Chapter 6 I Offered Everything-She Still Said No

Carl's POV:

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, wanting to apologize. "Eleanor, about earlier, I-"

"Save it," she cut me off with a sarcastic laugh. "Alpha Carl, your temper tantrums are nothing new. Flipping a table? Please, I'm not losing sleep over that."

I clamped my mouth shut, frustrated. Maybe I was going crazy right along with her.

She was acting so out of character lately, it felt impossible to have a normal conversation anymore.

"I've got a lot going on," I snapped. "Just stay put in the villa and don't cause me more trouble."

This villa was my private retreat-I hadn't stayed here in ages.

But then, out of nowhere, Eleanor exploded.

"I want to end the mate bond!" she yelled, hands flying around. "Can we just stop torturing each other already? You love Katherine, not me! Just let me go!"

"You're not going anywhere. What, did you forget what I told you? At best, you're my servant!" I shouted, slamming my foot on the gas. The car surged forward.

Eleanor's head hit the seat, and she was shaking with rage. "Carl, you're insane!

"Would it make you happy if I just died? I gave up everything for you-tell me, why would I even want to die because of you?

"You're the alpha of the Stormfang Pack, meant to stand above everyone else, and I'm... I'm just the daughter of an ordinary delta! We became mates only because my grandfather gave his life for your pack!

"I know what you really think-that your life matters more, and mine's worthless.

"That's what everyone believes anyway. But I refuse to be treated like your toy!"

Eleanor was yelling through tears, her voice raw and cracked. She glared right at me, like she was done pretending.

"You think I'm shameless?" I asked, completely stunned.

She let out a bitter laugh, full of mockery. "Even though you don't love me, you still want to keep me around like a maid. You even handed my design to Katherine. Isn't that disgraceful? Or maybe you alphas think anything you do to me is doing me a favor."

"That's enough," I said through gritted teeth. "Shut it."

We'd known each other for over ten years, and somehow, I never realized just how sharp her tongue could be. Every word she said cut like a knife. If she kept going, I might seriously lose it.

Before I could blow up, Eleanor turned her face away and clammed up.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, then called one of the staff. "Pack up all of Eleanor's stuff. Send it to my private villa."

"And my laptop," Eleanor suddenly said.

I added, flatly, "Her phone and laptop too."

"Alpha... the former Luna ordered everything to be burned..." The staff hesitantly answered.

Eleanor clearly heard that. She suddenly lunged toward me, her face turned completely pale. Her hand trembled as she grabbed the front of my shirt. I looked down at her, frowning-her chest was heaving, breath unsteady.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. "I'll get you new ones. They'll be delivered soon."

"I don't need them," she murmured, shoulders slumping as she collapsed back onto the seat, eyes unfocused. "I can buy them myself."

After that, she didn't say another word.

I kept staring at her, brows knitted, frustrated, until finally looking away.

I thought she'd lose her temper again, scream at me or break down like before. That laptop meant everything to her, I knew that. That's exactly why she broke.

It was a device I didn't even care about back then, but Eleanor had looked at it with such longing in her eyes. She couldn't afford it. I saw that look, that quiet hope, and I handed it over without thinking.

She had treated that cheap laptop like some priceless treasure, holding onto it for four whole years-refusing to replace it, even when it started breaking down. It mattered to her. Everything she'd ever designed was on that computer.

Now she just sat there quietly, hugging herself, head down and face blank. She didn't yell. Didn't ask me a single thing.

I drove in silence the whole way to the estate. Neither of us said a word.

I was usually swamped with work. Even before Eleanor got caught up in that plagiarism mess, we barely lived together. She was always holed up in her studio somewhere. Yeah, she didn't get along with the other werewolves in the Stormfang Pack, but she still managed to get by on her own.

This time, though, it was different. My grandfather had been seriously ill and gone away for treatment. Vivian and the others used that chance to mess with her. I knew exactly how far they went with it.

And I never stopped them. Truth is, I couldn't stand Eleanor either.

"I'm free this afternoon," I finally said under my breath as I pulled over. "We can go get you a new laptop. New phone, too. And whatever else they threw out."

That was me trying to make things right, to make up for what she'd been through over the past month. I just wanted her to let it go already.

Honestly, I'd done more for her than I ever had for anyone else. No one in the pack had ever gotten a proper apology from me-until her.

"I said I'll buy it myself." Eleanor's voice was flat, eyes cold. "I just want to be done with you."

I let out a short laugh, squinting at this ungrateful girl. "Even if I let you go, who would take in a wolf dumped by her Alpha? No pack would want you after that."

"That's a problem for later," she fired back, staring straight at me. "Right now, I don't need anything else. Just this."

"Eleanor!" I growled, fists tightening as I fought to keep my temper in check.

Right then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen-perfect timing. I answered it on speaker, making sure she could hear every word.

It was Katherine. I softened my tone immediately. "Hey babe, how are you doing?"

"Miss me, honey?" Her voice dripped with sugar. "I could feel how much you were."

"Of course," I said, locking eyes with Eleanor, tone dripping with affection. "I can't wait to see you."

Eleanor didn't flinch. She didn't even look at me.

"By the way, I just had to tell you," Katherine said smugly. "I just saw the news about Eleanor's plagiarism scandal today... They already revoked her awards and trophies, right?"

"That's right," I said louder than necessary. "She's been torn to shreds online."

"I know her professor," Katherine said, her tone dripping with fake sympathy. "He told me he doesn't want to teach her anymore and hopes she'll just drop out soon."

Even after stealing Eleanor's design, she sounded like she actually cared. It was honestly disgusting. I couldn't help but glance over at Eleanor. She didn't react at all-just opened the car door, stepped out, and headed straight toward the villa like she hadn't heard a thing.

I frowned and followed her out of the car. Then I put Katherine on speaker so her voice filled the air louder.

"I think they're absolutely right. Eleanor totally copied my design," Katherine sneered. "When you showed me her draft, I was shocked at how shameless she was. But back then, I didn't want to bring it up because of you."

"Really?" I looked over at Eleanor, not really expecting a reply.

"Yes. I'd already signed up for the design competition long before. Then Eleanor suddenly submitted something nearly identical for the Starluxe Competition! If I hadn't won my award first, I might be the one being accused of plagiarism now."

A month later, Katherine finally decided to explain all this to me, acting like she was the victim the entire time. Not that I cared much, though. Whatever Eleanor was up to wasn't really my concern anymore.

A she-wolf, my mate, just needs to put on some makeup and maybe tidy up the house now and then. No need for her to be running around working.

Stormfang Pack's got more than enough strength. It's not like we need her bringing in money, honestly, I almost forgot about that myself.

Anna and Vivian don't care either-they're just looking for a reason to push her out.

"So, you're saying that design was yours all along?"

"Exactly," Katherine said with that usual smug tone. "You know how it is, Carl. Eleanor's designs have always been trash. I told you once her work was a rip-off of my friend's. It doesn't shock me she'd pull something like this."

I didn't say anything for a few seconds. Katherine's voice sharpened suddenly, "Carl, don't tell me you don't believe me."

"I do believe you," I said, watching Eleanor closely. "You're right-Eleanor got disqualified, and she has no one to blame but herself."

Eleanor sped up toward the villa. I froze for a second, some strange annoyance creeping up in my chest.

"Carl, when are you going to end that mate bond with her?" Katherine cooed over the phone.

I hung up without answering and followed Eleanor with a frown. She didn't give me a glance, didn't acknowledge me at all-like I wasn't even there.

I wanted to snap, to yell at her and force her to listen to me. But then I saw how frail she looked, and that anger just ... vanished.

"Hey," I called out, impatience lacing my tone. "I've got a meeting soon. I'll take you shopping later this afternoon."

Eleanor didn't say a word, just kept walking.

I added, "Someone will be around to look after you. Make sure you eat on time and stop making a scene."

I stopped, watching her walk away without even a glance back. Part of me felt like I should be angry, but I told myself I'd deal with her attitude once she was fully recovered.

She didn't say anything the whole time. That wasn't like her. She used to get flustered whenever I lost my temper, chasing after me, begging me not to leave. She used to wait for me, patient and forgiving, no matter how I acted.

Now? There was this weird twist in my chest that made it impossible to chase after her and demand answers.

So I stayed there, just watching her disappear into the estate. Then, with a grim look, I turned back to the car and headed off to take care of my business.