CHAPTER 8. Jigsaw of Memories.

The air in the room was thick with expectation and anticipation. They all wanted to know what Talia had learned. Brodie had some idea as he was linked to her.

She felt terrible but she really wanted to be alone for a while and didn't want to talk about it. She needed to take a beat and process it first.

"I know you want answers but honestly I'm exhausted and could do with some time on my own.", Talia looked at Dr. Stewart, "Do you think I could leave? I would like to be back in familiar surroundings."

Violet was about to protest. After what she had just witnessed she wanted Talia to stay another day or two.

"Please? I'm fine. I want to be at home.", Talia opened her eyes wide and pouted slightly. This trick had work since she was a young child.

"OK darling, if the doctor agrees then we'll take you home now." Talia pumped her fist in her mind then turned to face the doctor.

"Physically there is nothing stopping you. I'd like you to make an appointment to follow up once the blood work comes back but otherwise I'm happy for you to be discharged.", Talia smiled broadly at him, she knew there was a reason she liked him. 

"No problem doc! Let's get going.", her eyes landed on Brodie. 

Her parents sensed that she needed to speak to him so they made their excuses and left with Dr. Stewart. 

"Hey. Thanks, you know for being here. It means alot. You're the first person besides my parents who has cared for me... So yeah, I just wanna say thanks." Talia looked up at his face, there was nearly a foot in height difference.

She hesitated for a minute before appearing to make a decision. Talia suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. 

Brodie stood completely still, in shock from this unexpected move from her. His body relaxed as he returned the embrace. It felt so good. Her body molded into his perfectly. 

"Anytime Angel.", he murmured. She looked at him quizzically. 

"That's the second time you've called me Angel.", the warmth from him calling her this spread through her. 

"Yeah well... I figure it suits you. You don't mind do you?", he could hold her like this forever. 

"No I don't mind.", Talia whispered as she nuzzled closer to his chest. 

Although she'd used feeling tired as an excuse before, when she had got back to her house a overwhelming tiredness hit her. 

"I think I'm going to run a hot bath then have a nap.", Talia gave her parents a quick hug and made her way upstairs to the bathroom. 

She turned the taps on and poured muscle relaxing bubble bath in. As she was waiting for the tub to fill, she went through to her room and looked out a fresh change of clothes and put her hair up in a messy bun. 

Sinking into the hot water Talia was completely submerged in the bubbles. It was the most relaxed she'd felt in a day or two... Almost. The memory of two strong arms holding her and a hard chest against her caused the flutterings in her stomach to return. 

Talia closed her eyes and went over the memories she had pulled from the locked box in her mind. 

Her parents had loved her. They hadn't chose to leave her. She still didn't know what had happened to them, whatever it was, it was her fault for not being normal. 

She didn't feel like she was out of the ordinary. As she lay there she stretched and wiggled her fingers. No, there were no beams of light shooting out her fingertips, nothing was levitating around her. There were no super strong metal claws appearing. Talia laughed at herself. There had to be a mistake. 

Her mind went to what the shadow stranger had said. He'd found a way to cloak her mate bond from them or theirs from her. So she had a mate out there but wouldn't be able to form the bond. Talia thought of Brodie.... That would be nice if it was him. A smile spread across her face. 

Brodie had gone home to let Talia rest but he himself was restless. He had found his father. 

"Doc Stewart asked her about her memories of before she came here. She could remember small bits about her parents...her life with them.", he was sat in the Alpha's office with Hudson, sitting across the desk from one another. 

"And...did her memories shed any light on why her healing is different, more advanced.", he was very curious about this girl. He felt guilty that he hadn't paid any attention before. 

"You could say that.", Brodie ran his hand through his silver hair and rubbed his chin, pulling his face down. 

"Talia remembered her parents were terrified of someone. That person wanted to take Talia from them. They wanted to use her as a weapon, convinced that she has some sort of abilities.", his brows furrowed at the thought of it. As long as had breath in his body noone was going to take her away from him. 

Hudson digested what his son had just said before replying,"Do you think she is special? Does she show signs of being extraordinary apart from the enviable healing?".

Brodie's face changed at this line of questioning. It softened and his eyes that were as blue as ice now held warmth. Hudson didn't miss this and a ghost of a smile played across his lips. 

"Oh, Talia is certainly extraordinary but not in that sense that I have seen anyway.",Brodie's heart beat a little faster when he thought of her. 

"Thank you for telling me son. Keep me up to date if anything else comes to light.", Hudson wanted to ask him about how he felt about this little orphan girl but he refrained. Brodie would tell him when he was ready. 

Brodie went back to his room and lay on the bed. His mind was jumbled. Could it be that Talia really was more supernatural than the rest of them?

Her bond has been cloaked. How does someone go about that? Is it possible? The thought of her finding a mate overwhelmed him. He was simultaneously furious and heartbroken. 

Brodie couldn't relax. His foot was tapping while he lay there. He jumped up and went to the shower, scrubbing until it was starting to hurt. 

After getting changed into grey tracksuit pants, a white vest and grey hoodie he still felt keyed up and anxious. 

'Talia? Are you awake?', Brodie decided there was only one way to settle himself, mind linking with her. 

'Hey, I'm just out the bath. Is everything alright?', she was busy drying her hair. 

'Yeah everything's fine. I thought we could go to the forest if you feel up to it?', if not he'd find an excuse to go to her house to check on her. 

'Sure! Let me finish getting ready. I won't be long.', she sprung up to sling on a a pale grey tracksuit. Talia checked herself in her vanity mirror. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. 

She was just added a slick of lip gloss and pinning her wavy hair off her face when Violet called to her. 

"Ali. Young Alpha is here to see you!", her voice was sing-songy and sweet. 

Talia raced downstairs. She came to a stop at the bottom step when she saw him standing just inside the doorway. No way! 

"We match!", was all she said. It was out of her mouth before she realised how silly it sounded and her cheeks blushed deeply. 

Brodie smiled, "Well would you look at that, so we do.", her pink cheeks were adorable. 

"Let's go! I'll see you later ma.", Talia shot her grinning mother a look and took Brodie's arm at the elbow to lead him out. 

Violet stood at the door and watched them leave, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!", she called after them in her sing song voice. 

Talia looked back at her laughing mother,'Urgh'. Embarrassing. 

The walk towards the forest was slightly awkward. She wanted to break the tension but wasn't sure how to. Talia hadn't been in a situation like this before so she said the first thing that popped into her head. 

"Race you to the edge?", she looked up and smiled at him then took off running. 

"Oh its on!", Brodie practically growled the words as he started running.

Talia hadn't been going as fast as she knew she could but when she saw him catching up to her she picked up her pace. Soon she was flying. 

Brodie struggled to keep up with her. When he finally reached the tree line he was bent overly slightly, hands on his thighs, inhaling deeply. He looked up at Talia who was leaning up against a tree.

She looked slightly flushed with exhilaration but not like she had ran the way she had. Her eyes were sparkling. She was absolutely beautiful. 

"You need to run more. Build up your stamina. I'll train you if you like?", Talia was laughing at him. 

His male ego was dented by this, "You had a head start!", Brodie actually pouted. So cute. 

"C'mon I want a guided tour.", She waited for him to lead the way. 

They started along a well walked path. Somewhere along the way, their hands entwined with each other. Talia kept stopping to get a closer look at a plant she hadn't seen before or just to take in the stillness and beauty of the place. 

Brodie humoured her good naturedly. His eyes barely left her small frame. He was enchanted by her. 

The pair of them walked until they reached the stream. Brodie turned right. "Let's follow it. I'll take you to one of my favourite places. I think you'll love it Angel."

He led the way, pausing every now and again to check that she was OK but she was sure footed and kept up with him. Eventually they reached a small lake and clearing. 

Talia was stunned! Her breath hitched in her throat. Who knew that such a serene place existed within the dense woods. She walked towards the lake. Kneeling down she ran her hand through the crystal clear water. It was warmer than she expected. 

She turned around but Brodie was gone. Panic started to rise within her. Talia's insecurities started to surface. He had been messing with her. The affection he had shown was all a joke. 

Tears sprang to her eyes and she hugged her knees to her chest. She rested her head against her knees and sobbed silently. 

A gentle hand touched her shoulder. "Why are you crying Angel?", Brodie couldn't understand what had happened.

"You left. I knew that this was too good to be true, that you were just pretending to be my friend.", Talia sniffled sadly. Her voice was small as she lifted her head to look at him with her big watery eyes. 

His heart broke a little when he looked at her. He knelt down beside her. One of his hands behind his back. 

" I went to find something I thought you would like while you were at the lake. I didn't mean to be away so long and I'm not pretending to like you.", Brodie took his hand out from behind his back. 

"This is the Bloodrose that our pack is named after.", in his hand was a beautiful flower, deep crimson in colour. He put it in her hair and wiped away her tears. 

His hands lingered on her face, they looked into each others eyes, seeing into each others souls. Slowly Brodie lent closer too Talia until their lips met.....