Chapter 33: 34: Home Is Where the Heart Is

ARIEL

I gently place my hand on the unconscious man’s tattooed back, but he doesn’t move. It’s clear that he’s been beaten and tortured, just like I was.

“Ariel, stay away!” Xavier growls. “He could be dangerous!”

I block out his voice and instead focus on my own energy.

I haven’t had to use my healing ability for a while, but as long as I’m not harming anyone, it should work.

Although it’s faint, I hear Selene’s voice echoing in my mind.

~“Heal him, child. You know what you must do.”~

Except that I really ~don’t~ know what I’m supposed to do.

I haven’t heard much from the Moon Goddess since she cryptically told me there were others like me.

And now she sounds more distant than ever…

Why is my connection with her waning?

“Selene, can you please be clear for ~once?~” I mutter under my breath.

Xavier doesn’t know about my gift, and I’m not planning on telling him.

No need to complicate things more than they already are.

Suddenly, I feel my energy coursing through my body and transferring to the injured man. The burns on his wrists start to fade, and he stirs awake.

“Wh-where am I?” he asks, slowly sitting up.

As soon as he moves, Xavier and his guards close in, drawing their weapons.

I hold up my hand. “Stop,” I say firmly. “I’ve got this under control.”

I place my hand gently on the man… The Experiment.

“What’s your name?” I ask calmly.

“I…I’m not sure,” he replies, the haze starting to disappear from his eyes. “I don’t remember anything.”

“A likely story,” Xavier grunts.

“Were you being held by hunters?” I ask.

“Yes, I remember that. Hunters. They had me strapped down, but I…I think I escaped somehow.” The Experiment looks like he’s trying his hardest to reconnect the dots, but it’s not happening.

I know better than anyone the fucked-up things they do to werewolves in those labs…

A shiver runs down my spine as I realize how similar this man’s story is to my own.

“Who are you?” he asks, focusing his attention back to me. His eyes are a haunting pale purple.

“I’m…” I hesitate, not knowing if what I’m about to say is the right call.

But I have to trust myself.

“I’m someone who can help,” I say confidently.

“Now hold up a fucking minute,” Xavier growls, stepping forward. “We don’t know anything about this guy!”

“We know that he was being held by the hunters and that he escaped,” I growl back. “And trust me when I say that what he needs right now is a safe space to figure things out.”

Xavier clearly isn’t happy about it, but he reluctantly nods to his guards. “Escort him to the guest house. And don’t let him out of your sight for even a ~second~.”

The Experiment gives me a grateful look as I help him to his feet. “Wh-why are you helping me?”

“Because…” I say, feeling my heart swell with compassion. “Not long ago...I ~was~ you.”

***

“He can’t stay here!” Xavier shouts angrily, pacing around his office. “He should be in a prison cell, not the fucking guest house!”

I sigh, trying to rein in my frustration. “You’re not thinking about the big picture. This may be exactly the break that we need,” I say, trying to speak in a way that will make him understand.

“What do you mean?” he asks skeptically.

“This man ~just~ escaped from the hunters,” I reply. “So, he’s our best shot at tracking down their current location. He’s missing most of his memory, but if we can jog it…”

“Then maybe we’ll find Xavi,” he says, finishing my thought. “But how do you know we can trust him?”

“I don’t,” I reply honestly. “But he suffered the same trauma that I did. So I can at least relate to him.”

Xavier sits down at his desk and anxiously taps his fingers on the wood. “If you think you can help him recover his memories, then fine…”

“I have to try,” I say, nodding. “He deserves—”

“But…” Xavier holds up his hand, interrupting me. “You have to do it somewhere else. I don’t want him here. My pack has been through enough, and I won’t allow a stranger within its walls.”

“Fair enough,” I reply, though I’m immediately racking my brain for alternate solutions.

I might have a supernatural healing ability, but I’m no doctor and I’m certainly not qualified to help anyone with their trauma when I’m still working through my own.

But I said I would help him, and I’d meant it.

“You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll take him back to the Royal Pack,” I say. “If Alex welcomed me into his pack then he’ll welcome someone else in the same position.”

Xavier scoffs. “You really think your ~Alpha~ is going to accept this complete stranger covered in tattoos and scars?”

There was something off about the way Xavier said “Alpha.”

~Is that a hint of jealousy I detect?~

I’m not sure how he would know about my relationship with Alex, but I suppose news does travel quickly.

“You’re a beautiful woman, and he’s someone who looks like he just got out of lock-up. There’s a big difference,” he says, looking into my eyes.

My heart leaps into my throat.

~Did my ex-destined mate just call me beautiful!?~

Xavier seems to realize his mistake as he quickly clears his throat and goes back to speaking gruffly.

“Just get him out of here as soon as possible.”

“I’ll take him back in the morning,” I reply quickly, wanting to get out of his office before things get any more uncomfortable.

“But I do have one person I need to see before I go…”

***

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Amy screams directly in my ear as she throws her arms around me at the pack border.

“You’re back home! Like ~home~ home. I’m so excited,” she squeals.

“Just temporarily,” I reply, giving her a wary smile. “And not under the best circumstances.”

Amy’s smile quickly fades. “Poor little Xavi… I know you’ll find him, Ariel.”

“Just say a lot of prayers to the Goddess,” I say, sighing. “I’ll need the strength to get through this.”

“Oh, right… Working with Xavier can’t be easy,” she says, giving me a knowing look. “Has he been a total prick?”

“He hasn’t been too bad,” I reply. “Natalia, on the other hand…”

“Girl, the whole pack heard her howling last night,” Amy says, raising her eyebrows. “Nat and Xavier have really been going through it. Even before the kidnapping.”

This is news to me.

~I thought everything was perfect between them…~

I’m about to ask for more details, but Amy suddenly gives me a sly smile.

“And what about you and ~Alex?~” she asks in a sing-song voice. “Are there mating ceremony bells on the horizon?”

I laugh, but I also can’t help but blush. “Things are…they’re really good.”

“Um, I need more details than that,” Amy says, crossing her arms.

“He’s not rushing me or taking things too fast,” I reply. “And that’s exactly what I need. Alex knows that I’m still working through everything that happened. I’m lucky to have him in my life.”

“He knows exactly what you ~need~, huh?” she asks, smirking. “Is he fulfilling all your ~needs?~”

My cheeks burn even more. “I might be staying over at his place a couple nights a week…or maybe more like ~every~ night.”

Amy gasps in delight. “You. ~SLUT.~ I love you.”

We both giggle, but Amy’s attention quickly shifts to someone behind me. “Who is ~that?~” she asks, her eyes widening with excitement.

I whip around to see The Experiment approaching the border.

He’s wearing a tight white tank top that shows off his myriad of tattoos. His buzzed haircut and piercing, purple eyes make him look even edgier.

I don’t even know how to answer Amy because truthfully, I don’t know who he is.

But I have a feeling that I’ll find out soon enough.

***

“Are you sure about this?” The Experiment asks as we pull up to the gates of the Royal Pack.

“Of course,” I reply, forcing a smile. “If we can fix your memory, then maybe we can find my nephew.”

“I hope so,” he replies. “You’ve been so kind to me… I want to help you however I can.”

I nod in appreciation. “The people here once showed the same kindness to me when I needed it the most. It changed my life.”

Steve and Louisa—for taking me into their home and making me feel like a part of their family…

Dominic—for being my best friend and drinking buddy and commiserating with me…

Helena—for sticking her neck out for me and having my back when things got rough…

And Alex…

He’s saved me most of all.

I thought he wouldn’t be there to catch me when I fell.

But he was.

He picked me up and helped me back on my feet.

And he continues to support me every day.

Now I want to do the same for this man who has no one. Nothing.

Just like me, when Alex found me in the woods.

But is Xavier right?

Will things be different this time?

Alex may have accepted me, but…

Will he accept this stranger?