His Fallen Mate (Elemental Series #1)

Faded Memoir and Dreams

The strong summer breeze blew Dane's neat sleeves as he walked down the beach. He turned his head from behind after hearing a voice. It was a cry for help, a howl of sorrow and pain. He takes a peek around and sees no one. In the lone area, there was only him, the sun, the calm ocean, and his shadow.

"You promised me!" it shouted, the voice slowly fading along with the wind.

"Remember me!" it screamed in despair. Perhaps a prison call in the midst of wedlock. A voice that elicits a plethora of feelings, yet Dane is left mystified. It was as if they were in a parallel dimension, and the wind was manipulating the words from the other end to be heard, transmitting them to him in the sense of the cold air in the hot summer.

Dane raised his eyes to the heavens for a brief period. The sun was shining brightly, but the black clouds were striving to bury it. The ocean seems tranquil, but there are a few large waves that churn across the blue blanket every now and then. It felt as though everything was working against what was intended to be. He had been traveling for a long time, yet it appeared like his feet had bound him in the same direction. Something is keeping him from going. And he only realized it now.

A gradual pat on his back had caused him to flicker, forcing him to leap instinctively onto the next aisle of the beach, and when his eyes opened again, the nostalgic aroma welcomed him - he was in his room, lying on his soft mattress.

Dane raised his brow after taking a seat; his dream was strange and perplexing. As if it has a hidden message that he must decipher. What was it that was preventing him from proceeding? Seraphina. He is reminded of his last conversation with the woman, which triggers his memories. However, he had forgotten what it was. He only remembers having a discussion with Seraphina before falling unconscious.

"Antonio, where is Seraphina?" Dane said after making up his decision. He must confront the woman and inquire as to what is truly going on. If only his wolf wasn't sick, things would have been a lot easier. Duke, on the other hand, became ill after his mate rejected and betrayed him, and he now has difficulty connecting to it. Dane has been unable to shift for the past two months because his wolf is so distraught that it rejects everything. His senses were likewise affected, thus he had no one to rely on but himself and the pack officials.

"She goes back to her apartment," his beta replied, making his brows furrow. Apartment? It seemed like she had really made a serious decision to stay, even though he had been nasty to her.

"Lead me to her; I have an important subject to address," Dane said, and despite his beta's confusion, Antonio did not say anything and instead followed as he was told.

Antonio knocked twice on the door of the apartment where Seraphina was residing. As he and Dane see the woman wearing only a b*a and very short shorts, their eyes widen in surprise and they both look away in shame. Dane coughed incessantly, his eyes dilated in panic, as Seraphina slammed the door in front of their surprised expressions.

Dane felt his ears fire up, and there was someone beneath who was coming to life. He mutters a few obscenities in an attempt to soothe his beast. It's a good thing he's wearing loose pants so his buddy's growth won't be too visible. He came there to talk and not to get f*****g aroused, but everything doesn't usually work according to plan.

What irritated Dane the most was the thought of Seraphina opening the door to a stranger while dressed like that. The very thought of it messed him up to the core, and he has no clue why. He's growing possessive of something he doesn't own, which troubles him greatly. Dane doesn't want to screw up his plan or have it backfire, but there may be an exception to everything.

Dane quickly regained his composure as the door was reopened and Seraphina was dressed properly this time.

"Uh-hi? I'm sorry for what happened earlier," she said eloquently as she let them in. Her soft curls were a little tangled up, bouncing over her goddess-like face as if she didn't have time to comb them.

Today was the first time Dane looked at Seraphina's face for an extended period of time. Her crimson orbs are well complemented by her thick lashes. A little freckle was painted on her cheekbones up to the bridge of her nose, giving her a more ethereal appearance. Seraphina's features, with her natural fangs, resemble those of a vampire rather than of werewolves. Perhaps it is because she is not just a werewolf but a hybrid.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you both doing here?" she said nervously. Dane noted Seraphina's trembling as if their presence in her unit was a nightmare. A little smile appeared on his face as he stared at the woman who tried so hard not to look him in the eyes. She's trying so hard to avoid his gaze. Like a fox chickening out.

Antonio turned to face him, motioning him to answer Seraphina's inquiry. Dane clears his throat, his gaze wandering to the apartment, which appears to be little but perfectly polished.

"I'd want to speak with you about something," he announced, eyes fixed on the woman.

"Is it because I decided to stay here even though you don't like it?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the ground, "I'm sorry but I'm not leaving."

"I know woman."

"You know I'm not leaving?" she said, her eyes bright with hope as she looked at Dane. Nonetheless, the jerk shook his head, taunting Seraphina even more.

"I know you won't leave because you're a brat, and brats don't take other people's advice."

"That's a bit cruel...but I understand," Seraphina said, her eyes gleamed with pain that vanished in an instant.

Dane felt bad about it, but he didn't apologize. She shouldn't take it seriously because it's only a word.

"Joke aside, may I talk to you? Just the two of us."

Seraphina froze and looked to Antonio for assistance. Dane became annoyed and furrowed his brow, scrutinizing every aspect of her action. What now?

"Oh okay," she said calmly, while slowly nodding her head.

Antonio grumbles, feeling like a third wheel. Dane had told him to go outside Seraphina's apartment, which he immediately obliged. If he had known he would have been left alone, he would have brought Paul, his dog, with him.

Inside, after a long silence, Seraphina decided to ask, "What are we going to talk about?"

She was so eager to be alone at this moment. Although she loves Dane, she has limitations about it. She has been hurt and now she's having a me-time. Her heart needs to be given space from all the heartbreaks it bore for the past few days. If it was a thing, it would have been ripped to shreds by now. Yes, the flesh remained, but the emotion was already shattered. Still, she can endure.

"Have we met you before?" Dane inquired straightforwardly. He had some foggy memories, and he thought Seraphina was somehow related to his past. Dane had a long-held goal to heal completely, but he couldn't do it if he continued to escape reality.

Dane waited for the woman to speak, but all she did was gaze at him. As if he were some foreigner she couldn't understand. A momentary disappointment was written on her face, and despite her smile, he knew it was all a deception. Did he hurt her before? It was one of many questions with no definitive answer.

"Would it matter now if we knew each other before or not, Dane? Tell me, would it change a thing?"

Dane was taken aback for a second. Will it make a difference? He hasn't considered it in any way. He only wishes to reclaim his memories and that's all. Dane was suddenly compelled to consider the possibilities after hearing her query.

"I need to know my past so I can seek the future," he says, justifying his claim. "As you can see, I have selective amnesia and I really want to recall everything in my past."

"Have you ever considered that your brain may have shut down some memories because it's best that way; perhaps there are things in the past that are better left forgotten, don't you think?"

Seraphina has a valid argument. Why should he bother remembering something that would not help him in any way? But there is one specific motive that urges him to learn about the past. He was intrigued to know the person to whom he had promised marriage. He wants to find her and apologize for not being able to fulfill his previous promise.