REAWAKENING THE ALPHA MOON

6. THE FIRST MEMORY

The room beneath Blackwood Manor was colder than Eleanor expected.

She stood beside an old stone table while James watched from the doorway.

William had left them alone for several minutes, claiming he needed to prepare something.

Eleanor wasn't sure whether she trusted him.

There were too many secrets.

Too many people who seemed to know things about her that she didn't know about herself.

And now William was telling her that she carried memories that didn't belong to her.

She touched her pendant.

"Do you believe him?"

James looked at her.

"About what?"

"Everything."

He was quiet.

"Not everything."

"That's reassuring."

"I believe your mother is alive."

Eleanor looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because my father wouldn't lie about that."

"How do you know?"

"Because when he lies, he avoids eye contact."

Eleanor almost smiled.

"You've studied your father that closely?"

"I had sixteen years to."

The smile disappeared.

"I'm sorry."

James shrugged.

"Don't be."

"You are allowed to be angry."

"I am."

He looked at her.

"I'm just tired of being angry."

Eleanor understood that feeling.

She had spent years being angry at her own mother.

Angry that she had left.

Angry that she hadn't explained anything.

Now she wasn't even sure whether her mother had left at all.

Footsteps approached.

William entered carrying an old wooden box.

He placed it on the table.

"This belonged to Amelia."

Eleanor immediately stepped closer.

"My mother?"

William nodded.

He opened the box.

Inside were letters, photographs and a small silver key.

Eleanor picked up the first photograph.

Her mother was young.

Maybe nineteen.

She stood beside William.

Both were smiling.

Eleanor stared at them.

Her mother looked happy.

She had never seen that expression on her mother's face.

"She loved you."

William's eyes lowered.

"I loved her too."

Eleanor picked up another photograph.

This one showed three people.

Amelia.

William.

And a young girl.

Eleanor.

She looked about five.

James looked over her shoulder.

"That's you."

"I know."

"But I've never seen this."

Eleanor turned the photograph over.

There was writing on the back.

Blackwood Forest. First Moon.

"What does that mean?"

William took the photograph.

"Your first awakening."

Eleanor frowned.

"I was five."

"Yes."

"And I don't remember it."

"You weren't supposed to."

James looked at his father.

"Why?"

"Because Amelia sealed the memory."

Eleanor's heart began beating faster.

"Why?"

"Because you were too young."

"Too young for what?"

William opened the wooden box again.

He removed a small glass vial.

Inside was a silver liquid.

"This."

Eleanor stared.

"What is it?"

"A memory seal."

"You're telling me my mother erased my memory?"

"Not erased."

"Then what?"

"Buried."

Eleanor's expression hardened.

"Everyone keeps deciding what I should know."

William didn't argue.

"You have every right to be angry."

"Good."

He placed the vial on the table.

"But the seal is weakening."

Eleanor looked at it.

"How do I remember?"

"You don't force it."

"Then how?"

"The Moon will decide."

James stepped forward.

"And if the memory is dangerous?"

William looked at him.

"Then you protect her."

James nodded.

William turned toward Eleanor.

"Sit."

She hesitated.

Then she sat.

William placed the pendant around her neck.

James stood beside her.

"What do I do?"

"Close your eyes."

Eleanor did.

"Listen to your breathing."

She inhaled slowly.

"Now listen beyond it."

At first, there was nothing.

Then she heard something.

A child's laughter.

Eleanor opened her eyes.

"Did you hear that?"

William nodded.

"Close them."

She obeyed.

The laughter became clearer.

Then she heard her mother's voice.

"Come here, sweetheart."

Eleanor's chest tightened.

"Mum?"

She was no longer in the room.

She was standing in a garden.

A little girl was running through the grass.

The girl had dark hair.

Eleanor knew immediately who she was.

Herself.

Five years old.

Her mother was sitting beneath a tree.

Young.

Beautiful.

Alive.

"Mum!"

The little Eleanor ran into her arms.

Amelia laughed.

"There you are."

The memory felt so real that Eleanor could smell the flowers.

She could feel the warmth of the sun.

She could hear birds in the distance.

Then someone approached.

William.

Young James was with him.

He was only nine or ten.

Eleanor watched them.

James looked at the little girl.

"Is that Eleanor?"

Amelia smiled.

"Yes."

Young James walked closer.

"Can she turn into a wolf?"

Amelia laughed.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because she's different."

Young James frowned.

"Different how?"

Amelia looked at William.

"She's Moon-blooded."

The memory suddenly changed.

The sky darkened.

Amelia stood up.

"William."

"What?"

"I can feel them."

William looked toward the forest.

"How many?"

"Too many."

William took Eleanor's hand.

"Get her inside."

Amelia shook her head.

"No."

"Amelia."

"They know."

"Know what?"

"They know about her."

William's face changed.

"Who?"

"The Hollow Pack."

Eleanor watched as Amelia pulled the little girl behind her.

"Take Eleanor and run."

William shook his head.

"I'm not leaving you."

"You have to."

Then a voice came from the forest.

"Amelia."

She froze.

Eleanor recognised the voice.

Adrian.

The same man they had seen earlier.

He walked into the garden.

Behind him stood several wolves.

Amelia stepped backward.

William moved in front of her.

"You won't touch my family."

Adrian smiled.

"Your family?"

His eyes moved toward Eleanor.

"She belongs to the Moon."

Amelia's face hardened.

"She belongs to me."

Adrian laughed.

"You can't hide her forever."

William pulled Eleanor away.

"Run."

Amelia grabbed his arm.

"William!"

He looked at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Amelia kissed his cheek.

"Protect her."

William nodded.

The memory suddenly shattered.

Eleanor gasped.

She opened her eyes.

James was holding her shoulders.

"Eleanor."

She looked at him.

"They came for me."

James's expression tightened.

"When?"

"When I was five."

William looked away.

"What did you see?"

"Adrian."

William nodded.

"And your mother?"

"She told you to protect me."

William closed his eyes.

Eleanor looked at him.

"You knew."

"Yes."

"You knew they came after me."

"Yes."

"You knew my mother was protecting me."

"Yes."

"And you never told me."

William looked at her.

"I promised Amelia."

Eleanor stood.

"She's been alive all these years."

"Yes."

"And you never brought her back."

"I tried."

"You should have tried harder."

William's face showed pain.

"I did."

Eleanor turned away.

James followed her.

"Eleanor."

"Don't."

He stopped.

"I need a moment."

She walked toward the door.

James followed anyway.

"I know you're angry."

"Everyone keeps telling me that."

"I'm not telling you not to be."

She stopped.

James stood several feet away.

"I just don't want you to carry it alone."

Eleanor looked at him.

"You always say things like that."

"Like what?"

"Things that make me want to trust you."

James didn't answer.

She stepped closer.

"Should I?"

He looked into her eyes.

"Yes."

The answer was immediate.

"Why?"

"Because whatever happens next, I won't lie to you."

Eleanor studied his face.

"And if the truth hurts?"

"It might."

"Then tell me anyway."

"I will."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Eleanor smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

James smiled.

"You're welcome."

A sudden crash came from downstairs.

They both turned.

James's expression changed.

"Stay here."

Eleanor shook her head.

"I'm coming."

"Eleanor—"

"You said you wouldn't lie to me."

He sighed.

"Fine."

They hurried downstairs.

The front door was open.

Wind swept through the hallway.

William stood in the entrance.

His face was pale.

"What happened?" James asked.

William pointed toward the floor.

A trail of muddy footprints crossed the stone.

But they weren't human.

They were wolf prints.

James crouched.

"How did they get inside?"

William shook his head.

"They didn't."

Eleanor looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

William looked toward the staircase.

"They were invited."

Silence.

James stood.

"By whom?"

William looked at Eleanor.

"Someone inside this house."

Eleanor's stomach dropped.

"My grandmother?"

"No."

"Then who?"

William's expression hardened.

"We need to find out."

A sound came from upstairs.

A soft knock.

Everyone froze.

Three taps.

Exactly like the night Eleanor's grandmother disappeared.

James looked at Eleanor.

"Stay behind me."

They climbed the stairs.

The knocking stopped.

They reached Eleanor's bedroom.

The door was open.

Inside, the window was broken.

Her bed had been disturbed.

And on the wall, written in dark red paint, were four words:

THE MOON REMEMBERS EVERYTHING.

Eleanor stared at the message.

Then she noticed something beneath it.

A small photograph.

She picked it up.

It showed her mother.

Amelia was standing beside a stone door.

Behind her was a young man Eleanor didn't recognise.

She turned the photograph over.

There was one sentence written on the back.

Find him before the Hollow Pack does.

James looked at the photograph.

"Who is that?"

Eleanor shook her head.

"I don't know."

William took it from her.

The colour drained from his face.

"That's impossible."

"Who is he?"

William looked at James.

Then at Eleanor.

"That's your father."

Eleanor stared.

"My father?"

William nodded slowly.

"The man you've been told died before you were born."

James looked confused.

"But Amelia said—"

William interrupted.

"She lied."

Eleanor's heart stopped.

"Why?"

William looked toward the dark window.

"Because if he is alive..."

He paused.

"...then everything we've believed about your family for twenty years is wrong."

And somewhere outside the manor, a wolf howled.

This time, another howl answered.

Then another.

The Hollow Pack was gathering.