting.

“Oh, really, are you sure you didn't make me worse!?” Isabella chuckled mockingly.

“Whatever, I don't care, but don't pursue Eleanor any further. You've done enough harm.”

“Oh father, you know you can't stop me from doing whatever I want to. I am now Beta's wife, A Beta. Just a step further, I'll be on equal rank with the Queen.”

****

I leaned against the portico of his room as I peered through the cracked door. My shoulder quivered with shock and disappointment.

Tears trickled down my beautiful face as I dashed out of the hall.

My gray eyes brewed with a storm. I ran as fast as my legs could.

My beautiful long hands and legs gradually turned into white fur claws and paws.

I ran along the path between the houses until I arrived at the woods.

My human body completely turned into a beautiful, pure white wolf with gray eyes.

I ran through alleys, forests, and mountains. Every drop of my tears burned anything it came into contact with.

Why? Why did I become the rejected one? What was my crime? Why did all of them scheme against me!? Even fathers aren't exempt. What wrong have I done?

Different questions kept ringing in and out, and I unknowingly stepped past the pack's border.

The scorching sun outside the Moonshadow Pack burned through my snow-white fur. A terrifying, loud howl escaped my mouth.

It hurts! It hurts!!

Only now did I finally understand the feeling of that meat that was placed on the bonfire to barbecue?

An indescribable pain!!

Blood spilled from my eyes and nose. It felt like someone had put me into a burning flame.

Why didn't I come with my protection necklace? Is this how I am going to end...?

I felt my fur slowly burn to ashes, leaving me naked and nearly dead, while the question remained unanswered. With blood pouring from my mouth, eyes, and nose.

Just as I was about to close my eyes forever, I felt an icy hand on my shoulder, and my gaze was drawn to the most stunning deep sea-blue eyes I would ever see.

****

“You're finally awake.” I felt a bone-chilling startle.

Staring at the unfamiliar room, I blinked repeatedly, trying to recall how I ended up there, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember.

All I recalled was Beta Victor Darkmore getting married to my sister, Isabella Ashford.

“Who are you, and where am I? Did you kidnap me?”

I was a little terrified. Hell, it wasn't a little; I was terrified to my core. This man's aura is just too powerful and overbearing.

“Kidnap you?” he laughed in disbelief.

Striding closer to where I helplessly lay, he leaned closer to me and whispered.

“I didn't kidnap you, dear mate. I saved you, and now you owe your life to me.”

His words caused a shiver down my spine. Dear mate? Isn't he fooling around? Isn't my mate Beta Victor? The idiotic man that I fell for, only to be rejected after a three-night stand.

“I'm sorry, Mister; I think there's a mistake somewhere. I am not your mate; I am…”

"Eleanor Sinclair... the rejected mate of the second beta of the Moonshadow Pack.”

His words, for some unknown reason, caused a stab in my heart. He didn't need to mention me being a rejected mate, did he?

“Yes,” I admitted with gritted teeth. It's the truth; no matter how much I try to ignore it, I can't escape my reality.

“Drink the soup. It'll help you recover better.”

He pulled away like a perfect gentleman. Damn! I almost got a nosebleed. What a handsome man he is. His minty, fresh rosewood scent lingers in my nostrils.

“Hah, is that drool?”

It sounded proud and sarcastic. It took me a moment to realize I'd been gazing at him ever since. I wanted to smack myself in the face.

“The people from Moonshadow Pack should be searching for you already. The stronger you are, the more likely you'll survive the upcoming storm.”

I was speechless at his words. What storm? It got me confused for a moment.

Images of the event soon flooded my mind. I remember it all, Isabella and I aren't biological sisters. Father has been pretending to be good to me all these years. They were planning my death.

My face paled as I recalled the intense pain of getting my skin peeled and hurt from the sunlight.

“Drink the soup before it gets colder.”

I didn't know when this man sat closer to me again. Damn, his scent is intoxicating.

“Don't worry about the past, dear mate. I, Nathaniel, am here to protect you. If there is anyone who can bully you, it is only me!”

Nathaniel? The name caused me to break into a cold sweat.

There is only one man I know who bears that name.

Alpha Nathaniel Kyle Twilight, Alpha of the Twilight Pack. The strongest opposition pack to Moonshadow!? Damn!

“Surprised?”

His question left me speechless. Hell, who wouldn't be?

I shook my head and pretended to be okay as I tried to get up, but I couldn't because of the pain all over my body.

“Let me help you.”

I didn't dare refuse. I felt strange. Rumors had it that this man is no different from a beast. A monster without a soft spot that wouldn't hesitate to pierce his sword deep into your chest if you get on his nerves.

I saw him raise his brows and then his lips curled. He brought the bowl up to my mouth.

“Open!” he commanded, and I obeyed. I calmly drank the soup he fed to me. The soup had a sweet-sour taste, different from the terrible bitter taste I expected.

“What kind of soup is this? It's sweet. How does it work if it's not bitter?”

“What era do you think we're living in?” he chuckled as he gently patted my hair.

His soft laughter caused a butterfly sensation in my stomach. Heck, this man is truly a danger sign. Despite my heartbreak, how can I find myself so attracted to him?

“The pack's physician has already administered an injection to you earlier. You don't need a bitter bowl of soup. Mhn… take a nap.”

He stood up from the bed and quietly left the room, leaving me baffled and lost. An injection? What the hell is that?

I looked around the room and found it extremely strange. The walls differed from the wood walls in Moonshadow.

Above, the ceiling wasn't bamboo, but a thick white wall with a beautiful design.

And the source of illumination wasn't lanterns or candles, it was a huge iron chain with glass around it.

What kind of place is this? When I tried to stand up, I found out that someone had connected a tube to my wrist and placed a water bag on top of it on an iron rod.

Does he think this is enough to hold me here and prevent me from going out? Hah, this isn't comparable to the locks and chains in Moonshadow.

Hmph! He truly underestimated my strength. I was just about to remove the rubber rope from my wrist when a scream cut me off.

“Hey, what are you doing? Why are you removing the IV drip?”

IV drip? Is that the name of the rubber rope? Wow!