The darkness was eliminated as the sun spread its first rays. The chatter of birds, the squeaking of squirrels, and the murmur of people filled the air.
Eleanor went to the forest with a basket in her hand while everyone else was busy with their morning chores. She wondered if Connor and the soldiers were successful in defeating the rogues. She was also curious about Zane. As she absent-mindedly strode towards the woods, she heard loud laughter.
She stalled on the spot and looked around for the source of the noise, only to see Zane and Lucas approaching. Her heart sank to the valley floor as she stared at Zane's blood-streaked torso. She wanted to rush over to him and ask if he was okay.
Zane and Lucas also came to an abrupt halt. Their eyes widened with surprise. Their smiles also vanished instantly. Lucas ducked behind Zane, his face contorted.
"Bastard…" Zane hissed. "Come out." He yanked his arm, but Lucas quickly pulled it back.
"No way," he grumbled.
Zane felt the need to thrash Lucas. He felt his cheeks burning. Not only his cheeks, but his entire body was on fire. He wanted to dig a large hole in the ground and hide in it.
It was not the first time he had had to return home without his clothes. It happened so frequently that he never felt awkward, even though he passed several women on the way. It was the first time he felt so embarrassed standing naked before someone.
He kept staring at her, eyes wide.
Thump…
The basket slipped from Eleanor's grasp when she realized the two men in front of her were completely naked. Her face turned crimson in an instant. She turned around and buried her face in her hands. She wanted to scream and run away. Who knew why she stood there speechless as if the ground had caught her feet in a trap.
Zane and Lucas hurried away, their expressions bleak.
"Is it really necessary for her to get up so early and come to the forest?" Zane wondered, frowning. "Wait…" He halted his steps. "The soldiers are also returning. They are all naked. And she…" He scrunched up his face with annoyance when he remembered Connor had yet to return.
"I have to tell her to go back home." He grabbed Lucas' hand and dragged him along.
"I am not going with you," Lucas snapped, yanking his hand back.
Zane scowled at him, displeased.
"She is a smart woman," Lucas continued. "Do you think she will roam around the forest after seeing us like this?" He directed his fingers to his crotch. "She must have reached home by now."
"How are you so sure?" Zane asked, squinting. "What if she is still in the woods? What if the soldiers do something with her?"
"Huh…" Lucas flailed his arms in frustration. "Go alone if you want to go." He turned around and walked back to the packhouse.
Zane looked back and forth, hesitant. "Oh, man…" he groaned and pursued Lucas. "Wait for me."
Eleanor slowly drew her hands down, her heart still pounding. She picked up the basket and ran back to her house.
"I am such a moron," she mumbled. "How could I have known the soldiers would return? Nothing will go wrong if I don't go collect herbs one day. Holy Mother… It is so embarrassing."
She pushed the door open and walked into the house.
Cecilia, who just woke up and came out of her room, was surprised to see her coming back. "Wait… Why did you come back so quickly?" she asked. She became concerned when she noticed her red face. "What happened to you?" She dashed over to her. "Did Ruby hurt you in any way?"
"No…" Eleanor sighed and put the basket down. She sagged on a chair in the hall and added, "I shouldn't have gone to the woods today."
"Why are you saying so?" Cecilia cocked her head as she studied her.
"I ran into Zane and Lucas." Eleanor sulked. "They were fully naked."
Cecilia's mouth hung open. Her shocked expression was quickly replaced by a smile. "You caught them naked." She burst out laughing. "That's why you are so flushed," she said between laughs. "Oh, Eleanor… I wish I was there. I really want to see them naked."
"You…" Eleanor smacked her across the arm. "Shameless woman. Go get the herbs the next day."
"What? No way." Cecilia had to stop laughing. Her lips formed a tight pout.
"This is the punishment for making fun of me."
"Don't be so heartless. You know, I can't wake up early."
"You should have thought about it before you laughed at me."
"I am sorry." Cecilia held her ears. "I won't laugh at you." She resisted the urge to laugh.
Eleanor gave her a cold stare. "Okay. I accept your apology."
"Thank you." Cecilia hugged her, grinning. "You are my good sister. Tell me more about them." She sat on a chair beside her. "They returned indicated that they had successfully destroyed the rogue gang." Her statement sounded more like a question.
"I am not sure." Eleanor sighed deeply. "They were laughing. But Zane was injured. He was covered with blood."
"Oh…" Cecilia's face turned pale. "What about Lucas?"
"Do you expect me to check them in that condition?"
"But you noticed Zane's injury. Why didn't you see whether Lucas got hurt or not?"
"Because he hid behind Zane," Eleanor exclaimed angrily. "I told you Zane was covered in blood. I noticed him because of that." She got to her feet and stormed to her room.
Cecilia peered at her back, her eyebrows pulling together. She became increasingly worried. "I have to go check on him." She ran out of the house.
Eleanor locked herself in the room. She was as worried as Cecilia. She couldn't get rid of the bloodstains on his torso.
"I hope his injuries are not serious," she murmured as she sat on the bed.
Eleanor made every effort not to think about him.
Zane had his mate with him. Besides, the alchemist would tend to his wounds. But the restlessness grew stronger over time.
She began to rock back and forth, clutching the edge of the mattress. She eventually got up and left her room. She opened the cabinet and took out a wooden box. Herbs picked the day before were stored here.
She opened the lid and took some medicinal herbs out. She then used a pestle and mortar to crush the herbs. The herbal paste was ready in no time.
Eleanor collected the paste in a wooden bowl and went out of the house. She didn't mind if the alchemist had tended to Zane's wounds. She was unconcerned about Ruby's presence. What was important to her was Zane's well-being. All she wanted was to heal him.
It didn't take her long to get to the packhouse. When she entered the hall, she ran into Connor.
"Hey." Connor approached her with a smile on his lips. "Glad to see you here."
"Well, I…"
"Oh…" He looked down at the bowl she was holding. "You have brought healing paste! For me?" He arched his eyebrows, putting his index finger on his chest.
"Um…" Eleanor looked at the bowl, not knowing what to say. She felt stupid for having brought the paste. "Actually…" She lifted her chin and saw Zane walking down the stairs with Ruby. Her heart thumped loudly when she met his sparkling black eyes.