Lost Wolf (Curse of the Moon Book 1) (6 page)

Toby

I walked toward Victoria with a million thoughts swarming my mind. I'd spent so much time and energy searching for her, and then the moment my mind was elsewhere, she just appeared.

It had been so many painful years we'd been apart, especially given how we'd been ripped from each other's arms. The hope of ever seeing her again had all but vanished for a long time.

Yet there she sat, like any college freshman in orientation. She was anything but ordinary. And she certainly hadn't been born anywhere near the time her classmates had been, though she didn't appear any older.

My pulse drummed in my ears as I headed her way. When she'd looked at me, I saw a flicker of recognition—surprise, really—but nothing more.

What had they done to her?

How would I keep myself from picking her up, swinging her around, and giving her such a passionate kiss that her toes would curl?

She was alive. Alive. And right in front of me.

As I neared her and the redhead, the other girl whispered to Victoria. She whipped around and again, our gazes met.

I wanted to shout from the rooftops. My sweet Victoria was alive and right here. Enrolled in one of my courses. I would see her every day for the next three months.

She was just as beautiful as I remembered.

Her eyes widened as I neared. They seemed more filled with curiosity than joy or any other emotion I would have expected.

The crushing reality hit me.

Victoria didn't know me.

I swallowed, stood taller, and plastered on a fake smile. "Hello, ladies. Do you two need any help?"

She held my eye contact, but didn't say anything.

"I think we found everything," said the other girl.

I kneeled down to their level and focused on the redhead because I didn't trust myself to look at Victoria yet. "Well, if you have any questions, just let me know. That's what I'm here for."

"Thanks, Professor Foley," Victoria said.

The formality in her tone nearly killed me. Almost as much as not being able to wrap my arms around her and breathe in her almond-scented shampoo that I loved so much.

I turned to her and opened my mouth, but as soon as I gazed into her eyes, I couldn't remember what I was going to say.

She stared back, an intense expression on her face. That was the look she had when trying to figure something out.

Oh, how I wanted to cup her chin and tell her everything would be all right. She was alive and only about a foot away. How could things not be okay?

Aside from the fact that she obviously couldn't remember any of our time together. That was like an arrow to the heart. Worse, actually. I could pull an arrow out, but this felt more like my heart was being torn in two.

I would have to handle it with delicate care.

If I was barely more than a stranger, I would have to regain her trust. Without all our memories, she would have nothing to draw from.

But I had promised her I would never give up on her—on us. I'd sworn my undying love to her just before she'd died in my arms.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, reminding me that I needed to conclude the powwow.

"You both have my office number and email address. Don't hesitate to ask anything."

The younger girl's face lit up. "Thanks!"

Victoria nodded, her alluring eyes still wide. She seemed to want to say more.

I tried to give her a reassuring smile. "I've got to wrap things up. It was nice to talk with you two." I rose and returned to the front of the group. It was hard not to stare at Victoria as I spoke to the students and then sent them on their way.

I gathered my things and looked around. Victoria had already taken off.

My heart sank to the ground and fell through to the other side of the world.

It was little consolation that I would see her the next day in class. How would I be able to teach math with her sitting there, having no idea who I was? That woman was the love of my life, and even with her death, I'd been unable to truly love another.

"Hey, Foley!"

I shook my head and turned toward the entrance of the courtyard.

Roger, who had the office next to mine, stood there, rolling up his sleeves. He worked out every day and loved to show it off. "A bunch of us are going to lunch. Want to come?"

"Going to pass this time." I slung my bag over my shoulder and hurried over to him. "I need to make sure I'm ready for tomorrow."

"First day jitters?" he asked. We headed for our office building.

I shrugged. "Something like that."

"You taught high school before this, right?"

"Yeah."

"This is no different, really."

"I sense an
except
coming." I arched a brow.

Roger laughed. "Except the ladies are legal."

"Seriously?" I exclaimed. "You're going to go there?"

"Easy there," he said. "I was just joking. Did I step on a nerve?"

He had, but I wasn't going to let him know. I shook my head. "Like you said, jitters."

I thought back to a fleeting relationship I'd had years earlier while trying to get over Victoria, but it hadn't worked. And now Victoria was back. I rubbed my temples, trying to make sense of it all.

"Well, I'd never put my job on the line like that," Roger said, bringing me back from my thoughts.

My stomach twisted, and I suddenly realized that not only did Victoria have no idea who I was, but she was now my student. Not that I couldn't find another job if push came to shove. Since I aged so slowly, I moved around fairly often to avoid questions, but I didn't care to be fired. Even though Victoria would be worth any hardship.

I'd already chosen her over my natural family so long ago.

"What's with you?" Roger slapped my back. "You're not usually so quiet."

"Must be the impending full moon."

Roger groaned. "Seriously? Right at the first day? The students always go cray-cray then."

"Tell me about it." Although most of the kids I'd worked with over the years went nuts on the full moon for entirely different reasons than my colleague was referring to.

He stopped in front of our building. "Sure you don't want to join us? That hot new art history professor is going."

I shook my head. "Thanks, but I have some things to take care of at home."

"Your loss. See you tomorrow."

"Have fun." I went inside and up the stairs to my office. The entire floor was empty. I sighed in relief and slunk into my chair.

Did Victoria even know she was a werewolf? What would she do tonight? Would she go into the forest?

I sat up in my chair.

That was it. Maybe if we ran into each other in our wolf form, I could help her remember everything. Communication was so much easier as animals. Primal. Whoever had messed with her memories wouldn't be able to control her during the full moon.

The office felt like it was closing in on me. I grabbed my bag, headed for the parking lot, and jumped into my camouflage Hummer. The heat nearly suffocated me, so I cranked the AC and bolted off campus.

When I reached my private dirt road, I hit the gas, barreling down the long path to my home. Once the wrought iron gate came into view, I remote unlocked it, waited for it to open, drove through, and locked it behind me.

I parked and stared at my newly painted, light blue Victorian-era mansion and fought to rein in my thoughts. My pack needed me to focus. How could I though, now that I knew Victoria was so close?

Why hadn't any of the locator spells worked to find her? Especially since we were living in the same town?

I pulled out my phone and texted the witch who had been helping me find her.

Toby: I found her!

Gessilyn: What?! Where?

Toby: Campus.

Gessilyn: Can't believe it! So happy 4u!

How would I reply to that? I should have been thrilled, but I felt like punching something.

Gessilyn: U OK?

Toby: V can't remember me.

Gessilyn: O no. Was afraid of that.

Toby: I should've known.

Gessilyn: Need anything?

Toby: Got a memory spell?

Gessilyn: Not sure. Will look.

Toby: OK. Call u l8r.

Gessilyn: Day or nite.

Toby: Thx.

I took a deep breath and put my phone back. For once, I wished the full moon was out. More than anything, I wanted to shift and run the length of the forest. I hated being restricted by the moon's phases.

Maybe a human run would help. It had to be better than sitting in my driveway. I got out of the Hummer and locked it.

A breeze blew by. I could smell several of my wolves. They were probably sleeping, preparing for the long night ahead of us. I would, too, if I thought sleep was a possibility.

I rubbed my temples. The familiar ache set into my bones, warning me of the impending shift.

Inside, the house was quiet. I stared at the newly-remodeled entryway and sniffed again. All the young wolves were home. They needed their rest most of all because turning into their wolf form was still so painful. I didn't miss those days.

Footsteps sounded on the staircase. Jet, one of my pack assistants, came downstairs. He arched a brow. "You're home early."

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to talk about Victoria.

He stopped at the foot of the stairs. "Everything okay?"

"No, but I can't focus on it."

Brick, one of the pack guards, came in from the kitchen and turned to Jet. "Hey, Yamamoto. You left your phone down here." He handed it to him.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks." He turned back to me. "Sure you don't need something?" Protectiveness and loyalty were written all over his face. "Someone giving us trouble in town again?"

I shook my head. "Not since we ran those mutts off. No, this is something else."

Jet and Brick exchanged a concerned look.

"It doesn't affect you guys. If it did, I'd tell you."

"If it's going to distract you on the full moon, I think it does concern us." Jet's mouth curved down.

Anger flared, but I bit my tongue, not wanting to take it out on one of my best wolves. Tempers always grew during the full moon.

His eyes narrowed. "No disrespect meant, but we deserve to know what's going on. At least I do as the highest-ranked pack member."

I clenched my fists. "I need to go for a run. We'll talk after I get back."

Jet's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "A run
now
? We need to rest."

The wolf inside me was starting to force his way out early. A growl escaped my mouth. I forced him away and stared Jet down. "Stand down. I said this doesn't concern you."

"Yes, sir." Jet's nostrils flared and he stormed up the stairs, muttering to himself.

It had been a risk bringing him into my pack. He had been born alpha of his own pack, but instead chose to stay with me. We had more power struggles than any other wolf I'd encountered. He was also more loyal than any other.

"Sir?" Brick stared at me.

I counted to ten. "I need to clear my head before the others wake. I'll be back long before dusk."

"Okay. Do you want me to prepare dinner?"

"Crap." Usually, I prepared the big full moon meal. Cooking tended to calm me. We all ate ravenously before shifting, barely stopping to use our hands, much less utensils.

Brick tilted his head. "It's not a problem."

I glanced at a clock on the wall. "If I'm not back in ninety minutes, you can start. The fridge is stocked."

He flicked a nod in my direction.

"Can you put this in my room for me?" I held out my bag.

"You're going to run in slacks?"

"Right now, I don't care."

Brick took my bag and headed upstairs.

I went outside and stared at the woods. Hopefully a run would help, though the only thing that would truly help would be to have Victoria back in my arms—and I would stop at nothing until that happened.

Chapter 7

Victoria

I paced my room, holding back tears. Why was I so sure I knew Professor Foley? And not just generally? I could recall the feel of his embrace. I was certain of the scent of his aftershave. Even his kisses—when I closed my eyes, I could feel those gorgeous lips on mine. I could taste the familiar minty sweetness.

And why wouldn't my bones stop hurting? Irritation set in and I rubbed my neck.

Why on earth couldn't I remember anything before I'd arrived in my shiny black Jaguar?

I picked up a fluffy beige teddy bear from my bed and stared at it. "Are you special? Or just some stupid random toy?" I chucked it at the bed.

"Whoa," Sasha said. "What'd the bear do to piss you off?"