The Alpha's Broken Runt

Chapter Twenty-Six

●His Plan●

     I think Lillian saw it in the redness around my eyes, the way I wouldn't make eye contact with her.
But she didn't question me on anything.
     She didn't say anything for a while after she let me in her room, instructing me to sit on her bed, but I felt her looking at me, felt her eyes scanning over my body.
     "How many?" Her voice is soft, careful, quiet.
I raise my eyebrow at her and catch the quick glimpse her eyes make to my neck and wrists.
"Oh."
     That. "I didn't exactly count."
She sighs. "How long?"
How long has it been?
     "Seven years, approximately." She nods.
"How far?"
     I shift uncomfortably. "I really don't want to talk about this, Lillian."
"Eleanor-"
"No."
     She sighs. "Fine, we won't talk about it, but you can't keep your emotions caged forever."
     "Yes I can, and I plan to." She let's out an annoyed growl. "Eleanor, you can't live like this!"
     "Really? Because I did, for thirteen years, Lillian." Her eyes soften, but her tone doesn't. "And look what it's done! You're closed off, you're hurt, you can't handle anyone touching you!"
     "You say that like it's the worst thing in the world. I never liked it, even before what happened happened. It just made it worse."
     She groans. "Eleanor! Come on. You have to realize what you're doing to yourself! You can't keep these emotions pinned up, you have to talk to people!"
"Says who?"
"Eleanor! I-"
     A knock sounds at the door and Lillian groans before standing up.
"Teddy? What are you-"
Teddy pushes past Lillian and walks up towards me, her eyes scanning over my body.
     "What did he do to you?"
"What?"
"Theodore, what did Theodore do to you?"
     "What do you-"
"Theodore linked Oliver saying he'd made you cry, what happened? Did he hurt you?"
     "N-no..."  I look towards the ground and she growls. "What did he do? Touch you?" I lightly nod my head, earning a sigh from Teddy and a groan from Lillian.
     "Why hasn't he learned?" Teddy asks, turning to Lillian. "We've both talked to him about giving her time to adjust, to be okay with it-"
     "Have you now, and what if I never am?"
"Then that's okay, you don't have to be okay with it, no one is forcing you to be."
"You mean besides Theodore?" I say, a growl slipping past my lips.
     They both give me a surprised look. "You said his- Nevermind- Look, Theodore is protective and one of the dumbest people I have met. He has trouble listening to other people, and I'm not saying that is okay, I'm just saying it's something we all have to get used to..."
     Lillian cuts in. "Theodore is a good guy, Eleanor, honestly, he's hard to get through to, and he has anger issues and... He cares, Eleanor. I see it in him, when he looks at you, the worry in his eyes when he talks about you. He wants you better, he just... He doesn't know how to help you. It makes him mad, he feels useless and it tears him apart and... well... he doesn't handle his emotions well, as you've likely noticed."
      "So you both just want me to deal with him forcing me past my comfort zone and going completely against my wishes?"
     "Nonono, that's not at all what we're saying Eleanor! Theodore is completely in the wrong in this situation, he should respect your wishes."
"But he doesn't, and honestly I am so done with it. I would really prefer to stop talking about this." They both exchange a glance.
"What do you want to do, then?"
"I want to get out of his territory."

•Oliver•

"Why in the world would you do that!? We've had this discussion too many times! All of us have!" I growl at Theodore, steadying the punching bag.
"Me, Teddy, Lillian, even Eleanor herself! What will it take for you to learn not to touch her!?"
     He growls at me. "She's my mate!"
"No, Theodore. Eleanor is not your mate. Eleanor is her own person and you don't have any say in what she does and what she finds comfortable! She was raped for crying out loud Theodore!" He freezes next to me. "I thought it was just touching?"
I let out an exasperated growl.
     "Are you kidding me Theodore!? Are you seriously that dense!? Her old Alpha was an awful person who thought that he owned everything and had a right to do what he wanted. And honestly you're starting to remind me of him."
"What!? I am nothing like that guy!"
     I shake my head as I turn to face Theodore.
     "Not to Eleanor. To her, you're acting just like her old Alpha. How have you not figured out that everytime you push her past her limits you're pushing her further away from you? You say you want to be close to her, but you haven't done anything to truely show her that you care."
     "I don't know how to! I've tried everything!"
I face back towards the punching bag.
"Are you serious? No you haven't! All you've tried is forcing her to do things! Sit down with her and talk like a civil human being for once! Go get coffee with her, ice cream! Sit across from her and not next to her! It's not that difficult!"
     He thinks for a moment. "I could ask Alex what she likes."
Dear God, this boy needs major help.
"That is not getting to know her. That's taking the easiest route that you can to cheat your way into her life. Do you really want either of them mad at you?"
     I sigh. "Look. You're acting like it's an impossible feat to accomplish when it's really not. I mean you're not even humans, you have the mate bond on your side. But Theodore, you have to understand what she's been through, you have to understand that she's gone through so much and it has completely torn away her trust of people. She had everything taken from her, Theodore."
     He growls. "But everytime I try to talk to her about her past she blocks me out!"
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You can't expect her to open up to you immediately. You know that everything she's told you thus far was because of her wolf. Her wolf has been there for her and she wanted her happy. Don't take what you've earned for granted, that's how you end up rejected."
     He cringes at the word but nods.
"I know. I know you're right. I guess... I guess I'm just stressed. And I know that that is in no way a good excuse for what I've done, but I'm just so afraid of losing her. She's barely talked to me and I would do anything to make her happy. I just don't know how to show her how much she means to me."
     "Give her space Theodore. Maybe she'll be comfortable with you, maybe she won't. But I can tell you that the way you've been doing things is never going to work. She's small, she's scared, and her innocence got ripped away at such a young age, younger than most."
     "Come with me."
"Wha- hey!" He grabs my sleeve and tugs me along with him.
"Okay okay I'm following!" I say as I stumble behind him, matching his steps as I come up next to him.
     "Where are we going...?"
"Alex. I need to ask him a question."
     "...Aren't you supposed to be finding these things out on your own?"
He sighs as he quickened his pace. "I don't want to miss it."
     "Miss what?"

     "You know, I didn't take you for the reading type." Theodore says as he squats down next to Alex, who was sat cross legged leaning against one of the bookshelves in the Library.
     "How did you even find me?" Alex questions, lowering his book slightly.
"I have my ways. But really, you read a lot?"  Alex side eyes Theodore. "Yes, I do. And I have my reasons. Now what do you want?" (AN-literally my dad when I just sit down in the living room with him)
     "Why do I have to want something?" Alec rolls his eyes. "Drop the act. We had one conversation and you haven't looked at me since. So don't act like we're all buddy buddy now. I know you want something, and it likely involves Eleanor." Theodore hangs his head.
     "Okay, you may be right. But I just want you to know that I want to get to know Eleanor so I can help her."
     "She doesn't need her help."
"Maybe, but-"
"No, there isn't a but in this. You've had too many chances."
Theodore growls lightly. "Then. an I have one more?" Alex shrugs and raises his book up so it blocks his face.
     "Who's the guy with you?" Alex asks, eyeing me from over his book.
"That's Oliver."
Alex nods, his eyes beginning to scan across the book again.
     "Oli. And in my defense, I'm pretty sure that, whatever his idea is, it will probably end terribly." Alex looks back up at me and raises his eyebrow.
"You don't know what it is?" I shake my head. Alex contemplates for a second before lowering his book to his lap.
     "Let's hear it then, what's your question?"
     "When's her birthday?"
An instantaneous change happens to Alex. His whole body goes tense as his eyes darken and he glares at Theodore before lifting his book back up.
     "Seriously? You're not even going to say anything?" I can tell Alex is pretending to read, the only thing wrong is that his eyes aren't moving.
     "What's so wrong with me knowing her birthday?"
     "You don't get to know that. I'm not going to tell you, so stop asking."
Theodore sighs aggressively. "Why? Why can't I know?"
Alex shakes his head. "That is confidential information. It's need to know, and you don't need to know."
     "Yes I do!"
Alex slams the book into his lap, a hard glare settling on Theodore.
"Stop acting like you know everything about Eleanor. You don't know anything. This isn't something you need to know or are going to figure out until Eleanor is comfortable telling you."
     Theodore growls. "I don't see what's so wrong with me knowing such a minuscule thing!"
"If it's so minuscule then why do you need to know it?" Alex snaps.
"Just tell me when it is!"
"No!" He lifts his book back up.
If looks could burn, there would be a hole through that book.
What did the book do to him?
Must've been terrible.
     "If you won't tell me, I'll just ask her myself, then, thought this way would be easier, but I guess I was wrong."
Alex's demeanor completely changes as Theodore goes to stand up.
     His eyes close as he let's out a breath. "Wait." Theodore stops standing up and crouches back down.
     "Don't do anything involving it if I tell you."
"Okay."
"It's... Tomorrow..."

     "Oliver. We have a mission tomorrow, and we need you to come." Teddy's voice enters my mind as we exit the Library.
     "And what would this mission be?"
"We're getting Eleanor off the pack grounds." Lillian's voice says, excitement evident in her voice.
     "And why do I need to be present?" They both sigh. "We're leaving the pack grounds, we want to feel safer, plusssss you're our friend? Hello?" Lillian says.
     "I think Eleanor could take a real liking to you! I think you two would get along."
I watch Theodor in front of me as we walk to the pack house.
     "Okay. I'm in. What time do we leave tomorrow? Oh, also, Theodore is headed to the pack house."

●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●
Hiiiii my lovliesssss
It makes me so happy to see you guys requesting update, like I tell my sister about you guys asking me to update and the kinds things you say and I'm just like "okay. Thanks for the tears"
I don't actually cry, but it makes me really happy.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

Byeeeeeeeee *aggressively taps*

Word Count!
2031 (it was just under 2k before the AN, look at me!)

AH $H!T I FORGOT ABOUT THE QUOTE
*panicks*
Oh wait aren't I using definitions now?
*thinks*

Oliver

O-li-ver

A complete and utter muffin who deserves care and protection from all bad things because he is the best thing in the world and okay I'll stop now.

*whispers* sorry it's four AM and I'm hyper for some reason