\[Maverick’s POV\]
I wait silently as all eyes come to rest on me. I guess this meant that I would be laying all my cards on the table. Honestly, it wasn’t surprising since my past and even present were… foggy to say the least.
“Before meeting Serenity, I was also one of these creatures.” I begin, nodding toward the still unconscious wolf. “As far as I can remember, there is only darkness and suffering. It was so painful to live day in and day out just doing enough to get by.”
As I speak, my time as a rogue begins to flitter through my mind, but that is all that comes. Who I was, where I came from, and even my own identity never came. All there is is a long tunnel of darkness that swirls around me.
“Then I met Serenity, and by some twist of fate, I became human.”
“Some twist of fate.” Serenity’s Uncle William repeats. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said.” I snap. “I don’t know how it happened, but I passed out, and when I woke up, I was human.”
Of course, I knew what caused this change, as did Serenity and even Tristan. However, no one else except us knew of the special powers Serenity’s blood held, and that was the way she wanted it to stay.
“I call bullshit.” The pixie chirps, fixing her bright blue gaze on me. “You’re hiding something, gentle giant.”
At her words, I feel a flare of annoyance, but I don’t bother arguing.
“Do you know something I don’t know?” I challenge. “Because if you do, I’m all ears.”
Who was this strange girl, and why was she so insistent on hanging around Serenity? And why, when I looked at her, I could almost feel that she held a great secret she was keeping from everybody.
“I think you should be honest here.” The pixie shrugs. "Otherwise, I’ll be forced to believe that you’re the enemy.”
“Eleanor,” Serenity warns before I can argue. “My parents and my pack trust him, and that is enough for me.”
Frowning, Eleanor stares at Serenity, but it is clear that she still doesn’t quite trust what she is hearing, but that didn’t mean shit.
“Since waking up, my past is a complete mystery.” I continue now. “I don’t know who I was before becoming a rogue. I don’t know my age, what pack I was once part of, or even how I became like this.”
“Interesting.” William murmurs, leaning forward and getting a better look at me. “So, if the same thing that happened to you happens to this rogue and they remember you, you could have a clue to your past.”
“More or less.” I respond.
“But there’s still one thing that is a bit perplexing.” He says, furrowing his brows.
“And what is that?” I ask. “Because I’ve told you everything. My story is pretty boring, honestly.”
“It isn’t about you.” He chuckles. “I’m just curious how that hard ass Rosco accepted you into his pack and even allowed you to care for his precious daughter.”
At his words, Eleanor nods, and I once again get the feeling she is hiding something.
“I know the man well enough to know he wouldn’t allow just anyone to care for his daughter, so are you sure that you’re telling us everything?”
“Positive.” I respond. “If you don’t want to believe it, that’s fine, but...”
I don’t get to finish my words before a growl rips through the room and the rogue, who was previously unconscious, begins to stir.
Not wasting any time, I move, jumping on the rogue and pinning it to the ground, but as our bodies touch, I feel my consciousness being pulled forward, blurring my vision and causing my head to spin. When everything finally clears, I find myself standing in a crowd, and on a stage in front of us is a man who has the same dark hair as Serenity and even the same eyes, but he radiates a dangerous energy.
“What?” I hiss, taking in those around me who wear clothes that aren’t the same as the ones Serenity and those in her time do.
“Ssssshhhhh.” A man beside me hisses, bringing a finger to his lips. “Can’t you see that Alpha is talking?”
Alpha… Did he just refer to that man as alpha, and if that was the case, did that mean that everyone around me was this alpha’s pack? Then why am I here? Was this some sort of memory finally coming to me after three years of nothing?
Eyes widening, I take in the one beside me once again and can’t help but wonder if maybe this was that man’s memory. Was he the rogue that attempted to attack Serenity?
Reaching out, I touch the man’s arm and feel what almost resembles an electrical shock rushing through me before I’m sent tumbling back into my time.
As my eyes fly open, I find Serenity hovering around me with a look of worry in her eyes.
“Maverick!” She gasps, her panic lessening. “Thank the goddess, you’re awake.”
“What happened?” I ask, looking around the room to find Eleanor and Forrest holding down the rogue who is fighting. “How did…”
“You attacked the rogue and then just collapsed.” Serenity explains. “Why did you try to do such a thing if you weren’t in the shape to do so? You could have left it to the others!”
“That isn’t it.” I say quietly. “I was…” Was what exactly? Was I where I came from? Was that my alpha and my packmates? If that was the case, why did that man who was called Alpha look so much like Serenity? “I’m not sure.” I finish lamely.
For the time being, there was no reason to worry or concern Serenity with what I saw. Whatever it was, it didn’t pertain to this place and time anyway.
“What are you hiding?” Serenity demands, fixing her blue gaze on me. “Don’t try to lie to me.”
“It’s nothing.” I assure her, feeling an odd emotion flare through me. “It was probably just a dream.”
Dream or not, it didn’t matter. That place, that time—all of that no longer had anything to do with me. The only thing that mattered now was protecting the precious creature that was hovering over me. I swore my life to that, and I intended to stick to my word until I took my last breath.
“Hey, love birds.” Eleanor calls, ruining the moment. “Sorry to disturb, but what should we do with this thing?” As she speaks, the rogue that she and Forrest are working on holding down lets out a snarl. “And you,” she continues, turning her gaze toward William, who is simply watching. “Is this how a grown ass man handles things?”
“You have it under control.” William chuckles. “I don’t think that you need me.”
Instead of responding, Eleanor lets out a growl of frustration that grows louder as the woman from earlier appears again.
“Christ.” Eleanor says now. “Can this evening get any worse?”
And almost on cue with what she is saying, the door to the cabin comes crashing down as two more rogues appear, confirming that yes, it definitely can.