Fated but Forgotten

Chapter 10 - Rocco

I had been for a walk to grab myself a coffee, and also to give Aria a little space. Now she was awake, I did not want to overwhelm her with my presence. Especially when she seemed completely unaware of who I was to her. It gave me the opportunity to attempt to compose myself too... get a control of my emotions... because they seemed to be so all over the place right now, and with my wolf so in and out... usually missing, having been so since soon after Aria had been hurt, I struggled to cope. It was in dealing with all of this that I had realized just how much I had relied upon my wolf. Upon, Ciro.

And, it would appear Ciro depended upon his mate to level and calm him more than we ever realized too. It can be said a werewolf can become rabid when they lose their fated mate... lose their mind... but I seemed to be losing my wolf while my mate was still here... or at least she was here in person, perhaps not yet back in soul. And I believe that is what Ciro was struggling with. Leaving me battling with losing not only my wolf but my mate...

But, I was determined to bring Aria back to me... to us. And, in turn, bring Ciro back. Reunite us all. Fix things. The moment I walked back into Aria’s room I was hit with the familiar fragrance of her… not just the scent of my mate, but the recognizable fragrance of her shower gel, her shampoo… the toiletries I had brought here for her. How I had missed the scent of them! I had even gone as far in recent weeks as using them myself, but they simply did not smell the same as they did upon her…

Aria was now sitting upon the bed, her hair neatly dried and brushed; dressed in fresh pajamas, a change to the regular hospital gown I had grown accustomed to seeing her in since the incident… and she looked so fresh-faced. So much better than she had done since she had awoken. It seemed I had been right. A bath would do her the world of good.

I just wish she had allowed me to help her. But, I understood her reluctance. She did not trust me that way again yet. I knew this was going to take time. The doctors had even gone as far as saying that she may never recognize me again, but I know that she will. I was not about to accept that my fated mate would never recognize me again. This was my girl. My mate. The one the moon goddess had chosen for me from all others. She was special. She had been chosen for me for a reason. So I would not give up on her. I know that she will know who I am again. She has to…

“Mmm, you smell amazing, Bella!” I all but purred at her, but I noted that instead of smiling, her delicate brows furrowed in slight confusion instead. This made my heart ache in a way I couldn't explain. Aria always loved it when I called her Bella… but I did my best to push past that, and smile at her instead. “Did the bath help?”

This time a small smile appears upon her face as she nods. My heart warmed at the sight of her smiling at me. “You always did like a relaxing bath. That was one of my favorite things to do for you…” I began to reminisce as I sat down on the chair next to the bed. “I think it was you who ran me a bath in the cabin the first time, actually. Being all romantic with the petals and candles. I nearly set fire to my clothes, remember? In my hurry to get my clothes off, I dropped my shirt onto the candle!” I chuckled at the memory, as I looked towards Aria and saw her watching me with curiosity. I could see she was listening to every word I said to her... taking it all in, but I won't lie, it hurt that there was no emotion within her eyes.

She has no recollection of the memory of which I spoke. Just like every other thing I speak of to her. And, like every other time, it causes an ache in my heart, but I continue regardless. Hoping that my tales will help return her memories to her…

“As we dealt with the flames, I told you then, I was more a shower guy. And you said a bath was so romantic when done properly. We laughed because setting yourself on fire was most definitely not romantic!” I smiled at her again, wanting nothing more than to sit alongside her and take her in my arms... before looking toward the window, tears beginning to unexpectedly fill my eyes...the urge to hold her becoming too overwhelming... wishing we could go back to that moment in time. When we had just met. When things were simpler…

I wiped a stray tear that slid down my cheek, as I continued. “But I realized then that it would be a way to be romantic for you, and that is what I did. A bath each week for you to relax in… a way to be romantic for my beautiful girl... spoil her in any way that I could. I think I only flooded the bathroom maybe twice, was it? When I forgot the bath was running?” I smiled a sad smile at my own silliness. There were reasons I only took showers.

Although the reason I had forgotten the bath running had purely been down to Aria… and her lack of clothes… my heart tightened at the thought. I felt the loss of my mate over and over each time I spoke to her about our days together. But, I knew I had to do this. If I ever wanted my girl back, I had to share our special moments together. In the hope something would trigger her memory…