Chapter Five
1216 Words
The new mate walked ahead of Elenor, his strides calm but powerful. As she walked behind him, she wondered if he was an Alpha of a pack because only one who was as powerful as an Alpha could exude that much aura without even trying.
"Shouldn't I be the one leading you?" She suddenly spoke up as they walked out of the hall, a smirk dancing on her lips.
"I am the one who lives here and you are a guest. You do not know here as much as I do. Right now, you're leading us to the maid's quarters." She said, pointing at the hallway.
"Oh." He said and halted his steps before pulling out his hand. "Well then, lead the way."
Elenor nodded and turned around, taking another route as she led him to a balcony close to where the coronation ceremony was taking place.
"You can speak here. Nobody uses this balcony." She said and he nodded before placing his hands in his pocket.
"It is no news to either of us that we have been joined together by the moon goddess as mates." He started and Elenor nodded, her expression unreadable.
"But, I was you to get one thing straight." He said, his voice low but commanding. "Being mates with me shouldn't mean anything. I don't care about the mate bond and I certainly do not want to be bothered with the affairs of another. Is that clear?"
Elenor blinked, startled by his bluntness and arrogance but, she quickly composed herself and raised her chin to show him that she wasn't moved by what he said.
"Oh, really?" She said with a sweet voice that barely masked her irritation and annoyance. "Why did you bring me here then? You should have completely ignored me if you do not care about the mate bond. That way, you wouldn't have to be explaining anything to me, sir." The smirk returned to her lips as she spoke. She knew he couldn't deny that she was right.
His lips twitched and his brows creased but he cleared his throat and answered. "Because having a mate is a necessity, especially for me. I do not want it but, I need it. I don't know if that makes sense to you. You will stay by my side but only as my mate, nothing more."
Elenor raised a brow in confusion. "Especially for you? What does that even mean? You know what, don't even answer that." She shook her head and folded her arms.
"You should be grateful, you know. A lot of girls would kill for this opportunity that was given to you on a platter of gold." He said arrogantly and Eleanor laughed out loudly, throwing her head back in the process.
"I'm supposed to feel lucky, right? I should feel as though I have been mated to the great and powerful Lycan king, right? Well, news flash, Mr, you are not the Lycan King and I do not feel lucky. If anything, I feel wronged and unlucky to have a mate such as yourself."
The new mate raised an eyebrow, expressing his shock at her statement. He had never met a woman like Elenor. Most of the women were already at his feet even without him having to introduce himself but she….she was different.
"Let me tell you something, Mr," Elenor said, stepping closer to him. "I don't need a mate like you but, since the moon goddess has ordained it for whatever reason, I'll play along. Strictly out of duty, as you put it."
The corner of his mouth twitched as she spoke. He couldn't deny the fact that her words amused him.
"You are full of surprises, little wolf."
"And you are full of arrogance." She said with an eye roll and he laughed…not a smirk or a chuckle, an actual laughter that reached his eyes. The sound of his voice sent an involuntary shiver down Elenor's spine, one that she blamed on the damn mate bond.
"Well, this is going to be interesting." He muttered to himself but, it didn't go unheard by her. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the music which had resumed in the hall, reminding them of the party they'd left behind.
"Since we're done here, I think it's time for us to return." He said his tone back to a serious demeanor.
"Of course," Elenor replied, gesturing her hand for him to lead the way.
"I believe someone with as much pride as yourself can find your way back to the hall." She stated with a smile as she waited for him to start walking.
Shaking his head at her childishness, the new mate walked out of the balcony, remembering the turns they took to get there.
As they stepped into the hall, he held out his hand for her to take causing Elenor to shoot him a harsh look.
"Don't you want to make your ex-boyfriend jealous anymore? He looks pretty cozy with his mate." He taunted with a devilish smirk on his lips.
Elenor followed his eyes to see that he was right. Lesley was seated with Ava on his lap and they both seemed lost in each other's presence. Anger shot through Elenor and she immediately took her mate's arm, pressing her body against his.
"Strictly out of duty." She said as she took her eyes off Lesley and planted them on her mate.
Now that she looked at him up close, she had to admit that he was a hundred times more good-looking than Lesley.
He looked like a f*****g Greek god that could pull whichever girl he wanted without even trying. If he wasn't an asshole, Elenor was sure she would have been attracted to him too.
As they walked towards the crowd, Elenor noticed a familiar figure walking towards them with a bright smile on his face.
It was Alpha Elijah O'Neil, Lelsey's father.
But, why was he walking towards her? Did she do something wrong? Did Lesley say anything to him?
Before she could gather her thoughts, the Alpha was already standing before them but, his eyes weren't on her, instead they were on the man beside her.
"Alpha, is everything okay?" She started but her words fell on deaf ears as Alpha Elijah, the man she had seen as the most powerful all her life bowed to her mate.
"King Damien! It's an honor to have you here. Thank you for honoring our invitation!" He greeted and raised his head.
The room fell silent as everyone turned to see who the powerful and feared Alpha Elijah had bowed to.
Meanwhile, Elenor stared at the Alpha with disbelief. Her mind is unable to comprehend why the Alpha would do such a thing.
She then recalled the Alpha's words as he greeted the stranger beside her. 'King Damien.'
Elenor stiffened as the realization dawned on her. She then turned slowly to the man beside her with her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"You are…" Before she could complete her sentence, Alpha Elijah turned to everyone and announced.
"Attention, everyone." He called out and the hall fell silent.
"It is with great pleasure, that I introduce to you all, King Damien Tristan, King of the Lycan Kingdom."
- Writer
