The Luna's Pure Heart
The Luna’s Pure Heart – Chapter 48

(Eleanor pov)

I felt the panic rising up in Damion before I saw it on his face. He did not want me to meet the Elders for some reason. It was hard not to take it personally, to be honest. Did he think I wasn’t ready to meet this group of important people? I know he wasn’t too fond of his uncle, he hadn’t told me why exactly but I have a feeling it has to do with his father.

I knew he would be there but the rest I have no idea who they might consist of.

I took a bite of omelet, chewing slowly as I sat in Damion’s lap, feeling him tense beneath me more and more every second.

“Is there a reason why you don’t want me to meet them?” I asked straight out, not wanting to beat around the bush..

I did that way to long with Damion already..I was ready to say exactly how I really feel from now on. Well especially since he can sense if I am lying or hiding something now through our bond.

He cleared his throat, setting his fork down as he already inhaled his half of the omelet that quickly.

“Well, I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed Darling.” He said, giving me some generic bullshit excuse.

I turned towards him, crossing my arms and raising my eyebrow..does he not realize I am connected to him now? I can feel his anger and deep down there is something else..there is worry. If only I could read his mind..why the hell didn’t the moon goddess give us that one?! Would have helped me a lot on this journey so far..just saying.

“Damion, please tell me the real reason..because you know I will stand by you no matter what..even if I was in front of the entire realm..I would do it for you.” I looked him in the eyes, seeing the guilt now rising..okay maybe I was pulling the loving mate card..but I needed to know. Why didn’t he want me to meet them?

He hesitated, his hands playing with a strand of my hair as he was seeming to have his own internal battle. Now that I spent the last two days with him, he seems to do that a lot..it was freaking adorable. He was such a thoughtful and well-calculated person. I could see how he tried to control his answers and not show much emotion, which was great for being the Alpha King..but not as my mate. I wanted the emotions and raw answers..I wanted him to be honest with me always.

“Is it because of your uncle?” I asked, thinking this was the only connection. Considering how he behaved at the dinner party and the physical reaction he had towards his uncle..that had to be it..and I knew I was right when I saw his eyes widen and his Adam’s apple bob.

I shifted fully into his lap, letting my legs fall to the side of the chair as I looked at my mate. I slowly reached up, my hands finding his gorgeous chiseled cheeks as I held him gently.

“Damion, no matter what it is, you can trust me..if you really don’t want me to go because you are worried then I understand..but if it’s because you don’t think I’m ready..or might embarrass you or something..” I mumbled, feeling vulnerable for airing out my fears. His eyes snapped up, scanning my face as he gripped my waist tightly.

“Eleanor, no not even think that..do you understand me? Why the hell would I be embarrassed by you? That is preposterous..” he exclaimed, seeming completely offended by what I said.

I nodded my head, dropping my hands into my lap as I intertwined my fingers together nervously.

“Darling, look at me please.” He pleaded much more gently this time. I lifted my head up, meeting his blue eyes as I was the nervous one now. How did the tables turn so quickly?

“My uncle, he isn’t a very good man..he doesn’t like how I have the throne and has tried everything to stop me..he even orchestrated the fake mate..” His confession made me gasp..his uncle was behind that?!

“Damion, that is horrible.” I whispered, pressing my face against his hard bare chest. The fact that he is only wearing joggers was not helping the situation. Why am I feeling pent up with desire when my mate is telling me this important information?! What is wrong with me..

“That’s why I don’t want you to meet them, Eleanor..it has nothing to do with you..I just don’t trust that man..especially not with the thing that means the most to me in this whole world.” He stroked my silver hair delicately, his word making my heart nearly burst out of my chest..I was the most important thing to him? I couldn’t help but place a gentle k**s on his jaw, making his chest rumble in response.

“Okay, I will stay away from them. I understand Damion.” I conceded, not wanting to make him worry in any way. He knew his uncle better than anyone and if he felt he was a threat to me, then I would trust him.

“Thank you, Darling..thank you so much.” He breathed, relief filling him as he stroked my back.

“Let’s go take a shower before I have to go.” His eyes flashed, his excitement clearly evident from the notion as I felt him harden beneath me.

“Do you have enough time?” I queried, knowing this would start as a shower and end as something entirely different..something quite dirty to be exact.

“Oh, I think we can make due.” His lips pressed against mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth, exploring my depths as he stood up. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried me out of the kitchen.

“By the way, that omelet had to be the second-best thing I have ever tasted in my life.” He mumbled against me. I pulled back, looking up at him curiously as he smiled mischievously at me.

“Only the second? What was the first?” I pouted, thinking my skills would earn his number one spot.

“You, Darling.” He growled, causing my heart to stop..okay, he got me there…I couldn’t help but melt into a puddle right in his arms..my mate was something else.

Forty minutes and five o*****s later, I was sitting on the couch flipping through movies. I couldn’t help the stupid grin that kept appearing on my face since the moment he left. How was this real life? It felt almost too good to be true.

I quickly sat up, walking towards my old room, and went to check for my cell phone. I thought this might be a good time to finally connect with Helen, now that I know everything that was going on. As soon as I opened the door, I realized everything was gone..when did this happen?

I walked back to Damion’s room, quickly seeing all my stuff. I hadn’t noticed he had moved it in here before…well, I guess I was pretty distracted at the time. I smiled softly, grabbing my phone from the nightstand, and walked over toward the closet. I felt curious to see if all of my things were there as I stepped inside. My heart swelled with happiness as soon as I noticed all of my clothes hung up neatly. Then I looked over and saw Damion’s clothes right across from mine..I couldn’t help myself. Walking over to his dress shirts, I ran my fingers gently across the soft fabric, inhaling deeply as his scent filled the air.

Kari let out a small whimper, missing our mate just as much as I did, boy did we have it bad. Damion said he would only be a few hours but honestly, right now..that felt like forever.

I sat down on the closet floor, pushing my back up against the wall and hiding myself behind Damion’s clothes. His scent enveloped me, bringing me comfort and security. Suddenly his voice filled my head, causing me to jump.

‘Darling, are you doing okay? Just a little longer I promise.’

Damion linked me, his voice sounding worried..maybe he is missing me as much as I miss him.

‘I’m doing good, just miss you already.’

I admitted, feeling vulnerable sitting here in the closet. Why was I doing this to myself?

‘I miss you too Darling, so much. I can come up now if you want.’

He is voice eager and ready, like he was already racing back now.

‘Damion, it’s only been twenty minutes.’

I chuckled into the link, realizing how silly we were being.

‘Twenty minutes too long..’

He grumbled and I smiled to myself, wrapping my arms around my knees as I couldn’t help but feel so much love for this man..

‘It will be over soon, then we will be together again.’

I spoke softly, tears brimming my eyes just from these overwhelming feelings of affection. I was truly and undoubtedly happy. Nothing could ruin this..absolutely nothing. I couldn’t believe the moon goddess gifted me with such a strong, handsome, and caring mate.

‘Soon can’t get here fast enough.’

He muttered, causing me to giggle as I let out a deep sigh. I guess I better get this call over with…I know I have been putting it off for long enough. I was kind of nervous about the lecture I would get from Helen for sacrificing myself like that…I know she wasn’t very happy about that..time to face the music.

I switched on my cellphone, finding Helen’s number as I hovered my finger above it, taking a slow deep breath, I pressed the call button and held the phone up to my ear. Why was I so nervous? I have known Helen all of my life, this shouldn’t be so hard.

I heard the phone ringing, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited impatiently.

“Hello?” Helen’s voice filled the line and my stomach dropped, I hadn’t realized how much I truly missed her until right this moment.

“Hi, it’s me, Elle.” I spoke softly chewing my l*p nervously as I tried to control my emotions.

“Oh Goddess Elle, it’s really you..are you okay? Where are you? That man called us earlier, but not hearing from you since I wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth or not..” she rambled on, her voice breaking as relief flooded through me.

“I am alright, Lucas, the man that called you, he is a friend..I am still here in the castle.” I replied, wishing I was seeing her in person.

“Eleanor, I am so angry with you, why would you do that? I thought..Oh goddess, we were all so scared. Zack even ran away the next day to go to you, luckily Freddy was the one to find him and tell him you didn’t come back..he said..oh Eleanor.” She sobbed on the other line and my heart dropped..I should have reached out sooner…and Zack went back for me? Now guilt began to rise…

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to worry you guys…I know what I did was stupid, but it was the only way, Helen.” To be honest, it was all worth it now..it had to be part of the Moon goddess’s plan, that was how I was brought to my mate.

“What happened to you, sweetie? How did you end up at the castle?” She sounded a lot more calm now, which made me feel much more relaxed.

I told her the story about how I ended up in the river and fell down the waterfall. I kept out the part about being kept in the dungeon…I didn’t want her to think any worse of my mate before I tell her who he is with all of the other false rumors already going around…which I realize now that a lot of things said about the Alpha King were just that, rumors.

How he was ruthless and killed others recklessly for no reason at all…I haven’t seen a single thing to support that. Or how he didn’t care about the realm and that Night Shade was the worst place around. Who could be spreading these rumors and why? Were they all assumptions or actual things to try and tarnish Damion’s name…

“Elle, you have been through so much..that man..he said that you found your mate. Is it true?” She whispered like there were people around that she didn’t want to hear our conversation.

“Well..yeah..about that.” I began and before I could even finish I heard multiple people talking in the background, voices I recognized.

“Eleanor is that you!?” Albert shouted above the voices and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes its be Albert, I’m okay.” I assured him, wondering who all was there now.

“Well, I guess I am putting you on speakerphone now.” Helen grumbled, making my heart warm from hearing the voices of my people..my family.

“Thank goddess you are alright..we have been so worried.” Albert continued as I sat up straighter, smiling to myself.

“Hey, Elle.” Zack’s words pierced through the call..his voice made me feel something odd, guilt, and a little sense of betrayal..knowing he went back to find me…I was hoping he would have found his mate too..

“Hey Zack, how is everything going in River Rock?” I asked softly, the room going quiet as I heard the phone being passed around.

“It’s really great Elle, you would love it. I am actually training to be a warrior now.” He said excitedly and I couldn’t help the smile that pulled at my lips. He always wanted to be a warrior but was seen as too weak for B***d Moon.

“That’s amazing Zack, I am so happy for you, really.” I exclaimed, just hearing all of their voices I knew we made the right choice, that this life was worth fighting for..this freedom.

“Did you hear what happened to Alpha Richards? How the Alpha King came down on him for trafficking? People are saying it was just a cover-up and the Alpha King knew all about it, so he is pinning it all on Alpha Richard’s..but I honestly don’t care if that’s the case because he needed to be stopped.” He growled, anger showing in his voice just from our former Alpha’s name.

I on the other hand was completely livid..people are saying Damion was behind it..how preposterous!

“That’s not true, why would the Alpha King do something like that? Especially with someone so evil like Alpha Richards..sounds like a baseless rumor to me.” I defended my mate..trying not to sound too over-invested..why was it even harder to tell them who my mate was now? Ugh…this isn’t going so well.

“Have you..have you met him..being in the castle? He hasn’t hurt you has he Elle?!” He sounded panicked now and my eyes widened..oh goddess, how worse can this get.

“No, of course not..” I whispered, feeling completely overwhelmed now.

‘Eleanor, is everything okay?’

Damion’s booming voice echoed through my head..shit, he must have felt my emotions.

‘Yes, just talking to my friend Helen from my old pack on the phone.’

I quickly assured him.

“Well..just be careful Elle, please…I heard..well Helen told me you found your mate.’ He spoke quietly, I had a feeling he was alone in the room now. My stomach was tied in knots, guilt filling me and the promises I made.

“Yes, I did Zack…I’m..I’m sorry.” I lifted my knees to my chest, burying my head into them while trying not to cry.

“Hey, don’t do that…I had a feeling you would once we left that place. I understand Elle, please don’t feel guilty.” He spoke kindly, his words loosening that knot as I tried my damn hardest not to burst into tears…

‘He is such a good man, he will make a great mate to someone.’

Kari spoke softly with a hint of remorse in her voice which surprised me completely.

“Have you..you know?” I asked quietly, praying to the goddess he says yes.

“No, not yet..but the twins did, and Helen and Albert made their union official.” He shared, clearing the awkward tension as I couldn’t help but smile now.

“The twins really? Their mate must have their hands full.. and I am so happy for Helen and Albert, finally.” I breathed, feeling more comfortable with my long-time friend.

Then I heard the door open on the other end of the phone and people talking once more.

“So Elle, how are we going to do this? You come here or we come to you?” Helen said in her serious ‘get down to business’ tone.

I froze for a moment..would Damion be okay with me visiting? That might be the better option than thrusting them into a huge surprise like that…

“I…I will come to you. I’m not sure when I will be able to but I can ask and know more probably tomorrow.” I stuttered out, trying to compose myself.

“Okay, and Elle, please bring your mate..we want to meet him.” Helen wasn’t just asking me to bring my mate, she was telling me. I knew for a fact she wanted to make sure he mate was good enough, which honestly made me feel touched. To know I had an adult figure in my life like her was a true blessing.

“Okay, I will.” I squeaked out and that was pretty much how it went.

After talking a little more we finally hung up and I felt completely and utterly exhausted. I guess I was more stressed out about it than I thought..and I still didn’t get to tell them who my mate was. Well, they will find out soon enough, let’s hope they all will have an open mind about this…please Goddess, give me strength.