Eleanor backed away from Benjamin's advancing figure. His eyes glinted with an intensity that made her skin crawl, and she knew she had to get out of there before it was too late. She stumbled backward, knocking over a trash can and sending its contents spilling across the floor.Benjamin continued his slow approach, his lips twisted into a menacing smirk. Eleanor's back hit the wall, and she realized there was nowhere left to run. His unkempt and ruffled state startled her."Why do you look so terrified? I'm only here to congratulate you," he hissed at her."You should've done so out there in front of everyone. Following me to the restroom is creepy.""Creepy?" he chuckled darkly. "Don't be overly dramatic.""Where have you been all this time? You just disappeared at the same time Merit did.""And what does that have to do with anything?" Eleanor continued to eye him suspiciously. "Fine. I was away on a mission as head of the council.""Then you don't know where Merit is?"Benjamin s
Drakken took Eleanor's hand and led her down a winding path lined with colourful buds. The scent of the blossoms was intoxicating, and Eleanor gazed upon the animated petals with admiration.When they veered around a corner, she caught sight of a table set for two with a red bottle of wine and plates covered with white materials. The table was surrounded by violin players who played an unfamiliar but tender melody as they approached.The colours of the blooms blended together in perfect harmony, and the music was so lovely that she felt like she was in a dream.When Drakken pulled out one of the chairs for her to sit down, she couldn't help but smile at him. "This is magnificent," she said, taking in the scene. "I've never seen anything like this before."Drakken simply smiled at her and took a seat across from her. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "I wanted to make this a special evening for us.""Special?" Eleanor raised a brow. "It's only a date."Drakken's eyes gleamed with excite
Somewhere in the middle of the night, Drakken received a link from Duncan requesting him to head to their private fencing room. Duncan didn't give a specific reason why, and he was reluctant to leave the warmth of Eleanor beside him."Can't it wait?" Drakken replied."No. It's urgent," Duncan insisted.Drakken sighed and untangled himself from Eleanor. All he wanted was to hold her in his arms forever, but Duncan had said it was urgent, and he had to attend to his duties. Duncan better has had a good reason for calling him out that late at night, Drakken whined.He reluctantly got out of bed, careful not to wake Eleanor, and put on his robe. He stood at the foot of the bed for a moment, watching her breathe softly. He should be glad she accepted marrying him, but he couldn't shake the nagging guilt that tugged at the edges of his mind. How could he ask her to marry him knowing what he had done? How could he live with himself if she ever found out?The simple way to handle it was to ma
Eleanor woke up that morning feeling like the happiest woman alive. She couldn't stop grinning as she stretched her arms and legs in her bed. The thought of being engaged to Drakken made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.She glanced over at the ring on her bedside table. It was a stunning emerald-cut diamond, set in platinum, with small diamonds encrusted on the band. She picked it up and held it to the light, admiring the way it sparkled and shone. It was a dream come true.Just then, Evie walked in with a tray of breakfast. "Good morning, Miss," she said with a smile. "I brought you some fresh croissants and tea.""Thank you, Evie," Eleanor replied, setting the ring back on the table. "I'm so excited. Can you believe it? Drakken and I are engaged!"Evie's eyes widened with delight. "Congratulations. It's wonderful news."Eleanor beamed with pride as she took a sip of her tea. "I can't wait to tell everyone. But first, I need to talk to Mrs. Goldberg."It was time the woman knew how de
As Benjamin made his way toward the retired alpha quarters to meet his father, he prepared himself for a dreadful conversation. The guards had informed him that his father had moved to the retired Alpha's quarters, and Benjamin couldn't help but wonder what that meant.He knew his father would be disappointed in him, and it pained him to think about it. The maids' gossip about Drakken's proposal to his mistress had been the talk of the pack, and Benjamin had overheard it all. The weight of the situation was not lost on him; he had failed his father's mission, and his mother would never return to the pack.On top of it all, he also came to hear about Eleanor being a werewolf. Everyone in the palace saw her transform. Benjamin couldn't decide yet if that surprised him more, or Drakken's proposal. Too many surprises at once . It was all too sudden. Just when he thought he was two steps ahead of Drakken, he did the most bizarre thing.His nerves got the best of him when he approached the
Drakken stood in front of his father's house, staring at the guard who had just given him the news of his father's death. Suicide, they said. No signs of forced entry. He wondered if anyone would believe him if he told them that he didn't feel any sadness or regret. His father was a cruel man, a manipulative man who had never cared for anyone but himself.He pushed open the door and walked inside. The air was thick with the smell of death. He walked through the mansion, his eyes scanning everything in sight. He felt nothing. Not even the slightest twinge of sadness.Drakken entered his father's bedroom next. His father's lifeless body lay on the floor, foam pouring out of his mouth. He felt nothing but disgust. The man who had tormented him all his life was now gone, and he couldn't bring himself to feel any sympathy.He walked closer to the body and looked down at it. His father's face was twisted in pain. The sight gave him a strange satisfaction. He wondered if his father had suffe
Drakken's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove through the winding roads leading to the palace. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Eleanor sat beside him in the passenger seat, her eyes darting between the passing scenery and Drakken's stoic face.Eleanor decided to speak after minutes of silence. "I'm sorry for your loss.""Loss? What loss?""You can't be like that. He was your father."Drakken's grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly, and he turned to Eleanor. "That's why I'm going to give him a befitting burial instead of leaving his corpse out in the woods for vultures to feast on, which I'm very much tempted to do."She shook her head with a sigh and looked back at the road. "I saw Benjamin on my way out of the cemetery."He furrowed his brow, lost in thought as he tried to process what Eleanor had just revealed. "How could he have known our father was dead and at the cemetery?"Eleanor shrugged. "Maybe the guards gav
The day of the funeral had arrived. Dignitaries from every pack had come to pay their last respects to the departed king and queen. The palace grounds were bustling with activity as people arrived in droves.The sound of weeping echoed throughout the palace. Mourners came together to say goodbye to their beloved rulers. Some openly cried, while others struggled to contain their emotions, their faces twisted with pain and grief. The entire palace was awash with a sea of black, as people from all corners of the kingdom donned mourning attire as a sign of respect for the deceased monarchs.Even the Queen's family, who had been banned from the palace by the late King Alfred, had made their way to the palace to pay their respects. They were a bitter reminder of the long-standing feud between the royal family and the Queen's kin. They kept cursing the royal family for only allowing them to see their daughter in death.Drakken watched them from his chamber’s window. His mother's family was h