“You’ve been playing with my heart all along,” I say, as each realization hits harder than the last. “You’ve been trying to trick me all along. You’ve been using me for your sick form of entertainment!”“I’m not!” Kole said. “I would never use you. Kierra, I’m not doing any of those things!“I love you. I’m here because I want to be with you. What reason would I have to trick you? Don’t you trust me?”I look at Kole and I no longer see anyone I love or trust. Instead, I see a liar. Instead, I see a monster.“No,” I say. I cross my arms over my chest to further create a barrier between us. “I don’t trust you. Not at all. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time. You’ve been pretending to like me and you’ve done a great job at it too. You’ve truly had me convinced. You’ve truly had me fooled.”“I haven’t been trying to fool you though!” he says.His voice raises and I tremble. He notices and his posture and voice soften.“Kierra, you can’t really think I would ever hurt you,

As night falls, I become even more terrified.I thought my confusion centered around Kole alone, and that once I reached clarity on that, then I’d be set with everything else.And I have reached clarity on that. I realize now he was just using me, laughing at me. He was mocking me like all the others.Yet there are other things that have yet to come into focus as well.I don’t remember much and more and more of my memory is slipping away as I walk away from him.It’s like my mind is unraveling and I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do.I walk in circles, trying to figure things out.Where should I go? What should I do?Where do I belong?I don’t even know if I have a home. Or if I do have a home, where that home is. I don’t know anything and that terrifies me. It feels like I can’t trust my own mind.Because I can’t. I can’t trust my own mind when it tricks me like this. And I’m terrified because what am I missing?Will I ever find it again?I’m terrified

The next few days are terrifying as I struggle through the forest, trying to find someone who can help me. Finally, I reach the small gathering of witches, sorcerers, and other magical folks that keep their distance while being the hot spot for people who need that extra help. It has a cute charm to it, where psychics offer to read fortunes, there are shops for doing magic, and other wares I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.I’m looking for one thing in particular though.I go straight into the potions shop.The woman running it is kind of intimidating with dark hair and red eyes that look like they’re ready to ooze blood. She gives me this wicked smile that makes me want to run.But I need to get through this haze. I need to work this out. It’s worth the risk.“Good afternoon,” she says, in a voice that’s utterly whimsical. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before, which is wonderful.“New customers are my favorite. Can I interest you in a long discussion about poti

“I need to find Kole,” I say, once I take the first dose of the potion.“How clear is your mind?” Norah asks. “What are your feelings for him now?”I’ve grown to know her better as we waited for the potion to stew, so she knows all about what happened with Kole and I. She knows that I need to remember everything about him so I can make a solid decision.“I’m not sure,” I admit. “My mind is a bit clearer now though. I’m remembering things more. I feel like I’d be able to function again.“But I’m not sure exactly how I feel about Kole. My mind is still hazy with him. I don’t trust him. I don’t know if I love him.”“But you feel like you need to find him,” Norah says.“Yes,” I reply. “I have this intense need and desire to find him. It feels like it’s the most important thing in my life right now. It’s difficult to explain but…”“It’s the oddity of mates,” Norah says in an understanding tone. “That connection is one that no one can quite comprehend or explain, no matter how many pe

“Give me the potion back!” I say, knocking into Catherine in my wolf form.I’m usually not the type to be aggressive. I let people walk all over me. But I’m done with that.I keep almost losing Kole over it, so now I’m down with being weak. I’m done with not fighting back.I’m going to be strong.I’m going to stand up for myself.I’m going to figure this out, no matter what it takes.“You’re crazy!” Catherine says, shifting as I tumble into her.She tries to lash at me, stopping my attack.I counter, trying to subdue her. Kole watches in shock as Catherine and I fight, scrambling along the ground for that precious antidote. “Stop!” Kole says, as Catherine nips me. “What is going on.”Catherine shifts into human form so she looks like the rational one while I stay in my wolf form.I have her pinned to the ground, completely in control of this situation.Maybe Kole is judging me for it.I don’t care what it looks like.This has honestly become about more than just him. I