Meeting Again

[Eliana’s POV]

I stare at the woman who is staring back at me. I barely recognize her and find myself wondering if she truly is me. Her hollow eyes hold no emotion, nor does her perfectly painted face. Her lips, which should be turned up in a smile given how important a day it was, sit in a thin line, and her posture is almost similar to that of a mannequin.

Letting out a laugh of disgust, I realize that, in a way, I am a mannequin. I am a thing to be done with as anyone pleases. I had no right to want to even attempt to do anything for myself any longer anyway; Trent made sure of that long ago.

"What do you think, madam?" Gretchen, my personal maid, asks, "Do you like it?"

For a moment, I examine myself once more taking in the woman that I had become after all these years. Feeling hollow, I force a smile and turn to meet Gretchen's gaze.

"You’ve done a wonderful job, Gretchen," I respond. "Shall we get going? The ceremony should be starting soon."

"Of course, madam," Gretchen beams. "Please, let me help you."

Not waiting for a response, she quickly gathers my thick skirt into her arms so that I am able to stand without tripping.

"Let’s get going."

My voice holds no signs of happiness as I speak, and I find myself feeling slightly remorseful since Gretchen is the one who has to be the recipient of my coldness. This had nothing to do with her, and it wasn’t her fault, but anytime I tried to find it in me to feel anything, I would find myself drowning and wanting nothing more than to disappear. It was better to keep all my emotions locked away in the end, and I had become a pro at doing just that.

"Thank you, Gretchen," I try as we make our way down the long corridor that leads to the banquet hall, where I was sure the Dupris' and all other Elites from around the East Coast were waiting for my grand entrance.

"No need for thanks, madam," Gretchen responds in embarrassment. "I am nothing more than a mere servant and must do as I’m told."

"That may be," I agree, suddenly feeling a bit of softness towards this young girl who, like me, had no choice in how her life should be. "But you do it with a smile on your face and your head held high. That’s something to be proud of."

At my words, Gretchen’s face flushes a bright pink, and I again feel myself softening ever so slightly.

"You praise me too much, madam."

"Have you finally arrived?"

Feeling my wall go back up and slam into place, I lift my gaze to meet Rosemary’s angry one.

"I’m sorry for wasting your precious time, my queen," I murmur, bowing my head. "It wasn’t intentional."

"Insolent girl!" Rosemary growls, storming forward. "You know how important today is, and yet you’re wasting time."

"It was a mistake."

Lifting my head once more, I take in Rosemary’s red face, as I’m sure she fights the urge to beat me; after all, that was what she was best at since I came to stay in Brawn. However, she contains her violent urges simply to keep up appearances. How could the bride of her son walk down the isle with a handprint on her face, right?

"Just you wait," Rosemary growls. "Once this wedding is over, I'll teach you a good lesson."

"I’m sure you will show me exactly where my place is and what power you possess."

I knew that I was pushing it, but something about today left me feeling like I was walking a plank. Did it truly matter if I pushed? My life was over once I said "I do" anyway.

I wait as Rosemary opens her mouth to speak, but she stops as trumpets sound from within the banquet hall.

"It’s time," she snaps, turning on her heel and plastering the fakest of smiles on her face. "Come."

Nodding, I take my place behind Rosemary, as it was customary for the future Luna queen to walk behind the present queen. Once we reached the front of the room, where Trent would be waiting, she would hand over the jade amulet to me to show the rest of the pack that I would soon rule over them. After that formality was taken care of, I would repeat my vows with Trent, and then we would have to smile and pretend that everything was perfect.

"Don’t make a fool of yourself," Rosemary warns as guards pull the doors in front of us open so that I get my first view of the wedding hall and all those who are present. "Understood?"

"Yes, madam."

Fixing my gaze straight ahead, I wait until Rosemary is moving and then fall into step behind her while everyone ohs and ahs over just how beautiful the future alpha's bride is. From their expressions of happiness and jealousy, they would never know just how truly unfortunate I was to be in this position. If given the opportunity, I would gladly switch places with them.

As this thought hits, a familiar smell hits my nose, snapping my attention to the side just in time to lock onto dark gray eyes that are filled with hurt and confusion.

"Zane," I whisper, finding that the room around me is suddenly beginning to disappear until he is the only thing that I see. "Why?"

There were so many questions that I wanted to ask. So much that I wanted to know. But it was already too late.

Snapping out of my daze, I tear my gaze away just as a hand wraps too tightly around my wrist, pulling me along while I find myself drifting back to the day that I last saw him. At that time, I had so much hope that one day I would be free.

What a fool I was then. Honestly, maybe we both were, but it was my most precious memory and probably the only time I ever truly felt happiness in my life, and there was no going back to that time no matter how badly I wanted to.