A few minutes later, we all parted ways. Liam was staying at a local Inn with Lydia, who insisted on tagging along to Atlas’s pack. Even now, I felt no animosity towards her. She was timid in a way that reminded me of myself. I had once been shy and afraid of the world. Losing Atlas and my Mom had ripped the fear from me, leaving me with only anger. That anger seemed to come in waves lately. Ever since I lashed out at Atlas and told him how I felt, I couldn’t muster up that same red-hot rage.My mind fought against the mate-bond relentlessly, but my body had a mind of its own. My heart seemed to sense Atlas’s presence, and would speed up anytime he was near. My fingers would tremble when he stood too close to me, the heat from his body washing up my spine. I gave myself those few moments to think on our bond, and what I might do once this was all over. I couldn’t see myself forgiving him—nor did I want to, but he made it hard.‘Give

I woke up as the sun just began to set. The earth had gotten much closer in my time asleep, and I knew we would be landing soon. I jumped when I looked up, noticing Atlas’s eyes on my face. He sat with an ankle on top of his thigh. His fist rested under his chin as he stared at me with unwavering strength. His lips twitched and just as I thought something snide would come out, he smirked.“You talk in your sleep.” Atlas remarked, turning his head as one of the attendants came into the cabin.The middle aged she-wolf announced that we’d be landing in just a few minutes. She turned and left the way she came, the navy curtain fluttering behind her. I grimaced at Atlas’s smirk, shoving the poetry book into my duffel bag.“I do not.” I snapped, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.I pulled my bag onto my lap and turned my head away from Atlas. I grabbed some of the winter gear Atlas had laid out on the seats and walked

Guilt, sadness, exhaustion, hope. I missed the Atlas who exuded confident indifference to the world around him. I missed the Atlas that never let anything show, that stuck to his little friend group above anyone else. It was easier to hate that Atlas, easier to dehumanize him into the cold-blooded enemy that rejected me. This Atlas was different, was that much harder to hate. While his alabaster skin and platinum hair made him look cold, the emotion in his eyes was anything but—emotion reserved for me and me alone.  “What’s the point in giving in?” I found myself replying, fighting to keep the hurt and anger from my words.

Even as awareness crept into my subconscious, I kept my eyes tightly shut. Warmth and a thick husky scent enveloped me, nearly coaxing me back to sleep. I couldn't remember the last time I slept so soundly. Not a single nightmare had worked its way into my head. I lingered in that blissful nothingness, content on forgetting the memories that danced along the cusp of my mind. A beam of sunlight danced through the sheer curtains on the window, explosions of orange and yellow light danced behind my eyelids.Something soft yet firm rested against my face, and I burrowed deeper into the source of warmth. My eyes snapped open as my pillow shifted, and a rough hand gripped my thigh. The hand belonged to Atlas, as did the delectable scent. He pulled my leg up and over his waist, resting his palm on my lower back. My long sleeve t-shirt had risen up in the night, and I nearly flung myself from the bed when his hand grazed my bare skin. The sparks seemed to vary in purpose, but never i

"Are you sure about this, kitten?" Atlas murmured, worry and something eerily similar to fear flickered in his eyes. He smothered the emotion as it formed, but I had already noticed its presence."I--I don't know, Atlas." I admitted, letting out a shaky breath. "If I don't do this, death will follow. If I do, the Fae will come after me and endanger everyone in your pack. If I go back to Liam's pack, they'll still come looking for me. No matter what I do, innocent people are put in danger."Once a heavy silence consumed the three of us, and our conversation came to an end, we were given some privacy to talk over how we'd want to proceed. I could live with putting myself in danger, as I knew the risks--but I couldn't risk harming innocent people. No matter which choice I made, someone would be hurt. The only difference was that with my memories, I might stand a chance at protecting myself. How? I hadn't a single clue, but Finn was able to tell me enough. My remaining mem