Everyone looked at the stranger as she walked up to Alpha Sylvester.

'You look so much like him but you are not he. Take me to see him, immediately. Time is of the essence!'

Daniel, Alpha Sylvester's Beta came between Sylvester and the stranger, barring her way. 'Watch your speech. He is the Alpha!'

Sylvester raised his hands to stop Daniel and flipped his hand to the side as a sign for Daniel to step away.

'Why are you here?' Sylvester asked, then answered his own question. 'Right! To see Christopher, but why? How did you know him?'

'All these questions can come later. I have already been delayed as I crossed the border and I need to get to him immediately before it becomes too late to do anything!.

'Christopher is already dead, I must tell you. What reason could you possibly have to see him?' Millicent asked, her curiosity aroused.

Wendy looked at her and smiled. 'I knew he was dead even before his men at the borders revealed it to me. I would have been here sooner had I not travelled. Take me to him before it becomes too hard to bring him back to life!' she said emphatically.

'What the hell are you talking about?', Sylvester asked, thinking that the whole female flock was going crazy trying to raise someone from the dead. 'What are you and how do you suppose you can achieve this? He's been dead for about six days now!'

'Thank goodness then, because if it were already the seventh day, I would have been unable to do anything. And by the way, I am a witch. That's what I am!'

A hush descended on the gathering.

'Let me take you to him, so you can do what you can for him!' Millicent said eagerly.

'How can you trust her? Do you know what she wants to do to his body?' Sylvester asked. 'I don't trust witches!'

'What could possibly be worse than death?' Millicent countered and looking at Wendy, extended her hand. 'I am Millicent. Come let me take you to where he is lying in state !'

'Wait!' Alpha Sylvester growled. 'If this is just a waste of time, or you do anything funny like destroying my brother's body, you shall not live to tell the tale!'

Wendy nodded and smiling at Millicent, took the hand she offered and followed her into the Royal morgue.

The others followed to see what was going to happen. There was curiosity and speculation. But not everyone was allowed in. Just a selected few. Others were asked to wait at the reception hall.

'This has never happened before', Chief said. 'Hope the body of dear Alpha Christopher will not be desecrated!'

'Alpha Sylvester has given the witch permission to see the body and Millicent was only too willing to take her to where Christopher's corpse is. Let's watch and see what happens next!' an elder said.

In the morgue, the sheet covering Christopher's body was pulled down by Millicent exposing him from the head to the chest to Wendy.

She started making incantations. 'Balabasheka... Omni sorobanda... alakirisololo.. anifa ti.... Bob a', Wendy went on and on.

Then, she fell into a trance, 'Blood! We need blood to aid in his transition back to life', she said. 'It must be the blood of someone he cherishes the most!'

Alpha Sylvester came forward, 'You'd better be sure of what you are doing!' he said but hoping that the bullshit this woman was conjuring would bring his brother back to life. He normally didn't believe in such jargons but for his brother, he was willing to try anything. 'Take my blood and make this fast!' he said to Wendy.

Wendy still in a trace took hold of his hand but dropped it. 'No! Not you. Your blood was rejected!', she said frowning. 'Is there any other person whom he cherishes alot?'

Sylvester looked at Millicent. She had been through alot and he didn't know how much blood would be required nor if she was up to it. But before he could voice his thoughts, Millicent went to Wendy with her arm out. 'Try mine!' she said and then looking at Sylvester, she said, 'I am willing to sacrifice any quantity of blood he needs to come back to us. Don't worry on my account'.

Alpha Sylvester nodded, he was not surprised Millicent read his thoughts. Christopher had mentioned it to him previously.

Wendy took Millicent's hand and smiled.

'Accepted!' she said and in one swift movement, slashed her wrist.

The action took Millicent by surprise and she jerked when the sharp blade sliced through her skin and Sylvester started, ready to stop the operation if it proved detrimental to Millicent, but Millicent calmed down after the initial shock, and allowed her blood to drip as Wendy kept moving her dripping hand all over Christopher, all the while chanting incantations. Then she poured some potions in a bowl, mixed with some of Millicent blood, forced Christopher's stiff mouth open and started dropping the mixture into it. Then she proceeded to light seven candles round the corners of his body and entered into a deeper incantation.

Soon, the ice from Christopher's body started melting and they felt it was as a result of the candle lights placed in strategic corners of his body.

'Oh, bullshit! Can we get on with the rites we were engaged in before this witch's arrival, this is just a waste of time!' an elder said hissing with impatience. They had been watching the witch perform this ritual for about two hours now.

Sylvester himself was anxious because, the quantity of blood from Millicent's body had been much and she had not really been feeding well these past few days. The ritual was taking too long and he feared Millicent would collapse from fatigue but she seemed strong, watching the witches every move.

The witch ignored all of them and if she heard their comments, she gave no indication. She continued moving her hands in the air above Christopher's body while chanting more, her voice riding and she started swaying as though drunk or possessed by some force.

All of a sudden, Christopher heaved and coughed, gasping for breath.

Millicent ran to him, holding him, squeezing warmth into his hand. The others in the room were shocked and stared in fascination at the event unfolding before their eyes. The witch's incantations started coming faster and faster until Christopher regained his breath and sat up looking around him.

The witch collapsed then.

'Where am I?' Christopher asked.

'Where am I?' Christopher asked, looking around at the faces gathered round him. 'And who am I?'

This second question was what threw everyone. Did he just ask the question they heard him ask?

They looked at the witch who was just getting up to her feet from her faint.

'What have you done?' Alpha Sylvester asked. 'He does not know who he is!'

'I forgot to warn you that the side effect was amnesia', Wendy said. 'It is going to be for a short while though and then he will recover his memory fully'.

'How long is this 'amnesia', supposed to last?' Sylvester asked.

'It depends on each individual. For some people it takes a fortnight, some a month, others a year, you will just have to be patient and see how long he takes to recover his memory fully'.

'Is there an antidote for this 'amnesia'? Chief asked. 'You know, like a potion?'

'No. But if he has a reason for living. If there's something he desired so much before dying, then his subconscious will drive him to recover his memory faster for that!' Wendy said, looking at Millicent who was holding on to Christopher like a trophy.

'Your blood really worked wonders. There's something about you that you are yet to find out!' she said, though she sounded as though not very happy about it.

'Christopher, you remember me at least?' Millicent asked.

'Who are you?' Christopher asked, furrowing his eyelids at Millicent, frowning in thought, trying to recall the face.

Millicent bit her lip in disappointment.

'It will take a while and everything will return to normal', Wendy said flashing a brilliant smile at them. But you have to be patient and not force him to remember because it could be detrimental', she paused to let it sink. 'And it will be impossible bringing him back again if anything should happen!' she said, gathering the things she had brought with her back into the backpack she carried.

'I need to be around to monitor his progress because it is risky leaving him like this for now!' Wendy said. 'I repeat, do not be in a hurry to get his memory back for him by asking him any questions or any such thing. His memory will return gradually of their own Accord and his health will flourish!'

'Since you will be staying back to take care of Christopher, I'll ask the maid to prepare a room for you', Millicent said, smiling gratefully at the Wendy.

Since people had come for a celebration, the Luna making , though it will no longer take place for now, there was still a reason to celebrate - Christopher's life!

Millicent tried to stay with Christopher after his Beta finished bathing him but he looked at her curiously and said simply, 'Do you mind?'

Millicent was flustered and shook her head vigorously. 'No, I shall let you rest and be back later', and she hurried out of the room.

Christopher was not acting like his normal self. What could be the matter? Millicent thought. She was so deep in thought that she nearly collided with Alpha Sylvester and his Beta.

'How is he doing?' Sylvester asked and Millicent knew at once who he was asking. 'Very well. He said he needed a little time to rest!'

'Of course, considering everything that has happened, we all need rest', he said, touching my cheek tenderly. 'You should also take time to have some rest. Now that he is back, he won't be leaving us anytime soon!'

Millicent nodded and moved on to her room.

'Samantha, you're here', she said as she saw Samantha sitting in her room.

'Yes', she said, frowning thoughtfully.

'What is it now?' Millicent asked. 'You should be happy for me, I am finally back to myself and Christopher has been restored back to life!'

'Don't you find it odd?' Samantha asked, still bothered.

'Odd? Millicent was perplexed. 'Find what odd?'

'That someone who was dead was raised back to life?' she whispered fearfully. 'It is scary, you know. It is not natural!'

'No matter what it is, I am happy Christopher is back with us!' Millicent said, dismissively.

'What if it is not Christopher who is in there?' Samantha asked, still in a whisper.

'You are spoking me. How can it not be him? Didn't you recognize him when he woke?'

'I do not mean his appearance. I mean the thing inside, the spirit. What if some force has possessed his body and we think he is Christopher when he's not?' she asked, looking around.

'Stop this Samantha!' Millicent cried. 'Is this what you came into my room to tell me?'

'No! But...'

'Good! So, let's change the subject!' Millicent said with finality.

But what Samantha said lingered in her mind and she felt bad that she was doubting her own love.

Over the next couple of days, she rarely saw Christopher except when she forced herself into his room. At first he was irritated but later, he started accepting her presence with calm resignation. But Millicent,could not understand why he could not recognize her. She was getting impatient. The witch Wendy was the one always with Christopher and she did not think she would say this but she started resenting Wendy's closeness to Christopher.

She was on her way to Christopher's room one day, when she heard laughter.

Was that Christopher laughing? she thought happily. He had not laughed since coming back from the dead. She wanted to go in but decided to eavesdrop and find out what was responsible for Christopher's happy laughter.

'You should do this more often you know!' Wendy was saying.

'You make me laugh, so yes, I'll do it more often!' Christopher promised.' And you are beautiful, yourself. Are you married?' he asked and Millicent could not decipher if he asked in jest or not.

'Do you want to marry me?' Wendy countered.

'Answer the question first!' he said and Millicent could hear the smile in his voice.

'I was waiting for you!' Wendy said.

What was that? Millicent thought wildly. Even if they were just jesting, it was a dangerous thing to jest about.

'You barely know me, so how could you be waiting for me?' Christopher asked and though Millicent could still hear the smile in his voice, there was an underlining seriousness in his question.

'Oh, but I do know you. This is the second time I am saving your life and you owe me!' she said.

Millicent could not hold still any longer but rushed into the room, visualizing one on the lap of the other but she felt foolish when she saw Wendy propping Christopher's head on his pillow.

They both looked towards the door as Millicent burst into the room, panting.

'Did you want something Miss O'Hara?' Christopher asked, smiling tolerably at Millicent and she felt stupid. 'Miss O'Hara?' she thought in dismay.

'Christopher, I wanted to come find out how you were faring' Millicent said, for want of something else to say.

'As you can see, Alpha Christopher is doing very well, thank you', Wendy said, smiling smugly at Millicent. 'If you do not mind, leave the room so that he can rest!'

It was a slap on Millicent's face but she could not start a fight with Wendy over someone who could barely recognize her and Wendy was helping with Christopher's recovery. Millicent didn't want to jeopardize that. So, nodding, she left the room.

Millicent's POV

Things did not get any better in terms of my relationship with Christopher. He treated me like a polite stranger would another and it was slowly killing me. Especially when he would smile sweetly at Wendy and give some little affectionate touches.

Once my eyes made contact with Sylvester and I could see the pity in his eyes. It was just too much, I ran out of the room to my own and slammed the door.

Samantha was on my heels. 'Millicent pull yourself together! If your mate bond is as strong as you claimed, he will soon remember you and come crawling back into your arms and your bed!' she said, hoping to bring a smile to my lips but I was not so sure anymore.

'Wendy is weaving her magic around him and he seem to want to be with only her. I can't wait to see her gone from the Moon Ville Pack and out of our lives permanently!' I exclaimed.

'I wish I could say that she is just helping him recover', Samantha said slowly. 'but I have seen the way she looks at him and from the scratches of information I've heard, it seems they have met before, when he was at the borders and they were more than just friends'.

'But if he can remember her, then why can't he remember me?' I wailed. 'We met recently and he's supposed to recall the most recent events, isn't he?'

'It depends. The mind is a funny organ. It selects the memory it wishes to remember and the one it wishes not to', Samantha said and when she saw the distress on my features, hastened to add, 'Not that I am saying he has regained his memory of course or that he has forgotten you permanently'. Then she said as an afterthought, 'I feel that Wendy is trying to make Christopher fall in love with her. I hope that by the time he regains his memory, it will not be too late for you and he to get back together. Because if he falls in love with her before he recovers, there will be complications...'

' Don't you think I know that?' I wailed. I am powerless and it is killing me to see another woman taking my mate away from me, right under my nose! What do you suggest I do?' I asked, feeling desperate.

'Try doing any of those things you did in the past that made you unique to Christopher. It might help jog his memory. You have to be smart!'

'But she said it could be detrimental to his health, trying to jog his memory, that is!' I whispered.

'Detrimental my foot!' Samantha swore. 'I feel she said that to have more time to get Christopher to fall in love with her. Is she not doing the same with Christopher? Reminding him of their past? How she saved him previously? You said so yourself that you heard her saying that to Christopher. What other evidence do you need that she is not what she appears to be? Though, I must tell you, she is a dangerous person! I sense evil in her!'

Sigh!

I placed my hands on my laps, wringing them like I was squeezing water from a cloth. I did that whenever I was confused or nervous and right now, I was very confused.

We were still deliberating on the next course of action when I got a letter.

Who could possibly wrote to me? I thought, as I tore open the envelope.

It was from Raph. What a welcome surprise. It read....

'Dear Millicent,

I hope this letter meets you well. The news of how the battle against the Moon Ville Pack ended has reached us.

I hope you were not wounded in any way? The talk of your bravery has been ringing on everyone's lips.

Mummy Cara sends her greetings and says to remind you that there are things you still need to know about your past and possibly your present as well, whatever that is!

Hugh and baby send their love and aunt Mildred said to say hi!

I have a lot to tell you as well. You were right about something you told me in the past.

Hoping to see you soon, sweetheart,

Raph.

How could I have forgotten to visit them since the war ended?

'Who is it from? Samantha asked.

'From some friends in the Moonlight pack. They are wondering why I have not visited them yet'.

'But you cannot blame yourself for that, nor allow anyone else to, for that matter. Things have been pretty rough down here since then!' Samantha said.

'They are not blaming, just reminding me and you know what? They are right. I need to go see them. There are alot of things that I need to find out!'

'Are you sure this is a good time to visit them? I mean when a strange witch, determined to take your love from you is with him at all hours of the day?'

'What has my presence here accomplished anyways? If she wants to take him in his state, there's nothing I can do to prevent that short of forcing his memory on him and that is impossible', I said sadly. 'I am very happy, Raph thought to write. I shall visit them and find out all that I need to know about my birth pack'.

'When will you leave?' Samantha asked.

'Tomorrow morning '.

'Then I'd better prepare to go with you', she said.

'That will not be necessary!' I said emphatically. 'You shall remain here and be my ears and eyes. I shall be back very soon. But this is something I must do!'

'Aren't you afraid you might be attacked by the pack members for your part in destroying their Alpha? It is risky going there now without an escort!'

'They should be happy I relieved them off such an evil Alpha', I said. 'but you're right. I shall be careful to disguise myself because like I said, this is something I must do!'

That night, I could not sleep. Alot of thoughts crowded my mind. Was it ever going to be possible for Christopher and I to get back together? What if he never recovers his memory, or the witch sees to it the he does just for her own selfish benefit? What is this thing that I do not know about that mum Cara wanted to tell me about? Was it concerning my mates? Sylvester has been kind and considerate towards me and I know what he wants. The both of us know that it is impossible now that Christopher was awake and I hope that he accepts it like he promised, when we thought Alpha Christopher was gone forever!

I finally fell into a troubled sleep in the early hours of the morning.