CHAPTER SIX
1550 Words
BRANKO’s POV.
A look of confusion flashed through her face as my words got to her.
Earlier, I was waiting and watching by a huge tree, trying to see what Corey would do to her. He wouldn’t mind doing the absolute worst to her—that was the biggest truth.
I waited, watching what he wanted to do. The hunting game was not fully legal but it was not illegal either. In my own opinion, it was put in place to put students on their toes. When you see your life flash before your eyes, you would take any opportunity to survive.
Just as he was about to hurt her, I stepped out and stopped him. I could see the look of relief that flashed through her face as soon as I stopped Corey. She was thankful, it was evident in her eyes.
I wanted her to trust me, I wanted her to see me as her friend. That was the only way I could get her to lower her guard around me.
“How did you know who I am?” Eleanor asked, her words pulling me out of my train of thoughts. Her eyes were almost bulging. I could feel the intensity of her gaze and what she eagerly wanted to know.
“That is supposed to be a secret,” she continued, “how did you know?”
I studied her for a few minutes, this was an opportunity for me to make her trust me much more than she should.
“How did you know?” She asked again, she sounded so impatient.
“Your father,” I dropped the bombshell and her eyes almost bulged out their sockets.
“My father?”
“He wants me to take care of you,” I told her again, “he wants me to keep an eye on you, Eleanor. He knows what is at stake here and that’s why he wants me to keep an eye on you,”
She looked surprised, her face said it all.
“How? He didn’t—
There was a conflicted look in her eyes and I could decipher it all. Part of her was excited that someone knew her identity but she really looked confused.
“He asked me to do this secretly so you don’t have to say a word to him”
I lied and I knew why I did it. For me to get to her, I needed everything I needed to.
“I didn’t—
“Now you know,” I interrupted her, “so if you want to remain alive, you need to stop stepping on everyone’s toes, Eleanor.”
“I didn’t—
“Do as I have said,” I cut her off again, “and I can only keep you safe in that way”
Before she could say anything again, I pulled my huge body off the chair and made my way towards the door. I had already established what I wanted, I would only wait for my words to take its course.
“You should go take some rest,” I said as I halted in front of the door, “classes start in a few”
Just as I turned to leave, her words halted me.
******
ELEANOR’s POV.
I was surprised that Branko knew who I was and more surprised at the fact that father had asked him to take care of me. I thought I was utterly alone in this world.
I wanted to be happy, to smile but his words continued to ring in my head. Even if he was supposed to be my ally, he was not completely on my side. He still made me feel like I didn’t belong here.
“If you are truly on my side, why is Corey not being punished for almost wanting to kill me?” I asked as I turned to him, “you were there and you saw how he put me on the chopping board. What if you weren’t there, he would have definitely done something to me”
The more I thought about it, the more angry I became. Just because I didn’t have a wolf didn’t mean any of them had the right to treat me that way.
He heaved a sigh and made his way back to his chair, he clearly didn’t understand what I was saying.
“You do not understand the severity of things, do you?” He finally asked me and the frown on my face intensified.
“What do you mean?”
“Eleanor,” Branko leaned forward, “in this world, things are not how you want them to be and the sooner you realise that, the better it will be for you. There is hierarchy here and fast means you won’t always get the justice you think you deserve,”
I was adamant. Just because they were more superior didn’t mean they had the right to treat me the way they do.
“That doesn’t change the fact that—
“If you are so desperate, you can reveal your identity,” he cut me off, leaning against his chair, “if everyone finds out you are the king’s daughter, no one will dare to bully you again. Do you understand that?”
That made perfect sense. No one would dare but on what basis? Everyone would just end up saying I was trying to leverage on that.
“No,” I blurted, “I am going to win and I am going to do that fair and square,”
“Well,” he shrugged, “I won’t always be there to save you, Eleanor. You need to stand on your own”
I knew he was trying to look out for me since he was sent by my father but I also wanted to do this. I wanted all of them to know that I could do anything I set my heart out to do.
An idea finally popped up in my head and my eyes immediately lit up.
“Since you are my ally, how about you help me coach?”
His forehead creased into a tiny frown as he pressed forward again.
“What are you talking about?”
“Teach me how to be a good fighter even without my wolf, coach.”
“No,” Branko immediately refused, “I will not. E doing that, Eleanor. Just because your father sent me doesn’t mean I have to give you preferential treatment. You need to work your way to the top just like everyone did”
But I was not concerned about that. This was an opportunity that had been given to me on a platter and I was not going to waste it.
“You have to help me coach,” I said again, “or you may come in to my dead body some day. Please, I will do anything you ask of me,”
I knew I sounded desperate but I needed it, I needed him to help me reach that height that I so wanted to reach.
“No,”
“Please,” I did my puppy eyes at him, “you are the only one who can help me coach,”
“Eleanor—
“I really need you, coach”
The way I said it. It was soft, his head immediately shot up to me but he didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
“Please, coach”
“Fine,” he finally agreed, his jaw clenched but that didn’t matter to me. The fact that he agreed was enough, I didn’t care about what was going on in his head.
“Thank you so much coach. I promise I won’t—
“Stop using your feminine abilities to always get what you want, Eleanor,” he cut me off, staring deep into my eyes, “that is my one condition to help you. The moment you do that again, I will not tolerate it”
He always kept using that phrase like I had done something terribly wrong but I didn’t say anything. As long as he was willing to help me, I was more than ready to take his rebukes.
“Do you hear me?” His deep baritone rang out again and I nodded before pushing my body off the chair.
“Thank you so much coach,” I beamed again, “I will look forward to our next meeting”
With a tiny smile, I turned and made my way out. At least, I had someone here and the fact that it was Branko was the icing on the cake—I couldn’t wait to tell Kathy about the new development, everything was about to take a huge turn.
I halted by the door and turned to face him, his gaze was still on me and I could see something in them, something I couldn't quite grasp.
“You will not regret this, coach.” I said out loud.
“I better don’t,” he answered back, tapping his table lightly.
I turned and walked away—The realization made a smile settle on my face—the hunting experience was not that bad anyways, at least I got Branko on my side now.
- Writer
