Chapter 414 Stolen Memories

Chapter 414 Stolen Memories
The knock on the study door came at the worst time.

"Alpha Rizen?"

Allison's voice made Hope look up.

She accidentally pricked her finger with the needle.

"Ouch."

She quickly shook her hand.

"Are you okay?" Allison rushed over.

"I'm fine. Just a little prick. It happens all the time." Hope set the sewing tools aside and smiled. "What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

Allison held up the folder Hope had given her a few days ago.

A part of Hope wanted her to say no.

She had grown attached to Allison since arriving here.

She loved hearing stories about her mother and what life had been like before.

Allison had done everything she could to make Hope feel welcome.

"You made a decision," Hope said as she stood. She motioned for Allison to come to the desk.

"I have." Allison nodded and placed the folder on the desk. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I accept."

She paused.

"I also want to apologize. I shouldn't have disagreed with you in front of everyone. I know I upset you, and that's why you lashed out."

Hope let out a quiet sigh.

"I was at fault too."

She leaned lightly against the desk.

"I let you get away with too much because this is your pack. I wanted to learn as much as I could from you."

She shook her head.

"I guess that made you think I'd always go along with what you wanted."

"That wasn't my intention," Allison said quietly. "We had agreed on so many things before that I didn't stop to think about the consequences."

She lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry for that. And I'm sorry for embarrassing you in front of everyone."

"I know you offered me this job to move me out of the way."

She cleared her throat.

"You're not the only one who hates that I want things to stay the way they were under the former Alpha. I hear what people say."

A sad smile crossed her face.

"They think I'm a relic."

Hope met her eyes.

"I know these changes are hard for you."

She paused.

"And for many of the elders."

"But everything is changing fast."

"I'm not just your Alpha anymore."

"I have more responsibilities now. I have a lot of people depending on me."

She rested both hands on the desk.

"You asked me to do this job. I know you have certain expectations."

"But if I keep following old traditions and outdated laws, I'm going to lose my mind."

"A lot of it simply doesn't make sense to me."

"I'm an outsider."

"I'm going to have different opinions."

"When you disagree with me, you can't do what you did before."

"We have to talk."

"And I'm not the only person you disrespected."

"Being in charge doesn't give anyone the right to belittle others."

Hope's voice stayed calm.

"Ren has supported you from the beginning."

"I also know you made her run extra drills while making her cover another patrol shift."

"I'm going to have to punish you for that."

"I'm paying her the overtime she earned."

"It will come out of your pay."

"That was your mistake."

"I understand," Allison said with a sigh.

"Good."

Hope gave a small nod.

"Don't let it happen again."

"And thank you for agreeing to represent us in court."

"It won't be an easy transition."

"I want this process to go as smoothly as possible."

She picked up the folder again.

"I was recently told that Alpha Rizen didn't trust the elders' opinions."

"He never had anyone representing him."

Hope closed the folder.

"Alpha Wolfe has agreed to send a few of his representatives to help train you. They'll make sure you have everything you need."

"That way, you won't be walking into court blind."

She gave Allison a small smile.

"I'm still new to all of this."

"I'd appreciate your help rebuilding the elder council."

"I know we won't always agree."

"But I want to hear more than just my own opinions."

"My mate's parents have a much simpler solution."

She laughed softly.

"If they don't like someone, they either fire them... or kill them."

"It's kind of funny."

"Uh... murder isn't funny," Allison said with a smile.

"But thank you for asking Alpha Wolfe for help."

"We're going to need all the support we can get."

She hesitated.

"Are you sure you want the elders involved in pack affairs?"

"They'll have a vote on every major decision."

"They will," Hope agreed.

"But as Alpha, I also have the right to tell them to shut the hell up."

Allison burst into laughter.

"I'm not worried about you anymore."

Hope smiled, but it quickly faded.

"I'm worried."

"You don't look worried," Allison said gently.

"From the beginning, you've always looked determined."

"I know I asked a lot from you."

"It wasn't fair."

She reached across the desk and placed her hand over Hope's.

The moment their skin touched...

Everything changed.

"Run! Hope Elara! Run!"

The scream echoed through her mind.

Hope's eyes flew open.

The packhouse was burning.

Flames swallowed the walls.

"You have to go!" the woman cried.

"Run!"

Hope looked down.

Her stomach was huge.

Pregnant.

She jerked backward so hard that she nearly fell out of the oversized chair.

"Hope Elara!"

Someone called her name, but the voice sounded far away.

Her ears rang.

"Rogue King! Something's wrong with the Alpha!"

"Hope Elara! What's wrong?"

Someone grabbed her arm.

The room spun.

A second later...

She was standing outside the burning packhouse.

A woman stood at the entrance.

She turned and looked straight at Hope.

As if she could actually see her.

"I wasn't sure this would work."

The voice echoed around her.

Hope's breath caught.

It was her.

The woman from the painting behind her desk.

Eliza Rizen.

Her mother.

Hope looked around.

Bodies covered the ground.

Everywhere.

Her claws slid out.

"What did you do?" she growled.

Eliza smiled as she walked down the steps.

"I've been pushing against your defenses for years."

"You have an incredibly strong mind."

"I suppose you inherited that from your father."

She stopped in front of Hope.

"I think I finally reached you because this was one of my greatest fears."

Hope stared at her.

"Is this a vision?"

"Is this going to happen?"

Eliza slowly shook her head.

"No."

"That's not our affinity."

"We are Silverbacks."

"We steal memories."

"It will serve you well as Queen of Court."

"Learn to use it."

"Then no one will ever be able to hide anything from you."

"Unless they've built mental defenses."

"Very few people can."

Hope frowned.

"What is this place?"

"I've been told you were raised as a mortal."

"They call this limbo."

"The space in between."

She looked at Hope with quiet warmth.

"We share a special connection because of what we are."

"So do the twins."

"So do the rest of your siblings."

"We're all connected."

Hope's jaw tightened.

"Why?"

Eliza blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"Why did you leave me?"

She stepped closer.

"Why did you leave all of us?"

"Mel is still a baby."

"Derek was raised by a complete idiot."

"What was so important that you treated your children like objects?"

Pain crossed Eliza's face.

"I can't tell you."

"I left to protect you."

"Protect us?" Hope snapped.

"I almost died because of that cat bitch."

"You're our mother."

Eliza's expression turned serious.

"There are things far worse than what you've faced."

"Forces you know nothing about."

"Your half-sister has only seen the smallest part of the truth."

She looked at Hope one last time.

"I have to go."

"I'm glad we finally share something."

"And I want you to know..."

"You've made me very proud, Hope Elara."

"I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."

The ache in Hope's chest exploded.

She roared.

Her claws slashed through Eliza.

Smoke scattered into the air.

Everything spun.

Hope struggled to breathe.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

When she opened them again...

She was on all fours.

Her claws were still out.

Blood covered them.

"Hope Elara?"

Hope looked up.

Mr. Valduz stood in front of her.

Blood trickled down his arm.

"Oh my God... Arnold."

She scrambled to her feet.

"I'm okay."

He caught her before she stumbled.

"I'm okay."

"It's only a scratch."

His eyes searched hers.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you with us?"

Hope looked around in confusion.

Jason and Allison stood nearby, both staring at her.

She blinked.

How had she gone from sitting behind her desk...

...to standing beside the coffee table?

"What happened?" she whispered.

Mr. Valduz gave a small, uneasy laugh.

"I was hoping you could tell us."

He gently guided her toward the sofa.

"Let's sit down."

He looked at Allison.

"Beta Allison."

"Please ask the doctor to come up."