Liam cursed aloud as he read the news archives. Stephanie, his Stephanie, didn’t remember anything about him or their shared past. What concerned him even more was the missing time. Stephanie had been missing for over a year before she appeared in this town. She had been hurt. Liam clenched his teeth. He would find the animals responsible for this and destroy them. Aiden also looked shaken by the information they had uncovered. “Well, that explains why Detective Hale and the chief are so protective of her,” Aiden mumbled.

Liam buried his face in his hands. His Stephanie was gone. How could he ever hope to win her back if she didn’t even know him. “What do I do? She doesn’t even remember me. How can I ever hope for Stephanie to accept me as her soul mate if she doesn’t even know me?”

“What did you do back when you met?” Aiden asked.

“It was different back then. She was already initiated. She understood what it meant when I confessed to her,” Liam was horrified. How could he even think to explain it? She wouldn’t trust him, wouldn’t believe him.

“You could always do what other irregulars do when they find out their mated with uninitiated humans. You know, ask her out on a date and build up a relationship. Then you can initiate her and tell her everything,” Aiden’s suggestion was like an oasis in the driest desert. Yet, it didn’t sit right with him.

“That would be the same as lying to her,” Liam groaned. He didn’t know how he had managed to avoid holding Stephanie since the moment he saw her in the police station.

“Not exactly. You were essentially dating back then. I’m sure that even the other detective wouldn’t keep her from discovering even a little part of her past. Just stick to safe topics as long as you can. The more honest you are about the situation from the start the less blowback there will be later,” Aiden suggested.

“Okay, but we need to take care of this monster. If it notices Stephanie,” he couldn’t continue. He couldn’t lose her again, never. He should have searched back then, but he had thought that her departure was voluntary, that he had done something to make her leave. All the signs pointed to him being wrong, but he had been too stupid and hurt to recognize the truth at the time. He could have saved her from so much suffering if he had just tried to find her back then.

Aiden’s cell phone started to ring. He spoke into the phone quickly and froze at whatever words he heard on the other end. “We’ll be right there to assist,” Aiden growled.

Liam pulled on his jacket, ready to get moving but waiting for an explanation. “What was that about?”

“Liam,” Aiden stopped him. “You are going to need to stay calm.”

“What is going on?” his stomach sank. Something was wrong. The only reason Aiden would think he wouldn’t remain calm was if Stephanie had been hurt. “What’s happened?” he growled.

“The monster was in your mate’s apartment,” Aiden started. Liam didn’t listen to the rest. He rushed the door. He couldn’t let that monster hurt Stephanie, never. Aiden stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, “Listen to me. She wasn’t hurt. She wasn’t there at the time.”

Liam pulled out of Aiden’s grip. “Tell me what happened, and why I shouldn’t be there protecting Stephanie?”

“You will, but not like that. You’re liable to terrify her if you go to her like that. You need to calm down,” Aiden tried to pull him away from the door.

“You are telling me to calm down when my soul mate is in danger?” his voice rose in his anger.

“Yes. You will not win any points with her if you go in acting like a caveman. All that will do is frighten her away from you,” Aiden sighed.

That made him freeze. He couldn’t lose his only chance of being by his soul mate’s side again. “What happened?” he managed.

“The monster left a bag of eyes in her apartment along with a pair of black feathers,” Aiden said dryly. Liam knew what it meant. The monster was taunting her, would probably target her in a more final way later. He couldn’t let that happen, never.

“Let’s go,” Liam grumbled. He had to see her, make sure she was safe.