6 6. “Who are you?”

Marcus

The fire was starting to die down, the wood cracking under the heat created a lovely symphony with the crickets chirping. The breeze gave a slight chill but I wasn't fazed by the temperature. My blood ran hot and if my environment became too cold for my human form, I could always shift. My fur coat works better than the thickest blanket. Tonight I simply laid next to the fire under the moon reminiscing, until something caught my attention.

Something was coming close. I could hear paws pounding against the dirt. They were moving fast, focused, and coming directly towards me. I quickly hopped up, standing in position. I don't know what's coming, or if it's threatening. My claws extend from my human fingers and my canines start to come out. It's getting even closer.

Breaking from the tree line into the clearing under the moonlight, I see it's a wolf. Its fur is black, and its eyes remind me of cinnamon. I flash my canines at it and release a threatening snarl, letting it know that it won't be a fair fight should it challenge me. But it didn't strike, didn't crouch and didn't even growl. It – whimpered. It didn't run away from me but kept its distance, as if my growl was unwarranted. I take a moment to look at him and notice something. The size of him; he's bigger than the average wolf that run through this forest. He's the size of a were pup. One of my kind. All of my kind have escaped and ran far from human civilization. Judging by his size, I'd say he wasn't fully grown, still an adolescent. What was it doing here? Where was his pack?

I retracted my claws and canines and put my hands up to show him I didn't mean harm to him. A were-pup alone in these parts was not safe, I'm hoping I could find his pack before hunters do. They've already wiped out enough of my bloodline. I won't let anyone harm this pup.

"It's okay." I say in a soothing voice, "I'm not going to hurt you."

He seemed to understand my words since he skipped right over to me, no hinderance and no skepticism. He trusted me, even in human form. Surely, he could smell me, but I still wasn't a part of his pack. I could be dangerous, and he proceeded without caution, as if he knew me. Not only that, but I could feel his energy pulsing as he came to me. He was … happy to see me. Strange.

I inhaled his scent as he dropped his massive body into my lap. It was almost familiar. A scent I feel like I should know but cannot remember. But that doesn't make sense. Even if we had met before, his age and size don't add up. If we had met before all of the packs of the East and West had dispersed, he would have been fully grown by now. He whimpers as he snuggles into my lap and the act warms my heart. I can't help but smile as I pet the pup. His tail wags at my attention. The warmth in my chest increases and my heart flutters. A reaction that I know well but haven't felt in 200 years. It's the feeling I experienced when I touched my mate's belly after she shared the news with me. A feeling of content, being completely fulfilled with so much love and happiness that I didn't know what to do with myself. The memory nearly brings tears to my eyes as I stare at this unknown pup in wonder.

As if feeling my emotions in himself, he stands to look me in the eye. He keeps whimpering and I can't hear his thoughts. When werewolves are in wolf-form, we can communicate through our thoughts. The connection is stronger when in the same pack, but wolves not of the same pack can still communicate telepathically if they are face-to-face. But this pup … I can't hear anything. No thoughts, no inner voice, nothing. It's like he wants to speak to me, but he can't. I feel a pang in my chest for the pup. He's alone and without a voice. What a cruel thing for a young pup to endure. I keep wondering what happened to him and where he came from. Even more, why I feel such a connection with him.

Looking deep into his cinnamon eyes, I ask him, "Who are you?"

I was hoping that my question would spark something. Maybe he could give me a sign, maybe I would be wrong, and his voice would sound in my head. But there was nothing. He just stared back into my own eyes. I could see his eyes were wet, a tear hanging on the brim of his lids. A sadness I didn't expect or understand filled me. I reached out to touch him, offer comfort I didn't think I was capable of. Ellie was the gentle one, the one pups would run to with tears in their eyes and she handled it with ease. She would wipe their tears and send them on their way with a smile. I knew she would've made a wonderful mother and Luna.

A sound severs our connection, both of our heads snapping towards the thickest part of the forest. A flock of birds flew away from the volume of it. This sound nearly shook the ground, and my stomach sank when it registered in my ears. A scream. Feminine and terrified. We hear the scream again and I could hear the anguish in her scream. The pup in front of me made a sound of his own, and I could feel a tremble roll through him. He didn't waste another second; he took off in a hurried sprint. I could hear his growl vibrating against the ground. It was feral and threatening. He was running in the direction of the scream, it wasn't stopping. I made a split-second decision to go with him. He was just a pup, one of the last of our kind, and if whatever was causing that scream was too powerful for him to handle … I don't dare to finish that thought. I shift immediately and follow his scent. I caught up with him very quickly, we run side by side following the woman's screams. I can feel the pup's aura as we run, it is pulsing with rage, but I could also feel the panic pumping through his blood. He's a vengeful warrior with the promise of pain. Whatever we meet at the end of this trail, he is determined to destroy it.

As we get closer, I'm hit with a scent that I have not smelled in so long. I thought I had only imagined it earlier but there's no mistaking it now. The intoxicating mixture of vanilla and amber, with a delicate touch of jasmine. It's intensifying the closer we get to the source of the screams. I must be losing my mind. It's just not possible. I shake my head and keep pushing my legs, but the scent keeps getting stronger. I can see a shape on the ground up ahead – we found her.

We skid to a stop as we approach the woman screaming. She's alone and I'm not catching any other scents. Just … her.

My heart is beating so rapidly I fear it may explode in my chest. I walk closely up to the screaming woman, her scent making me dizzy. I cannot mistake this scent, I know it like I know my own mother's. It just … can't be true. Oh, goddess, what I would give for it to be true. But it's just – impossible.

Her screams slice into me. She sounds like she's suffering but from what, I do not know. I can see her fair skin as she thrashes about. And her hair, long and dark as the night. The glint of moonlight shining off her locks.

I must really be losing my mind.

My paws are shaking as I take another step forward. The pup is circling the woman, whimpering, and pacing fast, not sure what to do. He's not reacting to this woman like she's a stranger or even a threat but a … friend. He just looks at her helplessly. Barking at her, trying to get her attention.

"STOP PLEASE!" She shrieks out and I freeze.

This scent, that voice … my mind is brought back to that night 200 years ago and I'm almost scared to get any closer. It can't be …

"HELP ME!" She cries out and I shift. I stand on my two legs and run the rest of the distance between myself and this woman. I bend down and look over her. Her eyes are squeezed shut with tears leaking, her muscles stiffening up, and her skin is covered in sweat. She's unconscious, must be suffering a night terror or something.

For a brief moment, her eyes opened as she let out another scream. The air in my chest dissipates.

'Moon goddess … could it really be so?'

Those eyes that I know and love so much …

"Ellie?" I breathe out, I can't believe what I'm seeing.

I touch her and I feel it, the tingling sensation dancing beneath my skin where mine touches hers. The sparks. The bond. It is faint but it is there.

Tears immediately fill my eyes as I beg the moon goddess, if this is to be a dream, don't let me wake up.

She screams again, making me focus. My mate needs me.

"Ellie. Ellie, baby, it's me!" I call out to her, coaxing her out of the darkness, "I'm here, Ellie." Slowly her screams turn into whimpers. I stroke her cheek tenderly, touching her forehead with my own. I leave no space between us, giving her my scent to focus on.

"Come back to me, baby." I coo as I keep stroking her cheek. I've done this with her more times than I cared to count. It's in my biology. My instinct to protect her, even from the things she can't see. "Come home, love."

A soft exhale leaves her lips and I feel her breath on my face. I choke on a sob; I still remember feeling her last breath on my lips. It haunts me every day. But right now, she's breathing.

Her eye lids start to flutter, and she winces, likely feeling the pain from the knock on her head. She opens her eyes and time stands still as those emerald orbs lock onto my own. I never thought I'd get to look into those eyes again. She's as beautiful as the day I lost her.

"Ellie," I have so much to say, so many questions, yet all I can muster is her name.

Her eyes widen and she lets out a shriek. Before I realize what is happening, her fist drives upwards into my nose, breaking the bones. I yelp, my eyes automatically watering and the shock rendering me vulnerable for a moment. I can hear her getting to her feet.

"Koga, let's go!" She says in a rush before I hear her little feet slapping against the dirt.

"Wait!" I call out to her, but she doesn't stop. She just keeps running.

Does she … not know who I am? There must be a mistake or a misunderstanding. She must know who I am. I'm her mate, there's no way she could forget me. I shake away my shock and run after her. She's fast, but her scent is prominent.

I follow it and stop before a clearing. A cabin with the lights on and a rusty pick-up truck parked outside. I take a deep inhale and her scent is everywhere. This must be where she lives. How is it that she had been this close, and I didn't know?

I don't want to frighten my mate again, so I crouch low to blend in the shrubbery. I stalk around the tree line protecting the cabin from prying eyes. Well, eyes other than my own. There's movement in the back corner window, so I move quietly towards it. She's pacing, trying to calm her breathing.

"Okay, Ellie, calm down. So you black out and wake up to find a dirty naked man saying your name. It's okay, these things happen all the time. Who am I kidding? That never happens! He must be a serial killer or some hermit." She rambles on to herself and I chuckle. She would always do that when she was overwhelmed. But my chuckle dies quickly at the realization.

She really didn't remember me.

Why didn't she remember me!?