ELEANOR
I knew that much could be expected when the drive back to the pack felt like a different kind of torture that even Zane himself hadn’t been able to put me through yet. The feeling of emptiness that only grew wider in my chest with the growing distance was not one that could be easily ignored. I had gotten a taste of freedom and deny it as I may, experienced happiness in the warmest possible shades in just a few hours spent in Easton’s pack. I wish it wouldn’t come to an end. I wished I didn’t have to go back and that this day would never end, but alas, all of it had just been wishful thinking.
I heaved a sigh as I took a seat on my bed, slowly taking off the uniform we’d been given for the party, which was now to be submitted back to the kitchen head and promptly burnt.
It hurt to think about something so beautiful meeting such a terrible end, but luxury was nowhere synonymous with slavery in Zane’s eyes. We couldn’t be allowed to keep clothes that were obviously made not for us, but to preserve his own reputation, as we could not be seen in the ugly, almost ragged uniforms we would normally wear around the pack. Another reminder that all good things come to an end, and now I’d woken up to my harsh reality once again, the slump of a life befitting for me.
The sound of someone knocking snapped me out of my thoughts and Clara walked in, her features twisting into one of confusion as she took in my appearance. I understood the question in her gaze. I should’ve been dressed and ready to delve back into my assigned duties, seeing as the party was only a few hours away, but I couldn’t so easily bring myself to forget about all I’d witnessed just a few hours ago.
I found myself thinking back to the way the slaves that were given to Easton were treated back at Crescent Park, how they’d been allowed to enjoy and take part in the party almost as much as the guests and not just working all through or serving as objects to satisfy disgusting, egoistic Alpha’s.
“Eleanor,” Clara’s voice snapped me out of my reverie and I let out a heavy exhale before getting up to slowly put on my uniform “Are you okay?” she asked, and I offered a nod, unable to follow it with a smile that would’ve been meant to be reassuring.
“So we’re lying to each other now?” She asked in a deadpan voice and that seemed to be just about the push I needed.
“I can’t do this, Clara. I can’t keep pretending that all is good and continue to bend to his whims. I need to kill him. Can’t I just take a knife along when next I go to his chambers? That should be easy enough, no?” I asked with urgency as I searched her eyes for answers, but she only sighed tiredly.
“And then what, Eleanor? What do you think will happen to you after that….. to everyone from your pack? We would all be executed alongside you because they would think we conspired to end their Alpha’s life. Is that what you want?”
“Isn’t that better than having to toil day and night only to get beaten into a pulp over the slightest mistake? Is it a life worth living when you have death looming over your head all the time? Are you happy to be made to warm a bed other than your mate’s?” I cut myself short as I let my own words sink, backtracking, “I mean ….. for you, you get to be with your mate in that sense atleast, but what about me? I hope you never have to go through that, but I’ll let you know it makes me feel like dirt like I need to scrub every inch of my skin off whenever he touches me and does as he pleases with my body for hours on end! Nobody should have to feel like that! I want it all to end!” I finished almost in a yell, my chest heaving with the weight of the words I finally let out.
“Fine,” Clara said, a bit detached, but when she looked right back at me again, I could see the determination in her eyes. “Let’s say you’re so eager to get yourself killed. What about Easton then?”
“W-w-what? What about him?” Her words caught me off guard and I didn’t expect the way my heart stuttered at the mere mention of his name, leaving me to scramble for words.
“You’re not fooling anyone, Eleanor, atleast not me. Your eyes were practically shining with content when you returned to the sitting and the color of your cheek could rival the reddest tomato. You both did more than just talk. He accepted you right, he didn’t reject the bond, did he?” Clara asked eagerly, and I replied with a shake of my head.
“He didn’t, and I doubt he ever will. He would rather hurt everyone and himself than reject the bond,” I answered truthfully.
Through his actions and words, it was clear just how much I already meant to Easton. Consciously or not, he had placed me on some sort of a pedestal and I knew I was greatly favored in his eyes. He saw me as much more than just a slave, or a girl. He adored me.
“Now, back to my question,” Clara hummed, effectively pulling me back to reality, “How do you think he would react when he finds out that you foolishly threw your life away? Do you think he would just sit around and mope? He would definitely raise hell on the Blood Moon pack and not that I’m complaining, but innocent people will get caught in the crossfire. Is that what you’d like? A whole line of innocent souls trailing after you to the afterlife?” Clara asked, and I bit my lip at her words. Before I could manage a reply, the door flew open and Jasmine briskly walked in, looking out of breath.
“What the hell is going on? You are both one second away from getting punished. I had to come up with some half-assed excuses to save your asses. Eleanor, I know this is all you, but there is no time to ask questions right now, so hurry up and get dressed,” Jasmine said in a hurry and I wasted no time, hastily getting dressed and rushing out with them.
We arrived just in time to see Zane and Mark walking towards the hall. He had a small smile on his face right until he lifted his head to find me approaching from the opposite direction. His face goes completely blank, and I could’ve sworn I felt his eyes shooting daggers at me.
“You all must have been aware of the party tonight to celebrate our successful truce and alliance with Crescent Park. It couldn’t have been successful without the help of my Beta and the slaves who went with him. So tonight, we feast and make merry because we have now become untouchable! With my leadership and the Crescent Park joining forces with us, nothing would dare to stand in our way!” He announced loudly, pausing dramatically for cheery noises of celebration to fill the air at his announcement before continuing. “Your task remains the same, make sure your masters are happy and sated in every sense of the word, and you will have no reason to answer back to me. I hope I am understood and that this goes by without a hitch.”
With a loud chorus of “Yes, Alpha.” And with a final glance at me, he walked away.
I didn’t know when it happened, but my palms were suddenly clammy as anxiety brewed dangerously hot within me. Something was definitely wrong, I could feel it. It was no news that Zane hated me, but this was the first time he had ever looked at me with what felt terribly closer to actual hatred than a sadistic determination to break me. Something awful must’ve happened to sour his mood, or it could be something different entirely that I had no idea of. Either way, I had always been the perfect toy to take out all his frustration on, so I knew that whatever it was, I was in for it tonight.
I was lost in thought, thinking about the possibilities of what the night might bring, when I was suddenly yanked back to reality with a sudden harsh pull on my shoulder. I let out a pained groan but quickly swallowed it down on turning around to meet the eyes of the head of the slaves.
“Mind sharing with the rest of us what had your mind so occupied that you completely missed your name being called multiple times? Or do you think warming the Alpha’s bed occasionally has given you the right to act as you please?” She all but yelled in my face and I quickly shook my head, bowing deeply.
“I’m sorry Ma’am, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I just have a headache, so I’m a little out of it.” I lied and she scoffed condescendingly.
“You should have been killed the second they found you to be wolfless. I wonder why you are still alive!” she spat as she walked away, and a smile crept onto my lips. If only she knew that I wasn’t wolfless, – far from it actually, and if I wanted to, I could easily tear her into shreds.
But, I was powerless right now and the slightest mistake could lead to my death. My death would be meaningless if I didn’t drag Zane to hell with me, so there was no way I was going to let someone as insignificant as her rile me up. Maybe when I was done with my main target, I’d handpick vile, power-tripping people like her and send them to the fiery pits where they belonged.