Eleanor woke up to an empty hotel room. Drakken was gone. She quickly got up and went to the bathroom to take a bath. The warm water relaxed her muscles. She washed her hair and scrubbed her body before stepping out of the tub.There was more she needed to uncover in that house. It wasn't just curiosity that drove her-though that was certainly part of it-It was also a desire to know more about herself and her family's history. Eleanor gathered up her bag and set off to the house.When she arrived, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She began to search the house for anything that might give her a clue about her family's history. She opened drawers and searched through cabinets, but found nothing of interest. She even ventured into the basement, where she found nothing but old boxes and cobwebs.Growing tired but relentless, she made her way up to the second floor. She ventured down a long hallway that seemed to go on forever. The dim light from the chandelier above flickered,

Back at the palace...The palace was in chaos as news of the attack on the palace reservoir and the food store spread like wildfire. Panic and confusion had taken hold of everyone as they tried to figure out who could have committed such abominable mayhem. The former King was furious and had declared everyone grounded until the perpetrator was caught.He paced back and forth in his room, his face contorted with anger. Duncan and George stood before him, heads bowed in deference. "How could this happen?" he bellowed. "You incompetent fools! Where's Drakken during times like this? It is all his fault."Duncan spoke up, his voice steady despite the King's rage. "He had to leave for a mission outside the palace."The former King rounded on him, his eyes flashing. "Don't try to defend him, Duncan. I know he's out there to enjoy himself. He's probably off with his mistress while our people starve. I should've never made him king."George stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury, unable t

Evie knocked on the door of Eleanor's room and waited for a response. After a few moments of silence, she knocked again. This time, she heard Eleanor's muffled voice from behind the door."What is it?" Eleanor asked when Evie stepped in."The Alpha King has requested that you join him for dinner," Evie said, trying to keep her voice even. "There is to be a feast downstairs."Eleanor let out a sigh. There was no way she could go down to meet his family. His father, his chosen mate. She'd be the odd one out. What was he thinking inviting her to a gathering like that? Was he calling for trouble?"I am not hungry," Eleanor said, hoping that would be enough to dissuade Evie from pressing the issue."I'm afraid that's not an option," Evie replied, her voice apologetic. "The Alpha specifically asked for you to be there."Eleanor bit her lip. She knew that she couldn't avoid Drakken forever, but the thought of sitting across from him at dinner made her stomach churn."Tell him that I'm not fe

Her eyes locked onto the two of them, glaring at Eleanor and Benjamin with a mixture of anger and jealousy. Benjamin was supposed to be hers. They had been flirting for weeks, and Merit had thought they had a connection. But now, as she watched him with Eleanor, she realized that she had been fooling herself.They broke apart after Benjamin finally let go, sensing Merit's presence."You shouldn't be here," Benjamin said to Merit as she seethed with more anger."Why? Am I interrupting your fun time with that whore?" Merit scoffed as she looked back at Eleanor. "How does it feel to be a royal cunt, sleeping with both brothers?"Eleanor was at loss for words, still shocked by Benjamin's rude behavior. He'd forced himself on her without an ounce of shame!"That's enough. You can leave now." Benjamin sneered, an undertone of authority etched in his attitude.Eleanor shook her head immediately at Benjamin's words. "No. I want her to stay." This was the chance she'd been looking for, to spea

Eleanor woke up early the next morning, feeling a bit groggy from the last night's episode with Merit. She knew she had to pull herself together and get ready for work, bruised or not. She got dressed, had a quick breakfast, and headed out to the clinic.As she walked towards the clinic, she heard a few people talk about the curfew in the palace that had been lifted by Drakken. Apparently, he had another fallout with his father and had told him to start arranging to leave the palace and move to the retirement quarters. Eleanor knew better than to listen to rumors, but it was hard not to be curious about what was going on in the palace, or what was going on with him.When she arrived at the clinic, Emma summoned her to her office. "Eleanor, we need to talk," Emma said.She followed Emma to her office quietly, a bit anxious about what she had to say. Had a guard seen her and Merit fight last night and reported them to Emma? What were the odds?Her stomach churned as she waited for Emma