chapter ten

                                    

                                          
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Denali's POV.
My foot taps on the pavement as I wait impatiently for Sian to come out of the restaurant. She eventually emerges from the back door and moves towards her car. She spots me and frowns in confusion. I watch her look back over her shoulder to check we're alone. Once it's safe, she walks over.
"What are you doing here, Denali? I thought we said we wouldn't be seen together."
"I know, but I had to see you, I'm losing my mind."
She hesitates again and then sighs. "Fine, get in my car. I'll take you back into the city centre, come on."
I get into the car with her, turning up my nose at the jelly bean swinging from the rear-view mirror that is scented like cherries. It's a sweet, cloying scent that is unpleasant to say the least. It makes me long to breathe in Dyani's scent, it's so much lighter and far more appealing. 
"What's up? Other than the obvious," she asks me as she pulls into mild traffic.
"I've been trying to contact the Moon Goddess all night," I tell her. "I've been praying, begging for any kind of clue or hint as to where my other mates are being held. Nothing. Not even an inkling."
"Did you use a map?"
"Yes! I went out yesterday afternoon and bought one from a book store. I spread it on the floor and held my hands over it for ages, trying to get a feel for something. There was nothing." I drag my hands down my face. "I feel so lost. I didn't know what to do, so I came to find you. I figured, even if you were busy, I could see Dyani."
"Maybe the Moon Goddess doesn't want you to find them, yet," Sian suggests.
I look at her in shock. "What? Why do you think that?"
"Well, isn't it a little strange that she gave you the sign at the airport to find Dyani, but has now gone radio-silent on you? Perhaps, she doesn't want you to find your other mates just yet."
"Why? What else does she want me to do?"
Sian holds one of her hands up in surrender, keeping the other on the wheel.
"I don't know! But I think it might have something to do with Dyani. She wanted you to find her and maybe she doesn't want you to leave her."
"But Dyani doesn't even know who I am."
"That's the point. Maybe you're meant to help her get her memory back."
"But I can't do that without our other mates. I'm not strong enough alone."
"Okay, maybe not get her memories back, but maybe you're supposed to win her back. You know, the old fashioned way. Perhaps, the Moon Goddess wants you to restore your relationship."
I frown as I consider it. She has a point, it is weird that the Moon Goddess was willing to help me at the airport but not now.
"I'm supposed to court my mate whilst my other mates are incarcerated? It doesn't seem right."
"I know, it doesn't. But they're not in pain, right? You were okay?"
"Yeah, it was boring, not painful. It was missing my mates that hurt more than anything."
"I don't know if I'm right or not, Denali, but this is my take on it. The Moon Goddess wants you to sort Dyani's life out first."
"Sort her life out? What am I supposed to do? She doesn't remember me."