Chapter 115

Elara's POV

"We want to make this right," my mother begs. "Let us help you."

I cross my arms. "There's nothing you can do to erase years of pain and suffering."

"We can free you from Amaris," Aunt Isabella cuts in. "A ritual to expel her spirit completely."

I look at them, breathless for a moment. If Amaris was gone, I could feel my wolf again. I wouldn't be worried about my baby. I could go back to Lucas, given I won't be worried about Amaris taking over and hurting him. I'd be free.

I study their faces, looking for any sign of deception. "Just like that? You want to help me after admitting you orchestrated my entire life?"

"It's the least we can do," Matthew says. "Let us try to fix what we broke."

My mother steps forward. "Please, Elara. Let this be our apology."

I consider their offer. Part of me wants to refuse anything they suggest, but another part... "Fine," I say finally. "Do it."

"We'll need time to prepare the ritual grounds," Aunt Isabella says.

Hesitant, I ease up. "Fine. I need some air anyway."

I find myself on the balcony, enjoying the fresh air and trying not to cry. I touch my belly, closing my eyes to feel my baby. I feel the kick, like they're trying to reassure me.

Suddenly, I hear his footsteps before he speaks.

"Mind if I join you?" Matthew asks.

I turn to face him, wincing at the burns across his chest. "I'm sorry about those."

"Don't be. Your mom and aunt say I'll heal in a week or so with their magic. I'm lucky - no wolf should survive a witch's magic burns."

"Still. I'm sorry."

"I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

"Don't. Please don't apologize to me. Not for this. Not after everything I've done."

"How can you say that when you're standing there looking like..." I gesture at his chest, unable to finish.

"Like I got exactly what I deserved?" A bitter smile crosses his face. "I'm lucky, actually. Your aunt made that very clear. No wolf should be able to survive burns from witch magic. The fact that I'm standing here at all is..." He shakes his head. "Well, let's just say I'm grateful for their help."

I turn back to the railing, unable to look at the wounds anymore. "Everything feels like a lie," I say after a moment. "My whole life, every memory, every moment of pain... Was any of it real?"

I hear him shift behind me, moving closer but not quite next to me. "I've been asking myself the same thing since they brought my memories back."

That makes me turn around. "Tell me about before. About us. Were we really..."

"Best friends?" He lets out a long breath. "Yeah, we were. Inseparable, actually. There was this tree house in the woods behind your old house. We spent every summer day up there, planning adventures, sharing secrets..."

"I don't remember any of it."

"Neither did I, until recently. That's what's been killing me, Elara. Knowing what we were, and then remembering how I treated you when we were mated."

"If we were best friends as kids, why did you treat me so cruelly when you found out we were mates?"

He moves to the railing, gripping it hard. "I've been trying to figure out how to explain this to you. The truth is... I had no memory of you either. When I rejected you that night, when I chased after you... I still had no memories of you.''

"So you weren't compelled to hate and bully me?'' I looked at him, praying to the goddess that he'd say he was. Instead, he shakes his head, breaking my heart.

"That was all me, Elara. No spells, no manipulation. I despised you. I rejected you. I wanted you dead."

"Why? If you didn't know me then why hate me so much?''

"You were an omega, and I was an Alpha. I was a terrible person. I was a spoiled brat who was materialistic and only respected those with power. I looked down on you, I hated you because you were an omega. I thought of you as a downgrade. An alpha could never be with a worthless omega."

It felt like he'd stabbed me. Those words, 'worthless omega' had been recited too much over the last two days.

"What changed?"

He's quiet for so long I think he won't answer. When he finally speaks, his voice is different - careful, measured. "During the first battle, when I first came to Lucas' pack to demand he give you back to me, something happened. Everyone thought I'd disappeared. Your mother was there. She was searching for someone - a human boy she believed the ancient council had sent to find you."

My heart stutters. Michael. The human who saved me in the forest, then tried to kill me. The one who worked with the priestess' son. I keep my face carefully blank, not ready to share that piece of the puzzle.

"She recognized me," Matthew continues. "I didn't know her, but she knew exactly who I was. She knocked me out with a spell, and took me to the witch village. They performed the same spell they'd used on you - broke through the memory block."

He runs a hand through his hair, agitation clear in every movement. "And suddenly, everything came flooding back. Playing in that tree house. Sharing ice cream cones in summer. Making pinky promises about being friends forever. But most of all..." His voice breaks. "I remembered how much I loved you. Before I even knew we were mates, while we were still kids, I loved you. And I realized what I'd done. I'd thrown you away, pushed you right into Lucas's arms."

"Lucas," I whisper, my heart twisting at his name. Goddess! I love him so much it hurts.

"He's a Lycan, Elara." Matthew turns to me. "His entire bloodline, his whole species - they've hunted you for generations. Hunted Amaris. The ancient council too, but that's... that's different. When I remembered everything..." He shakes his head. "I knew I had to protect you. Your mother and I, we've been working together, trying to save you from him. And now we finally have."

"Elara,'' My mother calls out, standing at the doorway. "We're ready.''

I take a deep breath, going back inside, ready to be freed.

"Wait," I try to say, falling on my knees before I can get to the ritual spot. I scream, a sharp pain jolting in my abdomen. I clutch my stomach, looking back at my mother.

" The baby... something's wrong with the baby."