Alethea
“Do you have any idea why I left Bloodmoon Pack and ended up in Redwood?”
The words spill out of me, one after the other. “Why did you take me in? Why do you care for me like I’m your child? Is there something you’re hiding? Something you’re not telling me?” I ask all at once with frustration.
The truth is, I’m grateful for everything Selena has done for me.
It baffles me, and I can’t stop wondering. Three years have passed, and I still can’t remember a damn thing.
I’ve gone through heat cycles multiple times, and each time, she’s helped with the herbs to ease the pain. But why can’t she help me with the one that can help regain my memory?
The thought of it drives me wild. Sometimes, I just want to let go and live one day at a time without the constant unanswered questions.
But meeting Xavier again-it feels like it’s going to force me to remember everything, so I’m not so gullible.
“Someone brought you to my doorstep. You were passed out, so it was my duty as a doctor to care for you as a patient. But then I realized you had nowhere to go. I had to take care of you. Is that a problem, Ally?”
“Not at all.” I reflect, but I notice her voice has risen slightly.
I slowly slump onto the bed, my body too heavy to fight it. Amelia watches me with sympathy.
I hate it. I hate when people look at me like I’m fragile. But right now, I’m too exhausted to say anything.
“You should rest, Ally. Let me check on Declan, alright?”
“I’m so sorry about the other time,” I mumble, feeling guilty for unloading too much at once. “I just… I feel so overwhelmed.”
“It’s not a bother, Ally,” she replies, her hand gently cupping my cheek. “You’ve come to mean so much to me.”
But I catch pain in her eyes, There’s so much she’s not saying.
I wish I had some superpower, something that could let me dig into her memory and find out the truth.
Now it’s just me and Amelia in the room, and her words come at me like a slap.
“Girl, you have to pay back whoever your mate is. He can’t just be going around, sticking his dick into every she-wolf and making you take all the pain,” she says with a fierce edge. “You have to hook up with someone and pay him back.”
“Amelia-” I called out her name in horror.
“What? Do you think I could stand by and watch you writhing in pain while he’s out there having all the pleasure? He needs to feel the pain he made you go through.”
Perhaps he might have felt the pain when I made out with Xavier at the club. Amelia can be reckless, but I know she’s just trying to help me in her way.
“Typical of you, Amelia,” I mutter amused.
“So, how’s the date with the boss, Mr. Sterling? I know you’re excited about it.”
I can tell she’s trying to steer my focus, trying to pull me out of the fog of anger. And honestly, it works.
A faint blush creeps up my cheek, and I know it’s spreading across my face, turning me all red.
“Yeah, it’s going… fine,” grateful for the change in topic.
“Mr. Sterling is not even hiding the fact that he likes you. He’s flaunting it to everyone,” she says, grinning.
“That’s what I don’t like, Amelia,” I mutter, feeling the heat in my face intensify.
“Enjoy the attention, Ally. He likes you, and I know you like him too.”
My heart skips at her words, and I can feel the memories rushing back. He was my crush since I was fifteen-those innocent fantasies I had about him. Seeing him again, hearing his voice, brings all those old dreams to the surface, and I can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. But now, with the way he looks at me, I can’t deny it. I do like him.
****
I agree to go on a date with Xavier, and Amelia is practically jumping for joy on my behalf.
She insists on glamming me up, determined to make me look irresistible so that Xavier will find it impossible to keep his hands to himself.
“Trust me, Ally, he won’t be able to stay away,” she says with a wicked grin.
I roll my eyes at her antics. She just can’t stop talking about the pain I felt the other night, still going on about payback. But, well, it’s Amelia.
“What do you think?” she asks, holding up a bold red lipstick. “Go with this, and it’ll be impossible for him not to kiss you senseless.”
“Remind me why I became friends with you, Amelia? You are just so… I can’t even put it into words.”
“But you love me, don’t you?” she asks with a pout, continuing to apply foundation to my face like it’s the most serious business in the world.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” my voice softened just a little. Because despite her wild ideas and over-the-top ways, she’s always had my back.
I want to pack my hair into a sleek ponytail, thinking it’ll highlight my face, but Amelia quickly protests.
“No way,” she says, shaking her head. “We need to leave your long, wavy chestnut hair down. It’s too gorgeous to hide.”
“I need to give your eyes a shadow effect so your hazel eyes will pop.”
I stay quiet, letting her work her magic. She doesn’t let me peek in the mirror while she’s doing the makeup, making me even more curious about the final result.
“Voila!” She beams with pride. Then, she gestures for me to turn around so I can check the mirror.
My jaw drops when I see the result. It’s like I’m looking at a sophisticated, polished, stunning stranger.
“This is beautiful,” I say, stunned by how different I look.
“I didn’t do much, Ally,” Amelia says, with a shrug. “You’re beautiful already. The makeup just helped to uplift it-that’s all.”
“Thank you,” grateful for her help.
“Go on, get ready! You’re going to knock him out tonight.”
I slip into a sleeveless red gown, the fabric hugging my body in all the right places. The slight drape at the neckline and the slit that stops just at my thigh add a touch of elegance, but it’s simple and classy.
“You look like a million-dollar bill,” her voice dripped with excitement. “I bet Mr. Sterling won’t be able to keep his hands to himself.”
Just as I’m about to reply, the doorbell rings. Amelia beams with joy and turns to me. “That’s him!”
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath as I grab my purse.
“You can do this, girl,” she encourages, giving me a thumbs-up before I head downstairs.
As I reach the bottom, I see Selena working on some documents. The moment she spots me, a smile spreads across her face.
“You look beautiful, Ally. Going for a date?” she asks, pushing her glasses down her nose.
I give a small nod. “Yes, ma. He’s right at the door.”
“Ooh, that’s cool. Let me meet the lucky champ then,” she says with a playful tone.
“Oh, please, Selena,” I say, feeling a little flustered. “It’s just a date. I don’t want anything serious with him.”
Selena raises an eyebrow. “We can’t tell Ally… let me just say hi.”
I sigh but smile. “Okay, if you insist.”
I open the door, and there he is-Xavier-standing there, looking all fresh and handsome, just like I’ve always known him to be.
My stomach flutters with butterflies as I take in the sight of him. But then I notice his mouth drop slightly at the sight of me.
Before I can even fully process his reaction, I turn, and then I see the color drain from Selena’s face just as she sees Xavier.