"I tried to remember," Zane fumed, a grimace appearing on his face. "And I am trying constantly. All I remember is being chained in a dark room." His gaze moved into the distance as he recalled the images that often emerged in the back of his mind.
"It was too dark," he murmured in a trance, his eyebrows furrowing. "But I saw someone. I don't know who that person is. Ugh…" He groaned and squeezed his eyes, clutching his head. He felt a sharp pain in his head as he tried to remember.
"Zane…" Lucas exclaimed. He led him to a bench and made him sit. "Are you okay?" He asked as he sat beside him, his face clouded with worry.
"Hmm…" Zane closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his brow. The pain was still there, but the intensity gradually decreased.
"Okay, okay… Don't strain yourself. You can remember it slowly."
"I'm not sure I'll ever remember what happened."
"You were supposed to go shopping in the town with Ruby on that day. Why did you end up in the woods?" Lucas regarded him with a squint.
"I remember…" Zane nodded in a trance. "We were on our way to town. Ruby insisted on running through the woods. I tried to stop her, but she didn't listen to me. I got worried as I thought she might run into rogues. So, I went after her. Then something pricked my neck, and I passed out. I don't remember anything after that." He looked at him with a frown.
"Did you ask her if she had seen anyone?" Lucas asked.
"No…" Zane looked into the distance.
Lucas wanted to ask some more things but stopped as he noticed Zane spacing out. "We should go in." He stood up. "I don't know about you, but I am starving." He cracked a grin.
When Lucas mentioned food, Zane recalled Eleanor. Then he remembered how she had refused to take the potion. He immediately lost his appetite. He was about to ask Lucas to leave him alone. But a strong desire to see her erupted within him.
"Let's go." He stood up and walked over to the packhouse as if some magical force had drawn him there.
Everyone had already gathered in the dining hall. The food was served as well.
They walked in and sat down in their respective seats.
Meanwhile, Eleanor came out of the kitchen holding a jug of water.
Zane wrinkled his nose in annoyance as he watched her limp.
'She will limp but won't take the potion. Stupid woman…' He stuffed a piece of grilled chicken into his mouth.
"How did you get hurt?" Dimitri asked, his gaze moving to her ankle.
"I…" Eleanor glanced at Zane, who glared at her. She immediately hung her head down. "I tripped and fell in the woods."
"This morning she ran into the rogues," Lucas explained. "She was lucky that we found and rescued her."
"The rogues were about to kill you!" Connor arched his eyebrows, pretending to be shocked. "It turns out that the pack members can't roam around in the forest without fear. You failed to seal the borders." He gave Zane a sly grin.
Zane gripped the fork so tightly that he seemed to crush it.
Connor grinned even broader. He enjoyed watching Zane get angry.
"We have no fear of the rogues because we know Zane will protect us," Eleanor said, "just like he saved me this morning."
"Oh…" Connor raised his eyebrows at her in astonishment.
"He didn't let those rogues get any closer to me," Eleanor added.
Zane gaped at her with wide eyes, the fork slipping from his grasp. He could hardly believe Eleanor was speaking for him. The anger in his mind evaporated instantly. He smiled like a fool, his heart filled with joy.
"She is absolutely right," Lucas chimed in. "No one should be afraid of the rogues under Zane's protection."
"Those rogues kidnapped him a week ago," Connor scoffed.
Zane's face darkened in an instant. He curled his hands into fists. He wished he could punch him.
"Quiet…" Dimitri roared. He glanced at each of them before resting his eyes on Zane. "I appreciate you preventing the rogues from entering the pack premises. But you must secure the borders. The rogues should not cross the border and cause a ruckus in the woods."
"I get it, father," Zane murmured, his head bowed. He shot Connor a scorching glare to warn him not to mess with him.
"Take care of your wound," Dimitri advised Eleanor. "You can go see the alchemist if you want."
"Thank you, alpha," Eleanor bowed to him. "My aunt applied healing paste to my wound. It will get better soon."
"Hmm…" Dimitri nodded.
Eleanor walked back to the kitchen after putting the jug on the table.
Everyone continued eating quietly.
Later that day…
After finishing her work in the packhouse, Eleanor went to the market. She came to a halt when she spotted Zane leaning laterally on a tree on the roadside.
Zane approached her, one step at a time.
Eleanor looked from left to right, wondering whether someone was coming from behind. She inhaled sharply as Zane stood right in front of her. She blinked… once… twice… thrice, puzzled.
'Is he waiting for me? Why?'
"I was heading to the market," Zane murmured.
"Oh…" Eleanor pointed ahead. "That is the way to the market."
'Ugh…' Zane groaned inwardly. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He hissed, "I know. I was waiting for you."
"Waiting for me!" Eleanor repeated this in a trance. "Why?" She was ecstatic and nervous at the same time. She could feel her heart beating in her mouth.
"You are weak. On top of that, you are injured. I thought I should give you a company. I am the future alpha of the pack. Taking care of the pack is my duty," he leaned in closer and added in a low voice, "especially those who work at the packhouse."
Eleanor stared at his enlarged face, her eyes widening.
Zane moved his gaze to her rosy lips, which appeared juicy. He had a sudden desire to taste her lips. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
"I am not a wimp," Eleanor asserted as she walked past him. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you to protect me."
"But you can't deny that I saved you this morning." Zane followed her. "Is it difficult for you to accept the truth?"
"If you remember, I thanked you for saving me."
"Yeah, yeah…" Zane rolled his eyes and murmured in his mind, 'I remember your dry thank you.' But he said, "I am glad you spoke for me."
"You saved me, and I stood up to Connor because he was messing with you. We are even now."
"That's how it was." Zane's lips curled into a smirk. He pulled the vial from his pocket and stretched it towards her. "Take it."
"I don't need it."
"You are making me upset."
Eleanor sighed in defeat. "So, you waited to give me this."
"Yup."
She took the potion and faked a smile. "Thank you."
"You are welcome." He returned her fake smile.
They walked side by side in silence and exchanged glances. Both wanted to start a conversation but looked away as soon as they made eye contact. They ended up staying quiet.
After some time, they arrived at the marketplace.
"That is our family shop."
Zane looked ahead to where she was pointing and noticed a small shop with 'Mystique Herbs' written on a green board.
"Thank you for walking me all the way here." This time, she gave him a genuine smile.
Zane skipped a beat at her captivating smile. He couldn't take his gaze away from her mesmerizing eyes. "What is your name?"
"Eleanor."
"Eleanor," Zane murmured her name with nostalgia. He felt a strange feeling as he took her name. It was a combination of calm and excitement.
"Will you come tomorrow?" He asked in a trance as if he were under the control of a spell.
"Yes."
Zane smiled. "See you tomorrow then." He turned around and ran away.
Eleanor looked at him, her lips quirking into a gleeful smile.