Chapter 16: Chapter 16

ELEANOR

“Are you hiding something from me, Xavier?” I heard a feminine voice coming from the foyer, along with the clicking of the heels on the tiled floor.

“I was thinking of surprising you, Mom.”

That was definitely Xavier, which meant his parents were here. I quickly made my way to the sink and washed my hands. Right when I was drying them, they entered the kitchen. I turned around with a smile plastered on my face.

“My god! You look so pretty, sweetheart,” his mother exclaimed as she walked toward me.

“Mom, meet my mate, Eleanor. Eleanor, this is my mother,” Xavier introduced me in the politest voice that I’ve ever heard from him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Costa,” I said as I extended my hand for a handshake, but she surprised me by pulling me into a hug. The warmth spreading through her body made me unconsciously wrap my hands around her, taking me back to all the times my mom would give me hugs.

“I can finally have a daughter.” She beamed in bliss as she pulled back and looked at me from head to toe.

But then something struck me. I might not have been the first woman to be introduced as Xavier’s mate, and this made dread seep into me.

I bet she must have known everything that happened between Xavier and his first chance mate, and she must have definitely met her too.

~Will she start comparing me to her?~

~Does she think that I’m like her?~

“~Stop overthinking and live in the moment, Ellie,~” Erica scolded me.

But I was finding it very difficult to stay in the moment. Xavier and I had started our relationship, or whatever this was called, on a rocky path. And I had to keep the contract secret to myself.

“Would you like to have breakfast, Mrs. Costa?” I asked her nervously.

She looked over my shoulder at the table. “Oh, did you prepare breakfast for us?” she asked me, and I nodded my head.

I made the mistake of looking at Xavier, who was fuming in anger, but I quickly averted my eyes.

“~Why didn’t the kitchen send the food?~” Xavier mind-linked me while Mrs. Costa walked toward the table to look at everything.

“I wanted to prepare some comfort food for them,” I replied, but he shook his head.

Right then, I heard some heavy footsteps when a man entered the kitchen. He looked like an older version of Xavier, but unlike Xavier, he didn’t have a scary look on his face.

“My wife mind-linked me that I have a daughter-in-law waiting at home,” he said as he walked toward me.

“I’m Eleanor. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Costa.”

“You look so beautiful, darling. I wonder how you ended up with my son,” Mr. Costa replied, and this only made me blush.

“Enough talk, Dad. Let’s go and eat. I bet you must be exhausted and starving,” Xavier changed the subject while he guided his father toward the table.

Breakfast went by with light conversation and laughter, even though Xavier had a stick up his ass. For the first time since I arrived, I felt at home.

Once breakfast was over, Xavier and Mr. Costa left the house. Xavier’s dad wanted to take a look around the pack while Mrs. Costa went to her room to freshen up.

After loading the dishwasher, I walked up to Xavier’s room to get my shoes when I saw the guest bedroom door wide open. I walked toward the room to see Mrs. Costa unpacking her clothes.

“Are you heading out, Eleanor?” she asked me, and I nodded my head.

“I have a few appointments, and then I have to go to the hospital,” I replied.

“Of course, beta female duties must be a handful for you?”

“Not at all. I actually enjoy it.” I wasn’t lying. I was surprised how well I fell into the role.

“I’m happy you like it, dear. If you could spare a few minutes, can I talk to you?” she asked me, and nervousness set in.

“Su…sure,” I breathed out as I walked into the room.

“Please take a seat, Eleanor.” She gestured toward the sofa, and I took my seat.

“Let’s get right to it. I know you both are pretending,” she began, and this made me hold my breath. “Xavier didn’t tell me, but from how both of you behaved around us, I figured it out.”

Shit. She’s good.

“What gave it away?” I asked her out of curiosity.

“Newly found mates usually can’t keep their hands off each other, Eleanor. I expected you two to be inseparable, always wanting to be close, with eyes full of love,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “But all I saw between you was tension. He didn’t so much as kiss your forehead before walking out of the kitchen.”

She paused, then added more gently, “I’m not totally surprised after everything that’s happened. But didn’t he show you even a little love?”

My heart and mind were in conflict. I felt sadness from Mrs. Costa’s question.

Did I want Xavier’s love? Ugh! Why can’t I just focus on finding out what happened to my mom?

I didn’t know if I should tell her what was going on between Xavier and me.

I didn’t know why I was feeling this way. I vowed to keep my distance and not fall for Xavier.

My lips trembled while I felt my throat tightening.

“Eleanor?” Mrs. Costa took a seat next to me and placed her hand on top of mine. “Xavier is my son, and I love him, but you are his mate. The woman destined by the Moon Goddess.”

“I don’t want to be the reason that you get angry at Xavier, Mrs. Costa,” I mumbled.

She shook her head and gently wiped away the stray tear from my cheek.

“I’d never confront him about this unless I caught him red-handed, Eleanor. But you need to tell me what’s going on between the two of you—so I can try to help before things get out of hand,” she said.

I knew I shouldn’t tell her. I should keep my mouth shut.

“We have a contract mating bond.” The words slipped out before my mind could catch up. My eyes widened in shock, and I quickly took my hand away from hers.

She had a neutral look on her face, and this only made my heartbeat increase. A tense silence enveloped, and I started bouncing my leg.

“I should’ve thought he’d do something like that,” Mrs. Costa finally spoke, breaking the silence. “I won’t let you leave, Eleanor.”

“Yay! She’ll convince Xavier to be with us forever!” Erica squealed.

“Shhh! No. Not happening. I agreed to the contract. I’m not ready for a mate,” I replied to my wolf.

“I don’t think we’re compatible, Mrs. Costa. I’m not ready for a mate anyway.”

“Why aren’t you ready for a mate, Eleanor?” she asked me.

Mrs. Costa had a weird way of making me feel at ease. I felt safe to tell her what happened to my mother.

“My focus is on finding out what happened. I’m not mentally prepared to love someone,” I said when she placed her hand on mine with a smile on her face.

“Life is full of surprises, Eleanor. And it never goes according to our plan. I know you may not be fond of the idea of mates right now. But as time goes you won’t be able to resist the bond,” she said when she looked out through the window.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked her out of the blue, and this made a soft smile appear on her face.

“You’re different. I can see the innocence in your eyes, and you’re not trying to fake anything. I know you would be the perfect fit for my son, Eleanor.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Costa. Please don’t tell Xavier I told you about this,” I pleaded.

She looked hesitant but eventually nodded her head.

“I won’t confront him about this, but I will make him realize what he’s missing,” she said with determination.

Right then, my phone buzzed, and I looked down to see that I was ten minutes late for my appointment.

“I have a meeting to attend. I will see you later?” I asked her, and she nodded her head.

***

After a couple of meetings to discuss mating and naming ceremonies, I was on my way back to the house and took the pathway through the training grounds.

As I passed the training ground, I stopped in my tracks. Xavier was locked in a heated fight with another warrior, surrounded by a circle of onlookers. The tension in the air was impossible to miss.

Each punch and kick that Xavier delivered looked so powerful and deadly, which made me wince every time the warrior fell to the ground.

“He wasn’t this ruthless yesterday.”

I looked to my side to see Marquez standing beside me.

“Don’t you think you should stop that?” I asked him.

He let out an exhausted sigh.

“He doesn’t listen to anyone, Eleanor.”