Chapter 3

Eleanor POV

I frowned as I got up, my leg aching as I scraped it on twigs and sticks that were on the floor. A few pebbles dug into my leg, cutting my skin and making me bleed. But that was the least of my concerns; I knew I needed to get out of there.

I pulled a few sharp rocks away, knowing they would only slow me down if I tried running. My heart raced at the sight of my blood pouring, and I couldn’t help but fear anyone seeing me right now. That was the last thing I needed, and I knew that one wrong move could—and would—be fatal. Knowing Elton, I knew he wouldn’t miss a chance to make me pay for “disobeying” him, and that was not something I wanted to deal with. I had to either leave or die; there was no in-between this time.

I got up from the ground, ignoring the ache in my leg, before looking at the place where my mother had died long ago. The fact that this was the first time I’d been here since her death and that I was leaving the way I was made my chest ache. Coming here itself was surreal to me; therefore, leaving was even more painful.

However, knowing that it was what she would have wanted me to do—knowing her, she wouldn’t have wanted me to be enslaved to the dark fate that Elton would decide for me. The man had made me suffer enough, and the last thing I wanted was to bind myself to him, to torment me as he pleased until I took my last breath.

I ran toward one of the back gates, knowing it wouldn’t be guarded. To say the least, most of them were locked, and the keys must have either been hidden or lost. I frowned at a clench that hit my chest faster than I expected. It wasn’t one I understood, but nevertheless, I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I knew wasting time wasn’t in my favor, and the faster I got out of here, the better. It was only a matter of time before my absence was noticed, and that wasn’t something I wanted to deal with.

I ran through the garden, my legs aching with each step. But I didn’t stop; I kept going.

It wasn’t until a hand wrapped around my arm, taking me off guard, that I stopped. My heart raced, and I tried to fight his grip, but he didn’t even bother looking at me as he dragged me through the field, making my body shake as I squirmed, wanting him to let me go.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going, maid?” he asked, his thick Russian accent making me frown in confusion.

I looked at the man standing beside a car. His eyes met mine, but I couldn’t help freezing as I processed his words. I tried pulling my arm away from his grasp; however, he tightened his grip, stopping me. I flinched as he brushed against a bruise that was still healing, and I couldn’t help but notice that despite the firmness, he made sure not to hurt me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, and he chuckled, shaking his head. His eyes studied my expression for a few seconds before he shook his head at me again. The scar on his face terrified me more than I realized it should, as I understood that he was far more dangerous than he might be letting on.

“I am not in the mood for games. Get inside the fucking car. We’re heading out,” he said, and I frowned. I went to fight his grip again, but noticing that the pack members were watching the cars leave, I realized I didn’t even know we had guests. My room’s walls were soundproof; no one could hear what was happening inside, and I couldn’t hear what was happening outside. Elton had made sure of that, ensuring that regardless of the fact that I was a wolf, it made no difference.

I knew this was my best and only option. The man slowly nodded at the car, and I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes before getting inside with the three girls who were already there. I didn’t know who they were, and thankfully, neither did they.

My heart raced against my ribcage as they closed the door, and I couldn’t help but let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding as I saw the car drive out of the house without being stopped by anyone. I smiled before I could stop myself, and the girl sitting in front of me frowned.

“What is there to be smiling about? We are going to work for the Russian Pakhan, and you’re here smiling?” she asked, her tone hard with anger and distaste. I looked down at my lap, avoiding her eyes before frowning as I processed what she was saying.

“Who are you talking about?” I asked, shaking my head slightly. My tone was softer, and she shook her head at me.

“You really don’t know, do you?” she asked, frowning at me. I frowned back and shook my head in response. The other girls looked at me as if I had grown a second head, and I couldn’t help but shiver back, feeling cornered by something they seemed to expect I should know.

“Enough talking,” the man said, glaring at us through the rearview mirror. He looked at me, studying my expression carefully before I looked down at my lap, avoiding his eyes. My leg was still bleeding, but I was thankful no one had noticed it until now. “Good. At least the Italians trained you enough to listen to orders.”

“I’m sorry, but can I ask where you’re taking us?” I said, daring to question him. He frowned at me. The girls looked at me as if I had grown a second head, but I had no other options. If I didn’t ask, I wouldn’t know, and that wasn’t something I wanted to deal with.

The man looked at me through the rearview mirror for a few seconds, and I couldn’t help but feel small under his intense gaze. His dark eyes held a sense of dominance and power that threatened me.

“The Ivanov Estate,” he said, his tone cold, making my heart drop at the mention of the last name of the family that had been in conflict with Elton’s family for years. “You now work for the Alpha of Alphas, Alpha Killian Ivanov…”