Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Luna
Iflinch at the sound of the gun, my eyes squeezed shut so I don’t have to relive one of the worst moments of my life again.
Closing my eyes doesn’t keep me from hearing Christian choking on his own blood while Fabian mocks me for it all being my fault.
My fault. All my fault.
Even without looking, the memory plays on repeat.
I don’t need to watch it happen because I’ll never forget that moment.
Especially not when I’ve been reliving the moment over and over again.
The only break I get is when I get to relive the moment I found out my parents were dead, and I designated as an omega.
Or the memory of my parents’ dual funeral.
The memories of two of the worst weeks of my life haunt me on replay.
All I know is agony, grief, and despair.
BANG!
My eyes fly open at the sound of the gun firing once more. My eyes fill with tears as I watch the blood spill down Christian’s face.
How did he survive? How is he alive?
As I stare down at his body and block out Fabian’s cruel words, I can’t seem to make myself understand.
How can someone survive a bullet to the head?
For the first time in my life, I regret my choice to go into law. If I’d gone into medicine, would I be able to piece this mystery together?
When the memory starts again, I move to stand behind Fabian as he raises the gun and shoots.
I still flinch at the sound of the gunshot.
I watch as the bullet flies through the air and pierces Christian’s skull.
I watch with tears streaming down my cheeks as blood pours from the wound. As I watch the look of betrayal on his face. As I watch him gasping for breath, choking on blood.
Still, I can’t figure out how he survived.
How can Christian still be alive? And why didn’t he recognize my name or voice?
Was he just playing me? Did he hang up because he blames me for being shot?
Because he should. It was my fault.
Everything was all my fault.
Luna…
My head shoots up at the sound of my new name. It doesn’t belong in this memory, nor does the voice that speaks it.
It’s not the first time I’ve heard a voice calling to me.
Prescott.
Knight.
Lark.
Lexi.
Silva.
Aries.
Briar.
I even think I recognize Ven’s and Mack’s voices at some point, but I can’t be sure.
Luna, please. Come back to us.
I frown at Prescott’s words. Come back to them?
How can I come back from hell?
Because that must be where I am. Otherwise, why would I be reliving these moments on repeat?
Luna, you’re stronger than this. Please.
No, Lark, I’m not sure I’m strong at all.
In fact, I’m falling apart, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself together.
I turn my back on the scene that’s started over again, my heart jumping with the gunshot.
Why do I have to keep reliving this?
Why must I endure this torture?
Come on, omega. You need to come back to us.
I think that’s Mack.
Stop being so damn stubborn, Luna. Come back to your pack.
That’s Ven, but his words confuse me.
My pack? What pack?
Knight and Prescott?
Come back to your family, Luna. We’re all here for you.
That’s Lexi, and I hate the fear I hear in her voice.
Neither she nor Lark should be stressing out. It’s not good for the babies.
I glance over my shoulder, watching as Christian struggles to stay alive.
This time, tears don’t come.
Have I finally cried myself out?
A thought hits me, and I wonder if I’m being forced to relive this moment to grieve my loss finally.
But if Christian’s still alive, then should I be grieving?
What does him being alive mean for me?
I just don’t know.
My mind whirls in circles as I force myself to turn away from the scene again.
A deep, rumbling sound fills the air, completely blocking out the sounds of my memory.
I tilt my head to the side, eyes falling shut.
What is that sound?
It makes me feel warm and safe—comfortable.
The opposite of how I’ve felt rewatching my memories play out.
Scents cloy along the edge of my attention, something delicious and unfamiliar.
Black leather, warm suede, and cedarwood.
Cypress, amber, and smoked vanilla.
Burning embers, cotton candy, vanilla, and a hint of scorched sugar.
Citrus and oakmoss.
Home.
That’s what they smell like—home.
I take a step toward the office door, the sounds of my memories still covered by the rumbling sound.
For the first time, I don’t feel like I’m stuck in my memories. Like I can finally be free from the past.
I reach for the doorknob, and it turns easily under my hand. The door swings open and white light fills my sight.
I flinch away from it, squeezing my eyes shut as I wince.
“Luna!”
The deep, rumbling sounds cut off at Prescott’s panicked yell.
I blink my eyes open, wincing again at the light filling my vision.
“Too bright,” I murmur, my voice rough.
The lights immediately dim, and I glance around to find I’m in my nest.
But I’m certainly not alone.
I suck in a deep breath as their scents sink into my senses.
This is what I was smelling—them.
Mine.
My pack.
The rumbling picks up once more, and when I turn my head to the side, I find Mack pressing into my side as he purrs. His face is filled with worry, and I reach up to cup his cheek before I can stop myself.
I don’t understand what’s happening.
Dropping my hand, I turn my head to the other side to find Ven watching me with much the same look as his purr has my body melting.
A hand runs through my hair, and I tilt my head back to find Knight staring down at me.
It takes another moment for me to realize I’m practically lying on top of him.
“Luna?” Prescott’s voice is much quieter this time, and as I glance down my body, I find him kneeling between my legs.
“Mine,” I hiss, practically a growl as other scents and voices hit me.
Why are there others near my nest?
My lips peel back to bare my teeth.
Omegas.
There are other omegas near my nest and my pack.
They can’t have them.
“Luna, it’s us.” I blink at the familiar voice, trying to place why it sounds so familiar.
Finally, Lark’s face comes into focus where she’s standing in the doorway to my nest.
“Are you with us?” she asks.
I continue to blink at her, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
“Uh… Yes? I think? What’s going on?”
Lexi’s head appears beside Lark. “Unless you want all of us in your nest, you might want to come out. I need to give you a hug and yell at you for worrying us!”
I definitely don’t want them in my nest.
Knight, Ven, and Mack help me to my feet before Prescott tugs me into his arms.
He buries his face in my neck as the other three men surround us. I wrap my arms around Prescott, frowning when I realize my neck is wet.
“Are you crying?”
“You’re crying,” he chokes out, and I snort.
“I’m definitely not crying.” I try to pull back, but he clings to me. “Seriously, what the fuck is going on?”
Mack sighs. “Come on, Prescott. You don’t have to let her go completely, but we need to leave the nest so her friends can see her.”
“And someone can tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Because I seriously have no idea what’s going on.
Knight presses a kiss to my head. “We will, and hopefully, you can fill in some blanks.”
That seems unlikely, but only time will tell.
Prescott’s hold on me loosens, and I’m able to step away from him. His hand immediately finds mine, and he refuses to release his hold on me as I step into my bedroom.
Not only are Lark and Lexi here, but so are the rest of the widows and their packs. And the doctor.
My brows shoot up, and it hits me that whatever is going on, it’s something serious.
“Do you think we can do this downstairs? I’m not sure I want to have this conversation with everyone in my bedroom.” I glance around the room warily before a sharp pain in my back has me wincing. “After I go to the bathroom.”
Noise fills the room as multiple people start speaking at once, but Silva holds up her hand. “We’ll wait downstairs. Take all the time you need, Luna.”
I shoot her a grateful smile as everyone but the guys and Lark trail out.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in New York?”
She scoffs. “Yes, I am, but it turns out my friend needed me, so I dropped everything and flew back.”
“That friend being me?”
“Obviously.” She sighs, wrapping her arms around me. “Be quick, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” I watch as she exits the room, pulling the door shut behind her and leaving me alone with the guys.
Who are my scent matches.
“You’re not using scent blockers.” I attempt to cross my arms, but Prescott still refuses to relinquish his hold on my hand, so I end up resting my free hand on my cocked hip instead. “One of the rules was that you use scent blockers.”
“You’re welcome.” Ven sneers, towering over me.
My eyebrows shoot up. “And what, pray tell, do I have to thank you for?”
“Enough,” Mack’s rumbling voice cuts off whatever Ven is about to say. “This isn’t the time, Vengeance.”
I stare at them blankly before the sharp pain in my back hits once again, more painful this time.
“Pres, I need you to let go of my hand so I can go to the bathroom.”
“No.”
My head whips around to stare at him. “No?”
“Absolutely not. You’re welcome to pee, but I’ll be right there with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
I blink at my beta, barely believing the words coming from his mouth. “Seriously?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Maybe just give him this,” Knight says quietly. “Use the bathroom before you pee your pants, and we’ll explain what’s going on, okay?”
“Fine.” I shrug. “I’m really not into having people watch me pee, but if that’s your kink, then I’m willing to give it a try.”
A smile tugs at my lips at my words, reminiscent of ones I’d spoken to him previously.
Only no one is laughing.
With a sigh, I drag Prescott into the bathroom. Luckily, he releases my hand and lets me go to the toilet alone as he leans against the door.
It makes me mildly uncomfortable to have him in here, but I have to go so badly, there’s no chance of my bladder getting performance anxiety.
Once I’m finished, my body feels more relaxed. But as I wash my hands, I can feel the tension seeping back in.
“It’ll be okay, Luna.” Prescott offers his hand once I’ve dried mine, and I accept it. “Let’s head downstairs.”
It’s not like I can tell him no. There are far too many people in my home waiting to speak with me.
Plus, I want to know what the hell is going on.
When we step back into the bedroom, we find the guys have already left—leaving behind their scents.
“Fuck. They’re my scent matches.” I wait for anger to race through me, but it never does.
Prescott nods. “Mine too.”
“Double fuck.” I hesitate to leave my room. “Do you want to give me a heads-up on what’s going on?”
“Nope. Let’s just get this over with.” He pulls me from the room and down the stairs, where he has to surrender his hold on me once more as the widows surround me.
Then the doctor looks me over.
“I still don’t understand what’s going on,” I tell her when she asks me what I remember.
She nods. “That’s not abnormal. Physically, you’re fine, so I’m going to leave you with your friends. They’ll get you caught up on what happened. If you need anything, just call me, okay?”
“Sure.”
What else am I supposed to say?
After she leaves, I’m led to the living room where Knight and Prescott settle on either side of me, our alphas sitting on the floor at our feet while everyone else settles into a seat.
“What’s the last thing you remember?” Lark asks, and I close my eyes.
“You sent me surveillance of Fabian’s compound last night, and I was going through it.”
She hums. “That wasn’t last night. It was the night before.”
“What?” I squeak out.
How am I missing twenty-four hours or more of my life?
“You saw something in the video, didn’t you?” Knight asks, drawing my attention to him.
I blink, trying to remember when it hits me smack in the face.
“Christian,” I whisper.
The memories rush back to me.
Calling his old number and hearing his voice. Him not recognizing my voice or name. The world going dark around me.
Reliving memories on repeat.
Watching him be shot over and over and over again.
Reliving the grief of losing my parents. Of losing him.
“Fuck,” I sob, burying my face in my hands.
It takes time for me to calm down, but we slowly piece together what happened from their perspectives and from mine.
By the time we finish, I’m exhausted and ready to go back to bed.
“I know your head is spinning, but that’s not all of it.” Lark glances at the other widows before her eyes find me. “On the flight here, I looked into what happened.”
“With Christian?”
She nods. “Surprisingly, your brother brought him to the hospital. Or one of his men. That’s not clear or important.
He was barely clinging to life when he arrived, and they took him straight into surgery.
It was touch and go for a time because of how much blood he lost, but he made it through—which you already know.
But there are consequences to that kind of injury. ”
“Okay?”
“The bullet struck his right hemisphere and damaged it. It caused severe memory loss and a few other issues, one of which is prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Whether that’s changed in the last ten years since he saw a doctor or not, I don’t know.”
I nod slowly. “So he doesn’t remember me? That’s why he didn’t recognize my voice or my name?”
She shrugs. “That would be my best guess.”
Well, fuck.
I don’t know what to do with this information.
I lift my legs, wrapping my arms around them as I curl into myself.
Knight pulls me into his lap, and I bury my head in his neck as I suck in his dark, sweet scent.
I hear movement and voices behind and around me, but I can’t focus on them.
All I can think about is the fact that my first love is alive but doesn’t remember me.
How can life be so cruel?