Chapter 357: Chapter 357 - If you know something, tell me
Voren didn’t waste a single second. The moment Seraphine went completely limp in his arms, he scooped her up gently and carried her straight back into the bedroom.
Deep concern was etched all over his face as he moved, and every few seconds his eyes would drift down to her peaceful sleeping form, like he needed that constant reassurance she was still breathing normally.
He laid her down on the bed with the utmost care, then brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen across her face. After that, he grabbed a clean towel from the bathroom, soaked it in cool water, and came back to gently wipe her face clean.
His movements were slow and incredibly patient as he dabbed away the traces of tears around her eyes, cleaned her hands, and tucked the blanket snugly around her body.
The whole time, the shaman leaned back quietly on her chair, watching everything with a soft, knowing smile that grew wider the longer she observed. The sight clearly warmed her heart.
Eventually, she folded her arms and spoke up. "I was worried I’d have to stay behind and take care of her myself."
Voren barely glanced up, his focus still locked completely on Seraphine. The shaman chuckled softly. "But from what I’m seeing, that won’t be necessary."
Only then did he finally look over at her. "How long is she supposed to be like this?" The heavy worry in his voice was impossible to miss.
The older woman thought for a moment, her brows knitting together. "By this time tomorrow, she should be awake."
Voren sat up straighter immediately, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Tomorrow?"
The shaman nodded calmly. "Approximately twenty-four hours."
Twenty-four hours sounded like an absolute eternity to him, especially right now, knowing Seraphine was lying there reliving memories she’d lost years ago.
The shaman seemed to sense his unease and softened her tone. "It’s been a long time. The spell has been attached to her mind for years. Her body needs time to fully accept the countermeasure she drank."
Voren looked back down at Seraphine, and a wave of relief slowly started pushing some of his worry aside. At least there was finally a real solution.
At least she would wake up remembering everything, no more missing pieces, no more frustrating unanswered questions. Just thinking about it made the last few chaotic days feel worth it all.
"But remember something," the shaman added, her tone turning serious again.
Voren’s head snapped up right away.
"You must not leave her side."
His expression tightened with fresh concern. "Why?" It wasn’t as if he wanted to but just for caution’s sake.
The older woman glanced toward Seraphine. "Memories are powerful. If some of those memories involve violence, fear, or deep pain, her body may react as though those events are happening all over again."
Voren frowned, the explanation settling heavily in his chest. The shaman continued, her voice steady but grave. "She may become frightened. She may cry. She may become angry." Her eyes darkened with warning. "If the memories are violent enough, she could even turn physically aggressive."
Voren’s gaze returned instantly to Seraphine, a fierce wave of protectiveness surging through him. "Noted," he said without any hesitation.
There was nowhere else in the world he planned to be anyway. The business world could wait. The pack could wait. His parents could definitely wait. For the next twenty-four hours, Seraphine came first. Everything else faded into the background.
The shaman nodded approvingly. "Good." She started toward the door, then suddenly paused. "Oh."
Voren raised an eyebrow.
"There is one more thing." She pointed toward the kitchen. "You should prepare a lot of food."
His confusion showed plainly on his face. "A lot?"
The shaman laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "The counter spell will drain an enormous amount of energy. When she wakes up, she’ll be hungry enough to eat half this hideout."
For the first time all morning, a genuine smile broke across Voren’s face. That was one problem he could handle easily. "No issue."
His confidence came rushing back. If food was what Seraphine needed, he had that covered. He’d already planned on cooking for her anyway.
She’d loved his breakfast before, and just remembering that moment made unexpected warmth bloom in his chest. Now he had the perfect excuse to make even more.
The shaman caught the change in his expression and tilted her head curiously. "May I ask you something?"
Voren finally pulled his full attention away from Seraphine. "Go ahead."
The older woman studied him for a moment, a strange little smile playing on her lips. "Why haven’t you mated with her yet?"
The question hit him like a freight train. For a second, Voren genuinely forgot how to form words. Of all the things she could’ve asked, that one blindsided him completely. His ears grew warm with embarrassment almost instantly.
The shaman noticed and her smile widened. Voren cleared his throat several times. "A lot has happened," he said, his voice sounding awkwardly defensive. "We only resolved our differences a few days ago. And then..." His embarrassment deepened as he rubbed the back of his neck. "...it was already that time of the month for her."
The explanation felt ridiculous coming out of his mouth, especially while talking to someone old enough to be his mother. The shaman laughed openly, and Voren looked away, desperately wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
It was unusual for an Alpha to hold himself from a woman he so claimed to love, but his curiosity eventually won out. "Why are you asking?"
The amusement faded from her face, replaced by something more thoughtful. "Because her energy is unusual." She looked toward Seraphine. "Her spiritual energy resembles that of a woman who has never shared that level of intimacy with a man."
Voren’s brows pulled together in confusion. "But..."
The shaman continued gently. "I can also feel her connection to Marigold."
"Esperanza," he corrected automatically.
The older woman smiled. "You’re finally starting to believe her name change, aren’t you?"
Voren rolled his eyes. "I’d rather you finish what you were saying."
The shaman chuckled. "Fair enough." Turning back to the sleeping woman, her expression grew serious again. "What I mean is this. If you hadn’t already told me she was Esperanza’s mother, I would’ve mistaken her for a virgin."
Silence filled the room. Voren thought about it for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Ravyn mentioned something similar. And Sera confirmed that after that night... they were never intimate again."
The older woman’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "There is more to that night than you’ve been told."
Voren sat forward immediately, tension rippling through him. "What does that mean?"
The shaman sighed softly. "I can’t give you the answers." Frustration flashed across his face, but she stepped closer. "But I believe those answers are coming. Once her memories return, many things hidden in darkness will come to light."
The room grew quiet again, the only sound the steady rhythm of Seraphine’s breathing. The shaman smiled gently. "My advice remains the same. Follow your heart." Her words were simple, but they carried real weight.
"The road ahead won’t be easy. There will be challenges. There will be misunderstandings. There will be people who try to stand between you." Her gaze lifted to meet his. "But as long as the two of you remain united... nothing will be impossible."
Voren wasn’t reassured. If anything, her words left him even more uneasy, his brows knitting together as fresh concern deepened in his eyes. "Please don’t do that."
The shaman blinked. "Do what?"
"Speak in riddles," he said firmly. "If you know something, tell me."
The older woman simply smiled, that same knowing smile that irritated him to no end. Voren stood up, his full attention locked on her. "What are these challenges ahead?"
