Chapter 97: Chapter 97
Katie POV
Oh, what fresh hell is this?
With a sigh, I slump onto the nearest couch. It was crazy enough that there were vampires in our territories, but now there were witches, too? And, yet again, nobody seems surprised or shocked by this. Nobody but me. Fucking yippie.
“Why do we need to pack a bag?” I ask, exhausted from all the secrets.
“Witches hide in human territories,” Gabriela explains. “Kane and Axel are already on the Council’s radar. We can’t risk anything. We have no choice but to travel at night after the witching hour. That’s four o’clock for anyone uncertain. Depending on what the witches say, we might need to stay for a bit to let the cure work.”
“The babies will need to come, too,” Gabriela continues. “We all will.”
“Wait a minute,” Kane steps forward and holds his hands out. “How the hell does it make sense for all of us to go? It cannot be safe for the children. At least let Mason stay here with Katie and Stella.”
A pang of trepidation momentarily stops my heart. Alone? Here? With Mason? Na-ah, no way. Not with Orion lurking somewhere, and Mason hating my guts.
“Really?” Gabriela raises her eyebrows. “After he asked you who would be the next Alpha? You’re that confident leaving him here with just Monroe, knowing your father or the Elders might return any day? What do you think would happen to Lanie and Isaac if your father takes over in your absence?”
“Good point,” Axel nods, and Kane shoots him an annoyed look.
“Get packed, and be ready at four,” Gabriela orders. “We’ll meet in the den and leave through my private entrance.”
“We’ll sneak Braden to our quarters,” Kane says.
“No,” I jump up, and they look at me, surprised. “You’re going to drag his scent through the entire mansion. He can stay here. I’ll look after him.”
“Katie’s right,” Gabriela nods. “I’ll get my things and will stay here with Katie until tonight. The rest of you stay away. We don’t want to attract unwanted attention.”
Kane nods and walks away, Axel and Mason following him.
“One more thing, Katie,” Gabriela says. “You might want to disguise yourself when we go.”
“It’s because of my past, isn’t it?” I ask.
“Yes,” Gabiela nods. “And lock the door behind me.”
I exhale deeply when I lock the door and walk to my bedroom, welcoming the silence.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, sitting beside Braden on the bed.
“Like shit,” he smiles weakly. “Thanks for trying to save me.”
I smile and squeeze his hand, and he intertwines our fingers. There is nothing romantic about it, but there is an unexplainable connection between us. Something inside me clicks.
“I’m Elara, aren’t I?” I sigh, searching his eyes for the truth.
“You finally figured it out, huh?” He grins sheepishly.
“Well, it only took like a million people to tell me I look like a dead girl to get it,” I smile sadly.
“And you seriously can’t remember anything?” He asks sympathetically.
“Nothing,” I shake my head. “Except for a few moments of déjà vu.”
“Do you know how you lost your memory?” He asks softly.
“I can’t remember,” I laugh humourlessly at the irony.
“How do you feel?” Braden asks.
“I feel like Katie,” I sigh. “I don’t have Elara’s memories or feelings. So, don’t tell anyone I figured it out, okay? There are too many questions and mysteries.”
“Deal,” he smiles.
My mind is in shambles as I comb through my memories as Katie. Things which seemed meaningless and coincidental suddenly have meaning.
“Wait,” I frown. “Did you say I was Kane and Axel’s mate?”
“Yup,” he nods slowly.
“Oh, shit!” I jump up, shocked to my core. “Stella! She ... is she ...”
“I believe so,” he fills in when my tongue ties. “You didn’t cheat on your mates. Stella is their daughter.”
“Oh, my goddess,” I sigh, sitting down when my knees turn weak. Well, that explains my irrational attraction towards them. Thank goddess, I did not sleep with Mason, it would have been so ... Mason!
“What’s going on in your head?” Braden asks. “I can see the wheels turning.
“Mason,” I jump up and start pacing. “He dated me before Alice, and he screwed me over. He said so himself.”
“Katie, calm down,” Braden says softly. “You don’t remember what happened, at least allow him to explain or wait until your memories return.”
“But Axel and Kane, why didn’t they say anything?” I look at Braden as if he knows.
“Because their memories are fucked as well,” Braden replies. “They had no idea who I was or that we’d met before. They’re not lying, they don’t remember you. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m certain it did.”
“Damn,” I sigh, sitting down again. All this knowledge is making my head spin.
“I don’t even know what to feel,” I laugh sourly. “Because I feel everything. Shocked, happy, overwhelmed ...”
“Gabriela knows,” I exclaim, interrupting myself when another thought hits me. “She fucking knows, because she told me to disguise myself, and ... and she loves Stella, and ... uhm, she was shocked to see me. She knows, and she didn’t tell me. What the fuck?”
“Do you trust Gabriela?” Braden looks at me intensely.
“Strangely enough, yeah, I do,” I nod.
“Then trust that she kept it from you for your own good,” he continues. “I know her fairly well; she wouldn’t keep this to herself for no solid reason.”
“You know something,” I narrow my eyes, looking at him intensely. “You know, and you’re not telling. What is it?”
“Katie, I’m a vampire,” he sighs. “I have decades of secrets. You’re my friend, and I like you, but I’m sorry, if Gabriela is keeping your secrets, then so should I.”
I am disappointed by his answer, but he is my only friend right now and the only person who has been honest with me. So, I will respect his decision.
“Okay,” I nod. “I only have one more question.”
“Go ahead,” he replies.
“Am I in danger?” I ask, my stomach turning by just saying the words out loud.
“Yes,” he whispers. “I believe you are.”
