An Unwavering Promise--Completed

Chapter Thirty-Two

Eleanor’s POV

I looked all around where I was standing once more, feeling sick to my stomach. The forest remained unchanged, except for the s*******r before me. Terror clouded my vision, along with disgust and worry. How could something like this happen without me even being aware of it?

RAE! Answer me! Please! I trusted you. You are a part of me. Tell me what happened! Why did you block me out? What wasn’t I supposed to see? What happened? Why do you refuse to talk to me?

I pleaded to my wolf, but it was to no avail. Moments later I was in the arms of my mate, and he was wiping away tears I didn’t even notice.

“Shh. I’m sorry. I was just shocked. Everything will be okay. It will be okay. I promise. I’m right here,” Alexander cooed in my ear.

His warmth and presence helped soothe my nerves, but I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling I held inside of myself.

“R-Rae won’t an-swer me, and I do-n’t know why,” I choked out through my sobs, feeling annoyed at myself for crying.

“Start from the beginning, and tell me what took place.”

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down and slipped on the jacket that Alexander had placed on my shoulders. It was really cold out, since Autumn had officially started, and I wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“While we were driving, Rae sensed a rogue. After I saw it too, she told me that it was calling to her, but when I dug deeper, she said she didn’t know how it was happening, just that it was. So, I pulled over, listening to her advice because she wanted me to go to it. I got out, argued with you, and then we approached a wounded rogue–the one I saw on the side of the freeway. Rae asked me to take over in wolf form, so I let her, as I’ve done thousands of times. But, as soon as Rae took over, she–she…”

“She what?” Alexander prodded.

I shook my head in disbelief. “She totally blocked me out. It’s unlocked anything I’ve ever experienced. I was cut off from everything. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t touch. Nothing. I had no sense of time or movement. I was trapped in the black emptiness of our mind. It was truly terrifying.”

Alexander pulled me against his chest and gave me a tight hug. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured into my hair. “That does sound harrowing. I’m sorry she did that. What happened after?”

“Well, I woke up and saw all of this.”

“And you said she won’t talk to you?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I can see her curled up in the back of my head. She’s just huddled there, ignoring me.”

“Perhaps we need to give her time. Maybe she doesn’t even know what happened and needs to process everything herself. And maybe Hunter can help. He’s very worried about her and you.”

I lowered my head to rest against his chest, trying to suck up all the warmth I could from him. I had started shivering. Alexander picked me up bridal style and carried me through the woods back toward the car. Even though it was a long trek, he didn’t want me hurting myself since I didn’t have proper footwear or anything protecting me from sticks or whatever else was roaming the forest. He carried me silently, and I didn’t want to disturb the quiet. The images of the dragon symbol haunted me. Somehow, I had done that, even if it was through Rae.

We made it back to the car, and Alexander placed me in the passenger side. We drove in the same silence that we had walked in. What was there to say? How could I even begin to explain the situation when I didn’t even know or understand it myself?

I found a half drunk water bottle and a tissue box and began wiping myself clean of the dried blood as best as I could. It didn’t compare to a shower, but at the very least, I didn’t look like Carrie any more.

I sighed as we pulled into a long driveway that took us to a large pack house. The place was bustling, even in the late hour. Wolves did love to party. Two attendants ran out to greet us, and I mind-linked Angel to let her know we were here. As she stepped out of the house, I could already see the concern on her face. That woman knew me too well. She had heard just from my voice that I wasn’t okay.

I tentatively opened the car door and got out.

“Do you have luggage?” one of the omega wolves asked.

I shook my head and ignored his raised eyebrows at both my appearance and lack of suitcases.

“Um, okay. Can…I take you to where you’ll be staying?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Alexander stated as he walked to the front of the car.

I walked up to Angel, who immediately embraced me.

“Girl, you can borrow anything you want,” she said with a sad smile. “Let’s just get you showered first, alright?”

“You don’t have to treat me like a wounded animal,” I sighed, the fatigue in my voice betraying me.

She raised up her hands in defeat. “I’m not! I’m not. Just…you look absolutely terrible. Did you get into a fight or something? I mean, you are totally covered in,” she sniffed me. “Uhh, is that rogue blood? It smells vile. You smell dirty and like old sweat.”

“Angel,” I chuckled, unable to help myself. “You can’t talk this situation out of the awkwardness it already is.”

“Are you and Alex fighting?” she whispered, taking a glance at him.

“No,” I half-smiled. “We aren’t. Look, I’m too tired to explain it all. I just want a hot shower and a nice, soft pillow. Maybe tomorrow I’ll fill you in.”

Angel nodded, understanding immediately that this wasn’t the time to argue with me, and followed me, Alexander, and the attendant up the stairs to the top floor where alphas were housed. After being shown into the room, Angel disappeared and then reappeared with clean clothes in hand. I gratefully took them, said good night, and then wandered into the bathroom. It was a large room, with a beautifully tiled, walk-in shower. Two shower heads spat out water when I turned it on. I dropped Alexander’s jacket on the floor and let the hot water wash off the evidence from earlier. My brain was too exhausted to deal with the reality of what I’d seen. And perhaps what I’d done.

Once I’d showered and put on Angel’s clothes, I made my way to the bed and slumped down onto it. I vaguely heard Alexander get up and take his own shower. I appreciated the space he was giving me, even if it wasn’t intentional.

Rae? Are you going to talk to me? You know I won’t judge you. You know I love you. I’m sure you blocked me out to keep me safe, but you have to let me in. We’re one, and as I need your support, you need mine. Don’t ignore me. Come back to me. After so long apart because of Mr. Smith… I can’t lose you. Not now. Not after everything we’ve been through. Please, Rae. Please.

Silence.

My heart sank and the tears tumbled onto my cheeks. If crying made me weak, then so be it. I was weak at that moment. I couldn’t continue if my own wolf shut me out. My mate probably thought me a monster, and I’d left all my alpha duties to my beta. She was a competent beta, but there was still a lot to place on her shoulders.

I didn’t realize how hard I was crying until Alexander scooped me up in his arms and rested my head against his chest. Within a matter of minutes, his shirt was drenched, though he didn’t seem to mind. He rubbed my back and pressed soft kisses to the top of my head, rocking me gently.

“Do you think I’m a monster?” I finally eked out, horrified by his answer.

“Never, my love. I could never think that of you.”

“How?” I whispered back.

He placed a kiss on my temple. “Because you are too good to be evil. Your heart is bigger than anyone else’s I’ve ever seen. You would willingly sacrifice yourself for anyone. Monsters can’t love like you do. Monsters can’t seek out justice and do what is right no matter the cost. You are a warrior–a champion for those with no voice. No matter what darkness resides in you, you are not weak enough to succumb to it.”

“You think that highly of me?”

“You are my world. Nothing could ever change my mind.”

He kissed my lips softly before tucking me into bed. He then climbed in himself and wound arm around my waist to pull me close. I easily fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe and loved for the first time in weeks.