Chapter 2

Aside from my memory gap, my vitals were completely fine.

After a few more days of observation at the clinic, I was cleared to go home.

James came to pick me up.

He had been cold and distant the entire time.

Truth be told, before Olivia entered our lives, I always assumed James and I would end up together naturally.

I watched him toss my bag into the trunk and open the passenger door for me.

I held up my uninjured hand in surrender. "Spare me."

"I don't think you're my chauffeur."

"But sitting in the passenger seat when you have a mate? That’s inappropriate."

Fury flushed across his sharp face. "Emma Miller! Are you ever going to stop this act?!"

I had no idea why he was so furious. I held my ground, watching him calmly.

Then, I sidestepped him, opened the rear door myself, and climbed into the backseat.

James slammed his door so hard the car shook.

He drove like a madman, flooring the gas as if eager to send me straight to the goddess.

The scenery outside was completely alien to me.

Eight years had erased everything.

Through the crowded skyline, I caught sight of the abandoned warehouse James and I used as our secret hideout as kids.

It had been torn down and turned into a shiny commercial district, cold and sterile.

Buried underneath it were all the silly promises we once made.

We had sworn we would protect the Ridge Pack together.

We swore we’d adopt a cat when we grew up.

And James had once turned bright red, swearing: *"Emma Miller, just wait until I mark you as my Luna."*

The car came to a screeching halt.

The violent jolt ripped me from my golden memories.

"Get out."

James pulled open my door, his tall frame casting a heavy shadow over me. "Once we're inside, drop the amnesia charade."

"Don't think I'm as easily fooled as those idiot Healers."

He suddenly gripped my chin, his fingers digging in hard. "If you terrify Lily again, you’ll regret it."

A sudden, sharp ache bloomed in my chest.

A single tear spilled over and landed on the back of his hand.

He flinched as if burned and pulled his hand away instantly.

I bit my lip. The contrast between the boy I remembered and the cold monster before me made my vision blur.

I dragged my feet toward the mansion.

The closer I got to the front door, the tighter my chest felt. Tears kept slipping down my cheeks uncontrollably.

When I stepped into the foyer, my vision was swimming.

Yet through the blur, I saw a little girl running straight toward me.

She had eyes that were the spitting image of James's.

Instinctively, I crouched down and opened my arms.

She slapped my hands away and launched herself straight into James's embrace.

"Daddy! Why did you bring her back again?!"

I froze, stepping back awkwardly.

"Lily!" Olivia rushed in behind her, looking frantic. "Don't speak like that!"

I forced a tight smile at Olivia. "Olivia, it really isn't right for me to stay here."

"I can find an apartment outside."

"I won't get in the way of your family of three."