Chapter 29

Eleanor:

My chest ached as I watched Alpha Killian walk out of the room to leave me alone with my thoughts.

The way he looked at me and the way he spoke broke me, especially since I knew that he didn’t understand my situation. And it didn’t make it feel any better that I couldn’t even explain it to him. The idea of doing so was too surreal for it to happen, and the consequences that were going to follow were going to be too great for me to handle.

“You are not going to accept me when you find out who I am, Alpha Killian.” I said, voicing out my thoughts as I looked at myself in the mirror a while after he left the room. The fact that he saw the cut that was on my shoulder embarrassed me more than anything that could have happened to me, and the idea of him pitying me afterwards was not something that I wanted.

I took a deep breath and walked out of the suite, wanting to get to work, as I didn’t want to dwell on such a topic. There was no changing the facts anyway; therefore, I wasn’t going to try to do so. Plus, me being free was a blessing enough for me, I shouldn’t be searching for something that would only drag more trouble to me.

“Eleanor,” Liana’s voice broke my train of thoughts as I closed the door, knowing that the Alpha didn’t like it open. I smiled and stopped, turning around to face her as I did, and though I respected the fact that she came and was waiting for me by the door herself, I couldn’t help but worry about the reason behind it.

“Is everything alright, Liana?” I asked, my voice softening as I looked down at my feet, avoiding her eyes as a matter of respect.

“Yes, but I have to ask you the same question,” she said, making me frown in confusion. She put her finger under my chin, making me look at her for a second before removing it. “Something has been wrong with you for the past few days, and I am not liking it.”

“I was a little tired, that is all.” I said, avoiding her eyes. She raised an eyebrow before grabbing my chin, making me frown as she tightened her grip, forcing me to look at her. My heart raced against my ribcage, and it took me a second to convince myself that this wasn’t Elton or my father before I was able to meet her eyes. 

“Are you taking me for a fool?” she asked, making me frown in confusion as I tried processing her question.

“What?” I asked, my voice cracking momentarily as fear coursed through my veins. My hands shook and it took everything in me not to flinch as she glared at me. 

“I do not know who you are or what your story is, Eleanor.” She said, tightening her grip around my chin for a second. “But you are spending time with my daughter and a man that I raised as a son; therefore, I will give you this warning once, and I will not repeat myself as I will NOT hesitate to have your head if I see or feel that you are a threat to them.”

“I did not do anything to harm them and I will not.” I said, looking her dead in the eye and she smiled, her smile cold and void of emotion. I wasn’t the type to hurt those who have helped me when I had no one to do so. And needless to say, regardless of not knowing who I was, the Alpha has opened his whole house for me to stay at. Something that I wouldn’t have expected if they paid me to believe it.

“I will be the judge of that, but mark my words. If my girl or my boys are harmed, I will make you regret setting foot within this Estate, do you understand me?” She asked, and I nodded as tears formed in my eyes. She removed her hand and I frowned as I looked away, my heart racing as she walked away from me before I slid down the wall. A sob broke from my lips before I could stop it and I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around myself as I tried to take a deep breath. 

I clenched my fists as my hand shook, and I couldn’t help but feel small as I sat on the ground, hiding from everyone’s eyes. My heart ached, but forcing myself to rise on my feet, I wiped my tears before fixing my hair, ignoring the ache that was on my cheek for a second before I took a deep breath.

“You need to toughen up, Eleanor.” I whispered to myself. “You are alone in a world that is simply waiting for you to drop.”

“It is time that you prove yourself wrong…”

*********************** 

“Guess what just arrived?” Natasha asked, entering my room. I frowned in confusion before sitting up on the bed, wearing the dress as I waited for the Alpha’s orders before I called it a night. The last thing that I wanted was to wear one of his shirts and have him call for me if he needed anything.

“What?” I asked, smiling at the woman. To my surprise, her mother’s grip wasn’t a bruising one. Maybe it wasn’t to hurt me to begin with, but either way, I couldn’t help but feel angry about the fact that I actually allowed things to escalate to this point.

“Your things.” She said, and I smiled as I clapped my hands. I got up from bed and walked toward the bags that were behind her. The two of us pulled them inside the room, and I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that for once, I had the right to choose. And though it was Natasha who chose most of the clothes, I knew that she wasn’t really forcing anything on me, she was asking my opinion; I was the one who was too shy to ask for too many things.

“Do you want to try them on?” She asked and I blushed before nodding. She smiled, her eyes softening before she cupped my cheeks momentarily. “The light in your eyes is back.”

“I was just tired, that’s all.” I said and she nodded.

“I didn’t ask, nor would I pressure you to open up to me. But, I want you to keep in mind that when you are ready, you have a sister who is more than willing to be that shoulder that you cry on.” She said, making my heart swell. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. It took her a few seconds, but she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me back, making me smile.

“Thank you so much for this, Natasha.” I said before pulling away. I never did have someone who cared enough about me to want to listen to what was bothering me. And the fact that I didn’t feel alone was enough for me to make me smile.

“Sisters don’t thank one another,” she said, and I smiled. “Come on, let’s try on these clothes. I want to see you wearing something other than these dresses…”