That evening when Eleanor got back from work, Evie brought good news. Eleanor played a game of scrabble alone after enjoying a well cooked dinner, raising her head from the scattered letter tiles to her Evie when she walked in. Evie plastered a bright smile on her face. “I did it," she announced. "I found her, the woman you asked for."Eleanor hopped off the bed at that news, knowing exactly who Evie referred to. "Are you certain?The maid nodded. "I most definitely am. There is just one person with the name Golberg in this palace. And she is a human.”Eleanor’s heart leaped with joy. She was beginning to think the woman was dead as her attempts to find her had gone futile. But now there was hope, and it was all thanks to Evie."I know you have done so much for me already, but can you take me to her tonight?" she inquired. It had been months. Eleanor wanted to see her neighbor for herself to be certain she was in good shape."Well... I am not so sure about that," her maid hesitated f

Eleanor stretched her limbs out in a satisfying yawn the next morning, wincing as a knot cracked in her upper arms. The space beside her was empty, lacking the warmth of Drakken's body, and so she opened her eyes to find herself alone in the room.The littlest part of her had been worried he would make any sexual advances toward her but was baffled there was not anything like that from him. Drakken only bade her good night with a kiss on the cheek. He had watched her sleep, that she knew. He did so protectively, as a mother hen protected its chicks.Eleanor listened for any sound that indicated he was in the house as she closed the bedroom door behind her, exploring the rest of the beach house.She found Drakken in the kitchen, his face turned down in a frown, holding out a hand and examining it like he had been injured. The kitchen around him was a mess. Flour smeared all over the counter. Pans heaped up in piles at the wash sink as Eleanor wondered what exactly he had been up to whi

Eleanor did not sleep in the same room as Drakken that night but stayed as far away from him as she could. She had been too hurt and mad at him to even go anywhere near him.She climbed out of bed earlier than usual the next morning and went for a swim at the beach. Birds chirped at a far distance and echoed throughout the surrounding. The sun was not out yet, but the sky was not entirely dark.She came back after a few minutes of floating around and enjoying the coldness on her skin, her mind disburdened of some of her anxieties from last night.Drakken sat at the dining table when she stepped through the front door, eating a plate of fried steak. He ignored her and she did too, not sparing him another glance as she rushed off to her room.How long were they going to keep being this way? It was childish to hold a grudge. At the same time, Eleanor was not ready to say anything to him yet. If anyone needed to say something, it should be him. After all, he said all the hurtful things to

Very early the next morning, but they set out for home.After the link he received from George, Drakken had to be present at the ball as Alpha King or his father would cause a fuss, as always. If he had a choice, he would prefer to remain at the beach house with Eleanor. Last night was everything he had ever dreamed of and more.It had been a good long while since Drakken had last coupled with a woman, not since Eleanor's arrival. He had forgotten how intoxicating the feeling was. Drakken thought as he glanced over at Eleanor in the passenger's seat, he did not remember it ever being this terrific. This glorious."I am sure you know about the palace ball tomorrow," he said softly. "I want you to come as my special guest."Drakken did not look to gauge her reaction but from his periphery, he saw her smile. "I take it that I am no longer a prisoner in your palace." She slurred, fiddling her fingers. "I do not know,” Drakken matched her wit. “It is not every day I invite prisoners to my

Eleanor couldn't stop thinking and that caused her to lose sleep. She had been cooped up in her room all day because of the palace's visitors, mulling repeatedly over Evie's words, and also felt guilty for sending the girl away.Eleanor figured she meant no harm.When she no longer heard people's footsteps in the hallway and loud chattering voices, Eleanor knew they had retired to their rooms. It was her chance for a night stroll.She wrapped her shoulders with a black beaded shawl and took a walk outside her room, straight for the outside. She passed by the stables but Gregory was not there as she had expected. It had been a while since she found him sneaking around the palace late at night or coming up to her room. Perhaps, because he had been scolded by Drakken the last time because of her and felt bad she did not have the chance to talk to him yet.Eleanor headed towards the gardens, all the while still mulling over what Evie had said. The stab of Drakken's behavior burned deeper