Lycan's Affection

Eleanor swallowed, her eyes wide. She took a fearful step back, but Conaan moved away, a small dangerous smile playing on his lips. He put his hand in front of his hair and pushed it all back, showing his face.

Eleanor slowly took him in. Dark green eyes, small pale pink lips and the scar. It didn't destroy his features, it just made him look like the man you would want to avoid.

"I know you remember that night. I saw it in your eyes when you hurled that cup at me. It is because you know I wouldn't charge at you. The wolves may be foolish but you know we are not. We can smell you out."

She swallowed, her mind reeling. She'd known. She did not forget, that night had been...fresh on her mind. And even when she started to hear about the lycan's rapidly conquering werewolf packs every other day, she knew they would not come to her. The least she had expected however, was that she would end up here. The place she dreaded the most.

"Conaan," she said again, moving towards him, her fists clenched beside her.

He laughed, shaking his head. "It was a defining moment for you. The beta lycan's daughter ran away from home to a man she'd met once at a thanksgiving ceremony. The forbidden love was thrilling, eh? Lying to Alexander was thrilling, Eh?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," she said, her nails digging into her palm.

He laughed, an almost hysterical laugh. "Sure. You do not."

They both said nothing more, her breaths fast and rapid. Everything came back to her, hell, none of it ever left.

The night she has first seen Xander, the nights after that, the letters, and then the sudden announcement. She was to be mated to the Lycan prince. She was his rightful mate.

Conaan closed his eyes, then untied the robe around him, letting it fall in a bundle of silk to the floor. He was left in only the slacks he'd thrown on, but this time she was too perplexed to avoid looking at him.

A black ink design covered his right shoulder in a round design. It was the lycan sign, and within it, his own mame.

"You still do not remember, Eleanor?" His voice was soft, but from the look on his eyes, she could tell it was just the calm before the storm.

She swallowed. "I do not remember."

He turned to her, his eyes searching hers till she had no option but to look at him. There was pure disappointment, pure anger, and an unfiltered rage he had decided to express with nothing but his eyes.

Slowly, he walked away from her path, then raised a single finger to the door.

She didn't move, perplexed as to what he wanted.

"Get out," he said simply, his eyes calm.

Eleanor swallowed, then moved slowly to the door and ushered herself out.

Conaan closed his eyes again as Brandon came to the door with a new robe in his hand.

"Your Highness."

Conaan turned to the door as Brandon walked in, taking in the scene before him.

"Hand me the robe and see yourself out."

Brandon immediately nodded, knowing better than to ask questions. He handed the robe to Conaan, then walked away, his head lowered.

Eleanor sat on the edge of her bed, her hands balled into fists in front of her. She knew everything, but what was the use? It has been years aleady. Why would Conaan want to look for her now when he could have moved on just as easily?

She closed her eyes, the night coming back to her in a striking flash.

"Father. Father, please. I love someone else. I love him and..."

"Silence! Eleanor, I put my trust in you!" Grayson yelled, knocking off the glasses on the table in front of him. She had come in right after the ceremony of her mate bond with the prince, something she did not even know about, someone she has never even seen before.

"But father. It is my life! I love Alexander and I can not..."

"I said, silence!" He turned swiftly, the back of his palm making contact with her cheek. It sent her to the floor, her hair falling in front of her, her hands the only thing to break her fall.

She looked up, the cut from her lip slightly bleeding.

"You are a lycan! You are a lycan! Do I need to repeat it more? How dare you fall for a werewolf and try to reject the prince? How dare you tell me about it! How dare you have the guts to do this?"

She swallowed, tears filling her eyes as he leaned down to her height.

"You are going to get mated to the prince. If you do not, I swear, I will lead the soldiers to destroy that wolf myself!"

She met his eyes, and without a word, peeled herself off the floor and stormed out the giant chamber, her hair flying behind her.

Eleanor opened her eyes, her breath failing. She hadn't seen him in all those years. Ever since she left that night. Ever since she did the worst she could do and stormed out of the lycan territory.

At first, living with wolves had been hard. It was too warm for one. But now, she couldn't even brave the cold anymore.

She felt her eyes moisten up, just as a small knock came on the door.

She looked up, and Conaan let himself in, his eyes scanning her. She immediately stood up, biting down on her lower lip.

"Conaan."

"Get ready. The day after tomorrow, we will be going to see Alexander."

Her eyes widened, and he turned away and turned the knob.

"Conaan...you know why I did it, right? I was in love and..."

"You were so in love you felt mutilating my face was best?" he said, turning to her.

She went quiet, but he simply turned away again.

"He loved me too. I loved him and he loved me and...."

"Then what about me?" He asked, turning, his back leaned on the door. "Tell me. What about me, Eleanor?"

She swallowed, but said nothing, her chest heaving. He took slow steps towards her, till she could scent the slight musk, till he could smell her again. His hand came up to her shoulder, then slowly up to her neck, forcing her to look up to him.

"You ran away all those years. The least I expected was a man who would do anything for you." His eyes followed the movement of his hand against her skin, before he lifted his eyes to meet hers. "Like I would have."

She swallowed, and he suddenly tucked his hand away into his robe then turned away.

"Get ready. I am taking you back," he said, closing the door behind him.