02 | Embracing Something Eternal.

E L E A N O R

I clutch the ring against my chest as my lips quiver. Sniffling, I turn to the side on the bed—he isn’t here. He’s not here to greet me with a good morning kiss on my forehead.

A month has passed, but the ache feels just as fresh as that wretched day when I refused to believe my mother-in-law. I had screamed, adamantly rejecting the truth. He wanted me to give him his ring; he assured me he would return. My defiance was silenced by the grim reality of his head delivered in a box by the Lycan king’s soldiers.

They said his body was burnt in battle. His funeral was rushed, as if he were some animal to be discarded swiftly—faster so that his widow could move on, or so they claimed.

In place of his body, I burned my colorful dresses. It felt pointless to wear them, especially since he wouldn’t be here to see me in them. I buried the ashes alongside my husband, along with my happiness and the remnants of my old life.

I never had the chance to say goodbye. In a single day, my entire existence took a drastic turn. The house feels haunted, devoid of his laugh, with only Dora's footsteps echoing through its halls. Someone from the council suggested I return to my father's home, to free myself from the memories of Tobias, just as my father had done when my mother died giving birth.

I can’t even think about moving on. That would be a betrayal to him. Yet, I can’t pretend to be strong enough to bear this pain—without him, my life feels utterly meaningless. It’s heart-wrenching to plan a forever with someone and have it severed as though it were never meant to be.

At first, I was consumed by anger. Angry at myself for not doing more to prevent him from leaving. Angry at him for not fighting hard enough to live for us. Angry at my father for sending him to war to prove his worthiness as the next in line to the throne. Angry at that cruel, heartless beast known as the Lycan king. Not even a lifetime of curses would be enough to ruin his miserable existence. Our lives were now in his hands, and each night, I found myself waiting patiently for him to take my life.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.

“Milady, it’s Diane. Madam Dora asked me to prepare a bath for you,” a maid squeaks.

“Go away. I’ll call you when I need you,” I groan, my voice barely audible and raspy.

“She asked me to bring breakfast—”

“I’m not hungry! Leave!” I snap again.

I hear a sigh, followed by the sounds of footsteps fading away, leaving me to the darkness of my room. I bury my head into the pillow as fresh tears spill from my eyes.

“How could you do this, Tobias? How could you leave me here?” I croak into my pillow.

“Perhaps you could join me, El.” His conjured voice rings in my ear, slipping an idea into my mind. I've been listening to him for a while now, weeks after his passing, urging me to join him in a nearly desperate tone.

I sit up, realizing I'm completely alone in the bedroom. I scan the room just as the last scented candle flickers out. Rising to my feet, the idea begins to take root in my mind.

My life is already damned; no one would want to marry a widow. Even if someone did, I couldn’t give myself away and betray my husband. If the Lycan king won’t kill me, then I will have to take matters into my own hands. I long to see my husband again, in a place where our forever is guaranteed.

Slowly, I walk toward the balcony.

“You remember this place, El?” the voice continues, so clear it feels like he is right behind me.

“It’s where we had our first kiss.” I say hoarsely.

Without hesitation, I fling open the curtains, shutting my eyes against the bright light that almost blinds me. The weather is cloudy and gloomy, yet it seems so bright after spending so long in the dark.

“Eleanor, don’t do it,” my wolf, Reina, growls within me. For days, she has been stagnant, mourning my chosen mate alongside me. She could always find a new mate, but my heart would remain empty forever. I can't let her stop me, not her or anyone else.

Ignoring her, I step onto the balcony, inhaling the fresh air tinged with dew and fog. The floor is cold against my bare feet, sending goosebumps prickling across my skin as I climb to the edge, standing there. Clutching Tobias’ ring, now fashioned as a necklace around my neck, I close my eyes and envision a world where it’s just the two of us—far removed from pain, war, and death, embracing something eternal.

With that thought, I grip the ring tightly and adjust my black satin nightdress.

“I’m coming to you, my love,” I whisper, a tear rolling down my swollen, red eyes.

Holding my breath, I jump.