Rising from the Ashes
Chapter 19

There is a big pro when it comes to working for Cadence. Elenora hardly has time to breathe much less think of Nakoa though he always remains somewhere in her thoughts.

The first day went terribly. She didn't learn all the herbs on the list until midnight. Cadence had left hours before she did and told her she better be there at four with the needed herbs. Elenora had just enough time to leave the shop, replace the herbs, and go right back. She had sent one of the warriors waiting outside of the shop to go replace Mia and let her know she will not be coming home.

Thankfully after years of being a rogue, Elenora is more than used to not eating or sleeping for days on end. Cadence had put that ability to the test. If Elenora had expected her completion of each ridiculously impossible task to be met with approval from Cadence she would have been sorely mistaken. As each day went on Cadence had only gotten more and more harsh towards her.

Her intentions became clear quickly. Cadence is expecting Elenora to lash out. She is expecting anger. She is expecting Elenora to lose her temper. This is the fifth day working for Cadence and Elenora has yet to speak one word to the girl much less snap at her. Cadence isn't half as bad as Vermont was and she has been the distraction Elenora needed. The con is the lack of time she has to spend with Charlotte.

After crushing the last of the worms Elenora stands up and goes to the sink to wash her hands. "I expect you here early again tomorrow. I think three o'clock is a good time. Don't be late."

Cadence tells Elenora without looking up. Elenora resist the urge to smile. "I am only yours to control five days a week. Tomorrow is my day off." Elenora doesn't mention that she will be here tomorrow anyways to clean and organize her desk. Elenora had caught onto what Cadence plans to teach her next and she had bought a couple of books with the hopes of getting ahead on her days off. It is fair to assume Cadence will be extra hard on her after two days off and so hopefully getting ahead will help prevent staying extra late only to come here after two hours of sleeping. The only sleeping she has done this week had been on the hour break Fergus insisted she had alongside two fifteen minute breaks he pulls her away for. He does not approve of Cadence's teaching style.

The only reason he hasn't stepped in is because of Elenora insisting that he doesn't. Every day Elenora shows up is another day Cadence works herself to near death. Cadence still has to check to make sure Elenora is doing everything right while still working her own heavy loud. She looks more exhausted than Elenora does and it is almost laughable. Who does she think she's torturing? "So she speaks?" Cadence all but snaps, her lips curling to a scowl. "Would you rather play catch up after two days of lazing around or would you rather work seven days?" She asks as if she is certain the answer will be I would rather stay and work with you because you are absolutely wonderful to be around.

I don't answer her of course. After five days of working with Cadence I have learned one very important thing. The best weapon to use against her is silence. When Cadence threw a book at Elenora's head she had merely stared at her blankly. Elenora gave no hints as to what she were thinking, what she might have been planning to do in retaliation. She let Cadence guess, she let her think the absolute worse.

When Cadence had run to Fergus and claimed that Elenora was scheming something, Fergus had asked Cadence if Elenora had threatened her in any way. Fergus knew the answer before he asked the question. He seems to know exactly what Elenora is doing. He's mad at both of them. Cadence for the way she treats Elenora and Elenora for refusing to discourage her on any of the assumptions she throws out.

"Herbs and then back to the shop?" Gary asks Elenora the moment she steps outside of the shop. Nolan hands her a piece of meat, wrapped in foil. Gary and Nolan seem to be her official guards. By the third day of her sleeping at the shop they seemed to pick up on Elenora's ridiculous schedule. They had done everything they could to help and wouldn't answer when she asked why they were bothering. They both don't seem to like her very much at all though Elenora hasn't exactly brought out the curse to be certain.

Elenora has a couple different assumptions in mind. The first, Nakoa's doing. The second is because she might be their future Luna. The third is out of pity for her. Elenora likes that one the least. Gary has been hunting for meat to give her after her long days. He had quickly picked up on the fact she hasn't been able to eat much. She usually does so while she's on the phone closer to nine o'clock. Elenora has been calling Charlotte when it comes time to prepare the herbs. The conversation are usually pointed towards Charlotte and it's always about school, the new friend she made, and Mia's food. While she talks to Charlotte, Elenora has been shoving down the food -which annoys Charlotte to no end though she hasn't said it- and grinding down the weeds to a very fine powder. After an hour or two Elenora usually tells Charlotte to go to bed. "Where's the list of herbs." Nolan asks because he has been helping Elenora replace them.

For what must be the first time Elenora offers them a smile. It had been too long since she relaxed and she is in desperate need of a nap. "No list tonight. I have the next two days off. Thank you for your help." They seem to sag their relief at that. Two days off means they get two days off and after five days of standing guard at the doors they need it as much as Elenora does. Of course they get to work in shifts. Elenora has another set of guards she has yet to meet that takes over the night watch. That wasn't originally the plan but nobody predicted Cadence working her as she had. Not even Fergus.

"Will you be in the pack at all?" Elenora thinks about Nakoa for a moment. She has had little time to think of him but she had decided on what to do. One thing remains clear. Elenora wants him. She does. It is likely Vermont already knows about the bond and though they have yet to have a ceremony Vermont will know she has already formed some sort of connection. He knows that hurting Nakoa will hurt her even if she hasn't accepted it.

"I might be but there will be no need for warriors-"

"Alpha Bardrick wants us tailing you the moment you step into the pack. For your own protection Elenora." Gary spits out my name as if it were poison on his tongue as he does every time. He does not like the fact that we are on first name basis but Elenora had refused to give him her surname. It is not really hers. It is the name of a man who had stolen her so he could torment her. She will not use it. Elenora had told him that if he really didn't like first name basis he could call her by her social standing, rogue. He hadn't liked that much either. He sees it for what it is. Disrespectful. He doesn't seem to want to disrespect her either.

"Even if it is Nakoa I will be with? How about I crowd you while you are with your mate Gary? Lets see how much she likes the lack of privacy." Gary's tan face flushes at the thought. Nolan's laughter sounds a lot like a bark. Loud and uncontained. Wild almost.

"Forgive us Miss. We had no idea you would be with Alpha Bardrick," Nolan grins

"I might not be so it is probably best you don't tell him. I say that for his benefit Nolan." Nolan seems to understand instantly. He has had to turn away Nakoa multiple times as he had visited. Elenora had heard it happen, muffled. Nolan had insisted that Elenora would sleep less if she got behind and Nakoa would insist that it was only to eat. Each time Elenora had been tempted to run upstairs and tell him she had the time, really, but Cadence's eyes kept her rooted to the spot every time.

Elenora waves her final goodbye to her guards before shifting on the spot. Elenora had found out it was Cadence's clothes Fergus keeps given her when she shifts and so Elenora takes joy in the sound of her white dress ripping. Without time to go home Elenora has changed and showered at the shop the best she could manage. Marcella enjoys the run after a week of being trapped inside of the shop. Except she doesn't run straight towards the Bluemoon pack. While Elenora is far too exhausted to fight her she takes off towards Nakoa. All Gary and Nolan can do is shift and follow her all the way to Nakoa's place. Marcella slams into his front door, breaking it down with ease and sniffs him out all the way to his room.

He had not moved from his bed though he seemed to have woken up from the disturbance. Nakoa most likely smelled her as she came. Elenora cannot imagine him staying put unless he knew exactly who it was breaking down his door. "You didn't have to break down his door!" Gary shouts from outside "Apologies Alpha! I didn't know she was going to pull that crap." Gary goes ignored as Marcella climbs onto his bed with her muddy paws. Elenora half expects Nakoa to say something. He seems to be a very neat man and Elenora doubts he is impressed with his now muddy bed. Elenora make sure to tell Marcella this but it goes completely ignored as Marcella rubs herself against Nakoa who lays back down as if this is a normal thing that just happens. His fingers tangle themselves in her fur, massaging her back. It was quite nice until Marcella decided to shift.

A couple things should be mentioned. Nakoa sleeps naked. When a wolf shifts, unless she buys the extra expensive magically laced clothes she shifts completely naked. Elenora had never wanted to trade her wolf out more.

AUTHORS NOTE

Surprise! Two chapters in one day.

I've been thinking about starting a weekly update sort of thing or at least trying that out and seeing how it goes. If that's the case updates would happen every Thursday instead of whatever it is I have now. Does that sound better?

On a different note I appreciate both the reviews and the reactions I have gotten from my latest chapters. You guys are absolute amazing and I am glad you enjoy Rising from the Ashes as much as I enjoy writing it! Thank you!