Isabella“I’m not stupid! Who was she?!” My sister-in-law, Clair, screams at my brother, Adam, and I turn right back around in the hopes that they wouldn’t see me. They are glaring at each other. That only means they are having one of their bigger fights, and I really didn’t want to be around them when that happened.I hide around the corner, trying to calm my rapid breathing and racing heart. Why did I have to walk in at that very moment? I swear, I have the worst luck in the entire world! Somehow, they always found a way to make their fights my fault, and then I was the one who was punished. I nervously rub my bruised wrists that were still aching from the last time.“Don’t do this here! You are making a scene.” Adam sighs deeply, and I can hear their footsteps coming closer. I try to run, but it’s too late. My hair is pulled back so quickly that I lose my balance and hit the floor with a loud thud. I feel my ribs crack the moment Clair’s stiletto hits my side.I fight not to cry, b
AsherI am out for a run, minding my own damn business and trying my best to get rid of some of my frustration when I smell a strange scent coming from the border. Nights are becoming more difficult after the loss of my mate. It has been over three years, but it is not getting any easier, and I just can’t sleep in that bed anymore. The closer I get to the border, the more the strange scent pulls me in.It’s not exactly human and it’s not entirely wolf. While I try to find tracks or evidence that I’m not going entirely insane, a small pale girl comes running out of nowhere, and before I can stop her, she runs right into me. She bounces back, looking just as astonished as I feel, but I am so stunned that I don’t think to catch her in time.I hear her skull crack when it hits the rock on the ground, and I can instantly smell blood all over her. She looks as though she has been a prisoner of war. She just ran straight into me out of nowhere! In the blink of an eye, I pick her up and rush
IsabellaI open my eyes and close them again immediately. From the little I saw, I gather that I’m in a hospital, but I don’t know where and as I search my mind, I realize something is missing.“Good morning, honey. I’m very glad to see that you are awake. We’ve been very worried about you.” I open my eyes and see a smiling woman dressed in a white coat. A frown forms on my brow while she moves around me with a clipboard in hand. She jots down some information and puts down her clipboard.“Where am I?” My voice sounds rough, and I find that my throat feels very raw. She hands me a glass of water as though she already knew I would need it.“I am Lisa, your doctor. You are in our little local hospital. Do you remember what happened to you?” Worry floods her eyes, and I can see that whatever happened to me is probably serious. I try to remember.“No.” I frown. My head starts to ache. “Who am I?” My heart starts to race and the machine behind me beeps, making me slam my hands over my ears
IsabellaIt is infuriating. I could remember normal everyday things. I could remember how to eat, for instance, but I couldn’t remember something as simple as my own name. I don’t know who I am. If I have family that are worried about me, or even how old I am.The more doctor Lisa tells me not to try and force it, the more I try to remember. I can’t help it. It was so frustrating to be taken care of by these strangers and not know who I am. Seeing my reflection in the mirror is the worst. My face doesn’t look like mine. Each time I catch a glimpse of my reflection anywhere, a shiver runs up and down my spine.I stay in the hospital for about a week and all the while Lisa’s son hangs around outside my bedroom. I can swear I sometimes see him watching me, but that is just too weird to even think about. Not that he gives me weird vibes or anything. In fact, having him outside my door kind of makes me feel safe.That is another thing that bothers me. I have this incredible feeling that I’
IsabellaAsher helps me into bed a little while later. I wonder if there is something else that I could wear, but I don’t want to ask him. He might offer to help me change, and I really don’t want that. I can’t imagine a strange man helping me into clothes.“Can I get you anything to eat or drink?” He frowns looking around the room and I shake my head. “Maybe something to read? I don’t’ know, do you prefer television?” He walks over to the dresser as though he is trying to measure something.“I’m good, thanks. I’m actually a little tired.” I pretend to yawn, and he nods as he walks over to the door.“As I said, I won’t be far. My office is just down the hall. If you shout, I will hear you.” His eyes dart back and forth before he nods again and disappears. I take a deep breath and lie back onto the soft pillows. My mind tries to make sense of what happened to me. While I was in the hospital, Lisa told me how Asher found me. I focus on that and try to remember why I might have been runn
AsherKeeping my distance was almost impossible. My wolf, Lucian, kept wanting to break free and mark the poor girl. There is no way that we can do that to her. Not while she has no idea who she is. Not until I know where she came from and who did that to her. Definitely not, while she can’t even remember her own name.The why keeps popping up in the back of my mind, but I won’t let the thought form properly. I can’t for the life of me think that any female deserves to be treated like that. It is clear that if she is some kind of wolf, she isn’t very strong.Either that or she has never shifted. According to my mother, that is the only explanation as to why it is taking her so long to heal. Even the omegas in our pack heal faster than that. Since we aren’t entirely sure whether she knows about our kind, I have given our pack the order not to shift anywhere near my home.We can’t frighten the poor girl any more than she already is. Although, I noted a spark in her eyes earlier that tol
IsabellaI slowly start to warm up, and I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I am grateful when he gets off the bed. The last thing I need right now is some guy making advances when I don’t even know my own name. I don’t care if he was the one who saved me.Honestly, after what they told me, I am starting to think I actually saved myself and he just found me. I just won’t say that out loud. Ever. Lisa and Asher have only been kind. I can feel that they aren’t telling me everything, but dealing with my current situation is keeping me busy enough as it is.“I will let you get some rest.” Asher’s voice pushes through my thoughts and I nod before he leaves. I had just made myself comfortable when I hear the door creek open again, and I note his bright red cheeks. “My mother would like to take you shopping later. Do you feel up to it?” I don’t want to sound ungrateful and just nod.I like Lisa. I don’t think about money when I fall asleep, and only think about it when I get dressed a couple o
AsherIt feels as though my world has just spun off its axes completely. My mother follows me into my office, and we discuss everything again. Trying to make sense of what happened. Jane’s reaction to the two, and what my next steps should be.According to wolf law, I have to let her pack know where she is. Unless I can prove that they abused her and she claims asylum. Unfortunately, her current memory loss is going to force us to hand her back to her pack.“Did they see her?” A solution starts to form in the back of my mind as I try and figure out a way to protect Jane.“Not that I can see. She wanted to go over and ask them if they knew her, but I stopped her in time.” My mother sighs as she pours each of us a drink.“Do you think we will be able to play dumb?” I frown as she sighs and shrugs.“I don’t know, son. Have you received any notification that they are missing a pack member?” My mother worked closely with my father for many years and I trust her opinion on all pack matters.