CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64

Maria’s POV

I followed Trevor’s brother and his friend, Sam. My chest ached at the fact that I was leaving Trevor. He had always been there for me, protecting me, caring for me and wishing that I would recognize who I am.

Just when I’m in the middle of knowing who I truly am, I’d have to leave him. I cursed the blight inwardly for separating us and not allowing Trevor to freely cross.

I rode on Sam’s horse, while Triton rode alone. I noticed that Triton kept stealing glances in my direction, but whenever I looked at him, he would look away.

"What did it feel like?" I asked him.

He narrowed his eyes. "I don’t understand."

"I mean what did being your mate feel like?"

He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair.

"I found out you were my mate at a tavern, we had already...you know..."

I lowered my gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed as I knew what he meant. "I rejected you."

"You rejected me?" I snapped before I could even think of what to say.

"Yes. I already had a woman in my life, but when I returned to her, I found out she betrayed me, so I went back to look for you."

"It seems like I was a second option." I muttered.

"You weren’t," Triton interrupted. "I’d do anything to have you if you weren’t mated to my brother."

I tore my gaze from him and faced forward. "Then why did you lie? You lied that I was the one who rejected you."

"You didn’t accept my rejection, so the mate bond was still there. After I found you after the search, you tricked me into saying the rejection mantra and you accepted my rejection. I have no idea why you did that."

I placed one hand on my chin. I didn’t remember doing any of that. Whatever my memories were, I was sure that this trip to Veilwood would help revive it.

"I’m still happy for my brother even though I’m sad to lose you. He’s lucky to have a mate like you."

The rest of the ride continued in silence, and we rode until the sun began to set. I was seated behind Sam on the horse, so I didn’t have to bear the stress of controlling the horse. All I did was to grip his waist so that I wouldn’t fall off.

"How far is Veilwood from here?" I asked, looking around to see just plain land in sight. I couldn’t see the rogue fortress from behind us, nor could I see a pack ahead of us.

"We should arrive there tomorrow night or the day after tomorrow." Sam said in response.

We alighted from our horses to rest for the night. I had packed water and bread along with me. I gulped down the water and shared the bread among us.

They set up a fire to keep us warm. Sam shifted into his wolf and lay close to the fire, it was obvious he was trying to keep himself warm.

Triton just placed his head against a rock and lay without shifting into his wolf.

I couldn’t shift into my wolf either, even though she was standing beside me. I closed my eyes and struggled to sleep.

Both of them had slept, but sleep continued to elude me. I felt like I was used to being in Trevor’s arms, and without him, I couldn’t sleep anymore.

The mate bond pulsed deeply in me and I yearned to be by his side. I craved those intimate moments with Trevor. I wondered if he felt the same way, if he also missed me. He had said that he missed me, but I wished I could know if he felt it.

I managed to sleep while thinking of Trevor.

I woke up the next morning to see that Triton and Sam were already setting the horses for the day’s journey. The morning sun shone brighter than normal.

I washed my face and drank the rest of my water before joining them.

"You’ve not revealed what the forger promised you for doing his dirty work, or are you just an evil person that’s working for free." I broke the moment of silence.

Triton stifled a smile. "He promised me something and I can’t just reveal it." He lowered his voice. "It’s too embarrassing."

I shrugged my shoulders, but still asked more questions.

"How did Trevor become a rogue?"

Triton chuckled. "He didn’t tell you even as your mate. I bet he doesn’t want his secret out."

"Tell me."

"It wasn’t entirely his fault, but the father already hated his bastard son enough, and cast him out without wanting to listen to his apology."

"Trevor is not his real son?"

"He is my father’s son, but not from my mother."

Triton kept mute for a while before continuing. "If you want to hear his story, you should ask him. If he considers that story a secret, then I’d be betraying him by telling you."

I rolled my eyes at Triton. "You already betrayed him when you visited and fought with him the first time."

"I knew you were there that day. Your scent was just so familiar."

The rest of the ride was quiet, except when Triton said something that needed Sam’s response.

"What pack is Kelin from?" Sam who hadn’t said anything to me the whole while asked.

I hesitated for a moment because I was unsure if he was referring to me, but when he asked the question a second time, I answered.

"She mentioned a pack named Eirengale. I’m not sure if I named it well."

"Eirengale," Sam echoed.

He didn’t say anything else and we continued our journey quietly.

"We’re close to the neighbouring packs." Triton said, and I spotted a few houses roughly in the distance.

"That used to be the witches’ settlement." Triton informed further. "It means Veilwood is closer to the rogue fortress than my pack in the north."

It was a bit dark, but I could still see the houses that Triton referred to. They looked tiny from a distance.

When we rode there, it had already gotten to night. There were a few people around there.

We reached a particular building which looked bigger than the rest.

"Is this the packhouse?" I asked Triton and he nodded in affirmation.

"Ghost! Ghost!" I heard several voices shouting.

It turned out that everyone was gathered at the packhouse, and that was why the pack looked empty as we walked past.

The meeting which was being held was met with disarray as everyone began scampering around.

Triton and Sam were trying their best to calm the restless crowd. As we walked towards the podium where a young woman sat, everyone was clearing off the way in fear and giving us space to pass.

"You aren’t dead?" The woman who sat on the podium asked.

"Maria? You’re alive." An elderly man said as he walked towards me with a woman. They touched my hand and felt my skin.

"Who are you?" I asked and I saw them exchange puzzled glances.

Triton stepped in to provide an explanation. He told them how I lost my memory due to the accident trauma and how I was at the rogue king’s fortress since then, but he omitted the part of me and Trevor being mates.

"Maria, these are your parents, and this is your sister." He pointed at the woman who was seated at the podium.

"Sasha, your sister is finally here. You don’t have to burden yourself with being the alpha."

The woman held my hand gently. "It’s a good thing we found you before the ceremony commenced."

My sister stepped down to where my parents were. "I never said being the alpha of this pack was a burden. Why would you even want to crown someone who doesn’t even remember anything as the alpha? And what if she still doesn’t have her wolf."

Aria was right when she said that I should be careful of my sister that she doesn’t like me. I could tell from her tone and manner of speaking that she was excited to take my alpha position, and seeing me made her feel extremely upset.

"Sasha!" My father growled. "That’s no way to talk to your sister who just returned, at least you should be happy to see her."

"Well, I’m not happy." She snapped.

Aria, my wolf gave me an ’I told you so’ look. She had already lectured me about my sister’s behaviour.

I was about to respond when I felt something like an electric current surge through me. I shook violently and fell on the floor, unable to control myself.

My entire body felt like it had been set on fire. I felt chilly and a sharp pain throbbed through my head like it was being squeezed.

I held my chest as my heart began beating at an accelerated rate. Triton supported me on the floor.

I was still trying to understand what was going on, when my eyes shut open.

Then it began coming back to me— Everything.