Chapter 26

Flora’s P.O.V

Clay growled deep in his throat and tore away from me.

At first I thought it was because I had Andre’s scent on me, but when he kept looking at my arm, I frowned and looked down to find blood.

“What-?”

When did I- but then I remembered that when I had pushed Andre off of me, he had accidentally scratched me with his claw. The bleeding had stopped and only a dark red line of dried blood remained that too would heal by morning. But Clay was probably angry I got hurt by him.

“It’s alright,” I told him, cautiously taking a step in his direction. “It’ll heal soon. I’ll be fine.”

“He hurt you!” Clay said, his voice a growl. “I saw!”

My entire being came to a standstill. “You saw?”

“Everything.” Clay nodded in confirmation and I felt like the ground had been removed from under my feet.

He saw everything? He saw me make the biggest mistake of my life? He saw me kiss Andre?

“I’m sorry…” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“No…” Clay came forward this time, until we were standing face to face. “Not your fault.”

“No it is!” I shook my head. “I thought I could feel the mating bond with him if-”

Another growl came from Clay, but this time, instead of moving away from me, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his chest. The sparks were instant and I felt like this was what I had wanted all along…for him to take me into his arms.

“Mine!” He growled. “You are mine!”

I wanted to tell him that I belonged to no one but myself…but something stopped me. A familiar feeling in that claim, like I knew in my heart that he was right…I belonged to him, just like he belonged to me.

“Yes.” I whispered as I raised my hand to touch his face.

His features softened instantly as he took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He was beautiful. Even as a rogue, as his animal instincts rode at the forefront of his being…he was still as beautiful as the day I first saw him in my memories.

I cupped his cheek in my hand and this time when I leaned in, I knew I wasn’t making a mistake. Clay met me half-way, our lips touching in a kiss so tender that it had me craving for more even before it started…

A flash of lightning lit up the entire night sky.

And everything came rushing back to me.

*

*

I may not have those rights now, Flora darling. But I do intend to earn them.

Everything concerning you is very much my business!

You and me…it’s bound to happen, Flora.

I can scent you in every breath, Flora. Just know that I’ve waited a long time for you too, fearing about mine and Riley’s friendship and what not. But I’m tired of listening to what others will say. This is my life and I want you in it. The rest is up to you.

I’m going to take this nice and slow until you feel just as crazy as I had been feeling this past week.

I want boyfriend rights. I want everyone to know that you’re unavailable and that you are now mine.

We’re not mates. And I don’t need anyone to tell me that, Clay. That realization is bone deep and it’s what made me come to this decision.

I don’t have the strength to stay away from you. But I don’t want to get hurt when you turn twenty eight and find the one you are supposed to be with. What happen to me then? How will I be able to survive when I see you with someone else, madly in love?

I know it in my heart. No matter what the universe has decided, I will never feel for anyone else what I feel for you.

Would you have stayed if the situation was reversed? Would you have stayed behind at the pack house and let the others come find me while you waited to get news?

I love you…Flora. I love you more than I thought possible and I realized it the day you came to save me, risking your life for me. I couldn’t breathe when I saw the rogue attack you and I don’t want to feel that ever again. My love for you grows every single day until I can’t believe how I got so lucky. I want to spend eternity with you, grow old with you by my side.

Let’s break-up…until twelve.

I’ve broken the mating bond. It had no effect on me. All I care about is my Flora. You’re the only woman in my heart.

I know I love Clay because I would do anything to be with him. My life doesn’t matter if he is in danger and I would go to any lengths to make him happy. My love for Clay cannot be described in words because we can only feel it and I know what I feel for Clay. And that’s how I know that even if we die right now, we will find our way back to each other in another life, not matter how different we are.

*

*

I broke the kiss to look into Clay’s eyes and for a second, I saw the red rim around the edge leave his eyes to leave it the same crystalline green that I knew, that I loved.

“Clay…” I whispered, feeling myself smile as happiness bubbled inside me.

“Flora…” Clay whispered, taking my face in his hands. “My head…the fog, it’s gone! I remember!”

“Yes,” tears of sheer joy fell from my eyes as I looked at the man I loved with all my heart. “Yes! I remember! I remember everything!”

How? How had I lived this long without Clay? How had I survived without the man who had been my air, my very reason for being?

“Clay!” “Flora.”

And then our lips met again, this time with a passion that I had never felt before. I was finally reunited with my Clay! We had been able to break the curse that the Moon Goddess herself had put on us! We made it! We made it!

The sound of a twig snapping in the distance had us both pulling away from the kiss unwillingly. But then I scented unfamiliar wolves and they were closing in on us.

“Andre’s men.” I whispered, hold Clay back when he bared his teeth in the direction of the intruders. “Clay, no!”

“I’ll get rid of them.” He grit out, even though he did nothing to break away from me when he could’ve easily done so.

“No.” I shook my head, unwilling to let him go either. “You hurt these guards and they unleash war on the rogues. You have to leave.”

I couldn’t let go of him. I found him clutching close to me instead, but the footsteps grew closer. “Come for me tomorrow, okay?”

“Come with me now.” He told me, desperately. “Come with me and we don’t have to return.”

“I can’t.” There were still answers that I haven’t found and the only person who could answer them now was Malachi. “I’ll come tomorrow and then we can leave. Please, Clay.”

Clay gave them one last look, his face set in hard lines, but he was the first one to let go of me, giving me the strength to release my grip on him too. “I’ll wait for you tomorrow.”

“Yes.” I let go of his waist and stepped back, clutching my hands at my sides so I didn’t reach out for him once more. “I love you.”

“I love you, Flora.” Clay whispered, and then he was gone…just vanished into thin air. He moved so stealthily that even I couldn’t hear his footfalls as he left.

I stood rooted to that spot, trying to take in the last of the sensation of his scent, his touch, before the guards found me. It didn’t take them long to reach me.

“Lady Healer.” The two soldiers bowed as I turned t face them. “It’s too early for you to be awake and out here without protection.”

“I’m aware.” I told them, not in the mood to give explanations to outsiders. “I’ll be returning to my chambers now.”

“We’ll escort you, My Lady.” One of the guards offered immediately.

“I’ve live here for over two years,” I reminded them, but with a smile. “I think I know the way.”

“My Lady.” They bowed once again as I left the forest, striding past them with ease.

Now that I had been seen, there was no point in leading these guards to the secret exit-way. So I came in through the front gates instead. There guards there were familiar, but they didn’t ask questions, nor did they seem worried. It made me wonder if they knew all along that I had snuck out.

I made my way through the mostly empty hallways and towards my room, the sun yet to rise but the birds had already risen and were now chirping their tunes to welcome the Sun God in all his glory.

I wanted to head straight to Malachi’s office and demand answers instead. My mind felt like a mess and I had a headache that made it feel like my head was about to explode. But at the same time, I had never seen things as clearly before. My memories were back…everything single thing that had been wiped away by the Moon Goddess herself, but I had more questions than I had answers.

I must have been too distracted by my thought as I made my way to my room, that I hadn’t felt her presence until it was too late.

“Flora?”

I halted mid-step, my eyes wide with surprise as my heart thrashed against my ribcage. Shit!