We landed in the midst of a dense thicket. I heard John turn away from us with a swish to return the contents of his stomach. I felt sorry for him. I have always been in the same situation as him. Today I'm just dizzy, which means there's progress, because last time I threw up like a cat too. When he finished we walked out of the bush. We ended up in front of a white two-story building. Suddenly a guy appeared in front of us out of nowhere. To my eye, he couldn't have been more than thirty-five years old. His powerfully built body and the claw scar stretching across his cheek inspired respect and awe for this man. Some might even get their panties wet. And not at all from pleasant excitement. No, quite from the opposite.
- Who are you and what are you doing here?
- Alpha Samuel, forgive such an unexpected intrusion, but we are here with a very pressing matter. May we go to the study? There we can explain everything calmly when we are alone. - He looked at me and Max with suspicious eyes, but without saying a word he moved towards the building.

**********

- Rozalia Kas and...
- Maximilian Salamand. - I hinted.
- Right... So, Rozalia, Maximilian, meet the Alpha of the Full Moon Pack, Samuel Montgomery. - We nodded our heads in appreciation. I had heard his name before. One of my old friends had that very name and he was from Britain. I wonder if that's a coincidence or if Samuel is simply his descendant.
- Could you finally explain to me what you are doing here John? - he asked.
- We are looking for a man and this sorcerer standing here used a spell and sensed him on your territory. He teleported us and that is how we ended up here.
- I understand, but next time you could at least make a phone call. There is such a thing as a telephone. This is the 21st century, for God's sake. Just a few clicks and you're done. However, you love this kind of sudden appearance, don't you?
- Of course. It's a perk of my job. And I like to see the faces of people who did not expect me, and I find them in all sorts of situations. - They smiled at each other with sparks of laughter in their eyes. When Samuel has a smile on his face, he doesn't seem to be as intimidating as he was at first sight. He could even be considered handsome with that expression on his face.
- Do you need anything?
- No. I just need to focus and sense him. Then we can go back. - The sorcerer muttered. He's not very friendly to other supernaturals. The exception is me, but I don't fully know his motives as to why he is "friendly" with me. He closed his eyes and remained motionless for about five minutes, then disappeared and that was all we saw of him.
- Who are you that you have been given this noble function of accompanying John? - the question was addressed to me, but I did not even have time to think, and the answer had already come out of the mouth of my mate's grandfather:
- She is Adrian's fated one. - When Samuel heard this he started to laugh.
- I don't believe it. Dear Goddess. This heartbreaker and biggest playboy on the planet found a mate? - When I heard him say that about Adrian, my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of their orbits. I'm sorry, what? I quickly shifted my gaze to John, who had a guilty look on his face. So it's true. But how could it be? In front of me he behaved like a Neanderthal from ancient times, and here I find out what a seducer with tact he is? I wanted to say something, but I was interrupted by a knock on the door. A man in his sixties came in. He had brown hair cut in a military style and eyes of the same color with golden spots. It's strange, I've never seen such a color of eyes in shifters, unless... Max appeared in front of me and immediately whispered:
- Here he is in the flesh. He is the one we were searching for. - not knowing what had happened here I looked out from behind him. The man was looking at us with empty eyes.
- Alpha, you wanted to see me. Any problem?
- Not anymore. I met my guests and thought they were a threat, but everything has been cleared up.
- What is your name? - I asked him because something was bothering me.
- Nicholas Brags. Chief Warrior. - I turned towards John and discreetly pointed my finger at the newcomer, nodding at him as well. John quickly understood what I meant. He was no less surprised than I was.
- Nicholas, how did you get here? I kind of know your story, but I would like them to know it too.
- About forty years ago they found me in a cave. I got amnesia and only remembered my name, Nicholas. Nothing else. Sam took me in, and I've lived here ever since. I'm sorry if this is off the subject, but do we know each other? - he asked me. I didn't answer him, I just continued looking into his eyes. He has the same name as... No, that can' t be right. And it wouldn't matter anyway, because he has no memory and doesn't smell like an alpha.
- Can you help him? - I asked the sorcerer. I know he's erased people' memories many times, but I'm not sure if he can restore them.
- I'll do my best, but I can't promise anything. - He took a step forward, and Nicholas backed away. Unfortunately after a few steps he hit a wall. Max grabbed his head and looked at his forehead. The other man's pupils dilated and he stopped breathing. After a moment, the skin on the sorcerer's back turned into purple-green scales, and his eyes probably turned a bright yellow-green color. They stood like that for ten minutes until, finally, he let go of the man, who immediately looked at me.
- Astrid? - I furrowed my brow at the name he called me. I shook my head and he lowered his head. - Sorry you are a reflection of my wife's appearance....
- Wait. Astrid. Are you Claus? - I asked, as a certain apprehension was growing in me by the minute.
- Yes. How do you know that? - He jerked his head up. - Do you know what happened to her? And what about our baby?
- Your baby? - I uttered, not believing what I've just heard.
- You must be as old as I am if you know our names. And yes, a daughter was born to us. She was to take her mother's place. Unfortunately, there was an accident and my wife died. I was left with our little one, completely alone. I knew that Astrid's death was not an accident. It was planned. I wanted to save us, so I packed the essentials and was about to leave the village. I never made it. They sold me as a slave, and my daughter was taken from me. I never saw her again.
- What was her name? - I didn't want to ask because I knew who he was talking about.
- Her name was Rosa. Her cousin was born on the exact same day at the exact same time. That was the time of the first eclipse that our population experienced. His name was Espen. He also had an older brother, Kjartan. - The ground slipped from under my feet.
- She was taken into the care of Astrid's sister Svali and her husband Torsten. She lived a lie. The information was that their aunt Astrid and uncle Claus were childless and had died. Kjartan their eldest son was to be Svali's heir. Whereas Espen and I were his younger siblings. Twins. - everyone was stunned. - I am your daughter..." I had to make a huge effort to say those words. I never thought I would ever be able to say "Dad" to someone again. Not to mention that the truth came out under such twisted circumstances.
- You... - he had tears in his eyes. He came up to me and hugged me tightly. - My little baby girl....

**********

- Do you remember anything else? What happened between the time you ran away from the people you served as a slave and how you ended up here? Why don't you smell like an alpha? - I asked and began to wonder, speaking my thoughts out loud.
- I only remember your faces, names and what happened before I was sold. Nothing else. I can't answer that last one either. - I was a little disappointed that nothing like that happened, but it's better to know that much than nothing, right?
- Well, it seems to me that we need to take him with us and only then start to establish the facts. Brainstorm or something like that. - John said. He spoke correctly, so I left his statement unanswered.
- I hope to see you again someday and that you don't forget your old friend. - Samuel winked at Claus and then they fell into a bear hug. I walked over to Max and grabbed his hand. The other two did the same themselves and after a moment the green light erupted around us again.

**********

I thought we'd end up in Espen's room, but I miscalculated as we ended up in the living room of the pack house. I immediately communicated to Dan: We are in the living room. I didn't get anything back, but presumably the whole bunch will be dropping by in a moment. Oh, speaking of the wolf. I giggled at this as every one of them turns into that very animal. Not even a minute went by, they're fast.
- Nicholas? - Adrian's mom asked.
- Maria? Cecil? - my father answered in surprise. I looked at the three of them as if they had come from outer space. Do they know each other?
- Wait a minute. I understand that John, as a member of the Council, might know him, but you two? - they exchanged confused looks.
- Well... A strange, but funny situation at the same time... - John started, but his son interrupted him.
- When my mate and I did not know each other, she was a member of the Full Moon pack. When Nicholas came there, she had a crush on him, but she knew that it wouldn't work, because somewhere out there, there was her mate and he was expecting her. So she gave up on courting him. And that's when I stepped in. Even though she was a little heartbroken that nothing came of her crush, I knew right away that we were meant for each other. While she was still living there, I visited her every now and then, so Nicholas was there too. As a top fighter, we had a lot of common themes and we bonded. When we moved here and started ruling together, our contact sort of broke off. - He shrugged his shoulders and sent Maria a bewildering smile, while his eyes hid boundless love. What is going on here? This is life, not a book to have such strange twists and turns. Well, yes, but I seem to forget that this is MY life. And in it, you can expect anything. I swear if anyone else is resurrected or it turns out that someone knows someone and it's only now coming out, I think I'm going to have a heart attack. No, if this keeps up, rubber duckies from commercials will start popping out of the TV, and spiders are cute adorable creatures....