Chapter 8 Her Memory, My Doubt

LUCIEN***

“Daddy!”

Richard’s voice burst into the room loudly, dragging me out of my thoughts. And before I could process anything, I was already moving, pushing away from the desk and heading toward the sound.

A sense of relief flooded my chest as I got into the living room.

Ciara was on the floor with the kids, legs crossed, hair falling loose around her shoulders. Rita sat close to her, laughing so hard she had one hand pressed to her stomach. Richard was bouncing on his knees, eyes wide, waiting for the next act.

Ciara lifted her hands and curled her fingers like claws. She made a low growling sound, then tilted her head and stuck out her tongue.

Rita shrieked. “A lion!”

“No,” Richard argued, pointing. “That’s a dog. Do the cow again, mummy.”

Ciara rolled her eyes dramatically. “You’re impossible.”

She lowered her voice and let out a long, exaggerated moo. Rita clapped. Richard laughed so hard he tipped over onto his side.

“Daddy, daddy,” Rita called, grabbing Ciara’s sleeve. “See what mummy is doing?”

I stood there longer than I meant to, watching them. The sound of their laughter filled the space easily, in a way that felt strange. I'd never seen her that way with the kids before.

Richard noticed me then. “Daddy, come play.”

I took a step forward without thinking, the brightness in their faces pulling me in.

Then it hit me.

Ciara is the reason why Fiona died.

I overheard the conversation between Shania and her earlier. Though she seemed to really have lost her memory, it doesn't mean she's any less harmless to me or anyone that stands in the way of what she wants. And for all I know, all this might as well be acts to make me trust her.

I stopped in my tracks.

Ciara didn’t look up. She was too busy pretending to be a confused goat, shaking her head and bleating until the kids dissolved into laughter again.

I stared at her anyway. At the ease in her movements. At the way she laughed without restraint. At the way she let herself be soft in front of them.

“How can you still look like that?” the thought came uninvited. “How can you still laugh?”

“Daddy?” Richard’s voice pulled me back. He frowned, studying my face. “Why are you looking at mummy like that?”

I blinked and forced a smile.

“It’s nothing,” I said. “I just love the fact that you guys are crushing it.”

Rita crawled closer, tugging my pants. “Play with us.”

I crouched slightly, resting my hands on my knees. “I can’t right now.”

Richard’s shoulders dropped. “Why?”

“I have a lot to do,” I replied. “I’m sorry, kiddo.” patting their heads.

Ciara finally looked up then. Her smile softened when she saw me.

“Go easy on him,” she said to the kids. “Your dad is quite busy these days.”

There was no accusation in her voice. No bitterness. Just support that only confused me even more.

And that somehow made everything worse. Because, what exactly am I supposed to believe? Since she lost her memory, she'd become a completely different person and I'd be lying to myself if I said I'm not falling for this new her already.

“I’ll join you later,” I said, though I knew it wasn’t true.

Richard nodded, disappointed but trying not to show it. Rita went back to Ciara’s side, already distracted.

I turned and walked away before either of them could say anything else.

The door clicked shut as I closed the door behind me. Silence settled fast, heavy and familiar. I loosened my collar and exhaled, pressing my palm briefly to my face.

Then my phone beeped.

I pulled it from my pocket and looked at the screen.

A WEDDING INVITATION

“Alpha Lucien,

You are formally invited to the union of Shania Grey and Bale Creek.

The ceremony will take place in two weeks’ time.

Your presence would be an honor.

— The Grey Family”

I stared at the message for a long moment.

Then I muttered, “Fucking people,” and tossed the phone onto the bed.

“What has got your face looking like that? Ciara’s voice slid in from behind.

I turned slowly, looking at her with a burning chest. The look I expected wasn't what I was met with.

Her eyes looked clearer than ever, proving an innocence my heart fought against. Then a smile—

“Why wouldn't you play with your own children,” she muttered, raising a brow.

My heart stopped at her expression. The aura emanating from her felt exactly like what I experienced with Fiona.

“I… I'm just tired,” I mumbled, clasping my head with my left hand.

An expression to check if she was really pretending to have lost her memory or not, but she didn't catch on. The Ciara I knew would've laughed at that expression since it had always been our inside joke, but now… I don't even know what to believe anymore.

“Can we…?”

Before she could finish, Richard's voice slid loudly into the room again. “Mum… Rita just called me stupid.”

She turned towards him. “You're not stupid. Go on… I'll be there soon.”

“Let me go attend to them.” she muttered with a small smile on her face, then she turned towards the door.

“Wait!” The word came out louder than I intended

She turned towards me, breathing shallow. “I need to attend to them.”

“We just need to talk for a minute.” I said, gesturing at the bed.

She hesitated for half a heartbeat before finally sitting.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I would like you to follow me to the Creeklaw pack in two weeks.” I muttered.

“Sure… My sister is getting married by then.” A smile formed at her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes.

“Not… for the wedding,” I corrected. “A burial.”

Her mood shifted, “whose burial.”

“A friend of mine,” I responded. “Fiona.”

Tension grew in the room immediately, the air getting heavier.

“I don't think I want to go for a burial when I'm supposed to be with my sister.” Balls of sweat, forming across her face.

“You don't have a choice,” I said. “I'm ordering you.”

She stared straight into me before finally muttering—

“Okay.”

And with that my plan of avenging Fiona's death finally starts.