Chapter 84

Elliot’s POV

“Tell me what the hell is going on with her!!” I demanded.

Silver was shaking and whimpering on the bed; sweat was beading on her forehead and her lips were trembling. It was obvious to me that she was in severe pain, but she also looked to be having a seriously bad dream. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hold her close to me, but both the doctor and Charolette advised me not to touch her.

I was furious not being able to comfort her; all I wanted was to scoop her into my arms so she would know that I was right there, and I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I already told you that it was going to be uncomfortable and painful for her. You just have to trust me and trust the process,” my sister said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s going ot be okay, Elliot. She’s going to be just fine. Her memories are going to be restored.”

I looked down at her, feeling a wave of dread coursing through me. I hated seeing her like this and I wanted so desperately to do something… anything.

“S…Scott…” she whimpered as tears ran down her cheeks.

My brows furrowed together as I stared down at my wife who just spoke another man’s name.

I looked up at Charlotte who looked equally confused.

“Who is Scott?” I asked as if they had the answers.

“I’m not sure,” Charlotte said. “I’ve never heard that name before.”

“Could it be her brother?” Dr. Scott asked.

I looked at Charlotte and she shrugged.

“It’s a possibility,” she agreed.

“No…” Silver murmured. “Memories… I can’t lose them… not again…”

I looked at Charlotte again and saw the confusion on her face.

“What does she mean, Char?” I asked.

“I…I don’t know,” she said, her eyes never leaving Silver’s face. “She could be remembering when they took her memories.”

“Elliot…” Silver whispered; her tone raspy. “Help me…”

“Baby, I’m right here,” I said, crouching down to her side. “I’m right here. Come back to me, Love. I’m right here waiting for you. Please, just come back to me.”

Her body seemed to have relaxed some before she released a breath.

“Open your eyes, Silver,” I pleaded. “Please…” My voice was nothing more than a whisper.

She gasped and her eyes flew open!

Silver quickly sat up, gasping for breath. I patted her back, trying to get her to take steady deep breaths.

“Breathe, Silver,” I whispered against her cheek. “Just breathe.”

Her breathing finally settled, and she swallowed several times before blinking and getting a bearing on her surroundings. She looked around the room, looking at each and every person that was staring back at her. Everyone was watching her warily, none of us saying a word until she spoke first.

“It felt like I was still there,” she finally whispered. “Like I never left…”

“You remember?” I asked her.

She nodded as tears filled her eyes.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I remember everything… I thought I would lose my memories at the end. But I woke up before anything happened.”

“So, what do you remember?” Charlotte pressed.

“Give her a minute to breathe,” I snapped, glaring at my sister.

“No, it’s okay,” Silver said, putting a hand on my arm. “This is information you need to know. I’m just not sur where to start.”

“You don’t need to think about it right now,” I told her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close to my chest. “I want to get you home where I know you are safe. My anxiety has been going crazy for hours.”

She nodded.

“I would like to shower and get changed,” she admitted, staring down at her clothes.

I kissed the top of her head.

“Erik, can you get the car ready?” I asked Erik who was standing at the doorway.

“Yes, Alpha,” he answered before leaving the room.

“I’ll prescribe pain medication. It’ll help with your headache,” Dr. Scott said to Silver who nodded her thanks to him.

He left moments later.

I helped Silver out of the bed and onto her feet; she was a bit unstable on her feet at first, but she clung to me like I was her lifeline. I would gladly be her lifeline.

“I’ll call you later,” Charlotte said before she too left.

Most of the car ride was quiet as we made our way back to the palace. Silver rested her head on my shoulder for most of the drive and I kept my arms wrapped around her.

Tears were spilling down her cheeks and I knew it was because the memories she had were way too much for her to comprehend. I hated that she was suffering so much due to all this. I wanted so desperately to just take away the pain.

When we reached the palace, I thanked Erik.

“I’ll be out here if you need me, Alpha,” he said, giving Silver a short wave.

“Thanks,” I said, trying not to let my jealousy shine through. I didn’t like the thought of another man gaining the attention of my wife. But I also knew that I could trust Silver and I had to believe nothing was going on between the two of them.

I pulled her along with me, keeping my arm protectively around her body as we made our way inside. I wasn’t surprised that the first person to greet us was Mariah.

She rushed towards us, her eyes wide and never leaving Silver.

“Is it really you?” Mariah asked, hesitantly.

Silver grinned and held her arms open for Mariah who ran into them.

“Thank the Goddess,” she breathed. “I was so worried about you.”

“I’m okay now,” she assured her. “I’m home.”

Home.

I loved the sound of that word on her lips; I knew she wasn’t just talking about the palace. She was talking about me as well. I was her home. The crown pack was her home. The friends she’d made were now her home.

“She’s had a long day. She needs to recover. I’m going to bring her to our room,” I told Mariah, who stepped back upon hearing my words.

“Of course. I’ll make your favorite soup and have a maid bring it up to you later,” Mariah told Silver.

“Thank you,” Silver said politely.

The girls hugged before Silver went with me up the stairs and into our bedroom. As soon as the door was shut, Silver rested her body against mine and I could see the utter exhaustion in her eyes.

I wrapped my arms around her, needing to ensure myself that she was truly okay. I hadn’t meant to rush her away from everyone, but I needed to be alone with her. I needed to feel her warmth and touch. I needed to see for myself that she was truly unharmed.

“Did he hurt you?” I asked, keeping my tone low and my lips against her ear.

She trembled from my nearness, and I couldn’t help but smile at the effect I had on her body.

“No,” she whispered. “Not physically. Some of the guards did though. He was angry with them for it. He told them specifically not to hurt me, but they didn’t listen.”

“I will kill every last one of them,” I promised. “You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

“I’m not worried,” she said softly. “They tried to break my spirit and make me not trust you. But it didn’t work. I would never let them break me and turn against you. I would never betray you, Elliot.”

“I know,” I whispered as I ran my fingers up and down her spine. She relaxed into me as she gazed into my eyes.

“He wants me to join him,” she told me. “But I told him no. I won’t do anything to hurt you, physically or mentally.”

“You don’t have to reassure me, Silver,” I told her, pressing my lips to her cheekbone gently. “I trust you,” I added in a whisper as I trailed my lips down the nape of her neck. She sucked in a sharp breath as I reached that sweet spot my mark should be.

Why hadn’t I marked her yet?

I let my tongue glide across that spot, and she shivered from the sensations I provoked across her body. I could see goosebumps forming on her flesh and it made me grin as I held her tighter. I peppered soft kisses along her collarbone and rose my lips up her chin and across her cheeks once more before I found her juicy and plump lips.

She moaned as I made contact with her mouth and that gave me the access I needed to slide my tongue between her lips. Our tongues danced with one another and her breathing grew heavy as she fought to keep up the pace of my kisses. She turned her body, so she was facing me, and her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck as she pulled herself closer to my broad body.

She moaned again, melting in the embrace and deepening the kiss as I lifted her into my arms. Her legs were wrapped around my waist, and I brought her to the bed. I wanted to make this woman mine if it was the last thing I did. She was mine in every sense of the way, except for one.

I wanted my mark on the nape of her neck. I wanted the world to know that she belonged to me. I let my wolf push himself forward as I broke my kiss from her lips and trailed down the nape of her neck again. He was ready to claim what was his; mate or not, she belonged to us.

“Mine,” my wolf growled out loud just as our canines sunk deep into the nape of her neck, marking and claiming Silver as ours.

“Forever mine,” I whispered as I licked the mark, sealing it closed.