Her Human His Lycan

Memory

Emma POV

I was struggling hard to keep it together right now. The conflicting emotions surged through me, making me feel like a tangled mess. The weight of the situation had consumed me.

I updated my family on everything. As I spoke to them, I could hear worry in my parents' voices, while my brother, though filled with anger towards Clay, knew he couldn't act on it.

To make matters worse, that one attack had triggered something big. In just one day, the hunters had fortified almost every entrance into our realm.

Having Clay as my mate made everything incredibly challenging. I couldn't just reject Clay and walk away, I would be throwing my own life away. The bond between us, even without a physical mark, had already started to take hold. The feeling of it was like an invisible thread connecting us, constantly pulling me towards him.

My kingdom needed me, and I couldn't just abandon my responsibilities. Clay’s acceptance is unlikely, he would be viewed as a criminal by many, deserving of punishment. finding a way to sever the bond without harming myself seemed impossible. So, for now, I had to keep Clay with me. However, entering my realm with him, even if I was the princess, would not look good. This whole situation was a complete mess.

As I thought about how to handle this, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. I had always dreamed of finding my perfect mate, just like my parents had. Their love for each other was something I admired and longed for. But now, it seemed that fate had different plans for me.

How could I truly accept Clay? Even now, the bond pushed me towards him, urging me to be with him. Inara, insisted that he wasn't bad. But love is built on trust, and I didn't know if I could trust him. The feeling of doubt gnawed at me, causing a knot to form in my stomach.

To make matters even more complicated, my heat began. It started shortly after I arrived at Jennifer's home with Clay. She gave me a tea to help calm it, but my body seemed to rebel against me. Being near him, speaking to him, was incredibly challenging.

Surprisingly, Clay didn't fight me on using a potion on him. He was more cooperative than I had anticipated. When he finally passed out, confusion washed over me. "He is already in love," Jennifer mused, her voice breaking through the silence.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The way he looks at you, Emma, it's not just the bond, sweetheart. He looks at you just like your father looks at your mother. That boy loves you," Jennifer said.

"He hates me, he hunts my kind," I replied, my voice laced with pain and doubt.

"He is confused, I'm sure he has been fed lies for years, but one thing is certain and that is he cares for you, Emma," she said to me.

"But how can I? I am seen as a leader, being with him may be seen as bad," I said, my voice trembling with uncertainty. I glanced out the window.

"Forgiveness can always be achieved," she said, her voice filled with compassion. She turned her gaze towards him, her eyes filled with determination.

"He is ready, Emma. Do you want me to take you into his memories?" Jennifer asked, her voice soft yet resolute.

I nodded. "You will have to hold his hand, Emma. And once I start, if you let go, it will break the connection. So you must keep holding his hand. Are you sure you can handle this? While in heat, holding his hand will only make you feel it more," she warned.

"I'll be fine," I said, trying to steady my voice. I pulled up a chair and sat next to him on the bed. I looked at the large scars on his chest again, tracing them with my fingertips before intertwining our hands. It felt strange yet comforting, like two puzzle pieces finally fitting together.

Jennifer placed her hand on me and chanted a spell, her voice resonating in my ears. The room seemed to spin, as if caught in a whirlwind. I closed my eyes, feeling myself being pulled into a vortex of memories. I could feel the energy pulsating around me, as if the room itself was alive.

"Good, Emma. You are seeing what Clay is. Now, we are going to take him to the memory that ignited his anger," Jennifer explained, her voice guiding me through the haze. The images in my mind blurred together, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. It was disorienting yet exhilarating, like being caught in a vivid dream.

Finally, a scene started to play out before me. I found myself in a large yard, bathed in the warm glow of the sun. The grass tickled my bare feet as I watched a boy playing with a small girl. Their laughter filled the air, like a symphony of pure joy. I could hear the birds chirping in the distance, their melodies intertwining with the children's laughter.

"Clay, Clara, dinner!" a voice called out, breaking the blissful moment. I strained to see who was calling, but their figure remained hidden. The children ran towards a house, their footsteps echoing on the wooden porch. As they approached, a car pulled up, its engine rumbling to a halt. My heart quickened, sensing the tension in the air.

A man stepped out of the car, his presence commanding. Clay stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixed on the man before him. Before he could say anything, another man emerged from the house. His voice carried authority as he sternly instructed Clay and Clara to go inside. The little boy hesitated, lingering by the door, trying to catch snippets of the conversation.

"Get off my property, Skade," the man demanded, his voice laced with anger. The tension in the air grew palpable, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

"You're hiding them. All you have to do is turn in the freaks, and I'll leave," Skade said, his words dripping with venom. The woman, whom I assumed was their mother, walked over to Clay, her touch gentle yet filled with urgency.

"I need you to play a game with me and your sister, Clay. Can you do that?" she asked, her voice filled with desperation. Clay nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and determination. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his small shoulders.

"Okay, Mom," he said, his voice filled with a childlike innocence that tugged at my heartstrings. The room grew still, as if holding its breath, as the woman outlined her plan. She spoke in hushed tones, her words a lifeline amidst the chaos.

"Remember how you have that really good hiding spot? I need you to play hide and seek and take your sister there. And then I'll come find you, okay?" she said, her voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation. Clay nodded, his eyes shining with a newfound sense of purpose. He took his sister's hand, their fingers interlacing like a promise.

They went to another room, the air growing thick with anticipation. Behind a couch, a small door beckoned. Clay opened it, revealing a hidden space. He guided his sister inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. As they disappeared into the darkness, a sense of foreboding settled over me.

The man who had been outside entered the room, accompanied by three others. The atmosphere grew tense, like a coiled spring ready to snap. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the room, a haunting melody that sent shivers down my spine. The scene before me was like a painting, frozen in time, capturing the raw emotions that swirled within.

"Last chance," the man called Skade demanded, his voice filled with menace. The man being questioned trembled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"They are no longer with us," the man stammered. Suddenly, two of Skade's companions transformed into wolves, their bones crunching and muscles bulging. The room was filled with the low growl of the beasts, their predatory instincts taking over.

One of the wolves lunged at a woman standing nearby, sinking his teeth into her flesh. The room echoed with her piercing screams, a symphony of agony.

Skade's eyes narrowed, a sadistic smile crossing his face. "Maybe this will motivate you," he hissed, demanding the location once more. The man fumbled in his pocket, his trembling hands retrieving a gun. The gunshot shattered the tense silence, the sound reverberating through the room. Skade dodged the bullet with inhuman speed, his movements almost a blur.

"Wrong answer," Skade snapped, his voice dripping with contempt. Before the man could react, another wolf pounced on him, tearing into his flesh. The room erupted in a cacophony of desperate pleas and agonized cries.

In the midst of the chaos, a small voice pierced through the horrors. "Mommy!" the little girl screamed, her voice filled with terror. She ran from the hiding spot, her tiny footsteps echoing against the walls. Clay desperately tried to reach her, his hands outstretched. But before he could save her, a wolf grabbed the girl and threw her against a wall. The sickening thud of her body colliding with the hard surface filled the room, followed by an eerie silence.

A wolf, Than, slashed Clay with his claw, the sound echoing through the room.

“Stop!” Skade demanded. “Keep the boy alive; consider him p*****t for the mess his parents caused.” Skade’s laughter, cruel and mocking, echoed in the room.

The scene blurred, the air heavy with the scent of violence and death. I released my grip on Clay's hand, my heart pounding in my chest. "Skade," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut – Skade was not human.

As Clay began to stir, I rose to my feet, my body trembling. "Jennifer, we must gather every detail we can about the hunter Skade," I urged, my voice urgent. Clay sat up, his face a mask of unreadable emotions. His fists clenched, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath.

"You have to let me leave," Clay demanded, his voice filled with desperation. I shook my head, refusing to let him go. Jennifer moved closer, offering her support. "It's okay, I can handle him. I'll alert you if I need help," I assured her. She left without questioning, leaving me alone with Clay.

As Clay got up and approached the door, his hand reaching for the handle, Jennifer's spell pushed him back. He cursed under his breath, frustration etched on his face. "I warned you, this room is enchanted. You can't leave," I informed him.

I opened the door and stepped out, keeping it ajar, but stood just beyond the spell’s reach.

Clay's anger boiled over, his voice seething with rage. "He raised me, made me believe it was just the wolves. But it was him," he spat, his voice filled with venom. The weight of betrayal hung heavy in his words. "Skade is the reason my family is dead," Clay's voice cracked, his pain palpable. "What is he? Is he a wolf as well? How could I have been so fooled?" he demanded, anger and confusion intertwining in his voice.

"I don't know what he is, but we will find out," I said to Clay. As I leaned against the cold wall next to the door, waves of heat washed over me, making me feel both uncomfortable and on edge.

"Your family feared him," I continued, my words carrying a weight of uncertainty. "He wanted Hybrids, but their relationships were forbidden. A witch, who happened to be a friend of my family, created a hidden community to keep the hybrids safe. Wolves, humans, and other witches aided her in this endeavor, transporting the hybrids to this haven. Perhaps your parents were somehow involved."

Clay's voice, now calmer, broke the silence. "Skade needs to pay," he said. I could sense the tension in his body as he stood as close as he could to the door.

"You aren't prepared," I warned him, my voice tinged with concern. "If you seek revenge now, you'll only get yourself killed. I can't let that happen. If you want justice for your family, then stop fighting me and accept our help. In return, you help us take down the hunters."

"Come back in, I won't hurt you," he said.

"I do not fear harm from you, for I am far stronger. I simply wish not to be close," I admitted as Inara whimpered in my mind.

"I want a chance," he said. "I understand that I don't in any way deserve it, but all my life, since my family was taken from me, I've felt nothing but hate and anger until I met you. I don't want to lose you, Emma, before I even got a real chance with you," he said.

I hesitated for a moment, uncertain of my decision. Inara, whimpered in my mind, urging me to go back to Clay. Reluctantly, I walked back into the room, relief crossing his face. His eyes locked onto mine, noticing the true color for the first time. The room seemed to brighten ever so slightly.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. "In the van..."

"I'm fine," I interrupted, cutting him off. "I was only injured because I blocked others from the gunfire. Even without the antidote, I would have survived."

He took a step closer, reaching out as if to touch me, but I instinctively stepped back towards the door. His fear of me leaving was palpable.

"I'll stop," he promised, his voice filled with vulnerability.

He was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on my body.

"Your bruises," he finally spoke, his voice filled with concern.

"They are from something else, and over time, they will heal," I said.

"I thought your kind heals fast," he questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "For most injuries, yes, but these bruises... my wolf can't heal from them fast. They are different," I explained, my voice trembling slightly.

"Tell him what they are. He needs to hear the truth," Inara urged, her words echoing in my mind.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you in pain?" he asked gently.

"Not much," I admitted.

"What caused them if not the attack? Who is hurting you?" he pressed.

I locked eyes with him, mustering all my courage. "You," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "The bruises on my body are from you."

He stared at me, his confusion evident. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "When my kind senses a bond, we become connected in a way even before it is fully realized. And the mate bond... it's sacred. We are only meant to be with those we are fated to. So when one is intimate with another after the bond is recognized, it causes the other to feel the betrayal. It takes a toll on our body," I explained, my words heavy with the weight of my emotions.

His eyes snapped to mine, realization dawning upon him. "I caused you physical pain?" he asked, his voice filled with remorse.

"Yes, but I did not blame you. Although it hurt physically, you had no clue." I said.

"So it heals over time?" he asked, his voice now filled with hope.

"Yes, with time it will," I reassured him, though another wave of heat washed over me, making it clear that I needed to get away from him soon.

"I'll help take Skade down, but we need to get away from here. And I need your help," Clay said.

"This house is protected. It is one of the safest places right now," I said, my voice filled with a mix of relief and urgency.

"I have a tracker in me," he said, his voice tense with worry. "The hunters know my location. They will come for me, maybe not right away, so they can make an attack plan, but they will."

"This house is protected with powerful witchcraft. Even if you have a tracker, it does not work here. Nor can they get past the barrier protecting this place right now." I said.

"Can I still ask you to remove it for me? I would, but I can't reach it." he asked.

"Okay, where is it?"I asked.

"It's in my right shoulder," he replied. I guided him to sit in a chair, and as I walked behind him. I placed my hand on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body against my palm. Carefully, I searched until I found the small bump. "This may hurt," I warned him, allowing my claws to grow as I slid my nail over his flesh, cutting him. He tensed, and I pushed the small device out, crushing it.

"I'll get another bandage from the bathroom," I said, my weariness evident in my voice. As I started to move away, he grabbed my hand, his touch desperate. Inara's voice echoed in my mind, telling me that he was scared.

"This isn't easy for me," I confessed, feeling conflicted. "Because of the bond we share, I want you. You helped me when I was drunk, and you have shown me kindness. Yet, you have also hurt me and my kind. Even if you had no intention of hurting the pups, you were one of the leaders who broke into our realm. And even you can't deny it was to destroy my kind. I can't just forgive you, even if you are my mate."

He stood up, still gripping onto my hand, but I pulled away and left quickly. My heart longed for him, but deep down, I couldn't bring myself to trust him.