The Winter Moon (Where Human Meets Wolf)

Chapter 6 - Revelations, and Tribulations.

    Eleanor didn't know where her sudden confidence came from to ask Elliot such an imposing question. It had been in the back of her mind since she had arrived. Surely they would have done background checks on the people who would be entering the castle, much less staying there. In her line of work, Eleanor had gotten background checked on far fewer priority events. So to Eleanor, they must have known about her lineage and assumed knowledge of the Werewolf culture. Royals especially prided themselves on rooted traditions and on keeping them for generations, and with an event with such esteem as a winter cotillion, traditions were expected, so Eleanor was sure she was hired on her such knowledge.  

She looked upon Elliot's face as he looked taken back before a look of remembrance flashed in his eyes so fast she wasn't sure it was there, but his next words confirmed the show of emotion. 

"Ah, I do remember my mother telling me of your background. Your hybrid father, who we guess would have shared his knowledge on his culture to you, but we couldn't be sure. My mother used to plan these events herself, put a whole committee to it every year until my father passed last year and it became too much to handle with picking up other work around the kingdom. A queen has many to console and to help when the people lose their king, it's their duty and honor, there is no time to wallow in grief as it will get you nowhere. At least that's what my mother always told me. I'm sure as you can tell she is very straight to the point and knows what needs to be done, something I've noticed in you as well."

Eleanor smiled at his compliment, she respected his mother very much for her ethic, for her drive that you could tell that she held for the people in the kingdom just by being in the room with her, it was something she strives for in her work as well. 

"Your mother Evelyn is outstanding in her work she's accomplished here. I hold a ton of respect for both you and her, overcoming a loss like that, I couldn't even imagine. Sorry if I overstepped with my question, I just assumed you would have known of my background enough to let me in on the full picture." 

Elliot lightly shook his head, "You have every right to ask that, it is technically something you need to know to plan an event such as this.  I didn't know how much you would have known, and I suppose my mother has been too busy to think about your need to know, I do apologize, I hope you know that even with the withholding of information we still think you're insanely qualified for this, and we wouldn't have hired you if not. Your excessive note-taking skills are proof of that, and of course your talent for running into people.", he finished with a slight smirk.

Eleanor scoffed with a smile, "They aren't excessive, I just need to make sure everything is written down, and you're the one who ran into me this time, so it seems we both hold the talent." 

Elliot smirked once again and replied coyly, "Yes, so it would seem.", and with a light nod in her direction, he turned back onto his original route, walking slowly away from her. 

Before he got completely away from her, she let out one last comment, "Oh, and apology accepted.". 

It's too bad she didn't see the smile on his face from her small comment, but her mind was too full of wondering if he saw the small tint of red that laid on her cheeks to notice, and with a breath, she turned and headed back to her room trying to get her thoughts to focus as she went.

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Elliot sat thinking over the conversation he had with Eleanor only moments ago. 

By now had  been skimming through a old journal he had found looking for any mention of arranged marriages. Though the task of focusing was becoming a very tedious notion for him to grasp. He still couldn't understand why he kept coming back to the thought of Eleanor. He had many women come through his life, so why was talking and looking at this one wrecking his brain. 

The idea that they were mates came in and out of his mind quickly.   

They had bumped into each other many times so to him if they were mates surely he would of known by now. Of course the possibility that their skin never actually touched was real so he didn't know he truly believed that or if he said he did because he had to. If he had a mate right now it would complicate things, and he didn't know if he trusted himself to actually go through with the arrangement if he was given a soulmate, someone he was fated to be with and have.  

This arrangement needed to go through for the sake of the kingdom, for his people. 

He needed to take this as the truth, that he needed to move on and stop thinking about her. He decided he would return to business, put himself in his work like she wasn't there, and only speak when necessary. He hoped that not seeing her would keep her out of his mind. He needed to focus, no matter how much he wanted to think of her. 

Packing up the materials he had gathered for research, he headed back to his office to truly try to put his head back where was important.  

He only hoped that this would work because his marriage was a nearing fate, and he didn't need anything complicated things regardless of how he didn't want to marry the shining jewel of the United States Werewolves. 

He needed Eleanor to stay buried in the back of his mind. If only he knew how much of challenge that would be in the coming weeks.