I did not stop running until I got to my car and drove as fast as my legs could carry me to Ashley’s house.
When I got into the house, I ran through the front door and bumped into Ashley as she came rushing down to the front door. I suspected that she must have seen my car come in from her window upstairs.
“Are you okay, Pandora?” She asked me, her face filled with worry.
“He is here!” I announced, breathless and panting for air.
“Come,” Ashley said and led me out gently to the balcony.
The gust of wind blew into my face and I began to relax bit by bit. Ashley went in to get me a glass of cold water before settling in the chair beside mine.
“Who is here?” She asked again when I handed the empty cup back to her.
“My mate. He came to me at the field while I was doing my morning exercises.” I explained and paused to catch my breath.
“Your mate? How? I’m lost, Pandora. Did you remember something else?” her face was lined with confusion and concern.
“While I was at the field this morning, someone hugged me from behind. He spoke to me like he was really my mate. I panicked and flipped him on his back before running away” I closed my eyes, the horrific experience flooding my memory.
“Derrick was here? How did he get into the pack without approval from Wilson? All Wolves must first report themselves to Wilson before they can move around the pack. How did he get in?” Ashley sat up, a hand on her chin.
“I have no fucking idea Ashley. What do you think I should do?” it was my turn to ask her, my mind a wrangled mess.
“Did he say anything to you?”
“He had called me his love and apologized for something I can’t remember before I shoved him and ran away.” I recounted my encounter with my mate.
“Are you sure there is nothing you are missing in between? I think we should go back there so we can have a conversation with him. He also has some questions to answer as to how he got access to the pack. I’ll call Wilson and inform him of the recent development. Do you want to go and stay with Mom, or should I call her here?” She asked me.
“No, I will go with you. Although, when he held me, I felt alive. It did not feel like I was ever unhappy with him, so I am a bit confused as to where the rejection came in.” I answered, fear evident in my voice.
“I am going to need you to calm down Pandora. We will get to the root of this. At least, now, we know there’s someone around here that knows you. We might have found the only clue needed to connect you with your last and your roots.” She explained.
“I did not feel scared, I merely panicked because I did not know whom to trust. I’ve not had access to my wolf since my recovery, so I have nothing in my head.”
“Although I’m not sure if it was the same face, I remembered what I saw.” I finished, struggling to piece the face I had seen a few minutes ago and the face of the man that I had remembered his name.
“Don’t worry about your head too much. Everything will be sorted out soon. Stay, let me make you some chamomile tea to help you relax.” She placed a hand on my back to reassure me.
“Thank you, Ashley,” I closed my eyes, feeling much relieved.
“You are welcome. Let me grab my phone while I am at it.” She said and walked inside.
Left alone with my thoughts, a lot of ideas began to run through my head. I felt a sudden sense of safety when the man hugged me.
It was the safest I had felt in a long while, accompanied by the electric shocks that ran down my spine. His voice was not unfamiliar to me, in fact, it was so familiar that it felt like a voice that I was used to hearing every day.
I overheard Ashley on the phone with Wilson in the kitchen, and he promised to be here within ten minutes as he was already on his way to the house.
“Oh please, I don’t want to be thrown into this chaos. Please take me out of it. Help me to sort this out.” I prayed quietly to the moon goddess.
“Here. Wilson will be here soon. Don’t worry Pandora. I will make sure that everything is alright.” She squeezed my hands reassuringly and handed me a warm cup of chamomile tea.
I sipped at the drink while we waited for Wilson to come. It took him longer than ten minutes to get to the house, in fact, it took him almost an hour. I was on my third cup of tea when he walked in, accompanied by the same man that I had just run away from.
As soon as I saw him, I screamed and ran upstairs to hide in Ashley’s room. I heard muffled sounds downstairs, and soon a knock sounded on the door.
“Tell him to go away, he rejected me,” I screamed.
“Pandora, it is me, Ashley. I promise you, everything is fine. Just come downstairs. He just wants to talk. I can assure you that Wilson and I will not let him hurt you in any way. Please, Pandora.” She pleaded.
I hid there for a few seconds before walking to the door and following her downstairs. She led me by the hand and as soon as the scent of the man hit my nose, memories began flooding back into my head and my wolf purred for the first time since I woke up.
“Rolan!” I moaned and rushed into his arms. He held me tightly and kissed my neck, the tears falling from his eyes into my hair.
“My wife! Oh, my beautiful mate!” He exclaimed.