Chapter 17
My head spins as the image of a little girl clutching a blue necklace burns into my mind. Even with my eyes closed, it’s all I can see. I know that girl is me- I recognize the familiar curve of my cheeks, the shape of my nose, the quiet sadness in her innocent eyes, and her dark curls. She is me.
I feel it deep in my bones.
I try to push past the haze, to remember more, but no matter how hard I claw at the fragments, they slip through my fingers like sand. Even my wolf is restless, scratching at the edges of my mind, desperate to grasp something–anything–that could tell us who we are and where we come from.
“How did we remember that?” I ask her, frustrated.
“I think…” My wolf whispers hesitantly. “I think it was because of our mate.”
My breath catches. “What?”
“The bond, Kali. Maybe it was Jack who triggered the memories.”
Her words settle in my mind like a slow–moving storm. I don’t want to believe it, but a part of me already knows she’s right. This has never happened before–not until Jack’s lips met mine. It means Jack is somehow connected to my past.
And that means I would have to accept the bond.
But accepting it means accepting something far worse.
Submission.
I will never submit to him. I will find my past on my own. And that means I have to leave him – as soon as possible. I will continue my journey to the witch’s hut and uncover the truth myself.
“I refuse to believe that,” I snap. “Jack is dangerous. Staying with him means putting myself at risk.”
“But what if staying with him is the only way we remember?” she counters. “What if we need him to unlock the rest of our past?”
“I’ll figure it out on my own. I don’t need him.”
There’s a pause before my wolf murmurs slyly, “Why don’t we kiss him again and test the theory? Maybe if we do, we’ll see more…”
I groan. “Absolutely not.”
She starts whining in my head, but I ignore her. Deep down, the thought unsettles me–if kissing Jack really did something to me–then our bond is far stronger than I want to admit. I need to get away from him before I fall deeper into this mess.
I refuse to let our bond grow through physical touch. That’s the last thing I want.
The door creaks open, snapping me out of my thoughts. I squeeze my eyes
“I know you’re awake.”
tighter, pretending to be asleep.
Jack’s deep voice slides over me, making my heart thump against my ribs. I bite my lip, cursing my body’s reaction. Then he chuckles, low and teasing.
“I don’t mind waking you up with a kiss if that’s what you’re waiting for,” he muses. “Should I play Prince Charming?”
My eyes snap open, and I scowl at him, even as heat rises to my cheeks. “Don’t you dare.“”
I still can’t believe I kissed him—and then fainted like some delicate fool. Who even does that? Worse, it was my first kiss. Not that he needs to know. He’s probably kissed a hundred women before me—just like Travis–
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Chapter 17
I slap myself lightly, scolding myself for feeling jealous about whoever Jack has been with. It’s none of my business.
He smirks, tilting his head as if studying me. “You look like you’re thinking really hard about something. Let me guess–you’re still mad I kissed you?”
My cheeks burn hotter, and I curse myself for reacting so strongly. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I snap, sitting up. “And don’t ever kiss me again.”
He steps closer, his scent wrapping around me like a warm embrace. “Really? Because I could’ve sworn you kissed me back… like a dominant queen. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoyed it.”
Heat flares in my chest, and I clear my throat. “It shouldn’t have happened, and it sure as hell won’t happen again,” I say firmly.
Jack, of course, ignores me. His expression shifts, his smirk fading from teasing into something more serious. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice lower now. “You fainted.”
I tense, embarrassment creeping in. Seriously, who the hell faints from a kiss?
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