The Memory I Faked, the Betrayal My Mate Hid

When I woke up from wolfsbane poison, I decided to scare my Alpha mate-to-be by pretending I’d lost my memory. “Who are you?” I asked. Nolan Hayes stepped back, putting distance between us. “I’m your sister’s mate-to-be. She hasn’t been feeling well, so she asked me to check on you.” I thought he was joking and turned to my adopted sister, Megan, who had just arrived. She immediately slipped her hand around Nolan’s arm. “Allison, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” “Our bonding ceremony is in three days. You even promised to make my ceremony dress.” Mom and Dad rushed to the hospital when they heard about my memory loss. Clinging to one last shred of hope, I asked. “Is Nolan really going to be Megan’s mate?” Mom sighed. “Allison, their ceremony is just days away.” “You need to leave him alone. Your sister has a heart condition. She can’t handle this kind of stress.” Dad sounded relieved. “You used to chase after Nolan, insisting he could never be anyone’s mate but yours.” “Maybe losing your memory is a good thing. At least you won’t embarrass us in front of the pack anymore.” As he finished speaking, I felt the last of my hope drain away. Fine. Megan could have both my parents and Nolan. It’s time for me to leave the pack for good. Chapter 1 “Mom, Dad, please don't be so hard on Alison.” Megan took my hand and gave it a gentle shake, as if we'd always been close. “She just really likes Nolan. She hasn't done anything wrong. I don't mind.” Nolan sighed and pulled a chair up behind her. “Sit down. Your heart's been acting up again. You shouldn't be on your feet this long.” Once she was seated, he glanced at me. “Megan, you never learn, do you?” “Alison knows you can't handle stress, but she still insists on competing with you. And here you are defending her.” A bitterness settled in my chest. Megan was the Omega my parents had adopted. Her father had died saving their lives, so they'd always had a soft spot for her. She also had a heart condition and couldn't handle stress. If she wanted something, I had to let her have it. If she did something wrong, I wasn't allowed to get angry. Even when she broke a birthday present Mom had given me, I was the one who got blamed. “She's already lost both her parents. Why can't you let this go?” I'd heard that all my life. I'd once told Nolan I thought my parents loved her more than me. He'd comforted me then. “It's okay. You're the only one I love.” But now he was making me sound selfish and spoiled. “Don't say that. You'll hurt her feelings.” Megan tugged lightly on his sleeve. His expression softened. “You're still making excuses for her.” “Last month, she took the birthday present I bought you without even asking.” I had found a gift bag at home. That day was also the anniversary of the day Nolan and I realized we were fated mates. I'd assumed he was planning to surprise me. But evening came, and he still hadn't mentioned it. I'd never been good at waiting, so I brought out the bag myself. Inside was a soft cashmere scarf. I put it on and asked him how I looked. His smile had seemed forced. Now I knew why. I'd taken Megan's birthday present. “She won't even give back the ring I bought for our ceremony.” I looked down at the moonstone ring on my finger. Nolan had put it there himself. It had been a size too big. “I left a little room so it's easier to take off,” he'd explained. I'd believed him. I'd spent so long admiring the stone he'd chosen. Apparently, the ring had never been meant for me. When I looked up, everyone was staring at my hand. Nolan's expression was cool. “When are you planning to give Megan her ring back?” Megan smiled, trying to smooth things over. “It's fine. If Alison likes it, let her keep wearing it.” “As long as you're beside me at the ceremony in three days, that's all I need.” Nolan wouldn't hear of it. “No. That ring is yours. It belongs on your hand.” Mom nodded. “Nolan's right, Megan. You can't keep letting her have her way.” “She's been taking things from you since you were little. Now she's taken your ring. Where does it end?” She turned to me, trying to sound reasonable. “Alison, you resented us adopting Megan from the start. You've always had it in for her.” “Now you're taking her bonding ring? How can you do that to your sister?” None of them seemed to suspect I was pretending. They acted as if I would never remember a thing. But my story was full of holes. I remembered Mom and Dad. I remembered Megan. I hadn't even asked why I was in the hospital. A few questions would have been enough to catch me out. Instead, all they cared about was getting that ring back to Megan. As long as I stopped competing with her, it didn't seem to matter whether I'd really lost my memory. When I didn't move, Mom reached for my hand. Before she could grab it, I slipped off the ring and held it out to Megan. “Fine. Here you go.” “I won't touch anything of yours again.” Maybe it was time to leave this family, too. Chapter 2 “Really, it's okay. I don't mind Alison wearing it for a few days.” Despite her protests, Megan held out her hand to Nolan. The ring fit her ring finger perfectly. He looked at it, his expression softening. “You spent so long choosing that moonstone. This is where it belongs.” I said nothing as I watched the stone that had once made me so happy. Dad came back into the room with a stack of papers. “Alison, I've sorted out your discharge. We can go home now.” I paused. “But the healer said I needed to stay a few more days for observation.” “I asked him to do it,” Mom cut in. “Megan's been worried about you, and she's trying to get ready for the ceremony. All this running between home and the hospital is too much for her.” “Besides, you're awake now. Just take the rest of your medicine at home.” Nolan agreed. “Megan barely slept last night, and she still insisted on coming to see you.” “You could try thinking about her for a change.” They all looked so impatient that I swallowed my objections. “Okay.” In the hospital parking lot, I reached for the front passenger door out of habit. It wouldn't open. Nolan had locked it from inside. He lowered the window, looking perfectly at ease. “Of course the front seat is for Megan.” “You just promised to stop competing with her. Don't tell me you've forgotten already.” Megan tried to coax him. “Come on. Alison's still recovering. There's more room up front. Let her have it.” Nolan frowned at her. “You get carsick, remember? Stop trying to give everything up for her.” He got out and opened the door for Megan. “Get in. There's nothing stopping her from sitting in the back.” Mom sighed. “You can see how much Megan means to him.” “There are plenty of other good men in the pack. Why does it have to be him?” My hands slowly unclenched at my sides. The last part of me that wanted to fight for him gave up as he chose her without a second thought. I opened the back door and got in. “You're right, Mom.” “I won't chase after my brother-in-law anymore.” Everyone went quiet. Nolan's hands stopped as he adjusted Megan's coat. He glanced back at me. I ignored him. “Why are you all looking at me like that?” “Megan's my sister. That makes Nolan my future brother-in-law, doesn't it?” Whenever my parents told me to be nice to my little sister, I'd always reminded them that Megan wasn't my real sister. Now that I'd accepted her, they didn't seem to know what to do. Eventually, Mom nodded. “Yes. I'm glad you finally understand.” Dad agreed. “You're sisters. You should've been getting along like this all along.” Megan, however, seemed unsettled by how easily I'd given in. She asked again. “Alison, are you sure you're okay with it?” I smiled and smoothed her hair. “Why wouldn't I be? Nolan's your mate.” “I don't remember what happened before. If I did anything to upset you, I hope you'll forgive me.” Maybe I imagined it, but Nolan's smile faded a little when I called him her mate. I shook my head and looked away. Whether he liked it or not was no longer my problem. Nolan gave a quiet scoff. “You always used getting carsick as an excuse to take the front seat.” “Megan was just too nice to argue with you.” I did get carsick. Nolan knew that. He used to keep medicine ready for me and pull over whenever I needed some air. He'd never once complained. Now all of that was being used to prove how unreasonable I was. I kept my voice calm. “Don't worry. It won't happen again.” Chapter 3 Instead of dropping my parents off first, Nolan drove us all to his house. “You insisted on moving in before. Now that Megan and I are having our ceremony, it's time you packed up and left.” My parents watched me anxiously. They were probably afraid being somewhere familiar would bring my memory back. I simply unbuckled my seat belt and said, “Okay.” They relaxed. Only Megan spoke up. “She doesn't have to move out. There's plenty of room.” Nolan shook his head. “Absolutely not. What would people think if your sister lived here?” “You don't have to make yourself uncomfortable just to spare her feelings.” Without a word, I walked to the front door and raised my hand to enter the code. Megan caught up with me, watching me suspiciously. “Alison, I was worried you wouldn't remember where to go. But you found it just fine.” I quickly pulled my hand away from the keypad. “Habit, I guess. I got to the door and reached for it without thinking.” “Do you remember the code?” I shook my head. Megan stepped forward and entered 0410. As she typed, she casually explained. “April tenth. The day Nolan and I first met. Easy to remember, right?” I went still. Nolan's phone passcode. The code to his house. Even his social media username ended in 0410. I'd gone through the birthdays of everyone we knew. I'd never been able to work out what those numbers meant. Once, curiosity had gotten the better of me, and I'd asked him. “It's the code my family used when I was a kid. I'm used to it, so I never changed it.” I'd believed him. He'd once come straight back from a border patrol, still injured, and traveled through the night just to spend my birthday with me. Even when he accidentally broke my mug and bought an identical replacement, he'd insisted on telling me. Why would a man like that lie about a passcode? It had never occurred to me that it was the day he'd met Megan. Nolan came up behind us. “Don't give out the door code. It's not safe.” Megan stuck out her tongue and caught his sleeve. “But it's Alison. She's not a stranger.” “You're too trusting, Megan. You need to be more careful.” Mom noticed my expression and hurried to open the door, ushering me inside. “Get your things so we can go home. The healer said you need rest.” After packing, I stepped out of the main bedroom and heard the four of them talking quietly in the living room. Megan sounded uneasy. “What if Alison's pretending she's lost her memory?” “She's acting strange, but she doesn't seem to have forgotten everything.” “Impossible,” Nolan said at once. “If she remembered, she'd be making a huge scene. She'd never be this quiet.” “Besides, I went and asked the healer. She really has lost her memory.” Megan still wasn't reassured. “But what if she remembers one day and realizes we lied to her?” Nolan took her hand. “Your grandfather arranged that match because he wants an alliance with an Alpha.” “Once we hold a public ceremony, he'll have his alliance. He won't need to send you to another pack.” He paused, then let go of her hand. “And we’ll only be mates in name. We won’t mark each other.” “If Alison gets her memory back one day, she'll understand. I'll have a bonding ceremony with her then.” I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle. So that was it. A while ago, Megan's birth family had come to take her back and marry her off to the Alpha of a neighboring pack. There were rumors he'd abused a previous mate. I'd offered to go with Megan and ask the elders of both packs to release her from the arrangement. She'd cried and said she was too scared to face them. Nolan told me to stop pushing her and took over. When I asked about it later, he said he'd found a solution. Apparently, this was it. A bonding ceremony that was supposedly just for show. Was he so used to playing the devoted mate that he'd started believing his own act? I went back into the bedroom and messaged Stacy, the head healer of the Silver Moon Pack in the north. “Is that healer position still open? I'd like to take it.” She called almost immediately. “Of course. But I heard about the wolfsbane poison. Don't you need a few more days to recover?” “I've been discharged. I can bring the rest of my medicine.” “All right. I'll arrange your travel and have somewhere ready for you to stay.” By the time I came out again, the others had finished talking. Mom looked surprised to see just one suitcase. “That's all?” I nodded. “Some things looked like matching sets for a couple. I assumed they weren't mine.” Nolan hesitated, but said nothing. As we were leaving, Megan took my hand. “You'll come to our ceremony in three days, won't you?” Before I could answer, a message from Stacy appeared on my phone. Chapter 4 “Your flight leaves in three days. I've emailed you the details.” I read the message, then turned down Megan's invitation. “I hope the ceremony goes well.” “I can't come. I have something else to do.” Mom's eyes widened. “You're already on sick leave from the clinic. What could you possibly have to do?” Nolan's expression darkened. “Is this because you still refuse to accept what's happening?” “Alison, do you have to upset Megan on the happiest day of her life?” Nothing I said made any difference. As far as they were concerned, refusing to go meant I still wanted Nolan. In the end, I agreed. Over the next two days, I sorted out my departure while they dragged me along to help with the ceremony. On the first day, Megan insisted I come to see the venue. The coordinator approached Nolan with a checklist and a smile. “We've replaced the flowers you asked us about six weeks ago.” “These have a much lighter scent. They shouldn't bother Megan.” That was when I learned how long they'd been planning this. Six weeks. Memory loss or not, they would have stood here together. The only difference was that they no longer had to hide it from me. The next day, Mom brought out the family jewelry. She'd promised to put it on me herself for my bonding ceremony. When I reminded her, she looked uncomfortable. “Well, you're not having your ceremony yet, are you?” “Megan's my daughter, too. What's wrong with letting her wear it for a day?” “Is she supposed to wait until you're ready?” Megan immediately shook her head. “No, it's okay. I can't take Alison's things.” “Wear it.” Nolan took the necklace and fastened it behind her neck. “You've already given up enough to keep her happy.” After a little more protesting, Megan accepted it. Then she turned to me with another empty promise. “I'll give it back as soon as the ceremony's over tomorrow.” I almost laughed. “Don't bother. Keep it.” “It's Mom's. She can give it to whoever she wants.” That evening, Mom quietly handed Megan a letter. “The Temple of the Moon has written back. You can go for treatment next week.” “We've paid for everything. Just focus on getting better. Don't worry about the money.” Megan opened the letter and turned excitedly to Nolan. “If it works, does that mean I won't have to take medicine every day anymore?” Nolan nodded. “The temple healers will do everything they can.” “I've spoken to them, too. Just give them my name when you arrive.” “You gave Megan my place?” While I was in the hospital, the healer had warned me that wolfsbane could damage my ability to heal. She'd recommended a cleansing treatment at the Temple of the Moon. Nolan had promised to arrange it. He glanced at me. “You're awake now, aren't you? Keep taking your medicine. You'll recover.” “Megan's had this heart condition for years. She can't keep waiting.” Mom joined in. “All it means for you is a slower recovery. If this works for your sister, she might never need her medicine again.” “Alison, surely you can let her have this.” I took the letter from Megan. It had her name on it, along with confirmation that the treatment had been paid for in full. When the healer first mentioned the treatment, I'd asked my parents if they could lend me part of the money. Mom had told me not to bother. “You're a healer yourself. Why not stay here and recover?” “There's no need to waste money on this.” Now they'd paid the entire bill for Megan. When their own daughter had asked for a loan, they'd said they had no money. “Which one of us is actually your daughter?” Mom frowned. “Megan lost her parents when she was little. If we don't help her, who will?” “When another place opens up, you can go, too. Is that good enough?” They were happy to spend the money on Megan. Their promise to me sounded like a favor I should be grateful for. I put the letter back on the table. “Don't bother.” “Since you've taken care of everything for her, you can turn to her when you need something, too.” “I'm done.” The next morning, my parents left early to welcome guests as Megan's family. I took my suitcase to the airport. The venue was crowded and busy. No one noticed I wasn't there. Then my healer arrived, uninvited. “Alison wanted to give you all a scare. She asked me to play along and say she'd lost her memory.” “She really got you, didn't she?” “I heard you were having your bonding ceremony today, so I thought I'd stop by and congratulate you.” Nolan's smile froze. “You're saying Alison never lost her memory?”