The Secrets We Keep

"Eliza! Time to get up!" I hear mom shout from downstairs. I sigh and open my eyes slowly. Today is the day I have been dreading for as long as I can remember.

I sit up and stare at the pictured on my wall. I hear the door downstairs open and close. Grady.

Stair's creak and my door flies open before I am consumed by a much larger body than Grady though.

"Happy birthday little sister." Elliot murmurs in my ear as he crushes me.

"Elliot. Can't breathe." I gasp. He pulls back and chuckles standing upright again.

"Get dressed and come downstairs." He orders leaving me alone.

I stand up and walk to my closet. Standing in front of the mirror I sigh.

I grab jeans and a long sleeve black shirt before turning away from the closet. I shove the clothes on and comb my hair. I walk over to the photographs hanging on my wall. I touch her face and swallow thickly.

"Happy birthday Belinda." I whisper.

Turning around I make my way downstairs. I smell bacon and eggs before I round the corner.

"There she is!" Katarina says hugging me tightly.

"Where is Grady?" I ask looking around.

"He should be here any time now." Mom muses from the stove.

As soon as the words leave her mouth the door opens, and he comes in.

"Happy birthday sweets." He grins holding up donuts. I smile and give him a one-armed hug.

"Let's eat." Dad cheers.

I zone out while my family talk and laugh. Celebrating me today. I glance at Katarina, whose watching me. I smile and she nods.

"After breakfast we're heading dress shopping for tonight." Grady says with his mouth full of food.

"Yes. I will take you and Eliza. Everyone else will get ready here." Katarina nods.

My stomach bottoms out at the mention of tonight. It's a party we have on the night of a full moon, except tonight I could find my mate.

I'm not excited though. My family knows this. I know what kind of men are out there. The worst kinds. I find myself thinking of Belinda again.

I shove my plate away and Elliot sighs looking at me.

"This is your ticket out of here kid."

You'll never have a mate as long as I am alive my delicate flower, you belong to me.

I shove back the memory and stand up.

"I'm ready to go when you are." I say walking out of the kitchen.

I wait by the door and Katarina and Grady finally meet me.

I follow them outside and to the car. Katarina has her own driver. I don't know much about her other than the fact that when she met Elliot, she came to live with us. She has a brother, but they don't speak, and it seems to upset her when she is asked about it.

Grady has been my best friend since we were pups. His parents died and mine took him in. He'll be 18 next month. Just in time for the winter solstice. He can't wait to meet his mate.

Like me he is stuck here. We will never be free. That much I know.

When we get to the dress shop, I follow them inside.

"Happy birthday me amor." A voice beams.

"Thank you, Lucy." I smile back kindly.

Lucy has been selling us gowns forever now. She's as old as my grandmother but she's so kind.

Katarina leads us down rows of dresses until she stops abruptly.

"What?" I ask. Grady nods slowly.

"This is it. This is your dress." She grins at me. I sigh when she removes it from the rack and carries it to the changing room. She ushers me in and hands me the dress.

I remove my clothes carefully, avoiding the mirror because of my scars. I pull the dress up my legs and zip it up. Keeping my eyes closed the entire time.

It feels heavy which means it's a ball gown. It's silky. I turn my back to the mirror and shove open the curtain. Opening my eyes, I am met with wide eyes and open mouths.

"It's perfect." They say in unison.

"Can we go now?" I pout.

"Shoes!" Katarina cries shooing me to go change again.

When I meet them again, we find a pair of shoes to match the dress and then we head back to the car.

"You're going to look so stunning." Grady gushes.

"It'll be a magical night." Katarina says dreamily. I scoff and look out the window. It's clear she lives a different life than I do.

She hangs my dress up and we relocate in the kitchen for presents and lunch before we have to start getting ready.

Grady hands me his first. I open it and gasp. It's a photo book and he filled it with pictures of the good days of my life.

Mom and dad hand me a small box with a bracelet inside. It has the birthstones of Elliot, Grady, my parents and I.

Elliot goes last. He seems uncomfortable. I take the box and open it. Covering my mouth with my hand.

Inside the box is a locket. It has our family photo in it from my 12th birthday. The last year before everything went wrong.

Tears fill my eyes and Katarina grins.

"Thank you." I whisper.

Standing I go over and hug them all. Lingering on Kat and Elliot.

"Come on." Kat says standing and taking my hand. "We need to start getting ready." I nod and follow her upstairs to my bedroom.

Kat gets her dress on first. It's red and silky but it's not a ball gown at all. It reaches her ankles, and she looks radiant. It brings out her fiery hair and blue eyes.

She sits on the bed, and I get to work on her hair and makeup.