Page 5 of Forgotten Mate

“Zenia.”

She blinked as the memory faded. Luna Paytonsat in front of her, brows furrowed in concern. Zenia didn’tremember the walk to the diner. Didn’t remember sitting down at atable. Apparently, she did since it’s where she was.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“He’s here,” she replied dully. “My mate.But he doesn’t remember me. How could he completely wipe all tracesof me out of his mind?”

Payton covered her hand with one of her own.“Sometimes, people are cruel for no reason, but it hasnothing to do with you. It’s not your fault. You are asweet, kind woman, and if he can’t see that, it’s his loss.”

“I thought I was getting better,” shewhispered achingly. “But I feel just as raw as the day it happened.I hate that he did that to me. I hate he can erase all the work ina single moment.”

“I know,” Payton said. “But you’re not alonethis time. You have me and you have Jericho. We won’t let you fallagain.”

“Me too!” Esmeralda plopped onto a chair.“What precisely did he say to you?”

“He said he couldn’t—”

The old woman waved that away. “No, notthat. Before.”

“Um. He said I smelled like his mate and hewondered why.”

“That’s weird,” Payton said. “Two peoplecan’t have the same scent, can they?”

“No, they can’t,” Esmeralda murmured. Shefolded her arms and tapped her chin with a finger. “I bet someonetampered with his mind.”

“What?” Payton leaned closer. “Like erasedit? Is that a thing?”

“Anything is possible, I suppose. I wasthinking of altering events, though.”

“But what about the scent?”

“Oh, that part’s the easiest to figure out.This supposed mate of his had a scent transfer.”

Zenia blinked. “That sounds slightlygross.”

“It’s a spell.” Esmeralda jumped to herfeet. “Easy enough. All the person would need is something thatbelonged to you. Come on, let’s visit Savannah.”

She practically ran out of the diner.

“I guess I’m holding down the fort,” Paytonremarked dryly.

Zenia nodded and followed the older woman.When she stepped into the apothecary, she immediately saw Greyden.Every muscle stiffened.

“I see you came to the same conclusion,Alpha.”

“A spell?” he said.

“Yep.” She popped the p.

“Hello, Zenia,” Savannah said softly.

“Hi,” she replied, unable to take her gazeoff Greyden.

Savannah walked over to him and sniffed. Hernose wrinkled like she’d gotten a whiff of something rotten.

“Dark magic,” she said. “Very powerful. Howlong?”

“Five years,” Greyden replied.

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