CHAPTER  :  THE BEST MOMENT 

Before Austin or Rosemary could react, a voice came from outside the door.

It was Maya.

“You two are spending the night together,” she said firmly. “No running off, Austin.”

Rosemary froze, her heart skipping. Austin turned his head toward the door and frowned. Maya’s voice held no room for argument. She wasn’t asking. She was ordering.

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

Then, with a sigh, Austin walked back to the bed and sat beside Rosemary. He didn’t say anything at first. Just sat there, quiet, thoughtful. Rosemary’s fingers fidgeted with the hem of the blanket, unsure of what to say or how to feel.

“I don’t know why she locked us in,” Rosemary whispered.

“Because she knows I always run from things,” Austin replied quietly, looking at her. “Especially things that scare me.”

Rosemary looked up slowly, and for the first time in a while, there was no wall between their eyes.

“You scare me, Rosemary,” he said.

She blinked, confused. “Why?”

“Because you make me feel things I shouldn’t feel.”

She opened her mouth to speak but stopped. She didn’t know what to say. Her chest tightened, her emotions a storm she couldn’t name.

Without thinking, Austin leaned in.

And this time, Rosemary didn’t pull away.

Their lips met—soft, hesitant at first—then deeper, stronger, as if they were both trying to make up for lost time, lost chances. The kiss wasn’t just about passion; it was confusion, anger, heartbreak, and something neither wanted to admit—hope.

But just as their lips moved together in perfect rhythm, the door clicked open with a loud creak.

“Whoa!” Alex’s voice broke the silence. “Okay! Didn’t expect... that.”

Austin instantly pulled back, breathing hard. He turned sharply toward the door.

Alex stood there frozen, eyes wide, awkward as ever. 

Rosemary’s face turned red as she quickly wiped her lips with the back of her hand and pulled the blanket closer.

Austin didn’t speak. He just stared at Alex with narrowed eyes. He was furious inside—but he hid it well, locking away the irritation behind a cool expression.

Alex cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt. I looked for the spay key... The moment I saw that Maya Has locked you two up.”

Austin stood up slowly. “We’re fine,” he said in a flat voice.

“Sure you are,” Alex muttered, glancing between the two of them before stepping back toward the door.

But as he left, a smirk played at the corner of his lips. He knew what he saw. And so did Austin.

When the door closed again, the air in the room felt heavier. The moment was broken. The kiss was over.

Austin sat beside Rosemary in silence, his eyes on her hands as she fidgeted with the blanket. But his mind wasn’t on the kiss anymore.

It was on that moment—the strange, magical moment when their fingers had brushed

A soft glow had appeared on their hands.

A silver light.

A strange symbol that pulsed for a second—then vanished.

A mark. A sign. One that only true mates were supposed to share.

But it disappeared so fast, Austin thought he imagined it.

Now, he kept sneaking glances at Rosemary’s hand, wondering if the light would return. Wondering if the bond between them had changed. If something was still trying to bring them together… or tear them apart.

“What are you staring at?” Rosemary asked softly, pulling her hand away.

Austin snapped out of his thoughts. “Nothing,” he lied.

But she didn’t believe him. She never did.

“I saw it too, you know,” she whispered. “The light. On our hands.”

He looked up, stunned. “You did?”

Rosemary nodded. “It scared me. I thought maybe I imagined it.”

“No,” Austin whispered. “It was real. I know it was.”

Their eyes met again. That same spark flickered between them, but before either could speak again—the door flung open.

Alex stepped in.

“Oh, wow. Sorry!” he blurted, seeing them close together again. “I didn’t mean to walk in on anything. But Maya told me to check on you two.”

Austin clenched his jaw. He was getting real tired of Maya and Alex showing up every time he got close to Rosemary.

“We were talking,” Austin said calmly. “That’s all.”

Alex’s eyes flicked to Rosemary’s flushed cheeks, but he didn’t say anything. “Well, I came for a reason. We need to talk, Austin. It’s important.”

Austin stood up slowly, throwing one last look at Rosemary before following Alex out of the room.

As they walked down the hallway, Alex lowered his voice. “There’s something you should know about the mark.”

Austin’s brow furrowed. “What about it?”

“The Elders ran more tests. That glowing mark on your hand and hers—it wasn’t a bond mark.”

Austin stopped walking. “What do you mean?”

“It was a warning mark,” Alex whispered. “From the Moon Goddess.”

Austin’s breath caught. “A warning?”

Alex nodded slowly. “She’s not just your mate…  

“What are you talking about?” Austin snapped.

Alex hesitated, then said, “Do you know what happens when a fated mate is paired with someone… not meant to exist?”

Austin’s heart dropped. “What are you saying, Alex?”

But Alex didn’t answer. Instead, he handed Austin a sealed envelope.

“This came from the council. It’s about Rosemary’s real identity.”

Austin took the envelope with trembling hands. As he started to tear it open, a scream echoed from the room behind them.

Rosemary.

Austin turned and ran.

Inside the room, the walls were shaking. Rosemary stood in the middle, eyes wide, breathing hard. A faint silver glow circled her fingers—and it was growing.

The blanket on the bed had caught fire… without a spark.

“What the hell?” Austin gasped.

Rosemary looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Austin, I don’t know what’s happening to me—!”

And just like that, she collapsed to the floor.

Austin held Rosemary tightly in his arms as he rushed through the hospital doors.

“Help! Someone help!” he shouted.

Doctors and nurses came running. Rosemary was burning hot, her body glowing faintly with that strange silver light. Her skin was cold and sweaty, her lips trembling as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

Austin didn’t care who saw them. He didn’t care who judged him. All he wanted was for her to be okay.

They wheeled her away, and Austin followed until a nurse blocked him. “Sir, you’ll have to wait outside.”

“But she’s my wife—!”

“She needs care now,” the nurse said firmly.

Austin stood frozen as the doors shut in his face. His heart pounded. His hands trembled.

He had messed up so many times. But this? This felt different. 

Hours Later...

The door finally opened, and a nurse peeked out. “She’s awake. You can see her now.”

Austin rushed inside.

There she was—lying on the hospital bed, awake, pale, her long hair spread on the pillow. Her eyes were open… but something was off.

She blinked at him, confused.

“Austin?” he said gently, stepping closer.

But she tilted her head. “Who are you?”

He froze. “What?”

“I… I don’t know you,” she whispered.

His heart dropped.

“It’s me. Austin,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Your husband.”

She pulled her hand away, fear creeping into her face. “No. I’m not married. I’m just… I’m just a girl. My name is Rosemary Lucy. I live in Cresthill with my mom and dad. I’m sixteen.”

Austin stumbled back. Sixteen? That was years ago.

“Rose,” he whispered, trying not to panic. “You’re not sixteen. You’re twenty-three. You’ve been living with me. You’re my wife.”

She shook her head quickly. “No! I don’t know you! Please, leave me alone!”

A nurse rushed in, seeing the panic. “Sir, please step outside.”

Austin didn’t argue this time. He left the room, eyes wide, mind racing.

She didn’t remember him. She didn’t remember anything after the age of sixteen.

“What’s going on?” he muttered to himself.

Then Maya appeared, holding a file. “Austin… I talked to the doctor.”

He looked up quickly. “Tell me she’s okay.”

“She’s okay physically,” Maya said slowly. “But her memories… they’ve been sealed.”

“What do you mean ‘sealed’?” Austin asked, confused.

“I mean it’s not just memory loss. It’s magical. Someone has blocked a part of her life. Everything after sixteen is gone. That includes you.”

Austin's blood ran cold. “Who would do that?”

Austin opened it—and his eyes widened.

“Rosemary’s mother… wasn’t just a human.”

“She was a hybrid,” Maya whispered. “Part wolf. Part enchantress.”

Austin swallowed hard. “Which means Rosemary—”

“—is more powerful than any of us thought.”

Back in Rosemary’s Room…

As the nurses left her alone, Rosemary sat up in bed, feeling strange.

A voice echoed in her head.

“Do not trust the wolves. Find your way back home.”