by Laura Fields
Axel’s eyes shifted into a deep yellow, and he thought at her, mate.
The voice in her head was different somehow, with more rumbles. He hadn’t spoken with words, either, more like feelings. Regardless, Harper understood him, and it didn’t sit well with her at all. Mate or no, he needed to give her some space.
She fought her wolf for control, using anger and fear as weapons. Wolf mentally snapped at her, but Harper was able to use her emotions as leverage. As soon as she won the mental battle, Harper unconsciously shifted back to human.
Axel’s arms were still wrapped around her, so when she shifted he was left holding her. For the second time that day, Harper yelped. She shoved Axel and dashed for the hospital bed, wrapping the blanket around herself.
“I just- I can’t. You- I” Harper sputtered.
“We have a lot to discuss. Hear me out?” Axel held his hands out, palms facing her.
She froze, watching him warily. Her voice was refusing to work. After a moment Harper nodded and perched on the edge of the bed.
“I’m the leader of the Canyon Wolf Pack, and you are my mate. Now I know that you’re scared right now, and that’s expected, but when we leave the hospital I need you to try to stay calm. Wolves will take any chance at becoming alpha, and that includes hurting you. I need you to be strong, Harper. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her mind reeling. Alpha? She was a werewolf. “When did I become a- a werewolf?”
Axel folded his tall frame in the hospital chair. “You were the child of two born werewolves, so you first shifted at eighteen.”
“How else do you become one?”
“After getting bitten and surviving the change.”
“Oh.” Harper was speechless. “When will I leave the hospital?”
He looked pleased at her improving mental health. Not too long ago she was shouting and jumping on the bed. “Technically, you can leave right now. You’re able to heal quickly, and the doctor knows what we are, so she has already dismissed you.”
“Good. I want to go home and sleep in my own bed.” She needed to curl up under the sheets and watch old movies for therapy to ease this crazy day.
“Harper, you’re going home with me.” Axel’s voice told her there would be no bargaining.
“Excuse me?” She was not accustomed to being ordered.
He sighed and changed his tone. “Harper, I think it would be best if you returned to your home with me.”
She could tell it pained him to state his request like that, but she still appreciated the effort. “No, thank you. I want to stay with my parents.”
“Harper, you belong home with me.” His voice had returned to being forceful.
She scowled at him. “I don’t belong anywhere!”
“You’re being unreasonable.”
“No, you’re being unreasonable. You expect me to just come live with you even though it’s like you’re a stranger? You have no idea what it feels like to wake up in a hospital room and have somebody tell you that your memories from the last two years are gone!”
She could no longer hold back the tears, and they poured down her face in frustration.
“Harper,” Axel said, reaching out to her.
“Don’t touch me.” She felt sick. He was the cause of her mixed emotions, and Harper couldn’t handle it all. “Please leave. I need some time to think.”
To her shock (and maybe small disappointment) Axel stood and immediately left her alone. The door closed with a finalizing click.
||||
Harper located some spare clothes as soon as Axel left, and before long she was fast asleep. Her dreams were wild, but not unpleasant. When she awoke, her mom was beside the bed staring down with worry.
“Honey, I think it would be best if you stayed with Axel,” she told her softly after Harper’s eyes fluttered open.
“What? Mom, not you too.” She held back a moan.
“We talked about it, and we are in agreement. Even your father thinks it’ll be best,” she admitted, looking guilty.
“Axel is forcing you to say that, isn’t he?” Harper wasn’t sure how she knew exactly, but she chalked it up to intuition.
“Honey, why would you ever-” her mom started.
“Isn’t he?” she half-yelled.
“Well, baby, Axel is a very powerful man. He has a lot of influence.” Her mother said the words with pride, but the sounded poisonous to Harper.
“I can’t believe this. I don’t care how much influence he has! I barely know him.”
“Oh, darling, you know him. You’ll remember soon enough, I promise.”
“Where is dad?” Harper asked, changing the subject before she got too upset.
“He’s on his way to the hospital. He was in Washington for a meeting and flew down as soon as he heard.”
“There’s no point in him coming. I’m leaving,” Harper said, getting out of bed. She was going to her childhood home whether her mom liked it or not.
“I don’t think tha-” her mom began protesting.
“But werewolves heal faster, right mom? Oh yeah, and you’ll have to explain to me again why you didn’t tell me you and dad could grow fur. That should have been something you had explained when I turned, like, four. Not eighteen.”
Harper shoved the door open, only to find Axel standing guard outside.
“Not you again,” Harper muttered.
“Where are you going?” Axel asked, not at all surprised to see her dressed and ready to leave.
Harper said as she brushed passed him, “I’m ditching this place, going home.” She had no idea which way the exit was, but she didn’t really care as long as she left her hospital room. Upon walking, it didn’t feel like she had been kidnapped. No muscles ached and no bones hurt.
“How do you plan on getting home?” Axel asked, easily catching up with her.
“I’ll walk if I have to, it doesn’t matter.”
Before he could respond, his cell phone rang. Axel answered it, and Harper listened to his conversation curiously. Who knew having improved hearing would come in handy so soon?
He snapped, “What?”
The man calling responded, “We found another one. An older man on 38th and Copper. Found dead in his garage.”
“I’m busy now, Doug,” Axel said, glancing at Harper.
She had slowed down after hearing the call, looking stricken. “Someone died?” she whispered.
“Doug, you’ll have to take care of it without me,” Axel said impatiently into the phone.
Harper didn’t want Axel to waste his time chasing her when he had more important matters to address. She felt guilty. Someone had died recently and she was wasting her time moping around the hospital because she lost a couple years of her memory. She could have died like that man, but she was lucky enough to be alive.
“No, you should go. I’ll go with you,” Harper suggested.
Axel paused, watching her for a moment. He didn’t want to take his mate to a murder scene, but she had just agreed to go with him willingly.
Making a quick decision, he said, “Doug, we’ll be there in ten.” After snapping the phone shut, Axel led Harper out the hospital doors and into a shiny black car. Harper climbed inside after he politely opened the door for her.
Her mom had followed them to the exit hospital and gave Harper a wave as they drove away from Canyon Hospital. The scene seemed oddly strange to Harper, but that was probably just because she had lost her memories. What had her mother said about getting into the car with a stranger? Something about not doing it if she wanted to stay alive. Luckily, Axel was only a half stranger.
Just moments ago she had been standing on her bed and screeching at Conner. He must have taken off after she was awake and in Axel’s care.
Harper distracted her tireless thoughts with small talk. “How many people are in your pack?”
“Over ninety, not including rouges under our protection,” he replied casually.
Sh
e ran her hand over the black interior leather nervously. Wow, this car was really nice. Sleek and sophisticated and powerful. Just like someone else we know, her wolf thought.
She ignored Wolf and asked, “Isn’t that a lot? How big are packs usually?”
“Ours is the second largest in the States, leaving me the second most powerful werewolf in the nation,” Axel said, keeping the smugness out of his voice.
Regardless, he was trying to impress her, and it worked. She could feel his pride when he spoke, could feel the cockiness. Harper jumped slightly when she felt her wolf rumble with contentment at his rank in the pack. Shut it, Wolf, she thought at herself. I’m freaked out enough as it is. Wolf simply growled and fell once more into silence, frustrated with her human half.
Oh boy, this would get tiring. How did they get along in the past? Did her wolf lose her memories too? Harper tried getting Wolf to respond, but she stubbornly refused to help.
“Harper?” Axel asked, gazing at her.
“Oh! Yes?”
“We’re here.” Axel had apparently been trying to get her attention, and Harper hadn’t responded because she was too busy trying to get information from her mulish wolf-self.
She glanced outside and tried to remain unflustered. They were in the driveway of a modern two-story home. Flower pots were on the porch, and an old swing hung from a massive oak tree. Harper thought the swing looked familiar, so she must have sat on one in the past few years.
“You should probably stay in the car,” Axel told her gently.
“I’m not going to hide here like some weak-stomached baby.” Just who did he think she was? It was insulting.
Her words made Axel smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“You’ve changed, that’s all,” he replied cryptically before crossing in front of the car to open her door. She had two complete seconds to check him out without him knowing, and she took full advantage. Harper was still trying to figure out how she had ended up with such a hottie when emerged from the backyard gate. He was tall, dark, and handsome. Yummy. Wolf snorted, obviously peeved at the direction of Harper’s thoughts.
“Harper! Feeling better, I hope?” he asked immediately.
She started to glance at Axel for help before deciding it might make her seem reliant upon him.
“Much! Thank you for asking,” she replied cheerfully, watching with amusement as his eyes darted to Axel’s before settling on her again.
“This is Doug,” he introduced for her.
“Ah, yes. Okay, nice to see you again, Doug.”
“No worries, Harper. You’ll be back to your old self in no time.” He leaned over and whispered, “Although I kind of like you this way.”
Before she could ask him what he meant, Axel interjected, “Whose home is this?”
Doug cleared his throat. “His name was Ben, and he was found about an hour ago.” He led them through the gate and towards a workshop next to the alley.
“What about the police?” she whispered to Axel.
“We run the police, dear,” he whispered back with amusement.
This is one messed up town, Harper thought to herself.
You have no idea, Axel responded in her head, making her jump. She glared at him so he knew not to spook her like that in the future, and he laughed at her.
Doug glanced back at them with curiosity, and Axel indicated that he should keep talking. “He was killed by a blow to the head, and after death he was bitten all over his body. It’s like someone is trying to frame us.”
Gross, Harper thought.
Tell me about it. Axel had invaded her privacy again.
Stop! She thought-yelled at him and he sent her a feeling akin to demeaning amusement.
Harper tried to send her frustration through the bond, and it must have worked because he laughed. Doug stared at him in bewilderment.
Axel said, “My apologies. What was his age?”
“68. He had two children, both adults.”
They came upon the workshop door, and Doug looked at Harper before turning the knob. She nodded her confirmation, and he opened the door. Her senses picked up the smell of death, making her sneeze loudly. Harper caught a glimpse of a large foot beyond the doorway and decided it would probably be better for her to remain outside after all.
As Axel and Doug entered the garage, Harper explored the backyard. It was large, for a house in the city. The grass had been watered and manicured often. Someone had attended to the multiple flower beds and filled the hummingbird feeding often.
She vaguely remembered this neighborhood from high school; one of her friends used to live a few houses down the block. It was a quiet home, but now it reeked of sadness and death.
Harper gazed around, feeling that déjà vu feeling that must have been cause by her wolf. It was possible that she had known the man, met him one day, or perhaps she had raked his yard clear of leaves. Regardless, those memories were all lost.
She felt Axel’s sense of regret through the bond as he examined Ben’s body. Harper asked him, Who would do such a thing?
I have a few people in mind, he replied while exiting the garage. Their eyes locked, and Harper’s heart stuttered. Someone definitely needed to take this man down a few attractiveness notches, or she would never be able to carry on a coherent conversation.
“Aren’t we able to smell the murderer?” Harper asked as Doug emerged.
He shook his head. “Whoever it was had taken extreme measures to mask their scent. Also, the bites were made with an artificial tool to keep DNA evidence off the body.”
Harper suddenly felt sick, but she refused to puke. She was tougher than this, dang it. Axel must have felt her nausea because he immediately came by her side.
“Come on, Harper. Let’s get you home.” He placed a gentle hand on her lower back to guide her to the car. She let him, knowing the contact comforted his troubled wolf.
He opened the door for Harper and she slid inside the comforting seat. Taking deep breaths, the sickness eventually faded. Axel knew she was upset from the murder but he left her alone.
“I’m sorry, Harper, I shouldn’t have take you to see that,” he said after a few minutes, giving her an apologetic glance.
“It was my choice, so don’t be sorry. I’m glad I went.”
After they had left the house far behind, Harper was able to relax. She gazed out the window and tried to count the differences in her small city. There were way too many for comfort.
She turned to Axel and asked, “What’s your last name?”
“Sterling.”
“As in sterling silver? Sterling?” Harper couldn’t hold in her laugh. “I mean, Sterling is a great name and all, but just not for a werewolf.”
Out of nowhere, Axel chuckled. “You know, you said nearly the exact same thing two years ago.” He admitted quietly, “I haven’t heard you laugh in a long while.”
Axel reached over to take her hand, and Harper flinched in surprise. She felt his sharp sting of hurt before he threw a barrier down on the bond, cutting their connection. She felt so guilty, though it wasn’t her fault. Her feelings were all jumbled up, but she didn’t mean to hurt him. She didn’t even mind holding his hand. He had just surprised her, that’s all.
It was late evening, and Harper gazed out at the sinking sun. At least one thing hadn’t changed in two years: The sky. She could remember climbing out her window at night to look up at the night stars.
Harper thought of a subject that would distract him. “Tell me about the time we first met. Maybe it’ll jog my memory.”
He was quiet a moment before responding. “You had just turned 18, and we were having a pack meeting out at the field. It was a full moon, a truly magical night, and I was making the rounds, talking to the pack. I searched for your family to make sure they were feeling welcomed, because you never know how the pack will get along with rouge wolves, and there you were. Your family was at the edge of the field, but as soon as I came near you it
was like my wolf came alive.” Axel fell silent, remembering one of the most important nights of his life.
Tears of guilt threatened, but Harper forced them back and waited for him to finish.
“I was about fifty yards away when you jerked your head up and began scanning the pack. Somehow your wolf knew that her mate was nearby. Your eyes met mine, and it was instantaneous.” Axel grinned at her. “The whole pack felt the bond form.”
Suddenly Axel’s voice was in her head. Every pack member turned and stared at us, but we didn’t care. From then on, you were my world.
Harper could feel his grief, wistfulness, and guilt.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Her words felt so inadequate for this moment, but there was nothing else to say. Wolf growled softly, feeling guilty for Axel’s emotions.
“What happened next?” She asked with true curiosity after a moment. It was such an odd feeling, knowing that these things had happened to her but not remembering.
“You got the silliest grin on your face,” he said.
Harper glanced over to see Axel smile fondly at the memory. “Then the pack fell silent. There were 78 present that day. It was a glorious sight to see, because the pack is never quiet. All of a sudden, your emotions were in my head. You were elated, but scared and nervous. That moment we bonded was perfection is all its forms.”
Harper couldn’t help but smile at the image in her head. “What was my grin like? Love struck?”
It was like this.
Axel sent her a mental image. Her smiling face filled her mind. The woman looked so darn happy. It wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t she remember? Harper vaguely felt the car turn and then roll to a stop, but her attention was on that night two years ago as she watched the scene through Axel’s memories.
The clearing was surrounded by towering trees, and Harper was at the very edge with her mom and dad. They looked uncomfortable, with crossed arms and wary glances. Harper’s head jerked up and began scanning the nearby pack members. Axel’s emotions spiked when he spotted her. Her hair was long and golden, her exposed legs tall and lean. She was completely perfect. The howl of Axel’s wolf filled his head as he tried to take control. Mate, his wolf thought. Harper’s blue eyes found his and stayed locked.