Chapter 2
My mother was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. “You and Alpha Austin were mates for two years. You cared for him so deeply back then. How can you just forget that now?”
I forced a small, bittersweet smile. “Maybe it’s the Moon Goddess’s way of telling us we’re not meant to be, so she made me forget.”
My mother sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. “Let’s head back to the packhouse.”
As we approached, a sleek black SUV was parked outside, and a stylishly dressed woman stood nearby, her aura calm and confident.
“Aunt Marie!” I called out, hurrying toward her.
My aunt turned, her sharp eyes scanning me with concern. “I heard you were injured during training. I was just about to visit you at the healing center. How are you already back?”
I shook my head, trying to downplay it. “I’m fine now. It’s cold out here; let’s go inside.”
The three of us stepped into the warmth of the packhouse. My mother brewed a pot of coffee, the rich scent filling the room, and handed a cup to Aunt Marie.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” my mother asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and mild reproach.
“I thought you’d be busy with the pack’s duties, so I didn’t mention it,” Aunt Marie replied, sipping her coffee. “Sis, I came back this time to take Ada to the New York Pack. She’s a talented warrior, and the city would be perfect for her to develop her skills. My mentor, Tommy Walker—”
“Absolutely not!” my mother interrupted, her voice sharp. “Ada is about to solidify her mate bond with Alpha Austin. She can’t just leave for New York.”
Aunt Marie raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
I jumped in quickly, “Mom, I’m not solidifying any bond. I want to go to New York with Aunt Marie!”
My mother’s expression darkened. “What are you talking about? If you don’t solidify the bond, what will you do with your future? Just stay here, and once the blood clot in your brain dissipates, you’ll remember everything and bond with Alpha Austin!”
With that, she retrieved a gold bracelet wrapped in blue silk and placed it on the table. It glinted in the light, a symbol of the mate token our families had exchanged.
Aunt Marie quickly stepped in to defuse the tension. “Ada, why don’t you go to your room and rest? We can talk about New York later.”
I reluctantly retreated to my room, my mind swirling. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I glanced at the calendar on the wall, one date circled in red.
January 25th.
It was supposed to be the day Alpha Austin and I would perform the marking ceremony, solidifying our bond.
I picked up a pen and drew a large X over that date. The day I had once anticipated was now one I dreaded.
A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and Aunt Marie entered. She sat beside me, her hand warm as she took mine. “I spoke with your mom. Maybe staying here is for the best. It’s not easy to find a true mate in this lifetime.”
I glanced back at the crossed-out date on the calendar. “What if he doesn’t truly want me as his mate?”
Aunt Marie paused, her gaze thoughtful. “Then let it go, Ada. Unrequited love is too exhausting, especially in our world.”
After she left, I lay in bed, staring at the moon outside my window until dawn broke.
---
The next morning, I waited for my mother to leave for her pack duties before taking the mate token bracelet and heading next door to Alpha Austin’s house.
He was in his uniform, washing up after a morning patrol. His broad shoulders and sharp jawline were as striking as ever, his aura commanding even in this casual moment.
“Alpha Austin,” I called, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest.
He turned to me, his dark eyes meeting mine. “Ada. What brings you here?”
I took a deep breath. “I heard from my mom that our families exchanged mate tokens. But I don’t remember any of it, and you also said we’re just neighbors. I think there must be some misunderstanding, so I’d like to return the token.”
His expression shifted, something deep and unreadable flickering in his eyes. He dried his hands and hung the towel neatly, his movements deliberate. “Ada, we grew up together. You’re a remarkable person. We did exchange tokens; your mother isn’t lying to you.”
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Yesterday, I said what I did because you’d just woken up, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you. The healer said the blood clot in your brain is temporary. Once it’s gone, you’ll remember everything.”
I shook my head, my resolve firm. “No one can say for sure. What if it never goes away? I don’t want to hold you back, Alpha Austin, so let’s end this.”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. Instead, he asked, “Does your mother know about this?”
I nodded without hesitation. “She knows.”
I handed the gold bracelet to him. “Keep it safe, Alpha Austin. Don’t lose it.”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite name—regret, frustration, maybe even guilt. After a long pause, he pushed the bracelet back toward me. “Hold onto it for now. I’ll take you to see a specialist in the city tomorrow, and we’ll talk after we get the results.”
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