She closes the door behind us and motions to the plush armchairs by her desk. “I am Helena Cartwright, head of the Manhattan division of the Time Traveler Agency.”
“Lyall Erikson and my brother Anders.”
She smiles. “Yes, I recognized you, Anders. It’s nice to meet you, Lyall. Please, have a seat.”
I sit opposite her desk, drumming my hands on my thighs. I fear I won’t like what answers she has for me. “Many years ago, my brother and Alpha, Wulfric, banished Soren Erikson to this time. I… Anders encountered him and Soren had no recollection of ever knowing Anders. I need to know why.”
Pursing her lips, she waves her hand and across the room a file cabinet opens. A file flies toward her, pages turning, and settles neatly on the desk. “Just a moment…” She goes through the file, nodding to herself. “He was exiled from your pack after a hunter clan led by his father burned your village and killed your father, the former Alpha Erikson.”
“Aye, but he wasn’t responsible.” My hands curl in my lap. “He had no idea his father was alive. He thought all his kin had been killed in an attack on his village when he was a boy.”
She frowns at me. “That’s not what I have in his file. It says here he knew about the attack and helped plan it with his father.”
“That’s a lie!” I snap, fangs sharp as my wolf rears his head to defend our mate.
Anders growls, “Calm yourself.”
I take a breath. “Apologies, but that isn’t true at all.”
“Do you have proof of your version of thestory?”
A sigh escapes me. “No. Only my word.”
“I see.” She closes Soren’s file and meets my gaze. “Mr. Erikson, when Soren came to our time, we erased his memories and planted new ones to help him assimilate into his new surroundings as smoothly as possible.”
My heart drops into my stomach. Theystolemy mate’s memories of our life together. It’s their fault Soren doesn’t remember me.
“Give them back.” My shaking hands curl into fists in my lap.
“I cannot.”
“You must!” My fist hits the desk, knocking over some pens. They roll across the desk and quietly thud onto the carpet. “You stole our life together. You took him from me.” My voice trembles and cracks.
She speaks gently, as if to a child, when she replies. “Without proof of his innocence, we can’t restore his memories. It’s simply too great of a risk. I’m sorry.”
“You’re thieves. Thieves and cowards!” There’s a sharp sting in my palms.
“Brother, you’re bleeding.” Anders lays a hand on my shoulder.
I uncurl my fists, and blood pools in my palms.
“You’re welcome to spend time with him. We ask that when you travel to this time, you do so inconspicuously, such as over large bodies of water via boat or, preferably, through one of our own portals in this building. If we findout humans have seen you while traveling to this time or that there have been attempts to remind Soren of his past, then there will be repercussions.”
“Such as?” Anders asks, his hand tightening on my shoulder. His worry hits our bond.
“First, we will contact Alpha Erikson and tell him of this violation. He will have a month to come up with a solution. If he cannot, then the Travelers Council will get involved and your pack will lose the ability to travel.”
“What?” Anders snarls, outwardly furious. Only I can sense the storm of horror that crashes through the bond.
Dread makes my heart sink. “Why the pack? Why not simply me?”
Anders lives in the future with his family. Kieran still has friends he checks in on in this time as well. If we aren’t allowed to travel, I’ll never see Anders again, nor he us.
“The Travelers Council takes violations of traveler law seriously. We must maintain the peace and security of travelers in the past, present, and future. Do you have any other questions, Mr. Erikson?”
No, but I want to grab her and shake her. How dare she try to keep us apart! Taking a long breath, I urge my wolf to calm himself. This isn’t her fault. She gets her orders from the witch version of an Alpha, the Travelers Council.
“I understand.” I don’t, but I plaster on a smile. “Thank you. But just to be clear, I am allowed to meet with Soren?”
