~Memories Replay~

EIRA

A dull, relentless throb pulsed in my head, dragging me from the darkness. My eyelids felt like they weighed a hundred pounds, but I forced them open.

The room was blurry, shapes blending together in a haze of soft colors and dim light.

I blinked slowly, trying to focus. The familiar scent of home filled my nose, and it was then I realized — I was in my room.

I turned my head to the side, wincing as the ache in my skull flared. My vision cleared enough to make out the figure curled up next to me. My mother.

She was asleep, her face soft but etched with exhaustion. Her hand rested on the blanket, close to mine, like she had fallen asleep holding it.

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and scratchy. I swallowed hard. "Mom…"

Her eyes flew open immediately, and for a second, she stared at me like she wasn’t sure I was real.

“Eira,” she breathed, sitting up quickly. Her hand cupped my cheek, warm and trembling. “Oh, thank the Moon Goddess. You’re awake.”

My head pounded with every word, but I pushed through it. “What… happened?” My voice came out in a raspy whisper.

She smoothed my hair backwards, her touch soothing. “You’ve been unconscious for over a week.”

A week? My stomach twisted. “A week?” I repeated again, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, her brows drawing together in concern. “We found you in the woods, Eira. You were unconscious and… different. We didn’t know what happened. You wouldn’t wake up.” Her voice shook at the end, like she’d been holding back her fear.

The woods. The word sent a shiver through me, but when I tried to remember how I ended up there, my mind was blank. It was like it never happened.

“I… I don’t remember,” I admitted, the last thing I could recall was my birthday party — the lights, the music, the excitement. Everything after that was a void.

My mother smiled warmly, though there was sadness in her eyes. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Don’t push yourself. The memories will come back when you’re ready. For now, you should focus on today.”

“Today?” I echoed, confused.

She tilted her head, “Eira, don’t tell me you forgot. It’s your mating reading.”

I blinked at her, “My… what?”

Her brows lifted in surprise. “Your mating reading, darling. Kian will officially announce you as his mate tonight.”

My chest tightened. Kian. His name felt strange, like a word I hadn’t spoken in a long time. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt uneasy about it.

“Everyone already knows, of course,” she continued softly. “But the reading makes it official — a declaration in front of the whole pack. It’s tradition.”

My throat felt dry again, but for a different reason this time. A part of me wanted to feel happy, to be excited like I would’ve been before.

Kian was my mate — my childhood sweetheart, the boy who’d been my rock. This was everything we’d talked about, dreamed about.

So why did the idea of standing next to him tonight make my chest feel tight with something close to dread?

I forced a smile. “Right… today.”

My mother’s face brightened, though her eyes still scanned me like she wasn’t sure I was okay. “You’ll be beautiful. I’ll help you get ready.”

I nodded slowly, though the sinking feeling didn’t leave me. Something was wrong. I didn’t know what it was, but deep down, I could feel it.

And that scared me more than anything.

The dress was softer than I expected, flowing around me like mist. It was pure white, though I didn’t feel anything close to that.

My mother’s hands had trembled a little as she fastened the last pearl button at the back, her smile soft and proud.

My father smiled and offered his arm without a word. I took it, though my heart wasn’t in it. It wasn’t in anything anymore.

The walk to the clearing felt endless. Each step was heavier than the last, even though the breeze was light and the moon watched over us, bright and full.

My father’s grip was steady, but I could feel him glancing at me from the corner of his eye. Like he knew something wasn’t quite right.

I wasn’t sure what was wrong myself — only that everything felt… off.

The clearing came into view, glowing under lanterns strung between the trees. The pack was gathered in a wide circle, murmuring quietly. Their voices hushed as they noticed us approaching. My throat tightened.

Kian stood in the center, waiting for me.

He looked perfect, as he always did — dark tousled hair, just enough to seem effortless, his suit was tailored to perfection.

His eyes felt like they burned right through me. I should’ve felt warmth, love, familiarity. Instead, all I felt was cold.

Still, my heart fluttered at the sight of him — an old reflex, a part of me that still remembered what it felt like to love him.

But that flicker of warmth died the second his eyes met mine. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

I barely noticed my father letting go of my arm. My legs felt like they moved on their own, carrying me toward him, though everything inside screamed at me to stop.

When I reached him, Kian took my hand gently, raising it to his lips. His kiss was soft, but I felt nothing.

His voice was also smooth, “Today, under the light of the full moon, I claim Eira as my mate.”

The crowd erupted into cheers. My stomach twisted.

His hand tightened around mine as he turned to face me fully. His eyes searched mine, waiting for me to respond.

I couldn’t. Something held me back from accepting him.

My memories began flooding back. My birthday. The party. His absence. The laughter — her laughter. My sister. Mira. The image of them tangled together burned behind my eyes, sharp and cruel.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to run.

But I couldn’t do either. I just stood there, frozen, my heart was pounding so hard that it echoed in my ears.