The Alpha's Secret Luna

Chapter 12

Outside the medical facility, the cold air hit Orion's face like a sharp blade. The heavy stones of the pack's compound seemed even colder under the gray sky. Lysander stood opposite him, arms folded over his chest, looking unusually serious. Orion's shoulders tensed.

Lysander cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Orion... I…there's something about Sophia's condition I need to explain. Something you ought to know."

Orion raised an eyebrow and shifted his stance. "What is it?"

Lysander scratched the back of his neck as if nervous which was a rare case for the stoic man except when in the presence of his mate.

"It's... well, I suspect she's suffering from some form of memory loss." He told Orion.

Orion frowned. "Like with Zena?"

Lysander released an amused sound.Zena was one of the oldest women in the pack. A feisty woman who usually forgot who her children were. Her condition always hit when it was unexpected. When it wasn't planned. Sometimes she would leave her home saying she was going to get her husband some herbs since he was sick. Her husband had died from the plague that afflicted their pack years before they settled in Nirvana but sometimes it was like she was still stuck in that moment.

"Not really. It's not like the forgetfulness common with age, as is the case with Zena. This is more severe, localized. The ancient texts might call it amnesia…I think, but the term, and knowledge of the condition, isn't well known or understood here."

Orion frowned. "Amnesia? I don't understand, if it's memory loss then it should be something like Sena's condition no?"

"It isn't. There are different cases of this and more to be understood regarding this condition."

"But you've never actually seen a case like this before. How do you know it's amnesia?"

"No," Lysander admitted with a somber nod. "I haven't. There are no known cures, little record of its causes. It's rare, probably considered some kind of curse or spell when it does happen. Whatever her affliction truly is, it's kept her mind locked tight against remembering her past. And from the little knowledge I have regarding this condition, I suspect Sophia is suffering from it. It's all hypothetical really. But she isn't lying to you about not knowing her condition right?"

Orion's jaw clenched. "No."

Lysander shrugged in reply. "And if she isn't lying and she doesn't share the same symptoms as Zena then I suspect that she is suffering from amnesia."

Orion's gaze sharpened as he listened. He noted something beneath Lysander's clinical tone, a trace of something close to excitement, as much as the usually reserved healer could muster.

"You sound almost glad to have found something new to study," Orion remarked, smirking.

Lysander gave a slight smile, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. "Perhaps I am. I have spent my days tending wounds and cutting out infections. But this is different. A mystery. A challenge. And if I'm right, and we can figure out how to help her... well, that would be worth all the work."

Orion nodded. He wasn't saying anything yet but he doubted that he was going to let Sophia stay here especially if she was an unknown variable.

Orion nodded slowly. "So, what can be done?" His voice hardened. "This... amnesia, can it be undone?"

"Well, as far as I understand," Lysander began carefully, "in some cases, a person might regain lost memories by returning to familiar places, locations tied to strong emotions or important moments. The memories, buried though they may be, can sometimes be triggered, unlocking what was forgotten."

"That means... we take her back to where I found her." Orion's jaw clenched. "And hope her past reaches her."

Lysander frowned. "You found her in the shrine. I don't know if the shrine actually holds anything of importance to her."

Orion shrugged. "We'll never know until we try right?"

Lysander nodded. "Ans hope that this isn't going to bite us in the butt."

Orion said nothing more. His decision made, he turned sharply and marched back into the room where Sophia sat, the faintest tremble betraying her fear.

"Come." His voice was stern but held no cruelty.

Sophia met his gaze, confusion clouding her features. "What? Where are we going?"

Orion's eyes didn't waver. "Back to the shrine. It's the only place that might bring back your memory."

Lysander followed close behind, his practiced hands ready should Sophia need support.

Ronan was already there, sitting nearby, and his face filled with concern. "Orion," he said mildly. "What's this about?"

"Dont let him take me away." Sophia whispered, her hand darting out to grab Ronan's sleeve.

Ronan's brows lifted, and with a gentle voice, he steadied her. "Why? What's wrong?"

Sophia looked up with wide, pleading eyes. "Please, Ronan, don't let him kill me. Please."

Orion froze at the words, brows drawn together in disbelief. "Kill you? Where in the name of the Moon Goddess did you get that idea?"

Ronan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Maybe it's because of the way you look right now. You do look like a man ready for battle." His grin brought a quick glare from Orion.

Sophia's gaze never left Ronan. "Is he... going to kill me?"

Orion smiled cruelly. He enjoyed the way she reacted to him.

"I am. But I'll feed you first so you have some fat on you then I'll roast you slowly over a pit…"

"Orion." Lysander growled out.

Orion released an irritating sound. "If I wanted to kill you," he told Sophia. "I would have done that even before these guys came in here."

"Doesn't mean you can't do it now." She told him.

Orion chuckled darkly before closing the distance between them. "You should know though, you don't spite your killer especially if you want to survive."

"Orion." Lysander growled out again.

Sophia was two seconds away from burrowing into Ronan's dress. Orion derived joy from seeing her that way. She had a sharp mouth but was still scared of him. But he knew he had to stop taunting her.

"No. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm taking you back to the place where I found you. That's all. Maybe you'll remember something." He told her.

A long silence filled the room, broken only by the creak of the wooden chair beneath Sophia. Then, softly, she whispered, "Oh…"