"A girl who lost her memory," the guard said. "The Alpha says she might be an old acquaintance."
What kind of "old acquaintance" made Elias stay away from home?
My heart clenched. Remembering my nightmare, I felt an urgent need to see Elias immediately.
"Take me to him!"
The guards started to refuse, but I cut them off. "I mean it! If you won't take me, I'll jump from an upstairs window!"
To prove I was serious, I turned and ran to a nearby window, climbing onto the sill.
"Please don't do anything dangerous, Luna. I can take you to the Alpha."
I looked back. Herman, Elias's most trusted Beta, sighed and bowed to me.
He was one of the few people in the Vernal pack who still showed me respect—besides Lizzie and Dr. Charles.
I trusted him.
Herman kept his word. Without another question, he escorted me out. It had been six months since I'd stepped outside the mansion. Before I could take in the scenery, I was in a car heading to Elias's northern villa.
It was his private property, rarely used. As we approached the gates, my heartbeat quickened inexplicably, as if my body was resisting what I was about to see.
The villa was quiet. Not even servants.
Herman had a key. He unlocked the door but wouldn't come upstairs with me. "It might be better if you see the Alpha alone."
I agreed and went up by myself.
On the second floor, I heard voices from the master bedroom. The door was half-open. Two people were talking inside.
I crept closer. The soft carpet muffled my footsteps, so they didn't hear me. Through the gap, I saw Elias's back. He sat at the edge of the bed holding a bowl of soup. A woman sat on the bed, her face blocked by his body.
"Come on, one more sip."
Elias was feeding her. His voice was so gentle, his movements so careful—as if he were handling something infinitely precious and fragile.
Jealousy flooded my heart. I had never heard him speak to me like that. With me, Elias was always either too polite or too cold, keeping his distance. I had never seen this side of him.
Yet here he was, transformed into someone I didn't recognize.
"I really can't drink anymore." The woman's coy complaint made me freeze.
That was Liv's voice.
How was this possible? How could she still be alive?
"My head still hurts, Elias. What if I never get my memories back?" She leaned into his arms. Elias hastily set down the bowl and held her gently. "It's okay. You'll be fine. I promise."
"Don't leave me alone, Elias." She sounded so weak, so helpless. "You're the only person I remember. You're all I have left in this world."
"Okay. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here with you."
"I love you, Elias."
"…I love you too, Liv."
When they embraced, they shifted just enough for me to see her face. The face I would never forget.
