Kael’s heart pounded in his chest as he reached Bella and Zeryth in the clearing. His breath came out in ragged gasps, his anger rising like a storm within him. His eyes locked onto Bella, her face pale, her eyes distant. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this—lost, broken, as if she didn’t even recognize him.
Without thinking, Kael moved toward her, his hand grabbing her wrist with a force that startled even him. Bella’s eyes widened in shock, and she jerked her arm away.
“Kael, no!” she protested, her voice shaking with fear. “Please… let me go.”
But Kael’s grip tightened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Bella stood frozen, her gaze flitting between Kael’s intense, desperate eyes and Zeryth’s unreadable expression. Zeryth was silent, watching the unfolding tension with an almost detached air, but Kael could feel the weight of his gaze.
“Kael, stop,” Bella whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and something deeper, something Kael couldn’t quite place. She tugged at her wrist again, but his grip was unyielding.
“You’re coming back with me,” Kael said, his tone low and commanding, even though his heart felt like it was breaking with every passing second. “Now.”
Bella struggled against him, her body tense, but there was no force in her resistance. The once fierce fire that had burned in her now seemed dimmed, like a dying ember in the wind.
“I’m not who you think I am anymore,” Bella said, her voice breaking. “You can’t make me remember.”
Kael’s heart clenched. He could see the pain in her eyes—the confusion, the anger, and the fear. She didn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend the depth of what they had shared, what they still shared. The bond they’d built, the love they’d shared, all seemed like nothing more than a shadow to her now.
“Maybe you don’t remember, Bella,” Kael said, his voice softer now, as his thumb lightly traced the back of her hand. “But I do. And I’m not going to give up on you.”
Bella’s expression faltered, torn between her own feelings and the raw determination in Kael’s eyes. She pulled away again, her steps unsteady, as if each movement was calculated.
“I don’t want your pity, Kael. I don’t want you to drag me back just because you feel sorry for me.”
Kael was caught off guard. Pity? Was that what she thought this was? His heart shattered at the thought. The very idea that she saw his devotion as something born out of pity stung more than he’d anticipated.
“This isn’t pity,” he said, his voice edged with frustration but also something tender. “I don’t care if you remember or not. I care about you. I’m not going to leave you alone, Bella. I’m done waiting for you to come to your senses. You don’t have to love me now, but I’ll make you love me again.”
Bella looked at him, her expression wavering between anger, confusion, and something softer. She seemed torn, but Kael couldn’t tell if it was just a fleeting thought or the spark of a deeper emotion. Either way, he wasn’t going to let her slip away from him again.
“Kael,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but the pain in it was unmistakable. “Please… just let me be.”
But Kael wasn’t done. He couldn’t leave her here with Zeryth, couldn’t let her spiral further into this strange state of confusion and uncertainty. She wasn’t just a puzzle to him, not just a lost memory he needed to piece together. She was his mate. His heart. His future.
“Not like this,” Kael muttered, more to himself than her. “Not when you don’t even know what you mean to me.”
He stepped closer, taking her hands in his, but this time, his touch was gentler. “Bella, I know it’s hard. You don’t remember me, and I can’t make you. But I’m not going anywhere. You’re not alone.”
He could see her softening, just barely. But there was still so much distance between them. She didn’t recognize him. Didn’t even remember the love they had shared.
“Maybe you don’t remember, but I remember us,” Kael continued, his voice thick with emotion. “I remember your smile, your laugh. I remember how you’d look at me when we were together, like you were the only one who could see me for who I really was. I remember us—and I’ll make sure you remember it too.”
Bella flinched, shaking her head, her expression conflicted. “I don’t even know if I want to remember.”
Kael’s chest tightened at her words, but he didn’t let go. He couldn’t.
“You’re scared,” he said softly. “I get it. But we’ll figure this out. I’ll do whatever it takes, Bella. Just trust me.”
Bella didn’t respond, but Kael could feel the trembling in her hands, the uncertainty in her eyes. It was as if she was fighting against everything that felt familiar, unsure of where she belonged.
“Kael, I don’t want to go back,” she whispered, her voice breaking again.
Kael was silent for a moment, looking at her with the softest gaze he could manage. “I know you don’t. But I can’t leave you out here alone. I won’t.”