Except he didn’t deign to grace her with his presence at breakfast. Mrs. Jacobs was her only company as she served Elena waffles with warm syrup, sausage, and a bowl of fruit. She insisted on piling Elena’s plate high, admonishing Elena’s protests by saying she was far too thin.
She ate it all, and even a second helping of fruit. There was no Linda here to tell her she’d grown fat. Valente would no longer growl at her about her appearances. Even Marco wasn’t there to leer at the line of her legs beneath the smart pantsuits.
No one was there for any of it anymore.
The thought crushed something deep within Elena, making her feel small and alone as she hadn’t experienced in years. Not since Corinna had been sent away leaving Elena behind to fend for herself in a family that did not love her as her mother did.
Even Leon had made no mention of her looks and whether he found them pleasing or not.
So used to the careful flattery of Alphas vying for her father’s favor, she realized it bothered her. He’d never once mentioned the strange hue of her eyes, the sun-starved paleness of her skin. Leon Marchetti didn’t even seem to care for the wealth of hair hanging down her back to her hips. It’d neveronce received anything other than a trim, something of a point of pride among the women in her family.
“Mrs. Jacobs,” Elena called as she stood from the table, carefully folding her napkin. When the dear woman poked her head back into the dining room, Elena continued, “I think I’ll go out again today.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, miss,” Mrs. Jacobs said as she came fully into the room, hands wringing at her waist. “Mr. Marchetti has said you’re not to leave the house.”
“But he said I could go shopping yesterday.”
“He didn’t give me a reason, miss. He’ll be home for lunch. Perhaps you can ask him yourself.” Seeing Elena’s deep scowl, Mrs. Jacobs tried to appease her. “There’s the library if you’ve a mind to read, and there’s a beautiful sunroom.”
Feeling far more crestfallen than she had reason to, Elena nodded and followed along in Mrs. Jacobs’ wake as she led Elena through the hallways to the library and showed her where the sunroom was. Thumbing through the titles held within the solid shelves of the bookcases, Elena’s lips canted downwards. Thrillers, a few horrors. Mysteries. Nothing she particularly liked. Roaming around the room, she came across a handful of books that held promise. Grabbing one, she went to the sunroom and curled up in one of the oversized chairs with her prize.
Warmth baked into her from the multitude of windows pouring sunlight into the space. It eased her into a relaxed state she hadn’t felt in an age as she melted into the thick cushions, fingers idly turning the pages. The book was decent, enough so it held her attention as the hours ticked by.
So caught up in faraway tales, she didn’t notice the change in the air as Leon entered. Didn’t note the way he stood in the doorway, watching her, until a prickling along her neck warned of a danger nearby.
Head swinging up and around, she caught sight of his darkform on the far side of the room, his hand already up to waylay her gasp of fear as the book tumbled free of her hands to her lap.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Leon said quietly, approaching her with a care that seemed strange. He plucked the book from where it had wedged itself between her hip and the side of the chair, turning it to view the cover. “Interesting choice. I wouldn’t have thought it your genre.”
“It’s not, but I don’t like the others at all,” Elena murmured as she straightened her dress and unfolded her body from its lazing position to sit upright. She was upset that she’d been caught so unawares. She needed to remain on alert with this man at all costs.
“Write up a list of what you would like. I’ll see to it,” Leon said as he held the book out to her. Forcing her to take it from his hand, to touch him as his massive paw covered nearly the entire paperback.
“You don’t have to go through the trouble.” Elena clutched the book tight, the expense and time tumbling through her mind as she tried to figure out what his game was now. Did he think to win her favor somehow? To what end?
“No trouble.” He held out his hand to her, beckoning her towards him. “Come, it’s time for lunch.”
Elena took the offered hand as she abandoned her book for later, despising the way her skin tingled and sparked as her palm slid across his. She snatched her hand back as soon as she was able, clasping them tight at her waist as she hurried ahead of him to the dining room.
Not standing on decorum, she took her chair without his help, arranging her body on the too tall seat with care as he entered the room. Elena didn’t heed his narrow eyed gaze, refusing to look at him as Mrs. Jacobs came bearing plates piled high with food.
Elena ignored him in favor of the succulent chicken, tuckinginto her food as if she were starved if for no other reason than it kept him at bay. Leon made no effort to engage her as long as she ate, and so she did. Long past the point of being sated, she finished off everything Mrs. Jacobs had given her.
Then Elena realized she still needed to broach the subject of going shopping.
There were so many small things that she needed in addition to clothing. Now that she’d had time to think about it, she didn’t want to be closed in with Beta guards without the slight protection of her herbal soap. Not if he was going to withhold her suppressants.
“I still need to get things,” Elena said quietly, almost hoping he didn’t hear her over the scrape and clink of his silverware.
“And I gave you some autonomy only to find out you immediately betrayed my kindness.” Leon didn’t bother looking at her, his concentration focused on his meal.
“Kindness?” Elena twisted her napkin in her lap, strangling it by degrees to keep hold of her temper.
“Yes, kindness.” Now he did look at her, catching and holding her gaze with the sheer power of him. “I’ve at least given you run of the house. I could just as easily lock you in a room. Then you wouldn’t need any clothing at all.”
“You wouldn’t…”
“I could, given enough reason. Gods know you’re off to a good start.”
