Chapter 4

Kade Blackwood stood at the window, his gaze fixed on Celeste as she wandered through his garden, her auburn hair shimmering in the sunlight. Her determination to rediscover her past was evident in every step, and Kade’s heart clenched with conflicting emotions. How much should he reveal? How could he protect her from the truth?

With a sigh, he turned to Thorne, his trusted friend and second-in-command. “Take some enforcers and retrieve Celeste’s car and personal items. Bring them back here.”

Thorne nodded, his dark eyes understanding. “You want her close, don’t you?”

Kade’s jaw tightened. “She seems worried about being alone in a house she can’t remember. I can offer her a safe place here.”

He didn’t say that he wanted her in his home. Celeste was his mate. He wanted to keep her close and protect her, but at the same time, get to know the woman she’d become.

As Thorne departed, Kade made a decision. He would help Celeste remember her past, but slowly, carefully. He stepped outside, the crisp autumn air filling his lungs. “Would you like to take a walk around town? It might jog some memories. I want you to meet Molly.”

Her emerald eyes sparkled with gratitude. “I’d love that. Thank you.”

They strolled through Whispering Pines, the cobblestone streets and quaint shops a picture of charm. He led her to Bewitched Bakery where the scent of cinnamon and magic greeted them.

“Celeste, this is Molly.”

Molly Hues, the bakery’s owner, embraced Celeste like an old friend who hadn’t been gone for twenty-three years. “Oh, sweetheart! It’s so good to see you.” Her curly red hair bobbed as she ushered them inside.

Celeste did a quick blink and then smiled wide. “I just had a quick snippet of a memory. You were in it.”

Molly laughed. “I should hope so. We did lots of fun stuff as kids. You still look like the teenager I knew. It’s so great to have you back.”

“Thank you so much, Molly.”

Molly waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense, sweetie. What are friends for? You must join Daisy and me for a girls’ night soon.”

Celeste’s smile was genuine, her happiness at making friends evident. Kade’s heart warmed at the sight even as a pang of worry shot through him. He needed to check in with his people.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he told Celeste. She gave him a warm smile and nodded.

Leaving Celeste in Molly’s capable hands, Kade met Thorne at the edge of town. “Did you find her cell phone or anything with family contacts?”

Thorne shook his head. “We searched the area, but nothing so far.”

Kade frowned, his mind racing. He needed answers. Who had she been living with? Was she married? Did she have someone in her life? “Keep looking. I’m going to check the town archives. See if there are any clues about past events that might’ve affected her memory.”

The musty scent of old books greeted Kade as he entered the historical society. Jasper Moon, the ghostly historian and librarian, materialized before him, his translucent form flickering. “Ah, Alpha Blackwood. Seeking answers in forgotten pages?”

Kade nodded. “I need to know what to do, Jasper. About Celeste, about her memories.”

Jasper adjusted his spectral spectacles. “Hidden truths have a way of surfacing, my boy. But the path to revelation is rarely straightforward.” After a pause where his translucent eyes looked away, he turned back to the alpha. “I’m needed at the library. Good luck, Alpha.”

With those cryptic words, the ghost vanished, leaving Kade alone with his thoughts. He pored over the archives, searching for any scrap of information that might help Celeste or him understand.

Hours later, he emerged, no closer to a solution. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the town square. Kade made his way to the community center where a town meeting was in progress.

Mayor Cedric Fernwood, an imposing figure with a subtle, shimmering aura, stood at the podium. His golden eyes met Kade’s as he entered. “Ah, Alpha Blackwood. Just in time.”

Kade took his place at the front, facing the concerned faces of his community. Shifters, witches, and other supernatural beings looked to him for guidance and reassurance.

He cleared his throat. “I know many of you are uneasy about Celeste’s return, about a powerful witch losing her memories. Not sure what will happen if her powers go haywire. But I assure you, we are doing everything we can to handle the situation delicately.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Kade’s presence commanded respect. Mayor Fernwood nodded in approval. “Alpha Blackwood and I will work together to ensure the safety and secrecy of Whispering Pines. We will also look into Celeste’s family in case someone is trying to contact her.”

Kade felt a wave of gratitude for the mayor’s support. With the meeting adjourned, he made his way back to the Lone Wolf Café, his mind heavy with responsibility.

His mom greeted him with a knowing smile, her amber eyes twinkling. “Kade, my boy. When are you going to stop fighting your feelings for Celeste and tell her about your bond?” She patted him on the arm. “I can’t wait to see grandchildren running around the café.”

Kade sighed, swiping a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t even know if she’s single. I can’t just assume she’s available just because she’s here. She needs to figure out who she is first. I can’t burden her with our past.”

Elsie tutted, shaking her head. “Burden? Kade, your love could be the key to unlocking her memories.” Elsie put her hands on her hips. “I will have you know that she’s very much single.”

“How do you know?”

“Because when Maggie’s solicitor showed up to give me the keys to the house to get it ready for Celeste, he and I had a nice long chat.”

“You did?”

She gave a sly grin. “Yes. Not only is she single, but she hasn’t really had any long-term meaningful relationships, that she can remember any way.”

Thank the gods.

“I still can’t throw romance at an amnesiac. That’s not what she needs right now.”

His mother made a face. “I’m not telling you to throw romance at her, but in the process of helping her remember our town, help her remember your bond.”

“I need to protect her, Mother. Even if it’s from the truth and the pain it may bring.”

In a rare moment of vulnerability, he confided in his mother. “I don’t want her to leave again.”

His mom’s face softened, and she pulled her son into a warm embrace. “Oh, my sweet boy. Love is always a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking.”

Kade held his mother tightly, drawing strength from her wisdom. She was right, but his fears still lingered.

That evening, he prepared a room for Celeste in his home. She had her own house in town, but he couldn’t bear the thought of her feeling overwhelmed and alone in a place she couldn’t remember.

“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need,” he said, giving her a tour of the cozy cabin. “I want you to feel at home.”

Celeste’s eyes shone with gratitude. “Thank you, Kade. Are you sure you don’t mind me being your houseguest?”

He smiled, his heart skipping a beat. “Never. I like your company, Celeste. Truly.”

In the kitchen, Kade busied himself with preparing dinner. The first thing he wanted was for her to feel at home and happy with him. The best way to do it was to make her dinner. Something he knew for sure she would enjoy. The scent of garlic and cream filled the air as he stirred the spaghetti carbonara, a dish he knew was Celeste’s favorite.

When he served it, her face lit up with delight. “Kade, this is incredible! How did you learn to make it so authentic? I feel like I’m in Italy.”

He ducked his head, hiding a smile. “I might’ve taken a cooking class a while back. Learned a few tricks.”

What he didn’t tell her was that he’d taken the class specifically to learn how to make this dish just for her. In case she came back to him.

As they ate, Celeste’s curiosity turned to Kade’s personal life. “You know, I felt really bad about intruding in your space, but Elsie kept saying you wouldn’t mind.” She took a bite of her food and gave him a shy glance. “She said you’re not romantically involved right now.”

He gulped on his tea. “I’m not.”

A smile spread over her beautiful lips. “Have you ever been married? Or...in a serious relationship?”

The question caught him off guard, but he couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through him at her interest. “No, never married.”

“Serious relationship?”

Only with you. “No. I’ve had a handful of dates but nothing long-lasting. Being a pack alpha in a small town...well, everyone knows your whole life story.”

As the warm glow of the kitchen enveloped them, Kade found himself drawn into the depths of Celeste’s emerald eyes. There was a genuine curiosity there, a desire to understand him that made his heart flutter in a way he hadn’t felt since he’d been sixteen.

“So, what was it like growing up as a shifter in Whispering Pines?” Celeste asked, her voice soft and inviting.

Kade leaned back in his chair, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “It was...an adventure, to say the least. My earliest memories are of running through the woods with my pack, feeling the wind in my fur and the earth beneath my paws.”

Celeste’s eyes widened, a spark of wonder dancing in their depths. “That sounds incredible. The freedom, the connection to nature...”

Kade nodded, his gaze distant as he recalled those early days. “It was. But it wasn’t always easy. Learning to control the shift, to balance the human and the wolf...that took time. And patience. Lots of patience.”

He chuckled softly, remembering the countless times he’d stumbled and fallen, his gangly wolf legs tangling beneath him. Celeste leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table, completely engrossed in his tale.

“I can only imagine. But you had your pack, right? Your family to guide you?”

Joy spread through Kade’s chest at the mention of his family. “Yeah, I did. My mom, Elsie, she was...is...a force to be reckoned with. She taught me so much about embracing both sides of myself, about finding strength in the balance.”

Celeste’s smile was gentle, understanding. “I can tell she’s an amazing woman.”

“She is. She also spends a lot of her day trying to matchmake anyone who crosses her path.” He gave a soft chuckle. “And my dad...he was the pack alpha before me. He was tough but fair. Always pushing me to be better, to be stronger. For the pack.”

A flicker of sadness crossed Kade’s face, and Celeste reached out, her hand resting lightly on his. The touch was electric, sending a shiver down Kade’s spine.

“He’d be proud of you, Kade. I can tell you’re an amazing leader.”

Kade met her gaze, his heart swelling with gratitude. “I hope so. I try every day to live up to his legacy, to be the alpha Whispering Pines needs.”

Celeste squeezed his hand, her touch lingering. “From what I’ve seen, you’re doing an incredible job. The way the community looks up to you, the respect they have for you...it’s a testament to your leadership.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, their hands still intertwined. Kade marveled at the ease of their connection, the way Celeste seemed to understand him on a level few others did.

“Thank you, Celeste. I hope you feel welcome and comfortable here with me.”

Her smile was radiant, lighting up the room. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Kade. Talking with you, learning about your life...it feels right. Like puzzle pieces fitting together.”

Kade’s heart raced at her words, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

But later that night as Kade stood on his porch, a chill ran down his spine. He sensed a magical disturbance near the edge of town, a whisper of looming trouble.

His instincts told him this was something bigger than just his past with Celeste. There were forces at play, dangers lurking in the shadows.

As he locked the door and checked on a sleeping Celeste one last time, Kade decided he would keep their bond a secret a while longer. He needed to investigate these disturbances, to understand how they might’ve impacted her accident.

No matter the cost.