Married To The Cruel Duke

2

Elena’s POV

After almost an hour of waiting on the side of the road, I was lucky enough to find a farmer who helped me. With his help, my truck was towed to the mansion. Upon getting there and thanking the farmer, I noticed the same car from before, parked in front of the house.

My heart started to pound as I wondered what a Draconhart was doing at our place. Did my parents owe them? Since when did our family have anything to do with a family that was rumored to not do business with people who were below them?

I had so many questions but I needed to start on my next chore.

I thanked the farmer once again and watched him drive out of the courtyard before proceeding to take some things into the kitchen.

Once I was free, I was going to ask my mother or my sister what a Draconhart was doing at our place. That was if they would care enough to tell me.

☆☆☆

It was nighttime and more cars from the Draconhart family were packed outside the house. I was even more curious about what was going on but I was too busy preparing the food in the kitchen to even check outside.

“Are you done?” My mother asked as she barged into the kitchen.

She was dressed in a beautiful and expensive dress, which made me know that our guests were truly here for something important.

“Yes, mom.” I motioned at the food on the island.

“Good. I will have the servants take them to the dining room and as for you, go to your room… or better still.” She grabbed a basket and handed it to me. “Take this and head to the Mushroom mountain. Get some of the mushrooms there.”

I gasped. “Why? Mom, it's late. I can't go up the mountains at this hour? When am I supposed to get back then?”

“Are you questioning me?”

I shrank in fear when she took a step forward with a scowl on her face. The last thing I wanted was to get hurt. It was embarrassing that as a twenty-five year old woman, I was scared of getting beaten.

“Go before I tell your father how you're behaving.”

I nodded and held the handle of the basket tightly. I gritted my teeth and eyed her before walking out the back door.

“I hate them so f*****g much,” I said under my breath as I marched toward my old bicycle. “How can she tell me to go pick mushrooms on a mountain where wolves lived at night?”

I took hold of the bicycle's handle and sat on the seat then cycled my way out of the courtyard and into the street.

“If not for the fact that I have nothing to my name, I wouldn't be taking every insult from you people,” I said as my heart started to burn. “I can't believe my own family hates me.”

Just as I started to feel tears, I put a lock on my emotions. I promised myself that I would never cry, whether they hit me with the most painful object or insulted me to the core, I was never going to cry. I had to remain mentally strong so I could find my way out of this family and never look back.

☆☆☆

Cycling up the mountain was difficult, so I had to keep my bicycle hidden in some bushes and continued my journey up the steep mountain on foot.

Mosquitos, and other bugs irritated my skin as I climbed the rocky narrow road on the mountain. I was also beginning to get tired and hungry. My breathing was becoming labored and my muscles were strained. I was exhausted. Every step I took, I cursed my wicked mother.

I was barely close to where the mushrooms usually grew and I was beginning to think of going back home. I knew it was already starting to get late as the moon was more visible and brighter in the night sky. But since I had come so far, I had to finish the task then head home.

“Finally,” I said the moment I arrived at the fallen tree where the mushrooms grew.

I exhaled and leaned against the rocky wall of the mountain to catch my breath then after what seemed like an eternity, I stood straight and got ready to pick the mushrooms.

I walked over to the fallen tree, which was close to the edge of the rocky pathway. I took a deep breath and kept my eyes away from the edge of the mountain then knelt down beside the tree.

Carefully, I started to pluck some mushrooms. I plucked until my basket was almost full and just as I was about to stand and leave, I heard a low growl. My eyes widened and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. My joints stiffened and my breathing seized. I heard another growl, this time it was louder.

I gulped and shifted my gaze sideways. I almost screamed when I saw a large wolf, hunched and baring its teeth at me. Upon making eye contact, the wolf growled and positioned itself as if it wanted to pounce on me.

With a little courage in me, I dropped the basket then slowly rose to my feet and flinched when the wolf took a step forward.

“Please,” I said in a low voice.

I couldn't die. This cannot be happening to me.

I took a step back and the wolf took one step forward. I carefully looked over my shoulder and saw that there was a pathway there. I swallowed and closed my eyes.

God, please. If I survive this, I will not commit any sin, I said in my head and opened my eyes.

“I can do this,” I said under my breath.

I quickly turned around and ran. I heard the wolf howl and growl behind me but continued to run. I kept my feet firm on the ground with every step I took so as not to fall. My heart was pounding and beating as I ran as fast as I could up the curved pathway. I didn't dare look back and continued to run as far as my strength could take me.

I took a turn as the pathway led me and staggered to a stop— A deadend.

“No.”

Fuck no. This cannot be f*****g happening.

Fear enveloped me as I stared at the tall wall of rock. I could hear the heavy footsteps of the wolf behind me. I was dead. I was going to die. This was how my miserable life was going to end. Tonight was my last time on Earth.

I rushed to the dead-end and placed my hands on it, wishing a door would open and let me in.

“No,” I said and looked to the side.

I gasped at the sight. It was a cave. I thanked the heavens and ran into the cave. It was dark, making it hard for me to see anything but that didn't stop me. I walked into the cave with my hands stretched out to feel anything.

I panted as I blindly walked around then stopped when I felt something solid– the wall. I turned around and gasped when the wolf stopped at the entrance of the cave's mouth, growling. I pressed my back against the wall and glared at the wolf.

“Leave me alone!” I cried out. “Go away! Please!”

I knew an animal could not understand me but I tried. If tonight was going to be the night it understood English, I would be glad and saved.

“Leave me alone!” I said at the top of my voice as fear and loss of hope filled me.

I slid to the ground and stared at the wolf as it slowly made its way into the cave.

This was it. I was going to die here and my body would rot in this place because I knew my family would not care to find me.

I wrapped my arms around my waist and bit down hard on my bottom lip. My eyes were threatening to spill tears as every type of emotion took over me.

Just as I thought I was close to being taken by death, something cracked and moved behind me. The wall where I was pressing against started to move and grow hot. My brows furrowed as confusion took over me.

A loud guttural growl filled the cave, which made the wolf cower and whine. I eyed the wolf, wondering what was happening. The wolf backed away, sounding like a wounded animal before running off, leaving me alone in the dark cave.

A new found fear filled my body and mind. Something was here with me.

I raised my head and gaze when I spotted movement above me. My mouth went dry and my heart stopped beating when the moving thing shifted toward the dull light from the mouth of the cave, giving me a little view of what was in the cave with me.

My bones stiffened and my muscles tightened when my eyes settled on what it was. The fear in me doubled and sent shivers through me when red large, slanted eyes glowed in the dark, brightening the place a little and making me pick little details around the bright eyes.

My body weakened when I realized what I was faced with.

“Jesus,” I said.

Before me was a dragon.