KAIA’S POV I left the training arena as soon as I was done with my task of training the new batch for the morning. I was walking back to the house when I heard someone call my name. “Kaia!” “Kaia, wait up!” I turned and saw Mia jogging toward me. Her cheeks were red, and her dark ponytail bounced behind her as she ran. I stopped and waited for her to catch up. “I thought we were leaving together,” she said, breathing a little hard. “But when I turned around, you were gone. What happened?” “Sorry,” I said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I was kind of in a hurry. There’s just… a lot I need to get done today.” Like meeting with elder Agatha for example. There were a few things she mentioned to me this past few weeks that I’m still struggling to understand. But I didn’t need to tell Mia that though. She didn’t need to know that. And neither does anyone else. Mia nodded. “Yeah, no worries. That’s okay. I just—well, I wanted to give you something.” My brow furrowed. “What is it?” She reached down and pulled something from her shoe. It was a small object wrapped in cloth. Carefully, she placed it in my open hand. I frowned, casting her a questioning look. Mia gestured for me to open it, and I hesitated for a moment before slowly unwrapping it. It was a necklace. A gold chain with a strange-looking pendant that had strange symbols carved all over it. At the center was a single black stone. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen before. I couldn’t explain it, but the necklace gave off a strange feeling. I stared at it for a long time before looking back at Mia with a raised brow. Mia sighed. “I convinced a few of the male warriors to accompany me into the woods last night where our mystery man was found,” she said, lowering her voice like she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “I couldn’t help but find the entire situation a bit strange, Kaia. It was a little too suspecious for my comfort. I just wanted to double-check, just to make sure you girls didn’t miss anything the first time.” My eyebrows lifted higher. “And you found this?” She nodded. “It was lying in the dirt, covered in blood and fallen leaves. I looked down at the necklace again, turning it gently in my hand. “Do you think it belongs to him?” Mia shrugged. “He’s the only one who can answer that question, Kaia. But since he can’t remember anything at the moment…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head as if in disappointment. “I thought you should have it,” she added. “You were the one who rescued him. He’s kind of your responsibility for now.” I nodded slowly, bending down to tuck the necklace into my shoe. “Thank you, Mia. Really.” She smiled. “You’re welcome, Kaia. I hope we get to the bottom of whatever this is soon enough. I’m starting to grow a bit worried myself.” With that, she squeezed my arm lightly before walking off. “Say hi to Silver for me!” she called over her shoulder as she walked away. I stood there for a moment, staring in the direction where she had just disappeared, as my thoughts circled around the necklace and whether or not it was really connected to this mystery man as she just called him. After a few more minutes, I sighed and then turned and walked away. I didn’t need to drop by the pack house—thank Goddess for that. I didn’t have anything to do over there this morning, which meant I could head straight home. I would much rather focus on my other responsibilities than risk another unpleasant encounter with Laura this morning. Or ever for that matter. My thoughts were still all over the place when I stepped into the house. My nose was immediately assaulted by the smell of garlic and onions that filled the air. I heard movement in the kitchen and went straight over there. Mom was stirring something in a pot. “Hi, sweetie,” she said as I walked in. “You’re back early.” I smiled and went over to her. “Yeah. I finished early today. I have a few things to catch up on, so…” She wiped her hands on a towel and pulled me into a warm hug, which I returned. My eyes moved around as we pulled apart, and I frowned. “Where’s Dad? I can’t find him anywhere.” “Oh, he was called to Alpha Gareth’s office a moment ago,” she said. “One of the pack guards came. Said it was urgent, so your father had to leave with him immediately.” I frowned. “Do you know why?” She shook her head. “No idea, dear. He didn’t say.” My thoughts wandered back to what Laura said last night—her threats about getting Gareth to strip my father of his position as an elder of this pack. Of course I didn’t say anything to my parents about it. But now I couldn’t help but wonder if this sudden meeting had anything to do with it. “Do you think it does?” Lilac’s worried voice sounded in my head. “You think Laura was telling the truth? Maybe Gareth summoned our father to break the news to him?” My frown deepened and I sighed. It had better not be. Gareth will not like my reaction if that’s the case, and neither will Laura—or her father, for that matter. Coming at me was one thing, but messing with my family? That’s the part I’m not willing to take. I will not keep quiet over this. “That reminds me,” Mom’s excited voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked to see her walking over to the sink. “Your brother called earlier.” My eyes lit up. “Dylan?” She nodded with a huge smile. “He said he’ll be home for break in a couple of weeks.” “Wait, really?!” I laughed, my chest filling with warmth and genuine happiness for what would be the first time in months. “That’s amazing, Mom! It’s been forever.” “Eight months,” she said, laughing. “But who’s counting, dear? My baby boy’s been gone for too long.” “He really has,” I smiled. “I’ve really missed him.” “I know.” She paused and looked at me. “By the way, have you seen the stranger this morning?” I shook my head with a sigh. “No. I was going to check on him after I shower and get something to eat.” She nodded. “I hope he gets better soon. And that his memory comes back. It can’t be easy for the poor young man.” “Hmm. Me too,” I said softly, then kissed her cheek. “I’ll go clean up first. I’ll be right back.” I started to head upstairs when Mom called after me. “Kaia! You dropped something, darling!” I turned, confused. “What?” She bent down to pick something up before holding it up for me to see. Taking a closer look, I realized it was the necklace—the same necklace Mia had just given me a moment ago. My brows furrowed in confusion. I was sure I had tucked it into my shoe. I even felt it there while walking home. How could it have fallen all the way out? Still confused, I slowly walked back toward her and reached for it. But she didn’t hand it over right away. Instead, she hesitated, staring at it, her brow furrowing. I frowned. “Mom? What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” “Where did you get this?” she asked quietly, her tone suddenly sounding different—almost careful. Almost nervous. It was like she was afraid to ask the question, and I couldn’t, for the life of me, understand why. “It’s not mine, if that’s what you’re asking,” I explained carefully. “Mia found it last night. Near the place where we found Silver.” “Silver?” Mom asked with a deep frown, and my cheeks heated up a bit as I nodded. “Yeah, um… that’s what we’re calling him for now. Just until he can remember his real name.” “I see,” she said, but her expression didn’t soften. She continued to examine the necklace in her hand like it was some kind of math problem she was trying to solve. “So… Mia found this necklace in the same spot you found, um… Silver?” she asked, and I nodded slowly, still trying to figure out what exactly was going on. My mom was suddenly acting all strange and suspicious over some damn necklace—of course it called for concern. “Mom? Is something wrong?” I asked again, carefully looking at her. Mom didn’t say anything at first. Her eyes were still locked on the pendant. Her face had gone a little pale, and I swear her breathing was picking up. “Mom?” I called again, louder this time. She blinked and finally looked at me. Her lips curled into a tight smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s nothing, Kaia,” she said, finally handing the necklace back to me. “Just old jewelry, dear. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything. Everything’s fine, darling.” I took it, but I didn’t believe her. Not for a second. I had a feeling she wasn’t being completely honest with me. She turned back to the stove like everything was normal again, but something about her movements was stiff and forced. At this point, I could bet she wasn’t even actually present here. She looked like her mind had wandered off completely, and she was currently moving around absentmindedly. What’s going on? I lingered there for a moment, staring at her back. I wasn’t sure if I should push or if it would be better to just let it be. I couldn’t decide. “She knows something. I’m sure of it,” Lilac whispered in my mind, and I nodded. “I agree.” She did know something. That wasn’t just curiosity in her eyes when she looked at the necklace back there. It was something else. And it was that something else that I’d like to find out. Later, after I showered and changed into clean clothes, I sat on the edge of my bed and held the necklace in both hands. I didn’t know what kind of metal it was made of, but it felt cold—even after being in my shoe for so long. The black stone in the center kept sparkling faintly now that I was alone with it. I ran my fingers along the strange carvings and found out that they shifted when I moved the pendant. The symbols didn’t look like anything I had seen before—not even in the old warrior books my father used to bring home. And that book contained literally everything strange and mysterious. Even the creepy ones. Why would something like this be lying in the woods, covered in blood for goddess’ sake? And why did Mom react like that when she saw it? I sighed and slipped the necklace into a drawer beside my bed. There were too many questions and not nearly enough answers. I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to take it with me to the infirmary and show it to him—at least to find out if he even recognizes it, if nothing else. But then, of what use would it be? Even if it was his, he still wouldn’t remember it. As of right now, he couldn’t even remember his own name, let alone some stupid necklace. I headed downstairs again and grabbed a quick snack. Then I made my way toward the infirmary. Time to actually get started on the day.