Chapter 3

Celeste woke in a strange room, feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by a sense of unfamiliarity. The soft sheets beneath her and the faint scent of lavender did little to ease her confusion. As her eyes fluttered open, they met those of a handsome man sitting by her bedside. His piercing blue gaze held a mixture of concern and something else she couldn’t quite place. The instant connection with him shocked her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Celeste blinked, trying to clear the fog from her mind. “I... I don’t know. Confused, I guess. Where am I? Who are you?”

The man’s brow furrowed. “You’re in Whispering Pines, Celeste. I’m Kade Blackwood. Do you remember anything?”

Another woman sat on the other side of the mattress, her violet eyes filled with warmth. “I’m Luna,” she said gently. “We’re here to help you, Celeste.”

Celeste glanced between them, her heart racing. Kade seemed so familiar, yet she couldn’t place him in her memory. Panic began to rise in her chest. “Why can’t I remember anything?”

Kade offered a comforting smile, and despite her confusion, Celeste felt an inexplicable trust toward him. “It’s okay, Celeste. You had an accident. We’ll help you figure this out.”

Celeste attempted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced her back onto the pillow. Luna patted her hand. “I’ll make you something to help with that. You just rest for now.”

Kade gently helped Celeste lay back, his touch sending a spark of electricity through her skin. “Luna’s right. Take it easy.”

As Luna left the room, another woman entered. She had silvery hair pulled back in an elegant bun and a twinkle in her amber eyes. “Well, look who’s awake! I hear you are having some memory loss. I’m Elsie Blackwood, Kade’s mother. It’s good to see you again, Celeste.”

Elsie handed Celeste a cup of warm herbal tea. “Here, drink this. It’ll help you feel better.” She sat on the edge of the bed, a mischievous grin on her face. “It’s so good to see you again.”

“Thank you.”

“You grew to be absolutely stunning. I knew you would be since you were a child, but my gosh, you are a beauty.”

Celeste flushed at the sweet woman’s words. “Thank you.”

“You know, you were quite the little firecracker when you were a kid. Always up to something, full of energy and laughter. I remember one time when you were about eight...”

As Elsie launched into a funny story about Celeste’s childhood attempts at matchmaking, Celeste sipped the tea, finding it oddly soothing. She listened intently, hoping for any scrap of information that might jog her memory. But while the story was entertaining, it didn’t bring back any specific recollections.

Celeste noticed that no one had given her much information about her current life. Elsie hinted at her importance to Whispering Pines, but the details remained frustratingly vague.

“So, what can you tell me about this town? About the people here? What am I doing here?” Celeste asked, hoping to piece together more of the puzzle.

Elsie’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “Oh, I believe you’re back because you’ve inherited your family home now that your aunt Maggie has passed. As for the town, Whispering Pines is a special place, dear. Full of magic and surprises. We’ve got witches, shifters, ghosts... never a dull moment around here.”

As Elsie regaled her with tales of the town’s supernatural quirks, Celeste’s gaze wandered around the room. It was cozy and inviting with soft floral curtains and polished wood furniture. A bookshelf in the corner caught her eye, filled with antique tomes and magical trinkets that felt strangely familiar, yet distant.

Suddenly, a flash of memory hit her—a glimpse of a younger version of herself running through the streets of this very town, surrounded by laughter and the hum of magic in the air. It was gone as quickly as it came, leaving her even more frustrated.

As if sensing her agitation, Celeste felt a surge of magical energy crackling at her fingertips. Unbidden, an antique vase on a nearby shelf began to levitate, wobbling precariously in midair. Celeste gasped, and the vase plummeted toward the floor.

“Whoa, there!” Kade lunged forward, catching the vase just before it crash-landed. He set it on the shelf, giving Celeste a reassuring grin. “Looks like your powers are still intact, even if your memories aren’t.”

Celeste stared at her hands in shock. “I can feel it. The powers. I’m a witch, right?”

Kade nodded. “A damn powerful one too. You were always a force to be reckoned with, Celeste.” He hesitated as if debating how much to reveal. “You’ve been gone from Whispering Pines for years. I’m not sure of all the details, but I know you used to live here, and that you were important to this community.”

Celeste searched his face, catching him watching her reactions carefully. What did he expect from her? What was he holding back? She shook her head in frustration, fear creeping up her spine. She’d forgotten so much. Too much.

Luna returned then, a vial of shimmering liquid in her hand. “Here, drink this. It won’t bring back your memories all at once, but it should help clear some of the fog.”

Celeste accepted the potion gratefully, downing it in one gulp. It tasted of peppermint and starlight, spreading a pleasant warmth through her body.

“Celeste, I know this is a lot to take in,” Luna said gently. “But the best way to start remembering is to explore the town, talk to people, see if anything feels familiar. It’ll take time, but we’ll all be here to support you.”

Elsie patted Celeste’s hand. “She’s right, dear. Why don’t you get some rest tonight, and tomorrow you can start reacquainting yourself with Whispering Pines? Kade can show you around, maybe take you by your house. I’ve kept it ready for you, just in case.”

Celeste glanced at Kade, who nodded in agreement. “I’d be happy to help, Celeste. We can take it slow, see what jogs your memory.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. Her mind buzzed with questions, but her body felt heavy with exhaustion.

Seeing her weariness, Elsie stood. “We’ll let you rest now. If you need anything, just holler. Mi casa es su casa, as they say.” With a wink, she ushered Luna and Kade out of the room.

As the door clicked shut, Celeste sank back against the pillows, her mind reeling. She knew there was a deep connection between her and Kade, something that went beyond mere attraction. The way he looked at her, the tenderness in his touch... it spoke of a history she couldn’t remember.

But she was hesitant to ask him about it directly. What if she was misinterpreting things? What if it was only physical chemistry, and she was reading too much into it?