An Unwavering Promise--Completed

Chapter Four

Alexander’s POV

Fear clouded Eleanor’s eyes as I studied them. I had never seen her act like this. Hearing her scream and thrash around in her sleep made me feel powerless. This was my mate, and she was suffering. Yet, I couldn’t help or save her from it. I let out a long breath as I contemplated the words she had just said. Nathan: her uncle. Nicholas’ twin. And possibly the mastermind behind the entire plan of freeing the Demon King, Azelun. She had just met him, kind of? How could you only ‘kind of’ meet someone?

“Kind of? What does that mean?” I asked.

She frowned at me and her eyebrows creased together. “Well, I was in the dreamlike state again. Like with Nicholas. Except, this time, it was totally black, and I couldn’t see Nathan. He said he could see me, however.”

Hunter let out a low growl, interrupting Eleanor, who looked up surprised. She then smiled gently and rested her palm on my shoulder.

“Thank you, Hunter,” she said sweetly. “I appreciate your concern, but you know I can handle myself and that Alexander and Rae will protect me too. It’ll be difficult for anyone to get her through the three of you.”

I let out a chuckle, feeling her response calm my wolf down.

“Anyway, he was saying all sorts of crazy things. I’m not sure he’s all mentally there,” she continued.

“What did he say?”

Eleanor paused and looked at her fingers. She seemed to be struggling with how to answer me, which only made me worry more.

“Can we just continue driving?” she asked, checking her phone for the time. “I don’t want to be late.”

Her voice was quiet and nervous, and watching her play with her fingers was a tell-tale sign that she was uncomfortable.

“I will, but only if you promise to tell me what’s on your mind. You’ve been more distant lately, and I don’t like it,” I replied firmly.

“That’s not what you were saying last night,” she murmured.

I let out a dry laugh. “Our bedroom is a little different. I’ve actually been meaning to ask you what’s been bothering you. There’s definitely been something these past couple of months. Just…” I rubbed my temples, ashamed to even admit my insecurity. “Just tell me it isn’t about Chalres being with Lily,” I finally stated through my teeth.

She looked up suddenly, her facial expression showing me that I had caught her off guard.

“What? No!” she practically shouted. “Nothing like that at all. I mean, I’m happy for him and all, but I certainly don’t want to be Lily. I want you, and I’m glad the Moon Goddess gave you to me. Please never doubt that. I was so relieved when I found out everything with Charles had been a lie. He wasn’t made for me like you were.”

The tightening in my chest faded, but there was still a small sliver of doubt and fear, and I thought it may be there forever. Our relationship had started off so rocky, and she had literally lived with another guy while I had been locked up, that I wasn’t sure I could ever believe she was mine. This gem of a woman was mine, and I wouldn’t let anyone take her from me. Especially not her other uncle. Nicholas had done so much damage already, I didn’t even want to wonder about what Nathan could do. This stint in the car was enough for me to never let her sleep again.

“Okay,” I finally said, realizing that I had been silent for too long. “We’ll get going, but please, Eleanor, please tell me what you’ve been thinking.”

“What if you stop loving me after you listen?” she said so quietly that I almost missed it.

I shook my head fiercely. “I could never. I will never stop loving you. No matter what you do.”

“Do you promise?”

Her small voice melted my heart, and I swiftly held out my pinky. “I pinky promise.”

Walking back over to the driver’s seat, I started the car, waited for an opening, and then pulled back onto the freeway towards the airport. I stayed quiet, knowing that she needed time before she’d be willing to share with me. I glanced over at her a few times before finally focusing on the road. Pressuring her with looks wouldn’t do any good.

Is it because she can’t trust me or doesn’t want to? I asked Hunter, knowing he would have more insight than me right now.

Well, the last time she was perfectly honest with you, you freaked out on her. You called her delusional and crazy. Can you really blame her?

I winced, knowing he was right. I guess I really shouldn’t have been so surprised, but it still hurt knowing that Eleanor, my Eleanor, kept secrets from me.

And you’ve told her everything in return?

Hunter’s comment caught me off guard.

That’s different. I attempted to counter.

Uh huh. Okay Kettle; meet your mate, Pot, over there.

I frowned, annoyed at my wolf.

I’m tired of hearing you b***h about our mate doing this or not confiding in you that. You have to rebuild the trust with her. And trust isn’t just built while she’s on her back. Just because you have her now doesn’t mean you stop pursuing her. She doesn’t owe you anything simply because we’re mates. She’s been an alpha far longer than she’s been your mate, and you need to remember that duality. Just like you. She will trust you when you prove to her why she should. I’ve told Rae everything, and vice versa. It’s not hard. Now stop griping to me and be a man. Be honest and truthful, but recognize your weaknesses and emotions so that she can make you better. Good grief. I’m not your therapist.

Hunter shut me out immediately after he finished his spiel. I almost missed our exit due to the verbal whiplashing I got from him. How my wolf was more mature than me, I’ll never know. But he did drop some truth into my lap, and I needed to listen to him.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.

Eleanor looked over, confused.

“I’m pressuring you to talk to me when you aren’t ready. And Hunter pointed out to me that the last time you were completely open and honest, I didn’t respond very well. So, if you’re nervous about it, I get it. But, you were right. And I’ll never doubt you again. I’m still sorry for what I put you through, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you,” I continued to gush.

Smiling, she leaned an arm over my shoulder and began running her fingers through my hair. Her nails scratched over my scalp, and it was a caring, intimate gesture.

“I know,” she then said after a few moments. “And I meant it when I said I had forgiven you for that incident. I appreciate your patience. I really do, and I’m sorry I’m so difficult. I’m–I’m just scared, I think, of what you’ll say. I want you to know what I’m experiencing but also not at the same time. I…” she trailed off.

“You’re what?” I asked gently as we pulled into a long-term parking lot, and I found a place to park our car. “It’s okay. I won’t judge you.”

She glanced over at me and sighed. “This is a much longer conversation than we have time for. And it’s more serious than I think the airport will allow.”

I broke out into a peel of laughter. “Do you forget that we can mindlink?”

Her eyes lit up, and she joined me in my laughter. “Oh my gosh! How did I forget? I feel so silly now!”

We continued laughing as I pulled our bags out and made our way to the bus that would lead us to the airport. Although it was a light-hearted affair, I felt the weight of her words crashing down on me. Something so serious that she didn’t even want to say it near others. Something so serious that she forgot about mindlinking and was fearful of my reaction. My brows knit together in worry the entire ride to the bus. We sat in silence both in the bus and in our minds. Hunter still wasn’t talking to me, so even though I was sitting next to my mate, I felt a sense of loneliness that I couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t until we made it to the Portland airport, passed through security, and sat in our seats at our gate that Eleanor finally opened up the link in our minds. She reached over to grab my hand and clutched it tightly.

“I’ve never told anyone what I’m about to tell you. I’m filled with shame at even the mere thought. Rae is the only one, and only because we share this body and mind,” she started through the mindlink.

“I’m listening,” I said as gently as I could.

I watched as she took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “I have this deep, dark feeling at the root of my being. It nags at me and threatens to take over at even the slightest movement. I can’t let go of myself at all, for fear it’ll take over completely.”

I pondered her words as they reverberated through my head. “Is it depression?”

“No,” she replied. “Though I wish it was that simple. It is a darkness. But, it feels, I don’t know, alive somehow.”

“Alive? How is that possible?” I returned.

I attempted to act casually, taking out a book from my backpack. We were surrounded by humans, after all, so I didn’t want to gain suspicion from anyone.

“I think there’s a dark entity in me that is threatening to change me into something else,” Eleanor finally confessed to me.