Although she was unhappy, Eloise helped Leland and played her role as a 'friend'. She thought after Leland finished burying Anne and Jack, they would leave the place. However, Leland instead entered the hut which was right next to the grave.
The sound of wood creaking filled the air as he set foot on the steps of the terrace of the hut. When he opened the door and walked inside, all the memories of him living in that hut with Anne, Jack and Sophie became clearer.
Every corner and side of the modest home reminded him of every beautiful moment they spent together.
Behind him, Eloise rolled her eyes lazily. However, she immediately smiled when Leland turned to her.
"You can go back to Armeria now," Leland said flatly. And then he walked in.
"What would you do?" Eloise followed him like a tail.
"Clean this place," Leland replied briefly.
"What?! Ah, I mean, alright I'll help you." Eloise was taken aback for a moment but she quickly changed her expression and smiled, as if she didn't mind at all about Leland's decision to clean the hut.
She removed the curtain from the window and tossed it to the floor. In an instant, the dust flew off.
"Argh, dammit. Disgusting," she grumbled without a sound. Suddenly Eloise screamed and jumped to the nearest chair when a cockroach jumped out from the folds of the curtains.
"Gosh!" So shocked and disgusted, Eloise immediately kicked the curtain on the floor away from her. "Oh, Leland I'm sorry, I can't seem to help you. I'm not used to doing this kind of work. I'll only screw up if I try to help. I'll be waiting for you over there."
Eloise walked towards a bench, but since it was also dusty she decided to just stand up.
"Leland, what are you going to do after this?" She asked while watching Leland who was cleaning a table that had been eaten by termites.
"Back to Lievstad," Leland said without looking at Eloise.
"Then what are you going to do with the Obsidian Sand Pack? Now you are their Alpha," Eloise reminded him.
"I'm not interested in taking care of them," said Leland nonchalantly. He kept his focus on cleaning the wooden furniture in the hut but he stopped what he was doing when Eloise spoke again after a moment of silence.
"Very well... I, however, have a request and I want you to grant it. Think of it as payment because I have helped you find Sophie's parents' graves," Eloise said smiling.
"Isn't it your part of the deal because I saved you?" Leland said curtly.
"Is that so? I don't think in my message through Celia I said that I would take you to Anne and Jack's graves. I only said I will tell you everything I know."
When Leland heard that, he looked at Eloise scornfully. He knew that the phrase 'helping selflessly' was not in Eloise's dictionary of life. Since he already knew it. he wasn't too surprised.
"Have you lost your memory? I accepted your friendship request for that."
Eloise continued to smile as she approached Leland slowly.
"Since we are friends now, please help me... You swore the oath to help each other. I'm currently pregnant and the child I'm carrying is Elias's child," she said while holding her still flat stomach.
"This child is the next Alpha of the Obsidian Sand Pack and I want you to protect me until this child grows up and takes over leadership of the pack," she added.
"You're carrying Elias's child?" Leland furrowed his brows, not expecting that the woman was actually pregnant.
"I was forced into it because he was hiding my soul stone," Eloise spoke curtly. She was still annoyed by what happened. "I only found out I am pregnant after Elias died. Initially, I was planning to abort this child, but after several weeks of feeling conflicted, I couldn't do it. Even though I hate Elias so much, this child is still my child. I want to give birth to him"
"I don't see how it is my problem," said Leland flatly.
"I want to keep it but I can't do this alone,' said Eloise. She looked at Leland with determination. "I am begging you to help me. Right now, the seat of the Alpha will be contended because you refuse to take over the pack after you killed Elias. Those who are eyeing for power will see my child as a competition and will try to get rid of him because he has the rightful claim."
At the moment, Obsidian Sand Pack was the largest pack in their continent and after Elias invaded Armeria, the role of the Alpha also came with the throne of Armeria. It was not difficult to see how there would be many power-hungry people would take advantage of the vacant seat of Alpha and rule the kingdom as well as the pack.
"So, if I don't take the seat, you want it for yourself," Leland said, looking at Eloise with narrowed eyes. The witch nodded. Leland clicked his tongue and added, "Wouldn't it be easier for you to just go and leave Armeria. No need to engage in a power struggle just raise your child well. Just think of the throne as being taken by me."
Eloise pursed her lips. "No. I don't want to give up on the power so easily. I worked hard to help Elias to achieve all that. I can't let just anybody take it away from me without doing the work. If it's you... I can accept it. But not anyone else."
"Look, Eloise," Leland looked at the woman seriously. "I am not interested in Armeria nor the Obsidian Sand Pack. I have a good life. After I am done here, I will go home to my family and my pack."
He added, "You can choose to take over power and lead hundreds of lycans, without their Alpha, and the kingdom of Armeria without the king... and face so many problems. Or, you can go back to your hometown and live a peaceful life with your coven of witches and your child. The choice is yours."
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