THE ALPHA'S FORGOTTEN MATE

Aria's POV

When I opened my eyes, the world around me was a blur. The soft glow of moonlight seeped through heavy curtains, casting silvery patterns on the unfamiliar walls. My head throbbed, a dull ache that seemed to pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat. Where was I?

The bed beneath me was plush, the sheets warm against my skin, but I couldn't shake the chill creeping up my spine. This wasn't my room. I struggled to sit up, my muscles sluggish as if I'd been asleep for days. My breath hitched when the door creaked open.

A man stood there, his silhouette imposing against the faint light from the hallway. Dark hair, broad shoulders, and eyes that gleamed like molten gold in the dimness. He stepped closer, his scent-a heady mix of pine and something earthy-hitting me like a wave. My wolf stirred within me, both curious and wary.

"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Who are you?" The question came out sharper than I intended, but fear coursed through me, hot and relentless.

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain cross his features. "Aria," he said, as if my name were a prayer. "I'm Lucas. Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack."

Alpha. The word tugged at something deep inside me, something I couldn't quite grasp. But it didn't matter. I didn't know him. I didn't know this pack. And yet, there was something familiar about the way he said my name, as though it wasn't the first time he'd spoken it.

"I don't know you," I said firmly, pushing myself upright. My hands clenched the sheets as dizziness washed over me.

Lucas's eyes darkened, his shoulders stiffening. "You don't remember," he murmured, more to himself than to me. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You're my mate."

Mate.

The word echoed in my mind, sharp and cutting. My chest tightened, and I shook my head, trying to make sense of his claim. "No," I said, my voice trembling. "I think you have the wrong person. I don't even know how I got here."

Lucas's gaze bore into mine, unyielding. "You were found on our territory, unconscious and alone. No one else was around. And you're not just anyone, Aria. You're my fated mate. You belong here."

I shook my head again, the ache in my skull intensifying. His words didn't make sense. I couldn't remember anything before waking up here. No pack, no territory, no Alpha. Nothing.

"Stop," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I don't know you. I don't know anything about this... about you."

For a moment, Lucas looked lost, as though my words had struck a blow he hadn't expected. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the door swung open again, and a woman stepped in.

"Lucas," she said, her tone brisk. She had sharp features and eyes like ice. Her gaze flicked to me, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She needs rest. You're overwhelming her."

Lucas didn't move at first, his focus still on me. Then, with a sharp nod, he turned to the woman. "Eleanor, make sure she's comfortable."

Eleanor. The name tugged at a memory-a faint, fleeting fragment-but it vanished before I could grasp it.

"I'll be back," Lucas said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. And then he was gone, leaving the room colder in his absence.

Eleanor crossed her arms, studying me. "How much do you remember?"

I blinked at her, my mind spinning. "Nothing," I admitted. "I don't even know how I got here."

Her expression softened, though the hardness in her eyes didn't completely fade. "That's probably for the best, for now."

"What does that mean?" I asked, a thread of panic winding its way into my voice.

She sighed, pulling a chair closer to the bed. "It means you've been through more than you can handle. And your memories... they'll come back when you're ready. Until then, you're safe here."

Safe. The word felt hollow. I didn't feel safe. I felt trapped, caught in a web of uncertainty and unfamiliar faces.

"Why does he think I'm his mate?" I asked, desperate for answers.

Eleanor hesitated, her gaze shifting away. "Because you are," she said finally. "But it's not my story to tell. Rest for now. You'll need your strength."

She stood, her movements graceful yet efficient, and left the room before I could ask more. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sank back into the pillows, my mind racing. Lucas's words, Eleanor's guarded tone, the strange familiarity of this place-it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I didn't know how to solve.

My eyelids grew heavy, and as I drifted off, fragments of memories began to surface. A voice-deep and steady. Laughter, soft and warm. And then, pain. A searing, gut-wrenching pain that left me gasping.

When I jolted awake, my cheeks were wet with tears, and my heart pounded in my chest. Whatever I'd just remembered, it wasn't the kind of memory that brought comfort.

It was the kind that broke you.

Lucas's POV

The door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against the cool wooden frame, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. She didn't remember me. She didn't remember *us*.

The ache in my chest was relentless, clawing at me with every moment I spent in that room. Aria's confusion, her fear-it was like looking into the eyes of a stranger when all I wanted was for her to see me the way she once had. But how could she? I'd destroyed everything we were before we even had a chance to begin.

"Lucas."

I turned to see Eleanor standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression stern. She had always been the voice of reason in my life, but tonight, her words felt like needles.

"She's fragile," she said, her tone softer than I expected. "You can't push her like that. Give her time."

"Time?" I echoed bitterly. "Do you think we have time, Eleanor? The pack is falling apart, and now that she's here-"

"She doesn't even know who she is right now, let alone what she's capable of," Eleanor interrupted sharply. "If you force her to remember too quickly, you'll break her. Is that what you want?"

I clenched my jaw, my fists curling at my sides. No, it wasn't what I wanted. But every day the curse tightened its grip on my pack. The land was dying, warriors were growing weaker, and morale was plummeting. Aria was our only hope.

"I can't just stand by and do nothing," I said, my voice low.

Eleanor's gaze softened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "You've already waited years for her. What's a little longer? Let her come to you on her own terms, Lucas. Forcing this will only make things worse."

Her words were logical, but logic had little place in matters of the heart. Still, I nodded, knowing she was right.

"Is she safe?" I asked after a moment.

"She's safe," Eleanor confirmed. "But she's scared and disoriented. Don't make it harder for her than it already is."

I nodded again and turned away, heading for my office. The packhouse was quiet, the weight of our struggles pressing down on everyone. The curse wasn't just a physical ailment; it was a shadow that seeped into every corner of our lives, draining hope and leaving despair in its place.

I pushed open the door to my office and stepped inside, shutting the world out. The room smelled of aged wood and leather, the only sanctuary I had left. I dropped into my chair, running a hand through my hair as I stared at the stack of reports on my desk.

Every report was the same: crops failing, sickness spreading, border patrols encountering strange disturbances. And then there was the witch.

Morgana.

Her name was like poison on my tongue. She had been relentless in her torment, appearing just long enough to remind us of her power before vanishing into the shadows. She wanted me to suffer, and she'd succeeded.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, my voice rough.

Marcus, my Beta, stepped inside, his expression grim. "We've spotted her again," he said without preamble.

"Where?"

"Near the western border," he replied. "She didn't engage, just stood there watching. She was gone by the time our warriors arrived."

My fists clenched. Morgana's games were wearing thin, but I couldn't afford to act recklessly. Not with Aria back. Not with everything at stake.

"Double the patrols," I ordered. "And keep a closer watch on the perimeter. If she's testing us, I want to know about it."

Marcus nodded but hesitated, his brow furrowing. "How's Aria?"

"She doesn't remember," I said flatly.

He winced, his expression sympathetic. "That's... rough."

Rough didn't begin to cover it. The bond we'd once shared-fragile as it had been-was gone, buried beneath years of pain and the curse's influence. And it was my fault.

"Does she know about the curse?" Marcus asked carefully.

"Not yet," I admitted. "She's not ready."

"Lucas," Marcus began, his tone cautious, "if she doesn't remember, how can she help us? The witch made it clear that Aria's return was the key, but if she doesn't know who she is..."

"She'll remember," I said firmly, though the words felt hollow. "She has to."

Marcus didn't argue, but the doubt in his eyes was unmistakable. He left after a moment, leaving me alone once more.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. Memories of Aria flooded my mind, unbidden and relentless. Her laughter, her defiance, the way she'd looked at me as if I were her whole world. And then the way her face had crumpled when I'd rejected her, the betrayal in her eyes cutting deeper than any blade.

I'd done it to protect her. At least, that's what I'd told myself. But the truth was far uglier. I'd been a coward, too afraid of the witch's wrath to hold onto the one thing that mattered most. And now, years later, I was paying the price.

A faint knock startled me. This one was softer, hesitant.

"Lucas?"

Her voice sent a shiver down my spine. I straightened, my heart pounding as the door creaked open. Aria stood there, her frame silhouetted against the hallway light.

"I..." She faltered, her gaze darting around the room. "I can't sleep."

My throat tightened, and I forced myself to remain calm. "Come in," I said, my voice gentler than before.

She stepped inside, her movements tentative. Her eyes scanned the room, lingering on the map of the territory pinned to the wall, the papers strewn across my desk.

"I keep trying to remember," she said quietly, her arms wrapping around herself. "But it's like there's this wall in my mind, and I can't break through it."

"You will," I said, my chest aching at the vulnerability in her voice. "It'll take time, but it'll come back."

She looked at me then, her gaze piercing. "And if it doesn't? What happens if I never remember?"

I hesitated, the weight of her question pressing down on me. "Then we start fresh," I said finally. "Whatever it takes."

Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say more, but she simply nodded. She turned to leave, pausing at the door.

"Goodnight, Lucas," she said softly before disappearing into the hallway.

I sat there for a long time after she left, the echo of her voice lingering in the air. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how broken we were, one truth remained: I would do anything to protect her.

Even if it meant losing her all over again.

Aria's POV

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, warming the room and coaxing me out of a restless sleep. My dreams had been fractured, filled with fleeting images of faces I didn't recognize and emotions that didn't belong to me. It was like chasing shadows in a fog, and when I woke, I was left with nothing but the hollow ache of something missing.

I sat up slowly, the unfamiliar surroundings reminding me of where I was-or rather, where I wasn't. This wasn't home. Wherever *home* was.

The knock on the door startled me, and before I could answer, it creaked open. Eleanor stepped in, her expression unreadable as she carried a tray of food.

"You need to eat," she said briskly, setting the tray on the bedside table.

I glanced at the plate of eggs and toast, my stomach twisting. "I'm not hungry."

"You need your strength," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

With a sigh, I picked up the fork and forced myself to take a bite. The food was good, but my appetite was non-existent. Eleanor watched me for a moment before pulling up a chair and sitting down.

"Do you want to talk about last night?" she asked, her voice softer now.

I hesitated, my fork hovering over the plate. "What is there to talk about? I don't know who I am. I don't know why I'm here. And everyone keeps telling me I'm someone I don't feel like."

Eleanor leaned back, her sharp eyes studying me. "You're Aria," she said simply. "You're the mate of Alpha Lucas, and you belong to this pack."

Her words settled over me like a heavy blanket. They were straightforward, matter-of-fact, but they didn't make the truth any easier to accept.

"I don't remember any of it," I whispered.

"And that's okay," she said. "Memory loss isn't unusual after a traumatic event. Your mind is protecting you from something it thinks you're not ready to face."

"Protecting me from what?" I asked, my voice rising. "Why can't anyone just tell me what happened? Why does it feel like there's this giant secret that everyone knows except me?"

Eleanor's expression flickered with something I couldn't place-pity, maybe, or guilt. She leaned forward, her voice low. "Some truths can't be told, Aria. They have to be remembered. And when the time comes, you will."

Her cryptic answer only frustrated me further, but I didn't press. It was clear I wasn't going to get any straight answers from her.

"What about Lucas?" I asked after a moment. "Why does he keep looking at me like that?"

Eleanor's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because he's your mate. The bond between mates is strong, even if you don't feel it right now. For him, it's like losing you all over again."

Her words struck something deep inside me, a hollow pain I couldn't explain. I didn't know Lucas-not the way she claimed I did-but the sadness in his eyes was undeniable.

"I don't know if I can be what he wants me to be," I admitted.

"You don't have to be anything," Eleanor said firmly. "Just focus on healing. The rest will come in time."

I nodded, though her reassurance did little to ease the turmoil in my chest.

Eleanor left soon after, and I spent the rest of the morning pacing the room, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. It was like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. Every time I thought I had a lead, it slipped through my fingers, leaving me more frustrated than before.

By midday, the walls felt like they were closing in. I needed air.

The packhouse was bustling with activity as I stepped into the hallway, warriors and pack members moving with purpose. No one spared me more than a passing glance, though I caught a few whispered words and sidelong looks.

I wandered outside, the crisp air filling my lungs as I took in the sprawling grounds. Wolves moved about, some in human form, others shifting seamlessly as they carried out their duties. The land was beautiful, but there was an underlying tension in the air, like the entire pack was holding its breath.

I followed a winding path through the trees, letting the sound of rustling leaves and distant howls soothe my restless mind. The forest was thick and alive, the scent of pine and earth grounding me in a way I hadn't expected.

But the peace didn't last.

A twig snapped behind me, and I spun around, my heart racing. A man stood a few feet away, his dark hair messy and his eyes glinting with mischief. He leaned casually against a tree, his smile sharp and predatory.

"You must be the infamous Aria," he said, his voice low and mocking.

I frowned, my wolf stirring uneasily. "Who are you?"

He pushed off the tree, stepping closer. "Call me Finn," he said. "And let's just say I've been waiting to meet you."

Something about him set my teeth on edge. His smile didn't reach his eyes, and his energy was off-too wild, too dangerous.

"I don't know you," I said, taking a step back.

"No, but I know you," he said, his grin widening. "And I know what you've done."

His words sent a chill down my spine. "What are you talking about?"

Finn chuckled, the sound cold and humorless. "You think you're the victim here, don't you? Poor little Aria, lost and confused. But you're not innocent. Not even close."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, a deep growl rumbled through the air.

Finn stiffened, his smile vanishing as Lucas stepped out of the shadows, his golden eyes blazing.

"Step away from her," Lucas commanded, his voice laced with authority.

Finn raised his hands in mock surrender, but his grin returned. "Relax, Alpha. I'm just introducing myself."

"You've made your introduction. Now leave," Lucas said, his tone deadly.

Finn held my gaze for a moment longer before turning away. "This isn't over," he said over his shoulder, disappearing into the trees.

I turned to Lucas, my heart still racing. "Who was that?"

"Trouble," he said grimly, his eyes scanning the forest as if expecting Finn to reappear. "You shouldn't be out here alone."

"I needed space," I said defensively.

He looked at me then, his expression softening. "I understand. But the forest isn't safe right now. Come back to the packhouse."

I hesitated but nodded, letting him lead me back. As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that Finn's words had been more than idle threats.

Whatever I'd forgotten, it wasn't just about me. It was bigger, darker, and more dangerous than I could have imagined.