4

I knew why. He was going to have my memories erased. I wondered if that was why his best friend had died—he’d learned the truth and tried to stop Zeke.

The door by my head opened, and Zeke popped inside, leaning over me. “If the other royal advisors learn about this, they’ll try to take her from me. You know alphas always want control over the most powerful.”

A laugh bubbled in my throat, but my kid version was frozen in terror. Even then, I’d known I couldn’t defend myself and that Zeke was involved in what had happened to my parents.

“No,” I murmured, but Zeke already had his arms underneath me, pulling me out. My skin felt as if it were on fire as I was jostled and cradled against his chest.

He murmured in my ear, “Say another word and your parents won’t be the only ones you mourn. Samuel is still alive.”

I swallowed hard and focused on the connection I knew was Samuel. After Zeke did whatever, I would find my brother and tell Michael about the strange fight between my parents and Zeke moments before the explosion.

My heart panged. That wouldn’t happen. Adult me knew the outcome: I’d lose seventeen years with my brother and Bodey.

Bodey.

I needed to snap myself out of this memory so I could find him. But Fate was being a bitch, keeping the very thing I wanted most desperately in life just out of my grasp.

“So where—” Nick started, but the soft sound of approaching feet cut him off.

“Where is he?” a woman’s voice asked from behind Zeke.

Zeke turned to her, and the world swirled around me. My body throbbed from every spot he touched, and my skin burned from the chilly breeze that wafted across me. Zeke’s chest rumbled as he replied, “He’s here. You’ll get him once you do what you promised.”

The woman took in a shaky breath. “Fine. Bring the girl to me.”

“Are you sure about this?” Nick asked from his spot beside the car. “Maybe—”

“Go check on the witch and make sure she doesn’t have something that will hurt Caroline,” Zeke commanded, but his arms tightened around me and shook faintly.

The hair on the nape of my neck rose.

“Fine.” Nick sighed. “I can do that.”

I heard Nick walk past us, and Zeke’s heartbeat quickened.

Something was about to go down.

As the man approached the witch, the woman said, “On your knees.”

The wind picked up, rushing past us toward Nick, and forced him to his knees.

“Zeke!” Nick yelled, but Zeke stood still.

Something wet hit my face, and I opened my eyes to see a tear drip off Zeke’s chin and fall on me.

He was crying.

“Take this sacrifice to bind the girl’s wolf,” the woman chanted. “Bring the girl to me.”

Zeke moved forward without hesitation as more tears hit my face. He laid me on the ground, and Nick’s eyes were so wide that the whites showed all around.

The witch’s dark-blue hair hung in her face, and her dark skin glistened from the magic churning within. She held out a hand. “I need the knife.”

“Knife?” Nick’s voice quivered. “Zeke, what the fuck is going on? Tell her to let me go.” The wind continually whipped around him, causing him to stay frozen on all fours with his head raised, staring at us.

Something sharp lodged in my throat. When she met me, Dina had said I had blood magic all over me. This had to be it.

I watched the witch, who had to be Salem, take the knife from Zeke and yank Nick’s head up with her free hand. Her face twisted, and she murmured to Nick, “Please forgive me.” Then she slit his throat. “With this sacrifice, lock down the girl’s wolf until a mutual exchange of blood occurs between her and her mate.” She lifted the knife, the blood dripping off the end onto her fingertips.

Blood trickled from the corners of Nick’s mouth, his skin already pale from the knife’s direct blow.

Salem walked over to me and rubbed a bloody finger over my forehead. Her bottom lip quivered. “This seals the sacrifice, and the wolf will be bound from now until the exchange of blood happens.”

The warmth I now knew was my wolf burrowed deep inside, and something cold covered it like a blanket. I wished I were old enough to shift and pack link with everyone, but all I could do was scream, “No! Please.”

But it was done, and I knew it would take me seventeen years to feel her again.

“Now heal her and make her forget everything,” Zeke commanded.

My eyes were already closing, the agony of losing my wolf and the pain of my injuries taking me under.

I woke up in the present, inside the real estate office. Michael, Dan, Phil, and Carl were pacing in front of me, and a woman I didn’t know was standing in front of the human, touching her fingers to his forehead.

When I sat up straight in the chair they’d placed me in, Michael turned to me. He looked relieved. “Thank gods you’re awake. We were worried.” Michael’s chestnut hair had a bit of gray coming in on the sides, and his jade eyes were darker than normal from everything that had gone on.

“I remember everything.” I stood, wanting to find Zeke. Rage charged through me. “Where’s Zeke?”

“He’s in the kitchen.” Carl gestured toward the door behind me. His blond hair was messier than usual, giving him a younger appearance.

Phil took a few steps closer to me. His dark-bronze skin hid the faint scars of his wounds, which had mostly healed, and he rubbed his ebony beard. “What did Zeke do? For you to beat him up like that—”

Dan lifted a hand. “I’m sure we’re about to find out.” His spiked brown hair stuck out in every direction, and his tan complexion emphasized the dark circles under his eyes. “My son, Miles, Samuel, and Jack are back there with him. We should join them now that she’s okay.”

That was fine with me. We needed to come up with a plan. I spun on my heels and headed toward the kitchen as I linked with everyone—the royal advisors, Samuel, Jasmine, and the former advisors. Did we pick up signs of Bodey?

No. We found tire marks and his scent before it vanished, Michael replied, tensing beside me.

In the kitchen, Jasmine hovered in one corner with her arms around her waist. Her strawberry-blonde hair was tangled, and her jade-green eyes were cast downward. She looked guilty.

Theo hovered next to her. His caramel-brown hair fell into his face, and his topaz eyes were locked on her. He stood a little in front of her, ready to defend her if anyone attacked.

Zeke was sitting at the table with Jack, Lucas, Miles, and Samuel around him. Even better, the knife was still protruding from his chest, so obviously, the witch hadn’t healed him.

Samuel’s shirt had blood on the front, but I was relieved to see his nose was no longer bleeding. At least that had healed.

The former advisors surrounded me as Miles and Jack stood from the table and took a few steps back, making room for me. I moved between them as Jack’s cobalt eyes flicked to me before focusing back on Zeke. Miles crossed his arms, emphasizing his thick build, and his dark-green eyes narrowed.

Queen Kel’s promise from the night we met rang in my ears. She’d vowed to take everything I loved from me, and I feared Bodey was the first part of her fulfilling that vow. “Are you working with the queen?”

Zeke’s brows lifted almost comically. “That wasn’t the first question I expected you to ask.”

Fury rose inside me once more. “Oh, I’m sure you know what I remember.” I pointed at the knife. “To be clear, that was meant for your heart. Be glad Lucas and Samuel were trying to pull me away from you.” I leaned forward, getting into his face.

He winced before his mask of indifference slid back into place.

I smirked, enjoying causing him discomfort. “You see, I don’t need to ask any questions about my parents’ deaths or how my memories got locked. I remember everything. What I don’t know but suspect is whether you’re working with Queen Kel. Tell me the truth, or I’ll cut it out of you.”

Part of me hoped he didn’t tell me. The thought of causing him more pain sent a thrill right through me.

He must have seen it because his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yes. That’s who I was texting the entire time.”

Though I wanted to hurt him, my desire to get my mate back was stronger. “Good. Then you’re going to get Bodey back for us.”

“What?” Zeke’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious.”

I punched him in the face, and his head jerked to the side.