The Path of the Forgotten

Adira trudged through the darkened forest, her feet aching against the uneven ground. The cool night air bit at her skin, but the numbness in her chest outweighed any physical discomfort. She had been cast aside, banished from her own home, from the pack she had fought to belong to.

By her own mate.

The thought alone sent fresh tears down her cheeks, but she wiped them away stubbornly. She wouldn't cry—not now. Not when she knew the truth. Not when she had proof that Lucian was under a spell.

Her fingers tightened around the pendant hanging from her neck. It was the only thing she had left of him—the only thing he hadn't stripped away. She remembered the night he gave it to her. They had sneaked away from the packhouse, sharing stolen moments beneath the moon. He had cupped her face, looked into her eyes, and told her he loved her. That she was his choice, no matter what the pack thought.

Now, he didn't even remember her.

Adira exhaled shakily and pulled the small, dried leaf from her pocket. It felt unnatural, even now. The tingling sensation that had crawled up her arm when she first touched it returned, and she knew—this was the key. If she could figure out what kind of leaf it was, she could break the spell.

She had to find someone who could help her.

Her stomach twisted at the thought. She had no allies left in the Crescent Pack. But there was one place she could go.

The rogues.

The very idea sent a shiver down her spine. Rogues were unpredictable, lawless, and dangerous. But they had their own kind of wisdom. Some of them had been cast out, just like her. Others had fled after being betrayed. And some… some had knowledge of things the pack refused to acknowledge—dark magic, forbidden spells, and the ancient secrets of their kind.

If anyone knew what this leaf was, it would be them.

Determined, Adira adjusted the torn hem of her dress and picked up her pace. The rogue lands weren't far, but the journey was treacherous. Wolves who had been exiled or had turned feral roamed these woods, and she was nothing more than an omega without a home.

Still, she pushed forward.

The trees grew thicker, the path narrowing as the air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. Adira's heartbeat quickened when she heard the snap of a twig behind her.

She wasn't alone.

Adira froze, gripping the pendant for comfort. The rustling grew louder, and before she could react, a figure emerged from the shadows.

A tall man with piercing green eyes and scars lining his arms stepped forward. His presence was powerful, his aura wild. A rogue.

He tilted his head, studying her with mild amusement. "Lost, little wolf?"

Adira swallowed hard. She had to be careful. Rogues weren't known for their kindness.

Adira looked at the rogue closely and sensed something familiar in him. "Fenfir." She called.

Fenfir laughed as he walked round Adira. "You have a sharp mind. I don't suppose you remember me so fast".

Adira slowly walked backward. "Stay away from me". She knew Fenfir would never have a good motive towards her.

"Don't be scared". Fenfir said as he walked closer to her. "I mean no harm".

"Stay away from me". She shouted.

Fenfir stopped moving. "I heard Lucian left you. He didn't deserve you in the first place. He and Selene had been planning to use your power for their gain. Lucian does not truly like you".

Adira clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she glared at Fenfir. She had known he was dangerous, but hearing him speak with such certainty about Lucian made her stomach churn.

"You're lying," she snapped, her voice shaking with both fear and anger.

Fenfir smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Am I?" he taunted. "Then tell me, Adira—where was Lucian when you were cast out? Where was the man who once swore to protect you, to fight for you?" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a whisper. "He struck you. Threw you away like you were nothing. And for what? Another woman?"

Adira's breath hitched, the memory of Lucian's cold, hardened gaze flashing through her mind. The sting of his slap still burned on her cheek. But she shook her head, forcing herself to focus.

"It's the spell," she said firmly. "I saw him fight it. I felt his wolf recognize me."

Fenfir chuckled darkly. "The spell," he repeated mockingly. "And yet, he still chose Selene over you. Tell me, Adira, if his love was so strong, why was it so easy for her to take him away from you?"

Adira swallowed hard. She couldn't let his words get to her. She knew what she saw—Lucian had hesitated, his wolf had stirred. She had nearly broken through.

"I don't need to explain myself to you," she spat. "I know Lucian. I know he loved me once, and I know something is keeping him from remembering."

Fenfir's smirk faltered for a second before he quickly masked it. "Believe whatever you want, little wolf," he said. "But when you realize the truth—that Lucian was never truly yours—you'll know where to find me."

With that, he turned, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

Adira stood frozen for a long moment, gripping the leaf in her hand.

She would not let Fenfir's words shake her.

Lucian was hers. And she was going to get him back.

Adira exhaled sharply, her grip tightening around the small piece of the mysterious leaf in her hand. She wouldn't let Fenfir's words get to her—she couldn't. He wanted to plant doubt in her mind, to make her question everything she knew about Lucian. But she had seen the hesitation in Lucian's eyes, and had felt his wolf struggling to break free. That wasn't a lie. That wasn't something she had imagined.

Shoving the leaf back into the folds of her dress, she turned on her heel and marched deeper into the forest. She needed to find a safe place to think, to plan. The first step was figuring out exactly what kind of spell had been used on Lucian.

As she moved through the dense trees, her thoughts raced. The only witches she knew who dealt with memory manipulation were the Nightshade Coven. They were powerful, secretive, and nearly impossible to find unless they wanted to be found. But if someone had cast a spell this strong, she needed answers—and they were the only ones who could give them to her.

She pressed a hand over her heart, feeling the weight of the pendant Lucian had given her on the night of their first kiss. A reminder of the love they had shared. A love she refused to let slip away.

She would find the truth.

She would break the spell.

And she would get her husband back…