Introductions

August

August pushed through the door of the Health Center, coming as soon as his mother had let him know that the girl was awake and talking. He’d been in such a rush to get over to see her, he hadn’t let Isabella tell him much. For some reason he couldn't explain, the urge to see her for himself had compelled him to hang up the phone and jump up from his desk. Now, he did his best to slow his steps as he walked into the room, trying not to look like he was in such a rush, even though his heart was hammering in his chest.

The curtain around the bed was pulled back so that as soon as he stepped through the door, his eyes met the large blue ones staring at him from across the room. Her black hair stuck out around her pale face, and an inquisitive expression let him know she wasn’t sure what to think of him. His mother was standing at the foot of the bed, a smile on her face.

Words lodged in his throat as he wasn’t sure who to speak to first or what to say. The girl set a bowl and spoon she’d been holding on a tray next to the bed, the spoon clattering against the glass bowl as her hand quivered slightly. Was she… frightened? Of him?

“August,” his mother said. “Thanks for coming over.”

“Of course,” he said, glad that his voice didn’t expose the raw feelings that were churning inside of him. Whatever it was about this girl that had him all worked up, he couldn’t say, but it was uncomfortable in the same way swallowing a large pill as a child had been. Even though he didn’t particularly like it, he knew it was for the best.

“Mercy, dear, this is my son. August.”

“H-hi,” she said as he took a few steps over toward the bed.

August was about to say he was glad to meet her when his mother added, “The Alpha.”

Immediately, the girl’s posture changed. Despite the IV in her arm and the blanket on her lap, she swiftly moved into a crouching position on the bed, her knees bent beneath her slender form, and her head touching the bed, as if it were the floor and she was cowering before him.

His mom reacted more quickly than he did. “Oh, honey, you don’t need to do that,” she assured the girl, helping her back beneath the blanket and checking the IV. “Sweetheart, please be careful. We don’t need to pull this loose.”

“I’m… sorry,” she said, her eyes flickering from his mother to him. “It’s just… you said Alpha. Aren’t Alphas revered?”

August let a nervous chuckle slip from between his lips. “Not like that,” he said, approaching her bed. She didn’t move this time, but then, his mother still had a hand on her shoulder. August extended his hand. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?” He thought his mother had called her something, but he wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know,” she said, her tiny hand touching his, sending a spark of electricity all the way to his elbow.

“You don’t know?” he asked, puzzled.

She shook her head as she released his hand, leaving his palm cold. “I don’t remember.”

“August, she doesn’t remember anything,” his mother explained.

His eyes widened slightly but then he caught himself and lowered his eyebrows. No need to make a big deal out of it.”That’s okay,” he said with a shrug. “It’s probably temporary.”

His mother agreed. “I’m sure it is. We’ve decided to call her Mercy.” She smiled at the girl, and the corners of her mouth upturned slightly in response. Isabella picked up the bowl which contained just a small amount of soup in the bottom and patted Mercy’s shoulder. “I’ll let you two talk.”

August waited for his mom to walk out of the room before the awkward silence that invaded the space overcame him, compelling him to talk. He cleared his throat and asked, “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”

She was clearly terrified of him, and he had no idea why that would be. But then, if she didn’t remember anything, he might never find out. All of the questions he’d been preparing to ask her since she’d been brought in were pointless now. Where had she come from? Why was she running? Was she safe? Did she want to go back or was there somewhere else they could take her? Hell, she didn’t even know the basic, first question he wanted to ask--what was her name?

“How are you feeling?” He realized as soon as the words came out of his mouth it was essentially the same question he’d already asked. He tried to hide the embarrassment that threatened to redden his face.

“I’m okay.” At least she hadn’t said the same thing in response to the similar question as she’d said before. “Tired.”

“Oh,” he said, assuming that meant she wanted to go to sleep. “Well, I won’t keep you up.”

“No, it’s fine!” she said, looking a little embarrassed herself. “I didn’t mean…. It’s fine.”

“Okay, well, uh, you can stay here as long as you need to. I mean not here--in the Health Center. Well, you can stay here. But I meant in the pack.” August rubbed the back of his neck. Why in the world did he sound like a tongue-tied prepubescent boy who’d never spoken to a girl before? This should be easy for him! He talked to pretty girls all the time.

Did he think she was pretty? She was unusual looking, and her hair didn’t look natural. But yes, she was pretty. More than that, there was just something about her that made him want to protect her from the world.

“Thank you,” she said, her smile wider than before. “I appreciate your hospitality, Alpha August.”

The way her lips formed his name made it sound sweeter than it ever had before. Again, his face threatened to turn red. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll let you get some rest now.”

“All right,” she said, looking up at him between her eyelashes before dropping her eyes again. “Thanks.”

“Have a good night.” He gave her an awkward wave and then headed for the door, knowing he was going to go back over this conversation a million times and kick himself for sounding like a big dork.

Maybe when she woke up again, she wouldn’t remember how silly he’d sounded during their first conversation. Did amnesia work that way? He didn’t think so.

As he walked back toward his office, one thing was for sure: he was never going to forget Mercy.