THE MEMORY

Desmond POV

The apartment reeked of bleach and regret.

I sat on the bathroom counter while Cole pressed gauze against the gash on my ribs, his face caught between concern and fury.

"You almost shifted," he said.

"I didn't though."

"Close enough that I could smell it from across campus." He taped the bandage harder than necessary. "What happened?"

"She cornered me in the library. Asked if we knew each other before." I stared at the cracked tile. "She showed me the photo."

Cole's hands stilled. "Which one?"

"The one from when we were kids. Someone scribbled my face out."

"Matthew."

"Has to be. He wants her rattled."

"It's working."

I didn't argue. I have carefully kept my distance for five years, and one conversation had nearly shattered everything.

Cole followed me into the living room. Our apartment was just two bedrooms, with minimal furniture, and nothing personal. Werewolves didn't do permanent.

"Matthew called while you were gone," Cole said.

My stomach dropped. "What did he want?"

"To remind you that you have a job. Find the rogue, eliminate the threat, come home." He dropped onto the couch. "He also mentioned that getting distracted by 'human complications' would be extremely disappointing."

"She's not a complication."

"To him she is." He leaned forward. "Desmond, I was there five years ago. I saw what losing her did to you."

Three months unable to shift properly. The mate bond breaking had felt like losing a limb. An excruciating pain that never faded.

"But she doesn't remember you," Cole continued. "The magic worked."

"Did it?" I moved to the window. "She's asking questions. Finding photos. Something's triggering her memories."

"Or someone's feeding them to her." He pulled out his laptop. "That photo didn't just appear. Someone put it where she'd find it."

"Who would do that?"

"Someone who wants the bond to resurface." He typed rapidly. "Which brings me to what I found today. Alicia's mother. Sarah Hart, formerly Sarah Bloodmoon."

The name hit like a punch. "Bloodmoon Pack?"

"Royal line. Direct descent."

I sat hard on the couch arm. "That's impossible. Alicia's human."

"Is she?" He clicked through documents—birth certificates, medical records. "Her mother left the pack at eighteen. Married a human. Had Alicia. Died when the kid was eight."

"Died how?"

"The official report says it was a car accident." He pulled up a police report. "Unofficial says animal attack. Found in the woods three miles from her house."

"A wolf killed her."

"Maybe. Or maybe she was the wolf."

I stood, pacing. "You think Sarah was murdered?"

"I think it's suspicious."

"What does this have to do with Alicia?"

Cole gave me a look. "If her mother was a werewolf, what does that make her?"

The question hung between us.

Mate bonds only formed between compatible wolves. Occasionally with humans carrying dormant genes. But I'd assumed Alicia was fully human.

"She can't be dormant," I said. "We would've known."

"Unless magic has been used to suppresse more than just her memories of you."

"That's not how it works."

"We've never seen pack magic used on someone with dormant genes. Who knows what it could do?"

If Alicia had dormant wolf blood, if magic had locked it away...

"Matthew doesn't know," I said slowly. "If he knew she was Bloodmoon royalty, he'd have taken her already."

"Which means we have limited time before he figures it out." Cole closed his laptop. "So what's the plan?"

"Keep her safe. Keep her away from Matthew."

"How? You can barely look at her without losing control."

"I'll figure it out."

My phone rang. Matthew.

I answered on speaker. "What?"

"Pleasant as always." Matthew's voice was smooth, calculated. "How's the rogue hunt progressing?"

"Still tracking."

"Interesting. I've received reports that you're spending more time at the university than in the woods."

"Following leads."

"Are you? Or are you following a certain athletic trainer?"

Cole and I exchanged glances.

"I don't know what you mean," I said carefully.

"Don't insult my intelligence. I have eyes everywhere." His tone hardened. "The Hart girl is not your concern. She's human. Beneath your station. Forget her."

"Already have."

"Good. Because I'd hate for her to become collateral damage."

The threat was clear. I gripped the phone tighter, fighting the growl building in my chest.

"Was there anything else?"

"Actually, yes. I'm sending Lena to assist with the rogue situation. She'll arrive tomorrow."

My blood went cold. "That's not necessary."

"I disagree. You've been there two weeks with nothing to show for it." He paused. "Unless you'd like to come home and explain your lack of progress in person?"

"Lena's fine."

"Excellent. She's looking forward to seeing you again."

He hung up.

"Well," Cole said. "That's bad."

"Lena's his enforcer. She's coming to help or eliminate problems."

"Which category does Alicia fall into?"

"Both." I grabbed my jacket. "I need to warn her."

"Warn her about what? You can't tell her about werewolves without violating pack law."

"I'll figure something out."

"Desmond, wait…"

But I was already gone.

I found Alicia in the parking lot behind the athletics building, leaning against her car, staring at her phone.

The photo. Someone had sent her the real one.

"Alicia."

She looked up. Her eyes were red.

"Is it real?" Her voice was rough. "That photo. Were we really..."

I should've lied.

Instead I nodded in affirmation.

She made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. "I don't remember you. How is that possible?"

"It's complicated."

"Everyone keeps saying that." She pushed off her car. "I'm tired of complicated. I want the truth."

"You can't handle the truth."

"Try me."

We stood three feet apart. Close enough to smell her shampoo, see the gold flecks in her eyes. Close enough that my wolf screamed at me to close the distance.

"Five years ago, your dad married my mom. We lived together for six months."

"We were step-siblings?"

"Yeah. And we were best friends."

"Just friends?" She held up her phone. "Because this doesn't look like 'just friends.'"

"We were young. Confused."

"Stop dancing around it."

"What do you want me to say, Alicia? That I cared about you? That leaving destroyed me? That I've spent five years trying to forget you and failing?" The words came out harsh. "Would that make this easier?"

She stared. "Why did you leave?"

"My mom thought it was best."

"Why?"

"Because staying would've been dangerous."

"For who?"

"Both of us."

She stepped closer. "You're still not telling me everything."

"No. I'm not."

"Why?"

Because you'd think I was insane. Because the truth involves werewolves and magic and a world you don't remember.

"Because some things are better left buried," I said.

"I don't believe that."

"You should."

We were too close now. I could feel the warmth of her skin and her pulse jumping in her throat. The mate bond, even broken, was pulling me toward her.

She touched my arm. Just a simple touch, but it sent electricity racing through me.

"I feel like I'm going crazy," she whispered. "Like part of my brain knows you but won't tell the rest of me."

"Alicia…"

"Do you feel it too?"

Yes. Every second. Every breath.

"No," I lied.

She dropped her hand. "You're lying."

"I'm protecting you."

"From what?"

A howl cut through the night. Distant but unmistakable.

Alicia jumped. "Was that a wolf?"

"We should get you home."

Another howl. Closer.

My wolf surged forward. I forced it down.

"Get in your car. Now."

"You're scaring me."

"Good." I grabbed her shoulders. "Go home. Lock your doors. Don't go anywhere alone."

"Why?"

"Please, Alicia. Just trust me."

She studied my face, then decided.

"Okay. But you owe me answers."

"I know."

She got in her car, started the engine. She rolled her windows down, "Be careful."

Then she was gone, and I was alone with whatever was hunting in the woods.

I walked toward the trees, letting my wolf surface. Eyes shifting gold, senses sharpening.

The scent hit immediately—rogue, old blood, and fury.

And underneath, recognition.

I knew this wolf.

I pulled out my phone, texted Cole: Found the rogue. You're not going to believe who it is.

Then I walked into the darkness.

Behind me, tires screeched.

Alicia's car. She'd come back.

And she was about to see everything.