14

ELEANOR
“I shouldn’t be here. In fact, I should be anywhere but here, searching for Clara,” I complained to Jasmine again. Surprisingly, we were both assigned to the kitchen, making sure the dishes were clean and everything the servers needed to serve the guests easily was provided.
I should have known it was going to end in this when Zane had demanded my presence. His orders were for me to remain in the kitchen and strictly refrain from serving or interacting with any of the guests, and failure to keep to his orders would obviously result in some sort of punishment, that, in his words, would only make me wish I would be granted death instead. That had struck fear in me all day yesterday, but waking up this morning, I found it to have dissipated. If anything, I was more curious and anxious than scared at the moment.
I was restless, standing here, and mostly pretending to work all while not knowing if Clara was out there and what state she could be in. Sarah had returned last night looking all tired and exhausted. I tried striking up a conversation with her, promptly giving her a rough description of Clara and asking if she’d seen anyone familiar and I would probably consider how inconsiderate I was being if I wasn’t so on edge. But alas, she’d been so exhausted that she fell asleep in the midst of my questions, leaving me anxious and with more unanswered questions.
“Eleanor, how about you just go check if she is among the crowd out there?” I heard Jasmine’s voice, and I turned to look at her, “you won’t get any work done being the way you are right now. You are looking all confused, and honestly, I wasn’t going to point it out, but all you’ve been doing is pushing things around and mixing them up. You’re not helping, so…. just go, I will cover for you, I’ll tell them you are going to use the restroom or something,” Jasmine assured me with a continuous wave of her hand in a dismissive manner and I smiled widely.
“Thank you so much, Jasmine. I owe you a lot. I promise to assist with any of your chores for the rest of the week,” I promised, beaming, and she shook her head, smiling.
“Just go, Eleanor, before someone sees that we are plotting something and everything will be ruined,” she says, and I nod, thanking her again before hurrying out of the kitchen and towards the hallway I greeted one of the slaves and assisted her with the tray she seemed to be struggling with to avoid suspicion.
When I arrived at the field, the sound of the music was the first thing I was welcomed by, followed by laughter from some of the guests. My features twisted in disgust as I gaped at the sight in front of me. Some of the slaves were dancing, totally naked, while the others were dancing on the laps and all over some of the guests whilst the men fumbled with their b. reasts and groped their asses.
I now understood why I was forbidden from coming to the ceremony grounds. Zane didn’t want me to experience this. Did he do that because he cared about me or because he was too possessive to let anyone else touch me like he normally would?
‘Snap out of it, Eleanor. This isn’t the time to be thinking of such things. We need to find Clara and head back to the kitchen before they notice that I was gone. I quickly placed the tray on the table of the guest that the slave pointed to, a smile on my face as I greeted them, jumping out of the way of their reaching hands and hungry eyes. I also hurriedly scanned the site, taking notes of places that Zane would probably be and avoiding them.
My eyes kept roaming around the party, hoping to see Clara serving or even dancing, which I desperately wished she wasn’t, but it all was to no avail and just when I thought of giving up, I felt arms come around my waist to lock in front of me and I screamed in horror and fear of being caught by one of those disgusting Alphas or worse, Zane. I hurriedly turned around, and my mouth hung open without a single sound making it out when I was greeted by the sight of a widely smiling Clara. I was utterly dumbfounded. Every possible question or word I planned to say when we were finally reunited, immediately flew out of my head and I felt tears brimming in my eyes at her smile, big and happy, still the same as ever.
“Eleanor!!! I’ve missed you so much,” Clara finally says as she hugs me again with tears in her eyes, “I thought I had lost you forever, oh my goddess! I’m so glad you’re okay!” she said, more tears falling from her eyes.
“Same here, Clara, same here, love. I thought I’d lost you too. How have you been?” I quickly asked, pulling away from the hug and dragging her out of the party and away from possibly prying eyes. I finally was able to locate a quiet place. Clara held on to my dress tightly. She didn’t seem like she was going to stop crying anytime soon, and I smiled tearfully, pulling her into another hug.
“I’m here now Clara, now I know you are safe and okay. You will be seeing more of me one way or the other, I promise you love,” I assured her, wiping the tears from her eyes as I now put some distance between us to look at her face properly.
“How have you been Clara, and how are they treating you at your new place, your mas-” I bit my tongue before I could complete the statement, I hated that word and I wasn’t going to say it, not now or ever.
“I’m okay, Eleanor, and you don’t have to worry. The one who bought me is kind, but… not too kind, ” she said, and I could see a frown making its way to her face.
“Why? Does he hurt you?” I asked, frantically looking all over her face and body, “d-does he force himself on you?” I asked, and she saved my heart from dropping to my feet by shaking her head with a smile.
“No, he does not hurt me or force himself on me. I work just like every other slave here. What about you?” she asked.
“I’m fine too” I answered, my eyes still roaming the length of her body, wanting to make sure she wasn’t lying to make me feel better and finally, I found something that had my lungs closing up. There was a scar on her neck. It wasn’t very visible, but I was close and vigilant enough to notice it. As if in a trance, I reached for the spot, my fingers brushing against the mark and she flinched, taking more steps backwards and fumbling with her hair to cover it up, and I felt something very ugly twist in me.
“Are you going to keep lying, Clara, or are you going to tell me the truth? What did that bastard do to you?” I asked, my rage tripling with every passing second.
“It’s nothing, Eleanor. We can’t talk about it here. There is no time a- and you know we have to get back soon or there will be consequence-”
“Damn the consequences, Clara!” I intercepted with a snarl, “You clearly have been tortured, probably abused, and you expect me to turn a blind eye to it -”
“What are you going to do about it, Eleanor?” Clara suddenly yelled, “this is not our damn pack. In here you are nothing. Alpha or not, as long as you are a slave here, you are nothing. You hold no authority over anyone, and there’s nothing you can do about anything. That’s the fact, so get that. If you do not care about the consequences, I do a lot… I fvcking do. If you haven’t heard about what slaves go through for disobeying orders, I have! And I’m sorry, but I have to go back to my duty post now. I just wanted to be sure you’re okay, and now that I am, I’m content. Just be safe and please, don’t do anything stupid” she nods, a smile making its way to her face again as she tries to leave, but I quickly grab her wrist, pulling her to face me again.
“How do I find you… I can’t bear having any idea about your whereabouts again. Where do you stay, I can sneak out to find you, just like I always do,” I told her, and she chuckled.
“Still the same, Eleanor, I know, but you don’t have to worry, my dear best friend. I am now a lot stronger than you think, ” she answers.
“Clara!!!” I growled, and she raised her hands up in surrender, giggling.
“Jeez… calm your horses, woman, I was going to surprise you, but damn, you’re impatient. Anyways, I will be working at the alpha’s quarter as of tomorrow. I guess his mate favors me, so, see you tomorrow bestie” she winks, giving me one last hug before hurrying away.
I smiled as I watched her walk away. I was glad she was alive and mostly well, but it saddened me to know she was probably going through the same thing I was. I really had thought she needed saving, but whatever it was she had been put through had made her so much more mature now, she was now no longer the sweet, clingy girl that needed me for everything. She’s stronger now, and that meant I couldn’t be the one holding her back. I had to fight my own battles alone, too.
With a smile on my face, I headed back to the kitchen. The mood I was in had Jasmine smiling. She didn’t have to ask me how it went. My expression had said it all. She threw the apron at me, which I caught happily and wore while humming to myself.
Seeing Clara had really lifted my mood, and I easily fell back in tune, focusing on getting more dishes ready to be taken out for the guests. Jasmine had already gotten so far without my help, so I just brushed her off with a smile. When she alerted me, she was going to the restroom and could take a while. Now, I was left alone in the kitchen, but I wasn’t bothered by the fact, continuing to hum a familiar tune as I carried on with my work. I must’ve been so engrossed in said work that I hadn’t noticed someone walk in on me.
“Mate. My mate,” I heard the voice say, at the same time the pheromones hit me like a speeding truck. They were so strong, but not in the obnoxious way I was used to, it was pleasant, like a soft call of my name, calling out to me, reaching out to me, yearning for me.
I swiftly turned around at those words and the moment our eyes met, I heard the dish I was holding collide with the tiled floor and shatter into what felt like a million pieces as I held his eyes, a mix of emotions swimming in them, out of which I could point out relief, sadness and…. Anger.