Forty

I blink. "Why do you say that?"

"You didn't run into Aspen the night we met."

I take a step back. "What do you mean?"

"You ran into another male, a male who did everything you described Aspen doing. But it wasn't Aspen. Aspen was the one who attacked that day June and I broke into the shelter and convinced to come with us."

"What male did I run into then?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know his name. He had brown hair and very dark brown eyes. He seemed like a good male. He brought you back when you went north, to kill someone."

Loki narrowed his eyes. "That's why you told me to not attack!"

Roan nods. I am still processing the information. "I know which male carried me back, but he didn't know me. I had never seen him until he stopped me from killing a girl."

"You had met him. You trusted him. He brought you back to me knowing who I was, even though I stole you away." Roan steps towards me. "Zahra, June and Aspen can tell you the same. Aspen was not the one who kept you safe that first night."

I nod, understanding his words but not understanding why my memories are of Aspen. Beside me, Loki puts a hand on my shoulder. "Zahra, do need a minute?"

I nod absently. He steps away with Roan and disappears through the trees.

This would explain why the memory of the berries didn't feel like it had Roan or Aspen in it, why it felt wrong to agree with my brother that it was him I saw, not a strange male. This would also explain why he had me repeat the story. I knew he was acting weird, but never imagined this.

I sat on the ground, my fingers gliding through the grass idly as my thoughts raced. I didn't think less of myself, but I did wonder how it was possible. Who had that ability? Could Lucas make my memories change? I know he had made me forget, but that was temporary. How long would this last? If it was him, why make it look like his son who saved me?

It was ten minutes later when Loki returned with Graham. "I sent your brother home," he said softly.

Graham makes me look at him with a gentle push of my chin. "Loki told me what happened. I will not make you go home, however, if you wish, I will take you there now."

I nod, understanding his offer. "I want to go back to the den."

They nod. "Don't let this hurt your spirit," the Alpha said. "Just because someone invaded your mind and made you remember something false, it does not make you a different person."

I smile. "I know. I'm just trying to understand who and why."

Graham nods. Loki pulls me to my feet. "Do that later! Rollo will eat everything if we don't hurry up!"

I run back with them, the look of pain on my brother's face in my head.

After food, I laze about in the shade, heavy-lidded and drowsy. I curl up beside Jimmy's warm body and sigh sleepily.

A howl breaks the peace. It wasn't a howl of joy, but of warning. Every member of the pack is on all fours instantly, growl sounding from their throats. Graham tugs me back. "Go inside and help Cinder."

I nod, doing as he says. I go into the den and find the she-wolf guarding the pups with her body, them tucked behind her in a corner.

"The males will handle it," she said with a nod of her head.

"What is it? Who is it?"

Cinder coaxed Ralphie into silence with a lock. "Garske," was all she would tell me before fighting began outside.

"I must help!" I tell her, preparing to run.

"No Daughter! It is law that you wait with the pups."

I scowl at her. "I am pack, but I am not. I do not sit back while others fight. Only one is needed to guard the pups."

She whined and put her head down on her paws. I turned away and ran outside. Before I could tell what was happening, all movement halted. The enemy wolves staring at me while the pack creates a circle around me.

"You made a human pack!" growled a large black wolf. "You dare risk our species!"

Graham growled a warning.

I tilt my head. "You dare trespass on my pack's territory?"

A nudge from Seth was a warning me to shut up.

"Your pack?" The black wolf crept closer. "You do not belong to a wolf pack, female! Go back from where you came from and leave wolf business to the wolves!"

"I know I don't belong, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm here and my pack is my family."

The wolf growled. "You made your own death stone!" He turns to Graham. "She had better be gone and unable to communicate by the next time we meet, Alpha. If she is not, war will be held against your pack and I will make her a reminder to all wolves of why we do not give them our bondage, our trust. Heed my warnings!"

With that, the black wolf and his followers bounded away.