Promise Me

[Eliana’s POV]

A soft breeze blows, causing the daffodils that surround me to tickle my skin as I stare off in the distance, waiting for the familiar figure that I have come to hold dear. He promised to come no matter what today since it was my birthday, but so far there hasn’t been an appearance.

My birthday… Ha, this was the first time I had ever actually been the slightest bit excited about celebrating it, and it only took me sixteen years to get here.

Since a long time ago, I had deemed the day I was born as the day that my misfortune had begun. Born to a bloodthirsty tyrant and a whore, I was considered a disgrace and a reminder of infidelity that I had no choice in.

Maybe if my father hadn’t been so desperate to fuck any woman that showed him even the slightest bit of interest, I wouldn’t have been brought into the cold palace to be used as a pawn to unite the packs of Elgin and Brawn.

Shivering, I try to forget the cold eyes of Trent Dupris, the future alpha of Brawn. He was a good twenty years older than me, but those eyes that took me in were full of hunger and malice. I knew that if I were to truly be given away to him when I turned eighteen, my life would become a living hell.

"If only I had been given a wolf," I whisper, burying my face in my knees so that my long brown hair cascades around me like a shield that will protect me from the painful emotions that are threatening to drown me. "Maybe then Father wouldn’t just throw me away to some foreign pack that wants me to simply create a strong heir, but after that, what would happen to me? Would I just be thrown away as I always was? Or would I be kept to become a baby-making machine?

None of those outcomes sounded ideal, but who was I to fight when I had no power?

Taking in a shaky breath, I try to push away the suffocating feeling of foreboding that I always felt when I thought of my future. Today wasn’t the day for this, today was the day to celebrate with the only person who brought me peace and comfort in the darkness that was my life.

As if summoned by my distinct need for his presence, Zane appears, and his comforting scent of aftershave and musk reach my nose.

Letting a small smile play across my lips I wait until he comes into full view in front of me.

As he stares down at me with his hooded gray eyes, I find myself getting lost in him. Even though I had known him for many years, I still couldn’t stop myself from taking him in like it was the first time I saw him all over again.

"Stared enough?" he smirks, causing his tan face to light up. "I feel like I’m being violated by your eyes."

"Who would want to violate you?" I grumble, blushing and tearing my gaze away. "I’m not like your many admirers."

This much was true. Since he was young, Zane has always been the center of attention. With his good looks and open personality, women easily gravitated toward him. However, none of them were ever able to win his affections, and that was something I was thankful for.

"Of course my little Lana isn’t like them," Zane chuckles, holding out a large hand to me. "Are you just going to sit there, or are you going to give me a hug? We haven’t seen each other in quite a while."

Letting a slow smile spread across my face, I grab his hand and feel a wave of warmth rush through me, eliminating any lingering feelings of unease and sorrow that I may have been feeling.

Once I’m on my feet, I wrap my arms around Zane’s waist and hug him, burying my face in his broad chest so that his scent wraps around me and the sound of his heart soothes me.

"I’ve missed you," I whisper, not daring to look up to see what expression he could possibly be making due to my words. "I’m glad you managed to make time for me today."

"Of course I did," he responds, pulling me close. "How could I possibly miss my little Lana’s sixteenth birthday?"

"It’s nothing special." I grumble, feeling my cheeks flush.

"Nothing special?"

Gasping, I find myself being pulled back just enough so that Zane can take me in with a disapproving look on his face.

"How is this day not important?" he demands, clearly upset with me. "It is the day that you came into the world; it is..."

"A reminder of my illegitimacy," I finish for him.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to think of yourself that way?" Zane sighs, lifting a hand and touching my cheek. "No matter what others say to you, that is never true. You are…"

"I’m what?"

I wasn’t quite sure why I wanted to hear what he said, but something about the look on his face left me on edge. What exactly was it that he couldn’t say?

There had been many moments like this with him. Each time it would be after I said something that he didn’t approve of, but each time he would start, he would abruptly stop. No amount of bugging would get him to finish after that, but I still couldn’t help but push.

"Now isn’t the time," Zane mutters, shaking his head. "Not yet."

"What? Why?"

Instead of responding, he begins to dig in his pocket and pulls out a small box.

Gasping, I watch as he holds it out to me with a look of both excitement and anticipation on his face.

"Are you going to take it?" he asks when I continue to not move. "My arm is getting tired."

"Oh, right." 

Extending a shaky hand, I take the box and stare down at it as if it were a foreign item that I wasn’t familiar with.

"Open it."

Lifting my gaze, I once again take in Zane’s uncomfortable expression. What in the world was in this box that would leave him like this? This most certainly wasn’t the cool and sure man that I had grown to know.

Slowly, I look back down and open the box.

Eyes growing wide, I take in the golden chain that rests against a velvet pillow. It’s nothing special, but to me, it is the most exquisite bracelet that I have ever seen.

"Is this really for me?" I ask, lifting my gaze to Zane. "It couldn’t have been cheap."

"Price doesn’t matter," Zane assures me, lifting the chain out of the box and placing it on my wrist. "Not when it comes to my little Lana."

With each word that leaves his lips, I feel my heart rate kick up. Could now be the time to express my feelings? The atmosphere around us felt just right.

"Zane," I begin, but stop as he shakes his head.

"Not now," he repeats, giving me a serious look. "There’s something that I need to tell you and something I want you to promise me."

I wasn’t sure why, but the way he said the words left me with an onslaught of emotions that I couldn’t quite process. Why did Zane suddenly look so serious, and why did that look leave me feeling so uneasy.

"What’s wrong?" I ask when he continues to stay silent. "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Little Lana," he begins, reaching out and grabbing my hands. "There’s something I’ve been keeping from you for some time now."

"Go on."

Even though I knew I didn’t want to hear what came next, I was going to be told anyway, so I wanted to get it over with.

"I’m being sent to the battlefield," Zane sighs, his expression growing serious. "My father has decided that in order to prove my worth, I must come back a hero."

"But..." I begin, not wanting to accept this. "Why do you need to do something like that? Can’t you simply take on the family business?"

From what I knew, Zane came from a family of merchants that owned a few shops in Brawn. They lived comfortably, and Zane was meant to take over once his parents retired.

"Why have they suddenly decided to send you off to war?"

I knew that it wasn’t cute to throw a tantrum, but the thought of losing the only light in my life left me shaken beyond belief.

"Please, don’t leave me."

"Little Lana, listen to me!" Zane gasps as sobs begin to overtake me.

"No! I don’t want to!" I cry. "No, you can’t leave me without you I’ll die, without you…"

"Little Lana!"

Before I can react, Zane’s lips are crashing into mine, stopping any further protest that may escape me. For a moment, I can’t process what is happening and find myself wondering if this was all a dream.

"Have you calmed down now?" Zane asks, pulling away while I continue to stare dumbly at him. "Please listen to me. I didn’t agree to this for my family, I did it for you!"

"For me?" I whimper, finally coming back to my senses. "Why on earth would you do this for me? I don’t want that!"

"If I prove myself, then I have a chance of taking you away from King Henry’s clutches." Zane continues, his eyes growing dark. "Please believe in me."

"But…"

"No, buts, Little Lana," Zane murmurs gently. "Just trust in me and wait for me, okay?"

"Okay," I respond, unable to think of anything else to say. "I’ll wait for you."