Chapter 79

Eleanor:

I walked out of the bathroom, thankful for the warm water that cascaded my skin. It relaxed my sore muscles and I couldn’t help but feel more refreshed afterwards. Needless to say, our night yesterday kept playing in my head and the fact that I knew that I was finally Killian’s was something that brought a smile to my lips whether or not I wanted o get over it.

I put on my dress, smiling as I looked myself in the mirror to see the mark that was on my neck. The feeling of Killian burying his canines deep inside my neck was something that I couldn’t ignore, and the idea that it was then that I became his was something that made my heart swell.

The idea of Killian and I marking one another never occurred to me, and after the trauma that Elton caused, I never wanted to be marked to begin with. However, to know that I was willing and more than ready to be marked by my mate, I couldn’t help but find myself smiling and relaxing in the embrace of the man that I was falling deeply in love with.

The way the three words slipped from his lips as easily as they did, and though I knew that he used to have someone else in his life, someone that he used to love dear, I was more than thankful for his love for me.

“Someone is looking beautiful,” Killian said, wrapping his arm around me from the back. He pulled me to his chest, and I put my hand on his arm, purring in response as goosebumps rose over my skin. My insides churned and I grew giddy and nervous as my smile grew with each passing second. 

“And you look handsome,” I said, looking at our reflection through the mirror. My heart swelled, and he ran his finger over my stomach gently, his touch both gentle and soothing. “Shall we?” 

“Yes,” he said, wrapping his arm around my waist as he pulled me toward the door. 

The two of us walked out of the house and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips at the sun as it hit my skin and the sand that was under my feet. It was a feeling that I never thought that I would be feeling. The freedom, passion, and lust that I felt with and toward my mate was one that I always believed that I would be forbidden of, and that was something that made my chest swell.

“Something is on your mind.” I stated, smiling as I saw that he didn’t say a word since we walked out of the bedroom. He smiled, his eyes seeming both relaxed and content, and I couldn’t help but find myself purring at that. My wolf seemed more relaxed than she had ever been and that was something that I owed Killian for. I knew that if it weren’t for him, I would still be a slave to my fear, and that was something that I was more than a little grateful for.

“I am just going to miss the two of us being alone together. You know, our privacy, our small moments.” He said, and I purred in response at how genuine he was. “The two of us are going to go back and things are going to go back to normal…”

“And you know, the minute that happens, we are going to end up killing the routine.” I said, and he smiled. “When we come here or go elsewhere in private, we would be going back to the honeymoon phase again. But we don’t want it to end between us,” 

“I like the fact that you’re referring to this as the honeymoon phase,” he said, and I smiled. 

“Well, isn’t it?” I asked, running my finger over his own, gently grazing it with my thumb. 

“It is our lifestyle and how I want things to be.” He said, making my heart swell. I turned to face him and couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips as he cupped my cheeks, connecting them with mine.

“I really do love you, Eleanor.” He said, pulling away to rest his forehead against mine. My heart raced and my chest swelled in ways that I couldn’t describe. “I never thought that I would end up falling as deeply in love as I am with you, but I swear, my life is just empty without you in it. And the fact that I know that you kept your purity despite everything was something that I can’t help but admire. Your beautiful smile is something that I grow addicted to on a daily basis, and your gentle gaze is one that I can’t find myself getting over. The way you talk, walk, everything about you is just intoxicating and I grow more and more addicted to your presence on a daily basis.” 

I opened my mouth to respond before Killian’s eyes hardened. My chest ached, and an uneasy feeling settled in my chest as a low growl rumbled through my mate’s chest. 

He went to turn around before his eyes widened in surprise, and taking sight of him, my heart dropped when I saw what looked like a bullet wound to his chest. His body dropped and 

“Killian?”

“Run,” he whispered, and I frowned in confusion before I heard clapping behind me. 

His scent filled my nostrils, and my heart ached as I looked at the man who tore my whole life apart. I forced myself to rise to my feet as I looked at him.

“Elton…”

“That was touching,” he said, approaching me before grabbing me by my hair. I tried fighting him off, but he glared at the mark that was on my neck. 

“Let me go,” I said, digging my nails in his arm, trying to pry it off as I looked at Killian who was laying on his blood.

“You caused quite a fuss,” he said, letting my hair go. He looked at Killian for a second before turning to look at me. I went to take a step back before his hand came in contact with my face, forcing me to my knees. “But it is time for you to go home…”