Chapter 221

Fiona

“We will visit again, soon,” my father says softly, kissing my forehead. I don’t really want them to leave yet, but as I yawn, I know I need to rest like Ethan said. I’m still healing and have had a busy day.

“Okay,” I mutter, then hug Aaron as he wraps himself around me.

He smiles down at me, tucks a bit of hair behind my ear, and leans in, “If you need anything, you have my number. Don’t hesitate to call, okay? Anytime. Any place. Got it?”

His serious tone almost has me tearing up again, but I just nod and hug him tighter. I know a lot of people would want their older brothers to leave them alone, but I have twenty-five years to make up for.

“And mine. I’ll be here, baby girl. If you need anything.”

They’d both taken my phone and input their numbers in, which had my heart squeezing with joy. I wasn’t sure if they’d accept me so easily, but I shouldn’t have been worried. They’re my family, and they’re already kinder than the one I left in the East.

“I had rooms prepared in the pack house for you,” Ethan announces, and each of them whips their gazes to him. Under the scrutiny, he clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “You’re welcome to stay if you like. I know you’ve just got her back and probably don’t want to leave… I understand the need to be close to Fiona.”

“Thank you, Ethan. I knew you were a good man,” Uncle Arthur says, bowing in respect. Each of my family follows suit, bowing to their newest family member.

“I agree,” my father says, “I’m glad my daughter found you.”

I have to swallow the lump in my throat as they accept Ethan and then leave.

Once they’re gone, I slump back onto the little hospital bed, exhausted and wired at the same time. So much happened in such a short period of time that I can’t wrap my mind around it. My mother was Lycan nobility. She’d run for her life, we assume, with me and got lost.

How had things gone so badly for her?

If only she’d known there was someone out there who loved her- if only she could have remembered. She was walking a line, not knowing there was something missing. Her heart had been telling her there was something missing, which is probably why she got married.

My mind returns to what my father told me before he announced they were leaving.

“I looked for both of you,” he had said softly, his eyes shining with tears. “For a year, I searched everywhere, used all my connections, called in favors… I ran myself ragged to find you two. If I’d only thought to look in the East…” He had shaken his head at that moment and looked me right in my eye. “I’m sorry I gave up.”

It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

My mother lost her home, which meant I also lost mine. Not only that, but she’d lost the man she loved. I couldn’t imagine that pain. Losing Ethan would kill me. I know that now, so what had my mother felt?

Did she know what she was feeling?

Did she have glimpses of her past in dreams or memories?

She went through so much more than I ever knew, and it was too much to think about.

“Are you alright?” Ethan asks. His arms slide under my legs and back, lifting me so he can settle behind me on the small bed. I settle back in his warmth, then fidget and turn over, facing him.

“What would you do if I lost my memory and got lost?”

Without hesitation, Ethan leans forward and kisses me. His lips are soft against mine, but before he can get too heavy, he pulls back and whispers, “I’d scour the earth for you, even tear it apart till I found you.”

“He said he tried,” I croak, the lump in my throat choking me.

“I know,” Ethan whispers, kissing my forehead and pulling me closer as I begin to cry again. “I know.”

My body is stiff when I wake up, so I lean this way and that, stretching as I sit up. Then, the familiar tickle of grass on my legs has me alert and looking around.

She’s next to me, like always, but this time, I gasp when I see her face.

“Mom!”

Tears pour out of my eyes, but I try to force them away. I can’t look away or she might disappear.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she murmurs, and I throw my arms around her, sobbing when she hugs me back. I never thought I would get to hug her again, so I hold on for dear life, even as she tries to pull back.

I don’t let her, though. I keep ahold of her, sobbing into her shoulder as her familiar vanilla scent surrounds me like it always did when I was little.

“Wh-why didn’t you s-say anything before?” I cry. “I didn’t know i-it was you.”

My entire body shakes in her arms. How did I not recognize her before?

Pulling back, I look at her. She looks the same, but she doesn’t. She’s younger, like when I was a kid, and not in her early fifties like when she passed. Her skin has a healthy glow to it, and her cheeks aren’t sunken in. There are no purple bags under exhausted, hollow eyes. Beautiful, long brown hair flows from her head.

“Mom. I didn’t know what you were going through. I didn’t know.”

“It’s not your fault, sweetheart,” she whispers, kissing my forehead. I shake my head.

“I should have known. I should have tried harder to help you, or somehow—”

“Fiona,” she says, and then she smiles. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Her hand slowly and softly brushes down the back of my head as she smiles down at me. “I’m glad you’ve finally found your father and brother.”

“I did, but how are you here? A-are you really here?”

Another soft smile, and I have to bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling as she answers, “The Moon Goddess has a soft spot for our family since we’re directly descended from her and her mate who was a Lycan.”

Surprised, I stare at her, but I find no hint of deception.

“Is that how you got your memories back?” I ask. I need to know.

She shakes her head, “I only remembered after passing. When she woke me to guide you home, I remembered everything about your father, your brother, and the attack.”

“And that’s when you came to my dreams,” I realize, then her words hit me. “Wait, does that mean you’ll disappear now?”

The thought has fear and anxiety clawing at my insides.

“This is not the end, sweetheart. We’ll see each other again because even though we’re worlds apart, I’m still with you,” she whispers, pulling me in for another hug, and I fall into her, taking any moment with her that I can get.

Maximus’s POV (Fiona’s Father)

“Maximus.”

Her voice pierces the darkness and instinctually, my hands curl into fists. Today was a reminder that I failed her. I failed my mate and let her die, scared and alone on the other side of the world.

“Maximus, are you going to look at me?”

“No,” I growl at the shadow of my mate. “You’re gone. I killed you.”

My heart constricts in my chest painfully as I sink to my knees. She’s gone and nothing will bring her back. I couldn’t find her, couldn’t save her, so this is my fault.

“Look at me.”

Gentle fingers tip my face upward, until I find a beautiful, familiar pair of brown eyes peering down at me.

“Liz,” I breathe. She’s so close yet so far, and my mind is playing tricks on me now.

I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve one glimpse of her, even if it’s a dream.

“Max, I’ve missed you,” she whispers, also sinking to her knees in front of me. I hold my breath, wanting- no, needing, for this to be real.

“I love you, too.”

Tears drip down her cheeks, and out of habit, I reach out to brush them away, not expecting my fingers to make contact with soft, warm skin.

“Elizabeth,” I choke, grabbing my mate and pulling her to my chest. Whatever this is, I’ll take it. I’ll take any moment I can get with her, even if it’s a dream. “I’m so, so sorry. I should have searched harder.”

“Please don’t blame yourself for anything. I love you, Maximus. Always have and always will.”