Chapter 24

Flora’s P.O.V

The winds howled through the walls of the tower; the sky a dark, dark black with the full moon the only source of illumination.

Any other day, I would’ve admired the moon. Would’ve praised how it blanketed the world in silver, spreading its tendrils to every corner of the planet…seeping into the waters of the lake.

But now, after what I had learned today…everything seemed to be falling apart. The moon no longer looked beautiful; rather, it felt ominous. In fact, it seemed to swallow all other stars in its vicinity tonight, like a giant black hole ready to suck in anything around it.

I rested my hand on one of the pillars in the tower balcony trying to piece together what I knew and what I learned.

Blood sacrifices…the true meaning of the Blood Moon Ceremony. And not just any blood…the blood of true lovers.

My mind felt like it was about to explode once again.

My hands went up on their own to clutch the pendent. I needed strength right now and the only person who I could truly count on was the man lost to the madness of the beast within. So, not only did I need to get my memories back, I also needed him to recover his memories as well.

“My Lady.” Spoke the last person I wanted to speak to right now.

I fisted my hands in my skirt, trying my best to control my temper before I took in a deep breath and turned to him with a false smile. “Lord Andre.” I gave him a small curtsy. “What brings you here, at this hour?”

“I was about to ask you the same, Flora.” He gave me a genuine smile, the wind blowing back his dark hair onto his forehead. His grey eyes looked almost translucent tonight, and even though I didn’t want to admit it…Andre was still one of the best looking men I had ever set eyes on.

He had changed from his regular soldier clothing to a more comfortable set of loose pants and a loose fitting white shirt. He looked like a man from the medieval ages, who was dressed for bed and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was what he called nightwear. Andre seemed older than what he mentioned his age was, like he was born in the 16oo’s rather than just fifty years prior.

“I couldn’t sleep.” I told him truthfully. “My mind is in turmoil.”

“You learned about the Blood Moon rituals.” It wasn’t a question.

“You did a good job of planting that idea inside my head.” I gave him my best attempt at a sardonic smile. “I just had to go appease my curiosity. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“Forget about every other ritual that can happen during a Blood Moon.” Andre moved forward to take my hand in his. “Those are different, dangerous ones. For us, the most important ritual is that of the mated pair. Of new beginnings and a promise of a new, happy life together.”

I shook my head, pulling my hand away from his. “I told you, Andre…I don’t feel the mating bond between us. To me, you’re just another…stranger. And I can’t suddenly start thinking of a life together with a stranger, especially when we have nothing in common.”

“Why are you so unwilling to give me a chance?” Andre asked instead. “I’m trying my best to reach out to you…to bond with you. And yet, you keep pulling away at every turn. How can we develop a mating bond between us if you aren’t willing to give it a chance? It’s like you’ve given up on us even before you gave us a shot.”

His words had me rooted to my spot, especially since he was right. I really hadn’t given Andre a chance and neither had I wanted to since all that has been filling my mind had been thoughts of another man…a man who wasn’t even my mate.

I knew I was being unfair to Andre, but I hadn’t considered his feelings even once. Wolves who had found their mates, especially the males, had a hard time controlling their possessiveness, and yet, Andre had given me all the space I needed, all the time I need. He hadn’t forced his possessiveness on me, nor had he constantly pursued me. But his wolf must be restless…angry. He was just as turbulent on the inside as I had been impassive.

So…maybe, it was time to do something about it?

I unclenched my hands from my skirt and took a step towards him. The winds howled around me, blowing my hair and my skirt in different direction as I placed my hands on his shoulder almost gingerly and looked up into his eyes. They were a storm barely caged.

By now, I think Andre had understood what I was about to do, no matter how old fashioned he might be; and that was probably why he stood so still. Lifting on my tippy toes, I finally, finally…took the first step.

I placed my lips on his in a tender kiss.

Clay’s P.O.V:

It had been two days since I last heard from or seen anyone from the Castle…especially Flora.

My heart kept yearning for her, even though my mind was confused as to why I even felt this way. So I decided to stop waiting for her to come to me and went in search of her instead.

I didn’t know how I would find her. I couldn’t come near the castle. There were too many people there now, people that were now trying to kill us. New people that I hadn’t scented before.

I didn’t know what was going on, but they weren’t my concern, Flora was. And I wanted to see her quickly.

I started running through the forest at my best speed, making sure not to alert the patrol guards, although they didn’t give us trouble anymore. The castle came into view a mere five minutes later, through the shadows of the trees. It was big and magnificent and bright. So different from the darkness I lived in, even though Malachi was making things better for me now. However, every other thought was pushed to the back of my mind as I started searching for Flora among the windows and balconies.

I saw her almost immediately, standing on the balcony of one of the towers facing the forest. Suddenly my heart was full, like it was bigger. This weird sensation persisted as I continued to come closer to the castle…and spotted another man behind her.

I halted mid-step, my heart suddenly heavier as my eyes seemed to focus only on Flora and that unknown man.

Who was he? Why was he near my Flora?

The thought was so sudden that it startled me. My Flora? She wasn’t my mate? Was she? Did rogues even have mates?

Confusion swirled my mind as I watched the man talk to Flora, take her hand in his. A red haze spread into the corners of my eyes as I kept watching. My mind filled with anger.

The wind grew stronger as I watched Flora remove her hands…but then the man seemed to scold her…like he was shouting at her.

The red haze grew, and so did my anger. How dare he talk to Flora like that? How dare he!

My claws extended and I felt my canines lengthen as well. I was ready to climb up to the tower and snatch Flora away from him, no matter what happened to me next. But then…something unexpected happened next.

I saw Flora walk towards the man and place her hands on him.

I clenched my hands into fists, my claws digging into my palms to draw blood.

And then I saw her lean up…and kiss him.

My heart seemed to burst into bloody shards that pierced my lungs and almost made me stop breathing.

No….