Page 48 of Framed and Forgotten
“Exactly what I said,” she deadpanned, unfazed by my unprovoked hostility. “I warned the young alpha about the dangers of messing with dark magic, and not only due to its tendency to backfire.”
While Columbus spiraled inside my head, I clung tightly to the last shred of control I had, watching the druid calmly dust her books. The two seconds it took her to speak again werealmost enough to make me snap. “I'm not saying your bond with your mate is lost forever, though.”
Hopeful news at last.
“I've just realized…” She glanced up at me - at my neck, more specifically. “The alpha's mate mark might have disappeared, but yours remained.”
I instinctively brought my fingers to the spot where Avril had claimed me, relieved to feel the familiar tingles that assured me my soul was still connected to hers. Taking a deep breath, I whispered, “Does that mean…”
“Yes. It’s clear the bond between the two of you hasn’t been severed. Well, at least not entirely." Vereya finally stood up, facing me properly as she added, “From her side, it’s in a sort of limbo, so to speak.”
“You mean it’s still there, just not on the surface?” I asked, assuming.
She nodded. “I believe it can be restored, if you can remind her of the feelings she once had for you.”
I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper as I thought aloud, “But how can I do that when she doesn’t remember us ever becoming mates?”
The shaman gave me a sympathetic smile. “I'm afraid that’s an answer you’ll have to find on your own.”
Great.More fucking enigmas to solve.
I quickly thanked Vereya before rushing out of her hut, even less enthusiastic than when I’d arrived. There was a lot I needed to deal with - my pup, my psychotic ex-wife, my mysterious brother, and what they knew about the Ashen Wolves. My stress was at its peak, but I had learned from my mistakes.
Avril had to be my priority.
I wouldn’t dare think about anything else until I won her back.
As I entered the pack house, my steps grew slower, my rush slowly being replaced by caution. Elijah should be done talking to Avril now, which meant I could finally see her. But when I did, what would I say? How should I act?
“She’s still our mate,”Col observed confidently.“We just need to be ourselves, and she will feel it.”
Lacking a better option, I decided to trust him, marching toward the alpha chambers with determination. As soon as I reached the top floor of the packhouse, I found Elijah down the hall, standing in front of the door. His face was unreadable, but something in his posture hinted at a guarded optimism.
I approached him, my heartbeat thumping in my ears. With a brief nod, I asked, my voice tight, “How did it go?”
“She believes you are her mate,” Elijah answered, his words lifting a weight off my chest.
I heaved a sigh of relief. “Good.” I dwelled in the moment of peace for a heartbeat before steeling myself. “I’ll talk to her now,” I said, but Elijah didn’t move.
Pursing his lips, he explained. “She isn’t ready to see you, Koen.”
The words hit like a slap. I froze, my mind racing. “What?” I tried to read his expression, but his eyes were impenetrable. There was no sign of hesitation, no softening of his stance. Just that unyielding calm.
Frustration flared, and I frowned. “Come on, man. You know I have to explain everything to her. How else am I supposed to fix our relationship?”
All he did was shrug. “I’m sorry.”
That was it? That was all he had to say? A sharp growl scraped against my throat, my frustration becoming something darker, more dangerous. “Who’s side are you on, Elijah?”
His eyes narrowed, his tone firm. “Believe me, Koen, I want nothing more than to see you two together again,” he began.“But I’ll always put her happiness and well-being first. Until she tells me she’s ready, I won’t let you through.”
Silence stretched between us, but the tension grew thick. Every fiber of my being screamed to get through that door. I could understand why Elijah, Theo, and Rhea hadn’t tried to remind Avril of me up until my return. They were respecting her wishes of keeping me off her mind, and there was no point in forcing her to remember while I was away. However, now that I was back, I wouldn’t allow them to stand in our way.
Another growl rumbled from deep in my chest. I stepped closer to Elijah, my voice a low, dangerous whisper. “I don’t want to hurt you, Eli.”
His posture didn’t shift. A fraction of a second later, Theo appeared at his mate’s right, his glare as cold and unyielding as mine as he said, “You won’t.”
Before I could do anything, Rhea joined them, standing at Elijah’s left. “Sorry, Koen,” she said with regret. “But you have to understand-”
