You Rejected Me. Remember?

Leo

My attention was locked on them as I stood up automatically.

“Mate!”

The girl echoed her previous comment and leapt into my arms. As she wrapped her arms around me, tears streamed down her face. She sobbed into my shirt, and a shudder ran down my spine. As she whimpered and clutched at me, her tears saturated the fabric.

I reluctantly placed my hand on her shoulders. My heart thudded in my chest the entire time. Should I try to get closer to her? I flashed a peek towards Jace, who appeared astonished yet pleased at the same moment.

She glanced at me, sobbing and sniffling, and examined my face.

“Leo?” she asked, her brow wrinkled into a frown as she cried.

I forced a smile on my face.

“A… Astrea?” I inquired, but her frown only grew wider. Perhaps she felt that I was being a bit too distant.

“Leo?”

The couple who had just entered the room approached me. I couldn’t help but stare. It would be an understatement to say that I was overwhelmed. My furious heart was really thumping in my ribcage.

“Uh…” I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Miss Wilma… no, Nanna, stepped forward after clearing her throat.

“There is a minor issue. This is, without a doubt, our Leo. But, regrettably, he has no recollection of anything,” she informed them.

I gave an apologetic smile as I looked over to the trio who had just arrived a few minutes before.

My gaze was drawn to the young woman who was clinging to me. Her face was tinged with a hint of anguish. I began to feel queasy. If only I could recall them all.

“You don’t remember who I am? You have no memory of us?” she inquired, her eyes glossed, as she stared at me.

Despite my discomfort, I nodded. Instead of keeping them in the dark, I’d rather tell them the truth. I have no reminiscence of anything. There isn’t a single detail from my past that I am aware of.

“I attempted, but failed, to search through his memories. Someone has harmed him in some way. He has no idea of his origins. It appears to be a never ending void of darkness,” they were informed by Nanna.

Astrea took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“I’m sure Calvin has something to do with this,” she stated emphatically.

I c****d my head and looked around the room. They seemed to agree with her. Only Jace and I seemed to be the only ones who were left in the dark.

The tall lady chuckled, “Leo doesn’t understand anything. By the way, I’m your mother, and this is your father,” she explained, pointing to the athletic man who drew me into his loving arms.

My mother wrapped her arms around us, sniffling.

“We really missed you,” she replied, her voice quivering.

I had a smug grin on my face by the time they let me go. I was finally able to find my family. I would have felt elated if I hadn’t been so confused and overwhelmed with emotions.

“Grandma,” my mother said as she turned around. “You say he has a blank mind. Didn’t you get a sense of Zoro there? “she inquired.

Nanna pursed her lips and shook her head.

“Nothing. There was no sign of that friendly beast. He had no recollection of his previous existence, nor did he have an idea of who Zoro was,” she clarified.

“He was rescued by Jace and his family. They found him drifting away in a river, right?” She glanced at Jace, who nodded in response.

“He just told us he discovered him beaten up and unconscious in the water. And they’ve been referring to him as…” Nanna’s voice faded off. She bit her l*p as she struggled to remember the name.

“What did you call him?” she asked Jace.

“Jack,” he responded, a sheepish grin on his face. “We had to give him a name.”

As my parents and my mate looked at him, there was silence.

My father inquired, “Y… you mean he was oblivious when you found him in the river?”

In response, Jace nodded his head.

“Yes. He was hardly alive, to be honest. My cousin and I were talking about the possibility of someone attempting to… uh… you know… I’m sorry…” he said, trailing off.

I could sense he was hesitant. It was possible that he wanted my approval before telling them what he and Jett had speculated. He might want to tell them everything because he trusted his mentor and because they were the closest people to me.

He gave me a sidelong glance, and I signalled to him that it was fine to tell them.

Before starting, he took a deep breath.

“We were concerned that someone was attempting to assassinate him. Teeth marks and other bruises were visible predominantly on his right shoulder. He had expended a huge quantity of energy just before he lost consciousness, according to hospital investigations. A lot had apparently transpired, and the more we talked about it, the more hesitant I became to send him away,” he confessed.

Astrea reiterated her prior allegation, “He must have done something. Is there anything we can do to help him relive his memories?” she inquired, her gaze falling on my parents and Nanna.

“Perhaps if we could get Zoro back?” Nanna made a suggestion.

“If it was simply magic, I might be able to help. But it’s not just magic. There was one thing I couldn’t get past. A tenacious wall that wouldn’t budge in his head,” she clarified

Astrea’s teeth were clenched. “That maniac. He had to have given Leo something. I warned you. Calvin is a deranged aspiring scientist. He has a large laboratory where vials and solvents are developed. I’m not sure what he has and doesn’t have… he is insane.”

I couldn’t take my gaze away from her. So, Calvin must be a foe. Jace and Jett’s instincts were correct. Someone must have assaulted me, and I must have used magic to defend myself. After being hurt, I must have tried to flee but fell into the river, or they threw me into the river thinking I was dead. In any case, if they discover that I am still alive, they may try to attack me again.

“However, I believe that if we can bring Zoro back, he will remember everything,” dad said, nudging my mother’s arm.

“Do you recall what happened the night we discovered Astrea?”

I was perplexed as I looked at them. My mother laughed and nodded.

“After all, you’ve already marked each other. I’m convinced you’re the one who can bring him back, Astrea,” she stated

As she looked at me, her face reddened. I couldn’t help but think she looked adorable with her cheeks coloured in a light pink colour.

“Umm…” she said as she took a look around. “Here?”

Her lips were twisted with a shy smile. I cast a sidelong glance towards my folks, who shrugged as if it weren’t a problem.

“Yes. After all, why not? When you were feral, Zoro licked your wolf’s marking point in front of everyone. That was the catalyst for your return. It might also work with Zoro and Leo,” what Dad said, made my eyes widen in surprise.

Zoro did what?

From my peripheral view, I could see Jace’s sly smirk.

“Did he?”

Astrea sounded taken aback.

“Yes. You were feral and out of your head. Maybe that’s why you didn’t see anything that transpired that night,” mom clarified

“Imagine my face when my son started licking the neck of my best friend’s daughter,” dad said, causing my face to flush. Jace let out a snort before quickly covering his mouth with his palm. Astrea’s flush had intensified, but she was clearly attempting to maintain her composure.

Mom rolled her eyes and said, “Nolan.”

“Right,” Nanna said. “I was living in peace if I hadn’t known. But, yes, Astrea might be able to… uh… reawaken Zoro.”

She drew a small line between her lips.

“Actually,” she said as she went out of the room, “I guess I’ll wait outside.”

Mom cast a glance at her husband. “We have a lot to talk about with grandma,” she remarked.

“Do we?”

“Yes!” she said, grabbing Dad’s hand and bringing him outdoors.

Jace followed them outside, snickering, touching my arm and winking at me.

I faced Astrea when we were alone and took a long breath to calm my pounding heart.

Her face softened and her eyes widened as she looked at me.

She cupped my cheeks and said, “Leo.” She took a nervous breath in.

“I…” she trailed off before grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling it tight, her lips colliding with mine. I was caught off guard. I’m not going to lie. I was enthralled, and I soon found myself reacting to her lovely lips.

We kissed till I could taste the saltiness of her tears in my mouth. I glanced at her face after breaking the k**s. I wiped away the tears that were flowing down her face.

“Why are you crying?” I asked her, lovingly caressing her beautiful face.

“Leo, the sparks. I’m no longer aware of the sparks, “She was in tears.

My forehead creased. “Sparks?”

“Leo, we’re mates. But we were already in love before we realised it. We discover our soulmates in a variety of ways, one of which is through the sparks we feel as our skins brush against each other. It… isn’t there,” her voice trembled.

“So,” I murmured, “that’s bad. Could Zoro be of assistance? I mean, what if he returns?”

She shrugged and wiped her nose with her shirt sleeve.

“I hope so. Maybe we can reconnect each other with our marks,” she expressed her optimism.

“That mark, you know, is how I learned your name. It was recognised by my friends as a mating mark,” I told her, and she giggled for the first time.

The sound of her laughter made my heart swell. It was without a doubt the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. I’d go to any length to hear it again.

“They’re right,” she remarked, lowering her shirt’s collar just enough for me to notice a similar mark in the crook of her neck. When I noticed that my name was carved on it, just like hers was, my lips twitched.

While grinning like a fool, I brushed my thumb across it, making her hiss. Fearing that I had harmed her, I hastily removed my hand.

She murmured, her eyes now darkened, “Leo. You seem to have forgotten how that makes me feel.”

“I’m sorry…”

I attempted to apologise, but she pressed her fingers on my lips, sealing them shut.

“No. It makes me feel elated. It’s wonderful.” The way she whispered stirred something in me.

She didn’t look away as she unbuttoned my shirt gently. I took a big gulp. How could somebody have the ability to hypnotise me simply by looking into my eyes? It was… enchanting… It was almost as if our spirits were merging…

While her hands worked, I was captivated by her seductive eyes. My heart was racing, and as she got closer, my breathing became laboured.

She began to brush her tongue over my bare chest, whispering, “I missed this.” My body was filled with waves of pleasure. I took a deep breath and shuddered. Her hands were tightly wrapped around my torso, and her mouth was performing miracles.

When she trailed k****s across my collarbone, I was drowning in a sea of l**t. I felt a rush of pleasure run through my body when she planted her soft lips on the mark. It reawakened a desire that had been latent for quite some time. My already wrapped-around-her hands tightened, pushing her in closer.

I was becoming agitated. That was evident by the bulge in my pants. She didn’t appear to mind leaning against it. She was pushing her h**s against my arousal, in fact.

I sighed. If this was how my mate made me feel, I’d want her by my side for the rest of my life.

She peered into my eyes and smirked after taking her sweet time licking and kissing my mark. She began to unzip my jeans and expertly handle my manhood before I could realise what she was about to do.

“Mine,” she snarled, sending shivers up and down my spine.

As she knelt down and took it into her mouth, I was amazed. She bobbed her head, taking the length of my shaft into her mouth with one hand while fondling my balls with the other.

A loud g***n escaped my lips. I was ecstatic. It’s fantastic. She didn’t stop until I reached the peak. I stood there in awe as she licked every last drop away.

“Mine,” she said again, satisfied. Her canines grazed the crook of my neck as she wrapped her hand around me for the second time.

“I’ll mark you again, my darling. Ash believes it will awaken Zoro,” she spoke in hushed tones into my ear.

“Ash?” I asked, still panting.

She replied, “my wolf.”

I nodded, “do it.”

When she sank her canines into my flesh, I was still giddy after that mind-blowing o****m. I sighed. I assumed it would hurt, but I was mistaken. It ushered in a whole new level of contentment. She licked the wound and gave me a hopeful expression.

“Umm… Is he coming back? Do you have a mental image of him?” she asked.

I attempted to listen to anything while adjusting my jeans. I should be able to sense Zoro’s presence if he dwelt in my head, right?

I waited, but to my disappointment, there was no response. Nothing existed in my head, which was a mute blank.