Chapter 8 My Family Beat Me for Wanting to Leave

Eleanor' POV:

The she-wolf in front of me was dressed to the nines, swaying her hips as she approached with that all-too-familiar sneer.

She was my mother-Ivy.

"Mom," I called out a bit stiffly.

"I asked you-what are you doing back here all of a sudden?" Her eyes shot daggers at me. "Don't tell me you got kicked out?"

I clutched my hands, silence pressing down on my chest like a weight. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Look at the mess you've dragged us into!" Ivy snapped. "We can't even hold our heads up around the other werewolves!"

"I'm warning you, Eleanor. Your tie with Alpha Carl was something your grandfather gave his life for. Your job is simple-take care of the alpha, give him kids, continue the Stormfang line. Got it?!"

"I'm ending the mate bond," I said flatly, the corner of my mouth pulling into a cold smile. "So yeah, looks like your grand plan's about to go up in smoke."

I couldn't stand another second of her yelling, so I turned on my heel and headed straight for the house.

Carl's family couldn't stand me, but honestly? That was mostly thanks to mine-with the one exception of my grandmother. Ivy had been using my bond with Carl to squeeze more and more out of them, always asking for more like it was owed to her.

"Eleanor!" Ivy's voice exploded behind me, full of anger as she stormed over. "How dare you break the mate bond with Alpha Carl? Are you out of your damn mind? Get back here right now!"

"What's all the yelling?" Jack stepped out just then, clearly irritated. "The whole house can hear you screeching!"

I stood by the door, quietly looking at him. "Dad."

"Eleanor? What the hell are you doing back here?" Jack looked stunned. "After what you pulled, Carl still didn't kick you out of the pack, and you have the nerve to come home instead of groveling and fixing your mistake? Turn around and go back!"

For them, the bond between Carl and me was never about love-it was leverage. I was just a pawn, something for them to trade for power and status. To them, all I was good for was being Carl's plaything, forever stuck in a role I never chose.

"I'm ending the mate bond," I said, clenching my fists. "I came back to-"

"Smack!"

A sharp slap landed across my face.

Pain exploded through my cheek, my head spinning. I staggered, barely staying on my feet as blood welled up in the corner of my mouth.

Jack's face was twisted with rage. "I won't allow it!"

I held my face with a shaking hand, taking in a shaky breath. "I'd rather die than be Luna another second."

"If you even think about doing that," Jack yanked my shirt hard, his eyes full of menace, "I'll break your damn legs and throw you out of the pack. You wanna live like some rogue the rest of your life?"

"Doesn't matter what you think. My mind's made up."

"I'll kill you!" Ivy screamed as she charged at me. She grabbed my hair, yanking me to the side, then slammed me to the ground and began hitting me over and over. Her claws tore through my skin like paper. All I could do was curl up and protect my vital parts-my body barely had any strength left in it.

She pressed harder, choking me with both hands. I gasped for air, clawing at her arms. "You think you can defy me and get away with it? You ungrateful brat. Do you have any idea how many girls dream of being a Luna?"

"Eleanor, run!" My grandma Zoe dashed in, shoving Ivy aside. "Get out of here, now!"

She motioned frantically while yelling at me, trying to shield me. Tears blurred my eyes.

I looked at her-at the only one who still loved me. My chest felt like it had been crushed into shards, every piece cutting deeper into what little strength I had left.

Her frail hand pushed me forward, and without another glance, I wiped my tears and bolted out the door.

"You damn old hag! No dinner for you tonight! Starve for all I care!" Ivy spat behind me, screaming in rage.

I bit my lip hard, forcing back the tears stinging my eyes. Deep down, I swore to myself-I'd survive this hell and bring Zoe out of it with me.

Looking a complete mess, I stumbled out of the mansion and made it to the front gate-and that's when I saw Carl.

A pile of cigarette butts littered the ground near him while a wolf shifter crouched nearby cleaning up the trash.

"Ready to come back with me now?" Carl's tone was sour, his smirk cold as he stared me down. "You ran off without a word."

"I can find my way back on my own," I muttered, sniffling. I tried to brush past him, keeping my distance. But out of nowhere, Carl grabbed my arm and yanked me back hard. I let out a pained grunt as I stumbled right into him.

"I came here to drag you back myself," he growled next to my ear. "Don't be stupid, Eleanor."

"You're out of your damn mind!" I wrestled to break free, but his grip only tightened, making my arm throb with pain.

I sucked in a shaky breath, furrowing my brows. My voice trembled, "Even if you saved me eleven years ago, even if I was in love with you for seven years and stayed with you for three... you helped destroy me in Stormfang Pack. I lost everything because of you. Isn't that enough to repay what I owed you?

"I already sold the necklace you gave me. I'll pay you back that money when I can.

"I'm doing everything I can to stay away from you. Why can't you just leave me alone?

"Please, Alpha Carl, I'd rather die anywhere than in front of you!"

Tears streamed down my face as I shoved his hand away. Just being near him made my stomach churn, like I might throw up any second. My whole body would start shaking-yeah, it was that bad.

I used to love him like crazy. And now? I hate him just as fiercely.

Carl didn't give a damn about what I said. He grabbed me roughly and dragged me toward the car. "You're coming with me."

There was no point fighting back. I was too weak.

Inside the car, I pressed myself against the door, trying to stay as far from him as physically possible. Even a few inches felt better than nothing.

He ignored how uncomfortable I clearly was and tossed a new laptop and phone onto the seat next to me. "I bought these for you."

"I don't want them," I said coldly, my voice flat.

"I gave them to you, so you're taking them," Carl snapped.

"I said I don't want them!" I screamed, my voice cracking.

Before he could say another word, I rolled down the window, grabbed both the laptop and phone, and hurled them out. They hit the ground and shattered on impact.

"Eleanor, what the hell is wrong with you now?" Carl snapped, shooting me a furious glare. Clearly, I'd pushed his buttons. He lunged at me, shoving me down into the seat. "Keep acting like this and I'll fuck you right here!"

"Don't touch me! You make my skin crawl!" I shouted, twisting away.

"Crawl?" Carl let out a cold laugh and yanked at my clothes. "Don't act like you're some innocent little thing.

"Oh, right-wasn't it you begging to sleep with me before and I turned you down?

"Well, guess what? I'm making that happen now."

His hands tore through my clothes, exposing me in a blink.

Carl's grip locked around my throat while I fought him off with weak, trembling hands. His fingers moved over me, brushing past my underwear-and I felt a wave of nausea crash over me. I was shaking all over.

Total despair wrapped around me like a chokehold.