Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 72

Instead of the warmth and recognition Liam was expecting, he was met with a cold and distant gaze from Nicole, as if she couldn't recognize him. It felt as though his heart shattered into a thousand pieces, the pain searing through his entire being. "Charlene?" The Alpha of Silverwood repeated. "Are you Nicole?" Nicole's eyes widened, She looked from him back to Liam and to Liam's entourage.

Liam could see it in her eyes. She recognized her name. It was as if she was hiding something. It was certain that she was. Determined to understand what had happened, he demanded to speak with his mate alone, away from prying eyes and distractions. As they found themselves behind closed doors, the tension in the room was palpable. Nicole trembled, her face etched with fear and confusion. She fell to her knees before Liam, her voice quivering "I'm sorry, Alpha. I'm sorry. I never intended to do it. I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I killed her."

Liam's breath caught in his throat as he tried to process what Nicole was saying. The weight of her words hit him like a tidal wave, crashing against the remnants of his shattered heart.

"Nicole, listen to me. You have nothing to apologize for. I am here to protect you, not to punish you."

Nicole trembled, tears streaming down her face. "I... I ran away after. Nothing made sense. I remember... I remember hurting Lilian. How could I do that?"

He desperately reached out to her, attempting to explain, to offer comfort and reassurance, but she remained too afraid to truly listen.

What he didn't know at the time was that she had no memories and that the memories that resurfaced in her head were only the moments when he had been harsh or distant, fueling her fear and mistrust.

Each time he tried to touch her, she flinched. Liam was going insane. His wolf was feeling even worse. It whimpered in hurt. This was worse than heartbreak. It seemed like Nicole was trying to hack away their connection to each other.

In a moment of desperation, Liam called in Garrett, who had been closest to Nicole during her time away. He hoped that Garrett's presence would bring her some sense of familiarity and safety. However, as soon as Garrett entered the room, Nicole's expression shifted from fear to aggression.

"You!" She growled, charging at him, a mixture of confusion and anger emanating from her. "You liar! You wanted to destroy your pack!"

James, who had just come in at the time, held her back. The room fell into stunned silence as they witnessed Nicole's unexpected reaction. Liam's mind raced, searching for answers to the puzzle that was unfolding before them.

"He is the cause of this. I remember it now. He wanted you dead, Alpha. He's a witch." Nicole screamed, her wolf almost breaking through.

"Nicole!" Garrett tried to calm her down, but she refused to listen. It was as if she would only rest if she ripped him to pieces.

Just then, the Alpha of Silverwood burst in. Hearing Nicole scream made them think that she was under t*****e, and to them, Charlene was indispensable in her work of helping the new refugees who suffered violence.

It annoyed Liam to the core. He didn't understand what was happening and didn't like it. Grief and frustration welled up inside Liam as he fought to maintain his composure.

He couldn't bear to see Nicole so lost and frightened, unable to recognize the depth of their connection and the love they shared. Determined to bring her back, to help her reclaim her true self, he reached out to her once more, his voice filled with unwavering devotion.

"Nicole, please, listen to me," Liam pleaded, his voice laced with both pain and determination. "I am here for you, and I will never let anyone harm you. We will replace a way to restore your memories and heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon us. You are not alone in this."

Nicole, further recoiling away from him, was the most painful of all. It's like she didn't want anything to do with him. The Alpha of Silverwood led her away quietly. It was as if Liam's heart was being ripped off from his chest.

"What the f**k was that!" Garrett growled as soon as they were alone.

James stroked his jaw in wonder while Liam paced around restlessly.

"It's possible that Lilian's spell did something to her."

"Definitely! But why does she think I'm the perpetrator?" Garrett growled.

"Because Lilian must have appeared to her as you?"

Liam wasn't with them. He needed to know what was going on. The fear of losing his mate began rising in his heart. Just then, Asha's words floated back into his memory. "Lillian's spell!" he exclaimed.

It was then that a chilling realization settled upon the room-magic! Magic had played a role in erasing Nicole's memories, leaving her with fragmented and distorted recollections.

They all stared at each other, understanding and settling in.

"But, for her to remember something..." Garrett trailed off.

"The spell wasn't complete. She knows me, but doesn't remember that we've become mates," Liam said.

"Then you must remind her. You must tell her everything."

And so they asked for an audience again with Nicole. This time around, Liam sat down and organized his thoughts. It hurt that Nicole couldn't remember, but nothing was more important than having her come back.

As soon as she walked in again, he got to his feet. If there was one thing he had to thank Silverwood for, it was how good she looked. Her skin was brighter. She looked truly happy. It hurt. It hurt that his mate was happy in some place where he wasn't.

Liam guided Nicole to a seat, his voice filled with frustration and concern. "Nicole, you need to understand the full story," he began. "We are true mates, destined to be together. You are the witch bane, a powerful force that can counteract dark magic. The witch who threatened us was Lilian, my sister. She wanted to destroy me and take away everything I held dear, including you. Asha's betrayal was fueled by her jealousy, but it was Lilian who orchestrated the plan to destroy me and take control of the Dark Moon."

Nicole listened intently, her brow furrowed as she tried to grasp the gravity of the situation. "So, if Lilian was defeated, what more is there?" She murmured.

Liam wanted to hold her close. He wanted to hug her until she was imprinted with his scent again. He wanted to touch his mark on her.

"What do you mean?" He asked, still trying to comprehend her reluctance.

"If Lilian was defeated and the threat is gone, what do you want from me now?" she questioned, her voice tinged with confusion.

Liam felt a surge of frustration rising within him, his emotions threatening to spill over. "What do I want from you?" he repeated, his voice edged with a mix of anger and hurt. "Nicole, we are mates. Our bond goes beyond defeating a witch. I want you, all of you by my side. I want us to rebuild and strengthen our connection." Nicole's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "But I don't feel anything, Liam," she replied softly, "I don't remember our so-called love or the depth of our connection. I don't remember the love we shared or the bond we had. So I can't feel it."

It was like a sword through Liam's chest. He wanted to hold her. To touch her, but he couldn't, not when she stared at him like he was a predator.

"Nicole..." he started.

"And I thought I was supposed to leave Dark Moon after the witch was defeated." Nicole cut in. "I remember that clearly."

The frustration in Liam's heart intensified, his patience wearing thin. "You think love can be erased just like that?" he retorted, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and desperation.

"Our bond, our love, it's not something that can be erased by magic. It's deeper than memories, Nicole. It's a force that transcends time and circumstances. I won't give up on us."

Nicole shook her head. "You're not listening to me. Liam, I was supposed to leave Dark Moon after the witch was defeated," she argued. "I can't go back to a life I can't remember. I need to replace my path."

Nicole couldn't fathom the type of hurt she was putting him through. Liam clenched his fists, trying to rein in his emotions. "Your path?" He gritted out. "You are mine, and I am yours, Nicole. I won't let you slip away. You belong with me."

"But Liam, I need to replace myself. I need to understand who I am outside of this chaos. I can't just go back without knowing who I truly am."

Liam's frustration reached its peak, his voice resonating with determination. "You think you can just walk away from me?" he demanded, his tone harsh. "I won't let you. You are mine, Nicole, and I won't leave without you. You are a part of the Dark Moon, a part of

me.

I won't let you go. We will replace a way to navigate through this together. I refuse to leave without claiming what is rightfully mine. We will face the challenges together, and I will do whatever it takes to help you reclaim your memories."

Nicole's eyes flashed with defiance, her voice firm. "I am not an object to be claimed, Liam," she declared. "I won't be coerced into a life I don't remember. I can not go back to whatever that was. I hated it!"

Liam sucked in a breath. "No, you didn't," he muttered.

"I did. I won my freedom fair and square, and you're too selfish to even give it to me."

Liam was totally wrecked. His emotions were in overdrive.

"Listen, you were free."

"Oh please," Nicole countered. "You were using me like everyone else."

Unable to bear the distance, he crossed the gap and pulled her into his arms. Her scent and touch did wonders to his mind and body. He could also feel her relaxing. He missed her more than anything, but the last thing he wanted was for her to be unhappy and hurting. He realized for the first time what it meant to be her. She was right. Nobody had asked her what she wanted.

The hug didn't last as she wrestled out of his arms. He saw it in her eyes that she felt a spark.

Liam's eyes softened as he realized the depth of her turmoil. He took a deep breath, his voice gentler. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and determination." I'm sorry for the times I've been an a*****e.

I'm sorry that it is taking me this long to realize all this. It sounds selfish, but please, give us a chance. Let me show you the love we shared, the bond we forged. Together, we can navigate through this darkness and replace our way back to each other." Surprise, then, awe flooded Nicole's face. This would have been a perfect time to taste the lips he missed, but he restrained himself.

Nicole met his gaze, her eyes searching for answers. Uncertainty lingered in her expression, but a flicker of hope danced within her. "Promise me," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Promise me that you will give me the time and space I need to understand all this."

Liam reached out, his hand gently cupping Nicole's cheek. "I promise," he vowed, his voice filled with sincerity. "I will be patient and understanding. I won't force you into anything you're not ready for. But please, remember that I love you and I will always be here, waiting for you to come back to me."

Nicole looked dumbstruck, and he understood it. He could see her fighting to believe that he wasn't playing some trick on her. He understood it, too. This wasn't the first time she had asked for space. He knew how to give her space. All he needed was for her to come back home with him.

Now, he was more curious to know what transpired when Nicole was in Crimson. He was certain that it must have damaged her badly. But first, he wanted her home. Not only did he want her, but he needed her home, and so did Dark Moon.