SAGE
After the meeting, I decided to check on Elara, who had been holed up in her room all day, diving into research about Titus’s condition. She hadn’t joined us for dinner, so I figured she was still busy.
Without hesitation, I pushed the door open, only to be assaulted by an overwhelming wave of clashing scents–pungent herbs, something acidic, and an underlying sweetness that made my stomach churn.
“What is that smell?” I groaned, covering my nose with my sleeves.
Elara didn’t even look up from the small bubbling pot she was stirring on her makeshift workstation. “Close the door and quit whining,” she shot back. “I’ve been stuck with this smell since this morning, so if anyone’s earned the right to complain, it’s me.”
I kicked the door shut behind me, still grimacing as I cautiously stepped inside. “What the hell are you doing? I leave you alone for two seconds, and you’ve gone full–on *wicked witch of the north.*
*”
She let out a dry laugh, finally sparing me a glance. “Ha–ha, very funny. May I remind you that I’m the one busting my ass here trying to help you with your “Titus‘ problem?”
I snorted, leaning against the wall to avoid the clutter of books, bottles, and half–chopped herbs littering her desk. “This doesn’t look like research–it looks like you’re brewing some kind of potion.”
Elara arched a brow, pausing her stirring to point a wooden spoon at me. “For your information, some of the most ancient texts on Lycan lore suggest herbal remedies and potions can aid memory restoration. And before you say anything else,” she added, holding up a hand as I opened my mouth, “yes, I know how ridiculous it sounds. But when you’re dealing with memory loss potentially caused by a mix of poison and magic, you don’t exactly have a step–by–step guide to follow.”
I sighed, glancing at the mess around her. “Okay, fair. But are you sure this is safe? What if this-“I gestured vaguely to the pot, “-does more harm than good?”
She smirked, going back to her stirring. “Relax. I’m not giving it to him yet. This is just an experimental batch. I’m testing to see if I can neutralize the effects of wolf’s bane combined with ash mountain residue. If I can figure that out, then maybe I can pinpoint exactly what’s keeping him from remembering.”
I had to admit, despite her eccentric methods, Elara’s determination was impressive. “And? Any progress?”
She sighed, pushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. “Some, but it’s slow going. This stuff isn’t exactly covered in the standard curriculum. But if there’s one thing I have confirmed, it’s that Titus’s condition isn’t purely physical. There’s something… off, something unnatural.”
I frowned, her words settling heavily in my chest. “You think it’s magic?”
Elara nodded slowly. “Possibly. Or at least something more than just poison. And if that’s the case…” She trailed off, her expression darkening.
“What?” I pressed, stepping closer.
Her gaze met mine, serious now. “Then someone intended for this to happen. And they knew exactly what they were doing.”
A chill ran down my spine. If Elara was right, then Titus’s memory loss wasn’t just an accident of circumstance–it was deliberate. And if Anna was involved…
1 clenched my fists, a surge of determination coursing through me. “Whatever it is that you’re brewing here, you need to finish it–fast. We’re leaving tomorrow, and this might be our only chance to cure Titus.”
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Elara nodded, her eyes gleaming with focused resolve. “Don’t worry. This will be ready in no time. And I’m sure you’ll have no trouble giving it to him,” she said, her tone dripping with mischief.
I frowned, narrowing my eyes at her. “Of course I wouldn’t. I’ll just pour it into his coffee or something. Simple.”
Elara’s smirk deepened, and the mischievous glint in her eyes set off alarm bells in my head. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple,” she said, turning back to her work.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, crossing my arms warily.
She kept stirring her concoction, her voice as casual as if she were discussing the weather. “For the potion to work, you’ll need to rub the oil mixture all over his body first. It has seep into his skin to counteract the residual effects of the poison.”
lo
I blinked at her, already feeling the heat creep up my neck. “That’s it? Fine. Weird, but doable.”
Elara shot me a sly look over her shoulder. “Oh, I’m not done. After that, he has to drink the potion.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay… and?”
Her smirk turned downright wicked. “He has to drink it directly from your
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
mouth.”
“I’m dead serious,” she replied, barely suppressing a laugh. “The process relies on an exchange of energy to bind the cure to him. Think of it as transferring intent through physical connection. Besides, it’s an ancient ritual–who am I to question centuries of Lycan tradition?”
I threw my hands in the air. “Elara, that’s not a ritual! That’s-” I stopped, searching for the right word and coming up empty. “That’s insane!”
“Relax,” she teased. “It’s not like you’ll hate the process.”
“That’s not the point!” I snapped, my voice rising. “You expect me to–to… what, kiss him with this awful potion in my mouth and hope he doesn’t choke or throw it up?”
“Exactly,” she said brightly, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “You’re catching on quick.”
I groaned, slumping into the nearest chair. “This is ridiculous, Why can’t you do it?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You think he’d let me rub oil all over him, much less drink anything from my mouth? Let’s be real here, Sage–if anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Besides, I’m not the one he’s trying to remember; it’s you. You need to transfer your energy to him to trigger every memory that was hidden inside his head.”
Her confidence in me did little to calm my nerves. I buried my face in my hands, groaning softly. “Elara, the man doesn’t even remember me. To him, I’m just some stranger barging into his life!”
Elara laughed, light and carefree, as though I hadn’t just confessed my deepest frustration. She gave my shoulder a playful squeeze. “Oh, Sage. If anyone can get through to him, it’s you. Be creative!”
Torn between exasperation and reluctant acceptance, I let out a dramatic sigh. “I honestly don’t know whether to thank for this ‘brilliant‘ idea or strangle you for making me do it.”
She smirked, utterly unbothered by my dilemma. “Why not both? Keeps things interesting.”
you
I dropped my hands, glaring at her as she turned back to her bubbling concoction, far too pleased with herself. “Do we really have no other options?” I asked, my voice faltering on the last word.
Elara paused for a moment, her expression softening as she set down the spoon she had been stirring. “Of course we do,” she said, her voice gentle, laced with quiet reassurance. “We can always throw this all away, walk away from this mess, and let
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Alpha Titus forget you. Completely. Let him continue living in his amnesia, with no recollection of the person he once
knew.”
Her words hung in the air, their weight pressing down on me like a heavy stone. I stayed silent, the room suddenly feeling too small, too stifling. There was always that option, the one I never dared to consider. It was the easy way out. But it was also the coward’s way. And as much as I hated to admit it, it was starting to look like the only thing I could do.
Elara watched me quietly, her expression unreadable for a moment before her lips tugged into a knowing smile. “I thought so.” Her voice was soft, almost playful, as if she could see the internal battle I was fighting within myself.
I rolled my eyes at her, feeling the burn of frustration rising in my chest. “Fine,” I muttered, surrendering to the inevitable. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Elara’s grin returned, as mischievous as ever. “That’s the spirit! Now, stop distracting me. I need to make this potion perfect -you’ll only have one chance to make it work.”
“One chance,” I echoed und
