Beta Xavier Costa.

Eleanor Amato - POV

“Eleanor, how are you doing, dear?” my father asked me in an overly sweet voice, but I did hear a hint of sadness as well, which confused me while Karla stood next to him. Her face was rather pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes as well.

What happened to her?

“What are you doing in here?” I asked them both with a suspicious tone. I mean, they made it pretty clear on the day of the mating ball that they did not want to see me again.

“We came to meet Beta Costa.”

“Ellie, who is it?” Xavier asked me as he came to stand next to me. He had worn the clothes he had worn last night, and his hair was still tossed to the side. “Gamma Amato, it's surprising to see you here this early in the morning.”

“I never thought I would come here to see you as well.” he retorted. “But circumstance has brought me here.”

“What are you talking about?” Xavier asked him with a frown. He looked around the surroundings before his eyes landed on both of us again.

“Can we go inside and talk about this, if you don't mind?” Father asked, and Xavier nodded I head. I opened the door wider for them to enter, and we led them to the living room. Once everyone was seated, Father looked at us again.

“I heard about all the latest updates regarding the rogue and Eleanor kidnap. And we even heard that you saved fifteen women who were imprisoned by the rogues. By any chance, did you find more women in that camp?” Father asked.

“No, Gamma Amato. We searched the entire place thoroughly, that was all the women we found.” Xavier said, and suddenly Karla broke into tears while my father wrapped his hand around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

“I can't do this anymore, Peter.” she wailed while Xavier and I sat in confusion.

“What happened, Dad?” I spoke for the first time when both of them looked in my direction.

“This information hasn't left our pack, but I know that there is no use hiding this anymore. Your sister, Avery, is missing, Eleanor. She had gone shopping in the human town with her friends four days ago. And she was kidnapped there.”

“Did your warriors look for her?” Xavier asked, and my father nodded his head.

“My son has been in the no man’s territory for the past two days now, but she has vanished without a trace. I don't know what to do, and the longer she is missing, the more we are losing hope of ever finding her again.”

“I think someone else must have kidnapped your daughter, Gamma Amato. Because the rogue we caught didn't have your daughter.”

“Who else can kidnap her, and for what reason?” Karla choked out, her face was stained with tears, and her eyes were already red. For the first time in my life, I felt sorry for her.

“Did you receive any ransom calls or letters?”

“No, even if we received something like that, I would have given everything to get her back,” Dad answered. The room descended into silence after he said that when his eyes turned around to face me. He looked at me with regret and guilt, which confused me. “Eleanor,” he spoke, and everyone’s attention in the room turned towards me. “I am sorry for the way I have treated you all these years.”

I was momentarily shocked to hear those words come out of his mouth. “Dad?” I wasn't even sure if I was dreaming or if he truly spoke those words. He got up from his seat while Karla moved away to give him space, he walked towards me and stood in front of me, making me arch my neck to look at him.

“After losing one daughter, I have finally come to realize the importance of having your own children, Eleanor. All these years, I was in denial, but you have always had a spot in my heart,” he said as he knelt down in front of me.

I tried to get up from my place, but he placed his hand on my knees, preventing me from getting up. “Dad, pl…please get up.” I was getting uncomfortable to see my father on his knees in front of me.

“No, Eleanor. I should have treated you equally, I should have cared for you after your mother died. Even though I didn't like your mother, I loved you, Eleanor. You are my child, and I am sorry for everything I might have told you earlier.” he said, his eyes had teared up, and so was mine. I never in my wildest dream, imagined that my father would change and actually love me.

“I should have treated you like how I treated Avery, Eleanor. Even though you are not my blood.” Karla spoke as she got up and walked towards me as well. “But we are making a promise today. Even after we find Avery, we would still love you as well.”

I couldn't believe it. Just when I thought that I wouldn't have a family, my dad and stepmother accepted me. “Dad, please get up,” I said, and pulled him up and got up from my place as well. “Do you truly mean that?” I asked him, my eyes shining with hope, and a soft smile appeared on his face.

“Yes, sweetheart. I know you might be skeptical right now. But every human makes mistakes, and it takes time to realize it. Just think of it like that.” he reassured me. My eyes glossed over with tears while a blissful smile formed on my face. Without a second thought, I launched myself into his arms, and he immediately hugged me back.

My heart swelled with happiness and a sense of wholeness that I never thought I would get to experience. “I…I don't know what to say.” I mumbled against his chest, and this made his chest vibrate in laughter.

“You don't have to say anything, Ellie. Just know that I am here for you and that I will always love you.”