Zara

Keeping my emotions and memories under control wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined—just a few words, and my carefully collected thoughts scattered to the wind.

Marcus smiled successfully, his words having exactly the effect he’d hoped for.

My mind was enveloped in this delicious fog, blurring the names and faces of everyone I’d ever known. The only person I remembered was Marcus. Whatever he did, it acted like a sedative, calming and relaxing me.

"Why don’t you come with us, beautiful?" Marcus murmured, his gaze soft as he took me in.

"Come with you?" I frowned; my own voice sounded strange.

I felt something clawing at the walls of my mind, begging to be let in. I had a feeling I knew who it was, even though I couldn’t remember the name.

"We were friends, beautiful?" Marcus’s smile was breathtaking, and I watched in awe as it lit up his entire face.

"Friends?" I was confused. Shouldn’t I have found my mate on my birthday? Then again, I wasn’t sure when my birthday was.

The other two wolves stood next to Marcus, ready to rush to his aid at a moment’s notice. Ethan stood next to Marcus, a sour expression on his face.

I couldn’t see anyone else but Marcus, and I wondered if he was telling the truth. Could we be friends?

"You trust me, Zara," Marcus murmured, stepping forward with an outstretched hand. "You won’t feel lost if you come with me. I can fix all this. We’re made for each other."

Marcus looked sincere, his bright eyes pleading as he took my hand. I extended my hand, yielding to his touch. His skin was cool against mine, soothing the fire that had been blazing for days. The part of me that craved his touch grew stronger as my mind clouded.

I ran my fingers over the smooth skin of his palm, exploring the lines and delighting in the strange sensation. He cooled the fire blazing on my skin, searing my flesh with his heat and power.

I stepped forward, ready to step into his embrace.

A black wolf the size of a bear leaped over my head, slamming into Marcus’s chest and sending him flying backward.

I felt the fog in my mind dissipate, painfully and mercilessly. Marcus was no longer in my head, but it felt very much like that night at the club. I was still disoriented, unsure of where I was or who my friends were.

All I knew was that part of me wanted to protect Marcus. This part of me was ready to throw myself before the giant wolf, to risk my life to save Marcus’s.

I stumbled back, landing on my buttocks with a thud. The black wolf turned to me, its honey-colored eyes frighteningly familiar and terrifying. Those eyes were important to me; I knew that for sure. I just couldn’t remember the name or the face in those eyes.

As the wolf turned to me, Marcus managed to jump up from the ground and run into the forest. The black wolf growled at the trees, never taking its eyes off the spot where Marcus had fled.

The other two wolves were already a few steps away from following their friend when another wolf burst into the forest. This wolf was sand-colored with white patches on its fur. It was smaller than the black one, but still very large for a normal wolf.

Marcus’s wolf turned and tried to run, but the sand wolf sank its teeth into its shin. The roar of pain that escaped his lips sounded strange and completely inhuman. Like an animal caught in a trap.

If I’d been in my right mind, I would have laughed at the expression on Ethan’s face. Anger, horror, and defeat. He knew he was caught. There was no way he could fight two wolves. The other wolf knew it too.

Another chocolate-colored wolf leaped into the forest. This one was smaller than the other two and somehow slimmer. The chocolate wolf met Marcus’s gaze, and a strange sound escaped its muzzle. Something between a whine and a low growl.

The wolf took one last look at its fallen friend, being torn apart by the sand wolf, and ran into the forest.

The black wolf growled at the brown one, its gaze conveying some kind of message. My mind was still in turmoil, memories slowly coming together. Could wolves even talk to each other? It seemed so. The chocolate wolf nodded and darted into the forest, following the wolf.

The fourth wolf, a gray one, entered the forest. He turned his head, surveying the damage. I could have sworn I saw his shoulders slump as he realized he was too late. The black wolf growled at the gray one and walked into the forest.

The gray wolf approached Ethan, crouched, and looked him in the eyes. A deep growl erupted from the wolf’s chest.

Where the black wolf disappeared into the forest, an extremely attractive young man appeared. He wore only sweatpants, and he looked simply stunning. Relief muscles stretched the length of his arms and chest; his skin was clear and pale as the moon.

His hair looked a little disheveled.

We were in the middle of nowhere, but they were just begging to be picked up. I ran through him. He approached me as if he already knew me and scooped me up.

"Zara," the guy growled, glaring down at me.

I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. This time, my memories were coming back much more slowly. I could only assume it had to do with the library I’d built in my head. Everything had been fine, but now my thoughts were in disarray. A lot would have to be rebuilt when my mind cleared.

"I didn’t do it." I shook my head, unsure what else to say.

I remembered everything that had happened tonight, but I couldn’t comprehend how important it was. Why was I even here? The shirtless guy holding me raised an eyebrow at my words, but said nothing.

A girl with short brown hair that brushed her shoulders ran out of the forest.

"Did you find him?" the guy holding me asked sharply, his eyes darkening.