Eleanor found it increasingly difficult to stand and cook. Her ankle hurt so much that her entire left leg went numb. She was under the impression that her leg would break at any minute.
"Mm…" She winced and propped her buttocks on the counter, her eyes closing. "It is painful," she muttered, rubbing her thigh.
She shot open her eyes when she heard footsteps approaching. When she saw Linde walk into the kitchen, her face turned pale.
"Oh, it's almost done," she murmured as she stood up straight. "I will finish it soon." She turned to the stove and checked on the chicken stew.
"I will take charge of the rest of the cooking," Linde said. "You should take a break."
Linde's gentle voice stunned Eleanor. She turned around, her jaw falling apart. She wondered what had caused her to change her mind so drastically in less than an hour.
"No…" Eleanor shook her head. "I am fine. I will go rest once I finish cooking." She was afraid Linde would complain to the alpha about her doodling. It could result in her losing her job.
"When I told you to go rest, you should go before I change my mind," Linde snarled, snatching the spatula from her grasp. She looked down at the gauze wrapping around her ankle. "Your injury will worsen if you exert force on your leg. I don't want you to show up late every morning with the excuse of having pain. Better you go and rest."
Eleanor stared at her, mouth agape. She was not sure whether she should feel relieved or anxious. Linde's words and expressions were a stark contrast. Eleanor had no idea why she was allowing her to take a rest. As her leg hurt terribly, she wasted no time finding out why Linde had changed her mind. She went out into the backyard.
Eleanor took a seat on a concrete bench under a big tree.
"Ah…" She grimaced as she drew her left leg up on the bench. She pulled her gown up to her knee and examined the wound. Although the wound began to heal, the surrounding skin turned bluish.
"Uh... looks like someone is having fun here instead of working."
She flinched as she heard a deep masculine voice. When she raised her head, she met Zane's sharp black eyes. Her heart leaped into her mouth. She couldn't believe that Zane was sitting beside her. She kept staring at him blankly, wondering if she was hallucinating.
Eleanor had seen him several times from afar. But it was her first time seeing him from such a close distance. At this point, she realized how handsome he was.
He had a sharp aquiline nose that complemented his prominent cheekbones that were carved down toward his angular jaw. His unshaved stubble on his jawline added to his charisma. His broad shoulders, hulky chest, and taut biceps were an indication of his leonine power.
Eleanor suddenly realized that she had been staring at him for a long time. She averted her gaze, blushing furiously. But her naughty mind desired to look at him once more. She peeped at him, her heart beating faster.
'What is happening to me?' She murmured in her mind, drawing her chin down. 'Stop daydreaming. He is the future alpha of the pack, and you are wolf-less. His world is the polar opposite to yours.'
When Zane looked down at her leg, he couldn't take his gaze away from it. His throat dried up at the sight of her pale, slender leg.
Eleanor drew her leg down and murmured, "Linde allowed me to rest for…" She abruptly stopped talking when Zane stretched his hand towards her. She looked at a vial of a clear liquid in his palm.
"Take it," Zane urged.
"What is it?" Eleanor asked, looking at him.
"It will help to quicken the healing process."
"I don't need it." Eleanor turned aside.
Zane stuffed the vial into her hand. "I am not requesting. I am commanding you." He gave her a stern look. "I don't like it when someone says no to me."
Eleanor blinked at him, perplexed. It was too much for her to believe Zane had brought her medicine. Her heart started pounding quickly. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy. The future alpha of the Moon Keepers, the most handsome man in the pack, was taking care of her.
'Am I having a dream?'
Eleanor had the impression that she was soaring high in the sky. She envisioned herself walking on the floating white clouds, numerous colorful butterflies flying around her.
Then she remembered Zane's harsh words from the morning.
'Wolf-less,' her inner voice whispered in her ear.
The clouds disappeared under her feet in an instant. The butterflies also vanished, one by one.
She plummeted hard to the ground.
'Ouch…'
The reality was far too harsh. Zane was never going to be hers.
Eleanor averted her gaze, depressed. "I think you don't know that my family owns a herbal store in the market. We know how to prepare the healing paste. I don't need this potion." She gave him back the vial. "Thank you, but I can't take it." She stood up and limped away.
Zane squeezed the vial in his hand as he glared at her retreating form. "Why can't she just take it and show her gratitude?" he hissed, his face scrunching up. "Is it so difficult for her to be polite? Haughty, insensitive, ungrateful woman…" He got to his feet and dashed away.
He bumped into Lucas.
"What, man?" Furious, Lucas knocked him over the sternum.
"What the fuck is this?" Zane growled ferociously, his eyebrows furrowing.
"I was going to say the same thing. What the fuck was that?" Lucas leveled the glare.
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you." Zane turned to walk away.
"Why did you leave in the middle of the meeting?" Lucas grumbled. "Don't you know Connor is looking for your mistakes? He doesn't waste a chance to prove he is better than you. Are you not aware of it? You can't give him an opportunity to show the pack that he is more qualified than you to be the future alpha."
Zane ceased his steps and turned to Lucas frantically. "No matter how hard he tries, he cannot surpass me. I am better than him in every aspect. If he comes to challenge me for the alpha position, I will gladly defeat him."
"Yes… I agree that you are far better than him, and that you will defeat him easily in combat. But the thing is, he will keep trying to prove that he is as capable as you are. He is constantly trying to rally the pack's support. If you fail to attend important pack meetings or show negligence in your duties, the pack will begin to consider whether Connor is a better fit than you."
Zane let out a frustrated groan, his fingers racking his hair. He was well aware of what Lucas was trying to say.
Connor had always been a tough competitor for him, whether in study or in combat. He kept trying to defeat him. If he succeeded, he acted as though he had won the world. He had aspired to be the alpha since he was a child. But Zane stood like a mountain between him and his dream.
"I got distracted in the meeting," Zane murmured, somewhat mortified.
"This is not so you." Lucas shook his head, approaching him. "Something changed in you after being abducted. Try to remember what happened in those two days."