Chapter 296
Chapter 296
FAYE
I paused outside the door longer than I meant to.
+25 Points
It wasn’t hesitation exactly–more like a quiet recalibration. I had walked into battlefields with less awareness of the weight pressing on my chest than I felt standing there, hand hovering inches from the handle.
I knocked once and pushed the door open.
He looked up immediately.
The movement was instinctive, sharp enough that it startled me for a second. One moment he was sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders slightly hunched, gaze unfocused. The next, he was standing.
Too fast.
“I–sorry,” he said quickly, as though only just realizing he’d done it. His balance faltered, subtle but there, and he stilled himself with a hand against the mattress.
I lifted my palm gently. “It’s okay. You don’t need to stand p>
He hesitated, then nodded and sat back down–slower this time, careful of his ribs. His jaw was tight, eyes alert in a way that didn’t quite match the injuries wrapping his torso.
I stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“Do you know my name?” I asked.
He frowned, eyes narrowing as if he were reaching for something just out of grasp. “You told me yesterday,” he said slowly. “I know that much. I just… can’t remember it.” He looked at me again, studying my face. “But I recognize you p>
Something about the certainty in that made me relax a bit.
“That’s alright,” I said, keeping my voice light. “My name is Faye. ”
I gestured to the chair opposite the bed and sat, deliberately putting us at eye level. No looming. Just two people in a quiet room.
“And you are?” I asked, hoping Dr. Adams was right and that he could actually remember his
1/6
name. He barely paused. “Roman p> I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. +25 Points “Roman,” I repeated gently. “It’s nice to meet you. Even if it’s under terrible circumstances p> He forced a smile. It didn’t hold. His gaze dropped to his hands, fingers flexing as if he were testing their reality. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was heavy–weighted with everything he didn’t know how to say. I didn’t rush him. “I was told you wanted to see me,” I said eventually. He nodded. “Yes. I did.” He exhaled slowly. “I’m not even sure why, if I’m being honest p> I waited. “It’s just…” He searched for the words. “Everyone else here-” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “They’re kind…” he trailed off. “Go on… I’m all ears,” I urged gently. “I don’t know where I am,” he continued. “I don’t know how I got here. I asked the doctor. She explained what she could, but… there are gaps p> “There are,” I agreed. “You don’t know either,” he said. It wasn’t an accusation–just a statement. “No,” I admitted. “I don’t. I don’t have all the answers p> I told him what I could–the patrol finding him unconscious near the border, how badly injured he’d been, how close he’d come to dying. I watched his face as I spoke, searching for flickers of recognition, for tension or denial. There was nothing. “And where exactly is this place?” he asked, looking around. “This is a private territory,” I said carefully. “And this building?” he asked. 2/6 < Chapter 296 “This is the pack house p> His brow furrowed immediately. “Pack house? What is that p> +25 Points The confusion was genuine–open, unfiltered. I studied him, searching for even the smallest hint that he was pretending, that he was hiding knowledge behind the fog of his memory. There was none. He was totally clueless. I briefly wondered if he even knew anything about werewolves existing at all. I had to save the moment. “It’s the central residence,” I said. “Where leadership lives, and some soldiers too. It’s also where people are brought when they need protection p> “That sounds… permanent,” he said slowly. “It isn’t,” I replied without hesitation. “But it is secure p> He nodded, absorbing that. “I don’t remember knowing anything about places like this p> “That could be the memory loss,” I said. “Or it could just be unfamiliar p> I didn’t elaborate. I wouldn’t–putting too much on him too soon might do more harm than good. For a brief moment, my attention drifted–searching instinctively for that presence I had seen before. That shadow that had hovered so close to him, that wolf… There was nothing. Just a man sitting on a bed, wrapped in bandages and uncertainty. “How are you feeling?” I asked. “The pain’s there,” he said. “But I can handle it.” He hesitated. “That’s not the worst part p> I listened. “Not knowing who I am,” he finished quietly. I nodded once. “That part takes time p> He looked at me then–really looked at me–something cautious but hopeful flickering in his eyes. “Am I allowed to leave this place?” he asked. 3/6 The question was simple. The implications were not. +25 Points “Not yet,” I said honestly. “You’re still healing. And until we know more about you–about how you ended up here–it wouldn’t be safe p> “For me?” he asked. “For you,” I confirmed. He didn’t argue. He just glanced toward the door, then back at me. “When will I be allowed to p> I held his gaze, steady. “That,” I said, “is something we’ll figure out together p> He sighed. It wasn’t dramatic or heavy–just a quiet release of breath, like he’d reached the end of the questions he could ask for now. His shoulders eased slightly, and he didn’t say anything else. He simply stared at the floor for a moment, jaw set, as if he were filing the answer away for later. I didn’t push him. “You’re doing better than you think,” I said gently. “The doctor is pleased with your recovery. Honestly, she’s a little surprised p> That earned me a glance. “ Surprised?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, allowing a small smile. “You’re healing faster than expected. Still sore, obviously, but you’re responding well. If things keep going like this, you won’t be in the clinic much longer p> His expression shifted to a mix of relief and concern. “I’ll be leaving, then,” he said slowly. “Yes. The clinic, at least p> He nodded, processing that. Then, after a brief pause, he asked calmly, “Where would I be going p> 4/6 < Chapter 296 +25 Points I could tell he wasn’t just asking about a room change. He was asking what his life would look like in the absence of memory–where he belonged, even temporarily. “To the main house,” I said. “Where I stay p> His eyebrows lifted slightly, surprised. “You live there p> “Yes. And you’ll stay there for a while,” I explained. “Until you’re strong enough to leave the territory. You’ll be taken care of. Properly. It’s quieter than the clinic, less restrictive. You won’t feel like you’re being watched every second p> That last part wasn’t entirely true, but it was the gentlest version of the truth I could give him. He studied my face, searching for something–doubt, maybe, or reluctance. “What kind of place is it?” he asked. “A home,” I said simply. “Not a hospital. Not a cell. Just a place where you can recover without being confined to a bed p> He leaned back slightly, careful of his ribs, eyes drifting to the window. “And when I’m ready to leave p> “Then we’ll make sure you can,” I replied. “Safely p> “Thank you,” he said eventually. “For what p> “For being honest,” he said. I felt a small sting immediately–guilt. Was I really being honest with him? Not entirely. I told myself it was all for his own good. I met his gaze. “You’re welcome p> After a moment of silence, I decided it was time to leave. I stood. “Get some rest. I’ll check in again later p> He nodded. “Okay p> I turned toward the door, my hand just reaching for the handle, when the word brushed against my senses–soft, unmistakable. 5/6 < Chapter 296 “Luna p> I stopped cold. The sound wasn’t loud–almost like a breath–but I heard it. I turned sharply. “What did you just call me p> Roman looked lost. “What p> “I mean… you just spoke, right?” I asked calmly, trying not to raise my voice. “I–I didn’t say anything,” he replied at once, confusion creasing his features. I searched his face, waiting for a flicker of awareness, a hint that he understood what I meant. There was nothing. I masked my reaction with a small smile. “It’s fine,” I said evenly. “See you… later p> He nodded again, and this time I didn’t linger. I opened the door and left immediately. 1 Comments LUCK DRAW > Vote 167 +25 Points.