Chapter 45

ELEANOR

It’s been a week since Karla and Dad visited me, and even though I was happy that my broken bond with them had healed, I was constantly on edge, not knowing what had happened to Avery.

She could be a brat sometimes, but she was still my younger sister.

“Hey,” I greeted Xavier as I walked into his pack house office.

“Where were you all this morning?” Xavier asked me as he pulled me to sit on his lap.

“I was at the bakery. We were designing a cake for Becca’s and Ivan’s mating ceremony,” I replied in excitement.

Xavier nodded his head and turned me around to face him.

“Are you happy?” he asked me out of the blue, and I frowned at the question.

“Don’t I look happy?”

“You do, but I can still see a look of sadness in them too,” Xavier replied.

I made sure to keep a smile on my face.

Even though I was very happy and eagerly waiting to see Ivan’s and Rebecca’s mating ceremony, there was still a pang of sadness within me.

My heart was longing to know when I would get to have my own mating ceremony. But I didn’t want to put pressure on Xavier.

“It must be because I’m still worried about Avery’s safety. I mean, it’s been more than a week that she’s been missing, and we still haven’t found her. Also, after hearing what the girls went through, I’m a little agitated,” I replied, and Xavier nodded his head.

“You’re right. We’ve also started looking out of state, but there’s still no trace of her.”

“Do you think she’s alive?” I mumbled, and this made Xavier’s hand around my waist tighten.

“Your parents still feel her bond, Eleanor. So don’t lose hope,” Xavier consoled me.

“Can I go with the trackers to look for her, Xavier?” I asked him and this instantly made the smile on his face turn into a scowl.

“I know you’re worried. But we have no idea who kidnapped her. What if that person wants to kidnap you too? I don’t want to take any chances,” he said. But his response didn’t satisfy me, and I turned away, staring out the window in silence. “Elenor, try to understand.”

“She’s my sister, Xavier,” I snapped.

He pulled me in closer. I tried to break free from his hold, but he held me tight.

“I know, and I promise that I’ll bring her back safe and sound, okay?” he asked me and even though it wasn’t good enough for me, I understood his fear.

“How are the girls we rescued coping?” Xavier asked me.

“They don’t look as on edge anymore. The doctor told us they would be able to lead a normal life soon,” I said, and Xavier nodded his head in understanding

“Can you do me a favor, sweetheart?” Xavier asked me.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Can you get me that envelope that’s on that bookshelf?” Xavier asked me, pointing toward a red envelope that was placed at the edge of the bookshelf.

I nodded my head, climbed out of his lap, and made my way to the envelope.

I took it and went to hand it to him.

“Why don’t you open it and read it out loud for me?” Xavier asked me, so I tore open the envelope.

There was a beautiful pastel-colored invitation inside.

I took it out to see it was an invitation for a mating ceremony.

“Whose mating ceremony is this?” I asked him with a frown on my face, and a smile formed on his.

“Wasn’t the envelope sealed?” he asked me.

“It was, but…”

“Then how would I know who sent it, Eleanor? Why don’t you open it, and read it aloud for me,” Xavier said.

I glared at him, but nevertheless, I opened the invitation and began reading it.

“My mate and I would like to cordially invite you to one of the most awaited mating ceremonies of the Full Moon Pack.”

My eyes glossed with tears when I saw Xavier’s and my name on the invitation.

“Is this for real, Xavier?” I asked him, and he stood and walked toward me.

“Why do you think I never marked you?” Xavier questioned.

“My mom’s kind of old school,” he said with a small smile. “She believes in sticking to tradition. When my dad found her, they had their mating ceremony within a week and marked each other before mating.”

A blush crept up my face at the thought.

“But since we already…mated, I thought we should at least do the marking properly. That’s why I arranged this ceremony for you,” Xavier explained, his voice gentle.

“Thank you, Xavier. For a moment, I really thought you’d never mark me. That maybe I’d just be tossed aside after—”

He gently placed a finger on my lips, stopping the words before they could leave my mouth.

“Don’t think about any of that,” he said softly. “I don’t know for sure when we’ll plan the ceremony for with everything going on with the rogues. But I needed you to know that I’m serious.”

I gave a small nod, trying to steady the emotions stirring inside me.

“That’s wonderful, Xavier.”

“The arrangements for the events are being taken care of, so don’t stress your pretty head about anything,” he said as he placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

“But what about the dress?” I asked him, and he smirked.

“My mom would always tell me that it was my dad who got the mating ceremony dress, and I want to do the same for you. But if you don’t want to, you can go and…”

“No, you can select the dress,” I told him, and he nodded his head.

“Wonderful. You know, I would love to spend more time with my mate, but I’m running late for a meeting. So, shall I see you later?” Xavier asked me, and I nodded my head.

Xavier placed one more kiss on my lips before he walked out of his office.

I stayed in there, staring at the invitation for a while before I left to go home.

As I arrived at our house, I saw someone waiting for me by the door.

“Hello?” I called out, which made him turn around to face me.

It was Benjamin.

“Miss Amato, one of the omegas informed me that you requested someone to clean your gutters,” he said.

“Oh yes, please come in. I thought they would send someone else.”

Even though Benjamin had done great work with rescuing the girls, I knew Xavier didn’t love being around him still because it brought up bad memories.

“All the omegas are busy, so I came by,” he said, and that was when I saw the bandage on his right arm.

“What happened to your arm?”

“A rogue bit me when I was on that rescue mission,” he said and my mouth formed an ~O~. “The gutters, Miss Amato.”

“Yes, the gutter at the back needs to be cleaned,” I told him as I walked inside the house.