Chapter 75
Chapter 75
ARIA
*She’s awake! Ivory’s awake p>
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I dropped the vegetables I’d been chopping and ran, ignoring Martha’s disapproving look. When I reached the clinic, I found Eliza conducting a basic neurological assessment while Nina held Ivory’s hand, tears streaming down her face.
“Follow my finger,” Eliza was saying, moving her hand slowly from left to right. “Good. Now, can you tell me your name p>
“Ivory,” she said, her voice hoarse from disuse. “Ivory of Shadowmere Pack p>
“Excellent. And do you know where you are p>
“The clinic. Pack house clinic.” Ivory’s eyes moved around the room, taking in her surroundings with obvious confusion. “What happened? Why am I here p>
“You were attacked,” Nina said, squeezing her hand. “You found three pups in the woods and protected them from rogues. You were hurt badly-head trauma, blood loss. You’ve been unconscious for a week p>
Ivory processed this slowly, her brow furrowing. “A week? I’ve been out for a week p>
“Seven days,” Eliza confirmed. “Your injuries were severe. We were very worried p>
Someone must have alerted Kael, because he arrived moments later, practically running into the clinic. His face when he saw Ivory awake, alert, speaking-the relief that flooded through him was so intense I felt it through our bond like a physical thing.
“Ivory,” he said, moving to her bedside. “Thank the gods. You’re awake. How do you feel p>
Ivory looked at him, and I saw confusion flicker across her face. “Alpha Kael. I’m… I’m honored that the Alpha came to check on me personally. I feel confused, mostly. And my head hurts.” eel confused, mostly. And my head hurts p>
Alpha Kael. Not just Kael. The formal address, the slight stiffness in her tone-it wasn’t like before when she’d been deliberately creating distance. This was different. This was genuine uncertainty.
“Ivory,” Kael said carefully. “Do you know who I am p>
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“You’re Alpha Kael,” Ivory said slowly. “Leader of Shadowmere Pack. You were cursed for three years but broke it recently. You’re…” She trailed off, something uncertain in her expression. “You’re the Alpha p>
“But do you remember me?” Kael pressed. “Do you remember us growing up together? Being
friends p>
Ivory stared at him, and I watched the confusion deepen. “I… I know you’re the Alpha. I know I serve the pack. But I don’t… I can’t…” Her breathing quickened, panic starting to set in. “I should know you. I can feel that I should know you. But there’s nothing there. Just… nothing p>
“Memory loss,” Eliza said quietly, already making notes. “Common with severe head trauma. Ivory, don’t panic. This is normal, and memory often returns with time p>
“What else don’t I remember?” Ivory asked, her voice small in a way I’d never heard it before.
Eliza ran through a series of questions, testing what Ivory could and couldn’t recall. She remembered Nina-her cousin, her closest family. She remembered the children she’d saved, though not the specific incident of saving them. She remembered pack members, pack structure, her work as a healer.
But personal memories? Specific relationships? Those were spotty at best, completely absent at
worst.
She remembered facts about Kael-that he was Alpha, that he’d been cursed, that he’d recently bonded-but not their friendship. Not the years they’d spent together, the history they shared, the closeness they’d once had.
And when Eliza asked if she remembered me, Ivory’s gaze moved to where I stood near the back of the room.
“Luna Aria,” she said, the title correct but her tone completely flat. “The Alpha’s new mate. You bonded recently.” A pause, then something that looked almost like distaste crossed her face. “I know you’re the Luna. I know I’m supposed to respect your position. But I don’t… I don’t like you. I don’t know why. I just feel like I shouldn’t want you around p>
The words were delivered without heat, matter-of-fact, which somehow made them worse. This wasn’t Ivory’s conscious decision to dislike me-this was something deeper, something visceral that had survived even when the specific memories hadn’t.
“That’s enough questions for now,” Eliza interjected, clearly seeing how overwhelmed Ivory was becoming. “You need rest. We can work on memory recovery gradually. Don’t try to force anything p>
Over the next few hours, pack members began filtering in to visit. Word had spread quickly
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that Ivory was awake, and everyone wanted to see her, to express their relief and gratitude.
Ivory was gracious with them all, though I could see the exhaustion setting in. She accepted their thanks, their flowers, their small gifts with genuine warmth-even if she couldn’t always remember the specific people bringing them.
Nina was a constant presence, refusing to leave her cousin’s side. At one point, she produced a small bag from somewhere and pulled out several books.
“I brought you something,” Nina said, a mischievous glint in her eye despite the worry still lining her face. “To help pass the time while you recover. You know, since you’ll be stuck in this bed for a while p>
Ivory took the books, glancing at the covers. Her face immediately flushed bright red.
“Nina!” she hissed, quickly shoving the books under her pillow. “These are… these are romance novels. Very explicit romance novels. Some of them are…” she lowered her voice to a scandalized whisper, “about men with other men p>
“So?” Nina said innocently. “You’ve never been picky about your romance reading. Equal opportunity enjoyment, as you always said p>
“I’m a healer,” Ivory protested, though her fingers kept touching the books under her pillow like she was checking they were still there. “A serious medical professional. I don’t read such… frivolous things p>
“You’re a terrible liar,” Nina said fondly. “You’ve been sneaking romance novels since you were fourteen. The more scandalous, the better. Don’t pretend you’re suddenly above it just because you have memory loss p>
“I most certainly do not-” Ivory started, but Nina just laughed.
“There are three on top about a healer who falls for a warrior who keeps getting injured on purpose just to see her. And underneath those is that series you love about the traveling merchant who has love affairs in every territory p>
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