Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next morning, I received a text from Kyle.

faron asked me to text you to come over.

Frowning, I texted him back. what's up?

i'm not sure, came the cryptic reply.

i'll be over as soon as i finish breakfast. I wanted to ask whether Faron had started to remember me, but part of me was afraid of finding out. I scribbled a note for Grams, who was still asleep, telling her I'd be back later, grabbed my keys and purse, and headed out to my car.

On the way over to Kyle's, I stopped for a triple-shot caramel latte and a breakfast sausage sandwich. Trying to keep myself from breaking the speed limit was difficult. All I wanted to do was to see Faron, to find out if he remembered me. As I drove one-handed, holding my sandwich with the other, I tried to keep myself calm. But inside, I was a bundle of nerves.

What would I do if he didn't remember me? And if he did, how far would those memories go? And how should I react? And then, if he did remember our relationship, what would he do? I hadn't been able to tell him how I felt before the attack, and he didn't know that Bran and I were an item as well. In fact, most of my deeper feelings for Bran had developed while Faron was in a coma. Would Faron be able to accept another lover in my life? And what would Kyle do? He was so protective of his brother. There were so many variables that by the time I pulled into the driveway, my mind was whirling.

I jumped out of the car and, latte in one hand and purse in the other, I hurried up the steps and rang the bell.

Kyle answered the door, motioning me in. I set my purse and drink on the foyer table, shrugged out of my jacket, and handed it to him. He hung it up in the hall closet and then escorted me into the living room, stopping short before we got there.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," Kyle said, looking uncertain. "He's agitated and we need to keep him as calm as possible, so please don't say anything that might disturb him any further. Remember, the doctors don't want him upset or excited. They want to keep him as calm as possible because the stress can affect his healing."

"Why did you text me?" I asked.

"He asked me to text you. He wanted you to come over because he said he's starting to remember more, and he said he remembered something about you. I didn't want to refuse because he seemed so adamant." Kyle was scowling, through, and I had the feeling that he would have ignored Faron's request if he could have.

I slung my purse over my shoulder and picked up my latte. "I'll do my best," I said.

Kyle led me into the living room, where Faron was pacing in front of the fireplace. "Elphyra's here," he said.

Faron turned around, leaning one shoulder against the mantle.

The flames in the hearth crackled, sending up a cozy glow, but the look on Faron's face was anything but cozy. In fact, he looked anxious, his gaze intense. I could feel the wolf rising, barely under the surface. The feral side of him made me catch my breath.

Shifters were intensely sexual, and when they were disturbed, that musky scent came out even more. It was as if the animal nature crept through into their human side. I had never had the chance to see him turn into a wolf—we hadn't been together that long—but I knew that one day I would. At least, if he remembered me, I would. Shifters were private about their transformations, and they didn't change shape in front of anybody they didn't fully trust unless they were triggered.

"Faron—" I started, but he stared at me, his gaze piercing through me like a blade. He crossed the room quickly, his boots sounding firmly on the floor, and he grabbed me by the shoulders.

"Shush. Let me think."

I fell silent, my face inches away from his. I searched his gaze for some type of recognition, for some spark that told me he remembered me, that he remembered us .

"I know you… I know you. I know your scent."

I couldn't speak, in fact I knew better than to say anything. He was processing his memories, and one word might break the spell. One word might ruin everything.

At that moment, Kyle strode into the room, his voice ringing to break the silence. "Can I get you something to drink, Elphyra?"

The moment shattered.

Faron froze, his look shifting to confusion. He shook his head, bewilderment filling his eyes. "I… I…" And then, he seemed to realize how he was holding me. He let go abruptly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that. Please forgive me."

"What did you remember?" I asked, so frustrated that I wanted to beat Kyle over the head.

"I thought for a moment… But everything is foggy again. I'm so confused. My head hurts." He slowly lowered himself to the sofa, rubbing his forehead. I wanted to swoop down, to wrap my arms around him and make everything better. But I had no clue what that might trigger.

I glanced over at Kyle, furious. He glanced at me and I immediately knew that he had deliberately interrupted. But why? Why call me over if he was going to ruin everything?

"It's all right," I said, sitting beside Faron. "You didn't offend me. I know you are on the verge of remembering something?—"

"Was I?" He searched my face. "Was I remembering something real? Or was it a dream?"

Kyle headed our way but I stopped him in his tracks, casting a look so cold that he might as well have turned into an icicle.

"You shouldn't tire yourself," he said finally.

I turned back to Faron. "It wasn't a dream." I was torn about what to say. On the one hand, I didn't want to overload him. But on the other, he had almost remembered.

"Maybe not," Faron said, confusion filling his face. "I… I'm tired. I need to rest."

"Let me get you into bed," Kyle said, swooping in before I could do or say anything. "My brother's tired," he said. "Why don't you come back later?" His voice had shifted—he sounded abrupt and almost rude.

Fuming, I stood and retrieved my purse. I turned back to Kyle.

"This isn't over," I said, keeping my voice low so Faron wouldn't hear. "I don't know why you stopped him, but I intend to find out."

I stopped by Faron's side, knelt, and lightly touched his arm. "We can talk later. You rest. Just remember it wasn't a dream." And with that, I stalked out, restraining myself from keying Kyle's truck on the way to my car.

I sat still, clutching the steering wheel for a moment as I tried to calm down. As I inserted the key into the ignition, Kyle opened the front door. He was alone. He headed my way, but before he could reach me, I started the car and peeled out of the driveway, unable to even listen to him at the moment.

I was close to home when I got a text from Kyle.

please give me a chance to explain. i know you're angry with me, but i needed to know something. i had to call you over and i had to interrupt.

I was so angry that I ignored the text. I had forgotten my drink, so I pulled into the next coffee stand I passed and ordered another triple-shot latte. "I also want a brownie with that," I said into the speaker. "Make that two brownies." I paid for my drink and treats and decided to drive over to the bay. I couldn't go home yet, I was so pissed. I needed to think for a while before talking to anybody else.

Dabob Bay's waters were as deep and mysterious as most of the water on the Olympic Peninsula. I drove over to the plant nursery, where there was a walkway down to the water. As I headed down the stairs, a seagull flew overhead, letting out a long piercing cry that reverberated through my body. I shaded my eyes as I watched it circle overhead, looking for food.

The tide was in, which meant that only the top row of logs was accessible, with the rest covered by the dark waters of the bay. The surface was silver gray, reflecting the diffused light that shone down through the clouds. The wind ruffled the surface, stirring the waves as they crested against the shore.

I settled on one of the logs that was still uncovered by the water.

The massive driftwood logs were tall timber, stripped of their bark by the ocean waves, and they floated into the shores, posing threats to beachcombers during the autumn and winter storms. The Pacific Ocean and its inlets and bays were dangerous places, tossing the fifty-foot trees around like matchsticks. People died if they weren't careful.

Here, the wilds remained untamed, and the intricate balance between humans and the environment was a narrow one. The driftwood logs had been sanded by the county, and seasoned to prevent rot. They were then anchored into the rocky shore in rows, to provide a place for visitors to sit and watch the water.

As I settled on the nearest one, staring into the water, my phone sounded, announcing another text, but I didn't even glance at the lock screen. It was probably Kyle again, and right now the last thing I wanted to do was to talk to him. At some point, I'd need to, and I'd need to ask why he had stopped Faron from remembering, but that time wasn't right now. If I answered him, I'd say things I might regret.

I crossed my arms, leaning forward on my knees. "What do I do? What do I go from here?" I said out loud.

As I stared into the sky, the clouds twisted and turned as they stormed their way across the sky. My phone rang, and I let it go to voicemail, but it started to ring again a few minutes later. Worried that it might be Grams, I fished it out of my pocket and took a look at the caller ID. Kyle . He had called before, as well. I let it go to voicemail again. Then, before he could call again, I called Bree.

"Hey, how's it going?"

She had barely gotten out the greeting when I burst out into a rant. "You'll never believe what Kyle did this morning. I cannot stand this. I feel like I'm going nuts."

"Give me a minute. Hold on." There was silence as she put me on mute. I waited, watching the waves lap away at the shore. There were some days when it was tempting to walk into the water and keep going. To become one with the essence of Grandmother Ocean.

"I'm back. What happened?"

"I want to throttle Kyle."

"What did he do?" Bree sounded worried.

"Do you have time to listen? Because it's a doozy."

"Of course. Tell me."

"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "First… No, I'm saving that news for afterward because I'd rather end on a good note. Okay, so I got a call from Kyle this morning. A text, actually. He wanted me to come over right away because Faron asked him to text me. So, of course I hurried over. Faron looked at me and…he started to remember, Bree. He pulled me into his arms and stared at me, and he was about to say something or kiss me—I don't know which—but I could feel that he knew me."

"How wonderful!" Bree clapped.

"Don't get so excited. Not yet. Because before he could fully remember, Kyle interrupted. He absolutely destroyed Faron's train of thought. And everything fell away. The memories faded from his eyes, as if the part of him that remembered me was dying . I'm so angry, Bree. I'm so furious. The next moment Faron got hit with a migraine and Kyle had to put him to bed. I stomped out. If Kyle hadn't interrupted, Faron would have remembered us. I know it."

"Why the hell would Kyle do that? What was his reasoning?"

I fell silent for a moment, staring at the waves. "I don't know. He obviously doesn't want Faron to remember about us."

"Then why did Kyle invite you over? Wouldn't that make it more likely?"

"I've been thinking about that. Faron asked him to invite me over. How could Kyle say no? So instead, he went along with it, but he sabotaged things. I want to thrash him." I began to cry. "Why did he do this?"

"Did you ask him? Did you confront him about it?"

Tearfully, I shook my head. "No. He texted me but I can't face answering him now. If I talk to him, I'm going to scream at him. And then he won't talk to me at all. I feel like he's holding his brother hostage. I know he's not, I know it's the coma and the aftereffects, but that's what it feels like to me. I didn't think Kyle wanted to be the King of the Olympic Wolf Pack, but now, I find myself questioning his integrity."

"I see why. I honestly don't know what to say. I don't know Kyle well—only through you. Do you have any idea of why he would do this?"

"No. I honestly don't. I wish I did. The truth is, I'm afraid that there's more at play here than Kyle alone. I'm wondering if the Pack elders didn't give him orders to get rid of me. And maybe this was the way to do it. All I know is that this hurts."

"I know it does," Bree said.

"I want Faron to remember me. I want him to remember everything, even if he chooses to walk away from me. I want him to have that choice. I want him healthy and whole again, and not sitting there looking so frail and frightened. Faron's such a strong man, but right now I think he's terrified about what's happened to his brain. And I don't know how to help. I tried helping by keeping my mouth shut, but look where that's gotten me."

Bree fell silent for a moment. Finally, she said, "You have to ask Kyle why he did it. And listen with your gut, not your heart. Listen to him with all your instincts, to find out if he's telling you the truth. Your intuition won't fail you."

"You're right. Even though I'm terrified to find out, I need to. All right. I'll text him back and I'll let you know what he says. But if it's bad, I may need to come over and eat my weight in ice cream while you hold my hand."

She laughed at that. "I think that's in the best-friend contract. It covers handholding and helping broken hearts. Let me know what he says."

I stared at the silent phone, and then, before I could chicken out, I texted Kyle back. what the hell were you doing? how could you screw up something so bad? i want an explanation. and i want it now .

I set the phone on the log and held my face up to the wind, letting the biting gusts hit me full force. It felt good, in a painful way. It woke me up, bracing me for what Kyle might say. I sat like that until it rang. It was Kyle.

Taking a deep breath, I answered.

"Hey," Kyle said as I answered the phone when he called.

"I want an explanation. You'd better have a good one."

There was a silence, and then Kyle let out a long sigh.

"I have an explanation, but I don't think you're going to like it."

"Try me," I said.

"I had a talk with the elders the other day. They asked me some pointed questions about you . Apparently, the guards reported that you were at the hospital a lot. Once Faron woke up, the council wanted to know everything that happened between the two of you. Apparently, he hadn't mentioned you to them before this."

That stung, but I tried to keep my focus. "And you told them?"

"I can't lie to them, Elphyra. I had to tell them that you and Faron were…together…before the attack. They weren't pleased and they blame you for his condition. They can't directly confront him about it, because…well…he's the King. But they made it clear to me that during the rest of his recovery, if he starts to remember you I'm to put a stop to things. I told them that right now he thinks of you as a friend."

"What did they say?" I held my breath.

"They told me that as soon as he remembers, or even begins to remember, I'm to step in and then report back to them."

"That doesn't make any sense. When he's ready to take the throne again, he can do what he wants. How is this going to change anything in the long run?" I paused and then added, "And what's so objectionable about me, anyway?"

"You know exactly what the problem is. You're a witch . He's a wolf shifter . Our kind and your kind don't get along and we certainly can't allow marriage. And Faron can't do just anything he wants. He may be king but he answers to the elders. The council prefers to keep the bloodline pure. A child from a mixed union wouldn't be welcome in our Pack. And a child of mixed heritage could never claim the throne. Faron wouldn't be allowed to acknowledge an heir from you as his own."

"You're talking about children, and Faron and I haven't even delineated what our relationship is."

"Perhaps not, but there's also the fact that… Elphyra, you could never claim the throne beside him. You could never be queen of the Pack. Our people wouldn't allow it. The best you could hope for is to be his mistress. Even though he is King, he must abide by our traditions. The elders made this clear when we talked a couple days ago, and I've been thinking about it since then. I couldn't tell you yet. I didn't want you to carry the weight of this knowledge on your shoulders. I was hoping that Faron wouldn't remember anything about you other than you're a friend. But this morning, when he asked me to call you, I needed to know for sure. When he pulled you into his arms… I've already contacted the elders."

"So you interrupted to throw him off. So he wouldn't remember." My heart was on the floor, quietly getting trampled on.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. When he wakes up from the migraine, chances are he won't remember the meeting. If he doesn't, then I'm going to let it lie and I ask you to keep away for now."

"What if he does remember?" Everything was just getting bleaker as the moments passed.

"Then I'll have to deal with it. But I can't allow you to continue pursuing him. The King is in a delicate situation right now, and I can't allow his health to be undermined—either his physical health or his emotional state. Please don't try to contact Faron on your own. I guarantee you it won't end well."

I started to argue but the line went silent. I stared at my phone, humiliated and furious.

The wind suddenly rushed through, chilling me to the bone. Staring up at the sky, I willed it to rain. I wanted it to rain hard, and steady, to bring in the clouds and thunder and rain. I needed to match my mood against the storms. But the sky remained partially overcast, and the diffuse light taunted me. I made my way back up the steps, brokenhearted and wanting justice. But somehow, I didn't think I was going to get it.