Moonlight forgotten

CHAPTER10

A Smile

Kael gasped for air. The chain coiled between his fingers like silver thread fashioned from recollection, and the necklace remained warm in his grasp. He was unable to look away from it. It smelled like him, of smoke and pine and something older. Something familiar and comforting.

Behind him, Liana had become silent, and Kael could sense the tension in the air.

He turned to her and questioned, "Where did this come from?" He spoke softly, yet there was a tremor in his voice.

She took a while to respond. Rather, she moved forward and removed the jewelry from his hand with care. The little touch of her fingertips on his flesh was enough to arouse something deep inside him. That touch also reminded him of something he had experienced before.

When she finally said, "You wore it," her voice was strained. "Daily."

Kael blinked. "What do you mean?"

After hesitating, she raised her gaze. This time, there was no dread or terror in her gaze. Something else filled them, something that shattered his chest apart. Sadness. Love, regret.

She said, "You gave it to me the night before the accident." "You claimed it would keep me safe."

Something dazzling flashed into his head. A flicker, not a whole recollection. The light of a fire. A little peck on the forehead. Thin fingers gripped a silver chain. *Always keep it close.*

Kael stumbled and grabbed the wall for support.

"I just saw that," he murmured softly. in my mind.

Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. "I hoped you may remember. Part of it, anyhow.

He gazed at her, truly stared. There was something about her face—something that wouldn’t let him look away. Then she grinned. A little, kind grin that was too small to reach her eyes yet contained years of unspoken suffering and unspoken hope.

At that moment, it occurred.

In the firelight, he caught her giggling. Her eyes were filled with delight as he watched her sprinting through woods barefoot. With his arms around her and his face pressed against her hair, he recognized himself. She smiled at him.

*That grin.*

He gasped.

His voice cracked as he said, "I've seen you before."

Her gaze expanded.

"Your grin," he murmured. "It is identical. I have had visions of it.

She stepped closer and muttered, "You always said that." "That my grin would still be visible in the dark even if the whole world burnt down."

Feeling overwhelmed, he staggered back. Too much. Too quickly. The silver necklace he was holding seemed as if it was throbbing with life, and his head ached. Magic, memory—he had no idea. However, it was genuine.

He stutteringly said, "I don't understand." “Why didn’t you tell me everything? Why didn’t you say we were… anything more?”

Liana gazed down, her words a whisper. "Because I was uncertain if you would ever want to remember me."

Kael’s heart twisted. He wanted to shake her, yell at her, and plead with her for more. Nevertheless, a peculiar terror immobilized him. What if remembering brought greater pain? What if their narrative wasn’t the love story he was beginning to wish it had been?

The door slammed open before he could say another word.

Startled, they both turned.

Standing there, panting, was Old Martha. She had crazy eyes. "Someone is in the forest."

Kael’s body reacted before his mind caught up. He grabbed for the door's axe. Liana reached for her jacket. They went out into the cold with Martha.

Kael hardly felt the night air biting their flesh. His wolf was rising again, and his senses were keener. He sensed it. Take a whiff of the air. Beyond the woods, hear the little crunch of movement.

Liana said, "There," indicating the dark trees.

Something swift, low to the ground, dashed between the trunks.

A wolf.

Not just any wolf, however.

It has *red* blazing eyes.

The heart stopped in Kael.

He was familiar with those eyes.

He *knew*, but he didn't know how.

Liana took hold of his arm. "Kael. We must return. It's not secure.

But he was immobile. In the darkness, his legs halted, his eyes fixed on that red stare. With a low snarl, the wolf turned and fled.

The whole recollection then struck him.

Snow with blood on it. The wolf with the ruby eyes sprang at Liana. A shout. His own body moving mid-air. A battle. Fangs. Pain. as well as flames.

He gasped and sank on one knee.

Liana grabbed his shoulders and fell next to him. "What is it, Kael?"

"I remember," he gasped. That wolf. I resisted it. It attempted to murder you.

She opened her mouth in surprise. "When?"

His eyes widened in horror as he gazed at her.

"The night the accident occurred."

Stunned and quiet, Liana gazed at him.

Grasping the necklace like a lifeline, he stood slowly. Now the silver was too chilly. Abruptly, he began to doubt if it had really provided any protection at all.

"I must adhere to it," he said.

"What? No! You just remembered, Kael—

His voice was strained as he snapped, "Exactly." That wolf attempted to kill us both. I must know why. I must find out *who* it is.

Liana reached for him again, but this time he pulled away.

"Liana, I must know. I *must*.

He shifted before she could stop him, his body rippling into sleek, dark fur and his bones cracking. He didn't turn around.

Kael rushed into the darkness, following the smell of blood and shadow.

Liana murmured a single word into the shadows far behind.

“Please… come back.”

Something ignited inside of me when I heard Liana's quiet laugh echoing through the tiny cabin. It was her smile, not just the sound. Her lips' curve, the crinkle around her eyes, and the brief appearance of her dimples. It was well-known. My breath caught because it was so incredibly familiar.

I gazed.

The woman c****d her head. "What?"

I uttered the words slowly, as though they were too heavy for my tongue, "I've seen that smile before." “In a dream.”

Her mouth lurched. "What dream?"

“I don’t know exactly. I don’t recall the specifics. But… it felt genuine. You were there. Smiling like that.” I pointed to her lips. “Just like that.”

Liana moved away too fast, wiping imaginary dust from the table. “Maybe you’re simply misunderstanding things. Dreams may seem real.”

But I recognized that expression in her eyes—guilt. Or was it fear?

I moved closer. “You’re not telling me everything.”

She remained quiet, her back rigid.

“I need to know, Liana. Really, who am I to you?

In a whisper, she said, "I told you what I know."

"No," I firmly said. "What you *wanted* me to know, you told me."

Then she turned, her eyes sparkling. "If the truth only causes suffering, what good will it do?"

"This mental fog is worse than pain."

Jaw tight, she averted her gaze once more. "It's late. We ought to get some rest.

I didn't exert additional effort. I could tell by something in her eyes that pushing would only cause the delicate space between us to shatter.

We took our places on each side of the room. I was by the window, she by the fire. Mostly I listened to the silence that stretched between us, but I also heard the crackle of flames and the howl of the wind. dense. delicate. Holding out for a break.

The dreams returned when I eventually fell asleep.

They were keen this time.

It was a red moon when I stood atop a hill. The trees were burning, and wolves ran in every direction, howling in pain. Blood on leaves. Smoke in the air. My hands—my *claws*—dripping crimson.

A girl screamed my name.

*“Kael!”*

I turned. She ran to me through fire and smoke. Her silver necklace caught the light, flashing like a beacon. Her eyes were filled with terror—and love.

I knew her.

Her face became clear.

Liana.

The dream twisted. Suddenly, we were in the forest clearing again. Her arms around me. A kiss that tasted like summer and sadness. A promise whispered against my skin.

“I’ll find you. No matter what.”

My eyes snapped open.

The room was still dark. Liana was asleep, curled near the fire.

I rose slowly, heart racing. My hands trembled as I touched my chest. The warmth of the dream still clung to my skin like a memory refusing to fade.

That smile… her voice… the necklace… The girl in the dream was Liana. But not just from my imagination.

That was a memory.

I paced slowly, heart thumping.

She knew.

She remembered.

She promised.

And then broke that promise.

Why?

I crept closer to her. Her breathing was soft. Peaceful. I crouched beside her, watching her face. That same face from my dream. No longer just familiar. Now undeniable.

I stretched out, nearly brushing her face, when her eyelids flickered open.

She didn’t shout. She didn’t even flinch.

"Kael," she inhaled.

I said, "You were there." “In my dream. You said you’d find me.”

Her lips opened, but no words emerged.

I gazed. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie?”

She sat up carefully, pulling her knees to her chest. “Because the truth is dangerous.”

“For who?” I inquired.

“For *you*,” she whispered quietly.

My heart was racing. “What are you shielding me from?”

Liana gave a headshake. "Go to sleep. You should get more sleep.

"No!" I snarled. "Until I receive answers, I won't go to sleep."

Behind her, the fire splintered, illuminating her face. "You won't look at me the same if I tell you."

"Give me a try."

After hesitating, she got up and moved to a shelf in the cabin's corner. She took a folded cloth from a little box.

Something silver fell into her palm when she opened it.

My ideal necklace.

She softly put it in my hand.

The heat from the metal on my flesh was like lightning beneath my veins, yet it wasn't unpleasant. My mind was racing with pictures, and I gasped.

sprinting. I'm laughing. In the moonlight, holding her hand.

In the rain, kissing.

* "You are mine, Kael," she whispered. Forever.”*

I stumbled back, holding the necklace.

This wasn’t simply a dream.

This was genuine.

“Liana… we were…”

"Mates," she murmured, her eyes glazed. "I had you." You had me.

Everything whirled. Another flood of memories rushed forward, causing my knees to strike the floor.

A battle.

Blood.

A betrayal.

A wolf with ruby eyes.

Pain.

"I passed away," I said, my voice trembling. "Or they attempted to murder me."

She gave a nod. "And I found you. Broken. Breathing heavily

I glanced up at her. "Who was responsible for this?"

Her eyes gleamed as she swallowed hard. "Varek."

My blood froze.

The name chilled me to the bone.

Although the recollection was still vague, the hatred it aroused was acute.

This is what he did to us, I whispered.

With tears streaming down her face, she said, "Yes."

"He's still out there, too."

She gave one nod.

With my necklace clasped in my hand, I stood up. "I'm going to terminate him after that."

Her voice faltered. "You're not ready, Kael."

I replied, "I *remember* now." "I'm strong enough, then."

Liana moved ahead. "Please take your time with this. We must have a strategy.

"Liana, we had a life. He also stole it away from us.

"I understand."

"I'll retract it."

Abruptly, the cabin trembled.

Both of us froze.

Outside, a loud growl rumbled.

The beast within me pricked.

Liana took hold of my arm. "They found you."

Snarls rang through the trees outside.

dozens of them.

I looked over at her. "How many?"

She had large eyes. "Too many."

And then there was a knock.

Three hard, slow thuds on the door.

A voice, too.

* "Kael. Face your destiny and come out.”*

With the silver necklace clasped tightly in his hand, Kael remained still, his pulse racing. When Liana's eyes met his, they were filled with fear and hope. More growls resounded outside, surrounding the cottage. The power of another knock made the door quiver.

The voice then spoke again, more deeply.

** "The son of the Alpha is alive. However, it won't last long. **