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“You got it, champ,” Blake said, walking toward Eleanor. “Eleanor? Would you like me to pour you a drink as well?” he asked softly. When she didn’t move, he shook her shoulder gently and called her name again. “Hey, Eleanor?”
She opened her eyes suddenly and looked surprised to see Blake standing in front of her. “Huh?”
“Are you okay?” Blake asked, concerned. She nodded in reply but said nothing else. “I was asking if you’d like anything to drink?”
“Oh,” she said, clearing her throat. “Water is fine.”
Blake nodded and smiled, then he walked toward the bar at the end of the room. He poured two glasses of whiskey on the rocks for himself and Xander, then grabbed a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator under the bar. He poured some of it into a glass, and returned with the drinks.
He passed the drinks around and then took his seat across from Xander and Eleanor. “Seems like we’re all caught up, huh?”
Eleanor nodded and Xander said, “Pretty much.”
“Right.” Blake sipped from his glass, sloshing it around in his mouth a bit as he thought about what to say next. Xander and Eleanor watched him intently, and it was unnerving having both their gazes focused on him. There was nothing he could do about that, unfortunately.
He turned to Eleanor. “First things first, I’d like to apologize to you for what we’re putting you through, and I’d like to thank you for coming here anyway. First thing you should know is that none of us wants this to happen. Not Xander, not me, and certainly not you.
“I assure you that we fought so hard, your brother and I, to not go through with this. I held it off as long as I could, but there was no stopping it. We did our best to prevent this from happening, but it looks like it’s happening anyway.”
Shockingly, Eleanor shook her head. “You don’t have to apologize to me, you know? It’s not your fault this is happening. I only just found out about the ridiculous oath today and I felt bad that you were being put through something like that.”
“Thank you,” Blake said, smiling. “I’m glad you feel that way. Which brings me to the main point. As Xander must have told you, there’s no way out of this, at least, none that we can see.
“However, Xander and I have discussed this matter with the other alphas and we think we have a plan that can work. I know, I know, it’s not what you want to hear, but we really do have to go ahead and get married.
“Our plan is this. We keep up appearances for a while, and go through with the wedding. We work to convince the elders with our marriage, and then work toward establishing new rules and providing better traditions for our packs.
“We could then work together to rid both our packs of such traditions so that this never has to happen to anyone else. Hopefully, it will take us only a few years. When we successfully have the elders on our side, we can then pretend to have differences and go our separate ways.”
He had barely stopped speaking before Eleanor began shaking her head. “I don’t think I can go through with it, Blake. I’m sorry. I’m only twenty-two. I have so much I want to experience in life. So much I’m yet to do. I can’t spend the next few years of my life here sucking up to some old men. Not to mention that I would bemarried!”
Blake nodded. “I know, and I understand. Trust me. We can’t force you to stay in town, or to go ahead with this. But this is beyond us. This could have been your brother. This could be anyone else.
“What other ridiculous, centuries-old traditions and oaths do we not know about? We need to root them out and the only way to do that is by becoming a part of the system. I know it’s not what you wanted for your life, but can you imagine all the things we could change?”
She looked furious and hurt at the same time. Blake felt sorry for her. She was a young, vibrant woman just starting to have a feel for everything that was sweet about life. And now, her people were going to force her into an arranged marriage. Worse, the walls seemed to be closing around her faster than she could react.
Blake could understand. He had felt the same cagey feeling as the months passed. He had fought, and had done his best to put off the arrangement, and the walls had grown tighter around him, suffocating him, leaving him without options.
He felt sad to see that Eleanor was dealing with the same reality. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had months to prepare for it or process what was going on. She’d only just found out, and Blake was sure the wedding would be happening in a matter of days. It was a lot to take in.
But he had gotten through to her. He could see that. She was not as adamant as she could have been. All she needed was a little push in the right direction. As if Xander was reading Blake’s mind, he said, “Eleanor, I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. But we need you. I need you. Please.”
She broke. She had always adored her brother, and her love for him shone in her eyes. “Fine,” she said with resignation. “But you have to promise to keep me in the loop, always. I would love to help out in any way that I can.”
“Of course—” Blake started to say.
“No, you don’t get it,” Eleanor said, cutting him off. “I’m not just another movable piece on the board. I’m not another part of your grand plan, awaiting instructions while you do all the work.
“This is my life too that’s affected. I want to be involved. I want to know everything that you are planning, and I want to be a part of that process.” She held Xander’s gaze for a moment before she continued speaking.
“I will not be treated like a child. Not with this. That’s what I ask you both for. Now, is that something you think you can manage?” She turned to look at Blake.
Xander nodded and his relief was clear. Blake smiled and raised his glass. “I guess it’s settled then. Looks like we have a wedding to plan.”
Eleanor groaned and slumped into her seat. Xander raised his glass toward Blake in a mock salute. “Congratulations, brother.” Together, they drained their glasses.
Eleanor kept her eyes focused outside the window, and Blake wondered what was going on in her head. He walked over to the bar and grabbed the bottle of whiskey. He topped up Xander’s glass and then his, setting the bottle down on a glass stool.
