Chapter 24
John emerged from the room at looked at Remy.
"You can take her away. The effects of the drugs would wear off soon."
He murmured.
"So what did you find?!"
He asked and the old man looked away mumbling.
"She'll regain her memories naturally."
He answered.
Marielle glared at him, she looked like she was ready to hit him.
"So you didn't do anything?"
She asked and he shook his head.
"I did. I did help her. I did as much as I could, but in the end it all depends on her."
Remy's fist tightened.
"This wasn't what you said before. This isn't our deal. You were supposed to heal her!!"
"And I tried! Trust me I did."
He said as he raised his hand, showing his broken claws.
Remy glanced at Marielle, then back at John.
"Did she do this to you?!"
He asked and John nodded. It was now that Remy realised that the old man was slightly trembling.
"Yes. She pushed me out of her mind. That has never happened before. Never ever."
"Well... that can't be good right?! What does that mean?"
Marielle asked and the old man shrugged.
"It's not good. And it has never happened before."
"Please. Take her away. Once I take my rest I'll leave."
"We should discuss the terms of my payments before I leave."
He added and Marielle narrowed her eyes at him.
"Payment for what?! You didn't do anything!"
John waved her away.
"I still offered my services. And you should be grateful. Besides, she has been regaining her memories."
"What?!"
Remy and Marielle said at the same time. Both alarmed and confused.
John looked up at them.
"She didn't tell you?"
"Well she had a memory of her mother. And her hate for needles or something."
"She didn't tell me."
Remy said as he walked into the room.
Valentina was on the bed, unconscious like the old man said. Remy moved her hair away from her face and he gently carried her in his arms.
She didn't stir.
When Valentina woke up, John had left, almost as if nothing had happened and she was left with a huge headache. Ellen made her some tea for her headache, while she wondered what the 'healer' had done.
Nothing so far. The downcast look on Ellen and Marielle's faces said it all. They were disappointed in the healer. And the fact that he had done nothing of importance.
Valentina wished she cared as much as they did, but she wasn't the one with the hidden agenda.
The ritual that Remy mentioned in his study and the curse that John had told her about must have been intertwined one way or the other.
It must have. Because that was the only reason she could come up with.
"How do you feel?"
Ellen murmured as she gently stroked her head. Valentina smiled uneasily.
"I'm fine."
She said as she wiggled out of the woman's grasp. She liked Ellen, but Ellen had hidden things from her too. Things that she shouldn't have. Things about the curse and the ritual which she was sure that she knew about.
Remy walked in next. He had a frown on his face, but he still managed to speak to her calmly.
"How do you feel?"
He asked as he walked in.
Valentina nodded her head slowly.
"Headache."
She said as she pointed to her head.
"That's normal. It should go in the next few hours."
He turned to his mother.
"Mom can you leave me with Valentina? We want to discuss something."
He asked politely and the woman nodded.
"Very well."
She looked at Valentina again.
"I'll come check up on you later okay?"
"Okay."
Valentina said as she nodded her head.
They both watched her leave the room.
Remy turned to look at Valentina. She was in a simple T-shirt and shorts, but her legs and half of her upper body were under the sheets. Her hair was a mess because they had to clean up the bleeding from the incision John's claws made. They would heal faster, only because of the tea. At least he had the good sense to leave herbs that would make her go back to normal.
"So nothing happened with John. That was futile."
Remy said she. She nodded slowly.
"He told me about the curse. I wonder why you left that out in your story."
Remy glanced at her.
His amber eyes seemed to glow as the rays of the sun from the blinds cast their light on his face.
"I didn't leave it out. It's a story that's been passed down over the years and over the years there's been so many variations of it that it doesn't even sound real anymore."
Valentina shrugged, that sounded like he was trying to give her an excuse for hiding the story from her.
"I still should have known. I mean I'm the first Luna your pack has had in a long time. I should think that counts for something at least."
Remy raised an eyebrow.
"Pray tell. What does it count for?"
He asked and she stayed silent.
"You didn't tell me you got some if your memories back."
"Only two."
She muttered as she sipped the tea. It was tasteless really, but it was green and it had quite a strong smell. It reminded her of grass and dirt. Really bad dirt.
"I think that's an important piece of information for me to know."
"I didn't think it was necessary."
She fired back and he sighed.
Remy rubbed at his face and groaned.
"What's going on with you Valentina?! I thought, I thought we were getting better. I thought we were becoming friends and coming to an understanding."
She wanted to retort something along the lines of how she could never be friends with someone who was only using her but she held her tongue.
"Why? Because you held me all night during my heat period?"
Remy opened his eyes but no words came out.
"Or because we're in this sham of a marriage? Which you yourself admitted to the fact that we didn't get married out of love."
"Or is it because you gave me your credit card and gave me permission to go out?"
"You must have thought you were doing me a favour then."
"No. I thought I was making you happy. That's all."
Remy's voice sounded solemn. And Valentina blinked. She wasn't expecting his reply. Or what he said.
Had she taken it too far?
Maybe.
But it wasn't her fault.
He hid stuff from her.
"Ever been to Alaska?"
He asked and she shrugged.
"I wouldn't know."
She murmured.
"Well we're going to Alaska. We've been invited to a ceremony."
Valentina had seen pictures of the rugged wilderness, majestic mountains, and the awe-inspiring Northern Lights, and she knew that she had to experience it for herself.
She was finally going to see Alaska and even though she had feigned ignorance, she had looked at pictures and videos online in excitement. She had also gone shopping for winter coats with Ellen.
As their plane descended through the clouds, she saw the vast expanse of snow-capped mountains and glaciers stretching out before her. She could hardly contain her excitement as she disembarked and set foot on the tarmac, with Remy behind her and Kale too.
The cold air hit her like a wall, but Valentina was prepared. She had bundled up in her warmest coat, hat, and gloves and was ready to explore Alaska.
Before their trip, Remy had sat her down and talked to her.
"Please. This is a really important trip. I'd like to at least pretend to be a couple."
He had said.
"You want us to lie?"
Valentina asked and Remy shrugged.
"You can call it whatever you like. But these people are werewolves like us, they will be watching us closely. Act like my Luna and mate. That's all I ask from you."
"And what does that entail?"
She asked him.
"Well, just follow my lead, keep your head held high and don't push me away when I try to hold you."
He replied and she nodded.
She didn't care. At least not yet.
They were going to a small town called Talkeetna, nestled deep in the heart of Alaska,
where Remy had explained had more werewolves that human. The drive to the town was one of the most beautiful experiences of Valentina's life. The road snaked through mountains and forests, with rivers and streams glistening in the sunlight.
When they finally arrived in Talkeetna, she was amazed by how small and cozy the town was. The buildings were all made of wood, and there was a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the air.
A couple was already waiting outside for them the moment they arrived.
"That's Jaxon. Alpha of the Moonbeam pack and that's his mate and Luna Kinsley. They just had their son, their heir. So it's customary for them to throw a big ceremony."
Remy explained.
"That's interesting. Is that the only reason why we're here?"
She asked and Remy and Kale exchanged glances.
"They also have something we need. That's the real reason why we're here."