My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"Have you figured out a room for her?" Penelope asked, walking to pick up the tray from the counter.

"You don't think she'll want to stay where she is? There is light there," he replied in surprise at the question. He imagined that she would stay there for some time.

"There is light there, but it's not very cozy. She will probably prefer a room," she told him.

He groaned and rolled back on his heels. He never had alyko staying with him in the castle, and now he had two of them. He didn't want the Luna kept with the others where she could be vulnerable to mistreatment by his lycans, and when he discovered Penelope's exceptional scientific skills in addition to her Winter affiliation—the Winters being a family whose reputation preceded them—she seemed like a natural choice to help him with the Luna rather than one of his other alyko.

"She might prefer to be close to my room in case she needs something," Penelope offered, taking his silent pondering as an opportunity.

"Sure," he said, thankful for the offer. It wasn't like he had to worry about the two of them plotting to kill him.

"O-okay," Penelope replied, surprised by his easy acceptance of it. "Is there a room ready? Or should I…"

"I'll have one of my crew take care of it. And the stew," he raised his eyebrows as if reminding her that it was under control. "They work fast."

Then he just… walked off. He was so casual and at ease now. It reminded her vaguely of a drug addict who had gotten his fix and now found the world to be very agreeable.

She watched the doorway where he had disappeared, stunned by how easy of an interaction that just was. She had gotten her way.

With that thought, she left the kitchen with a satisfied grin… at least until she realized how hard it was to find her way back again. Why couldn't he have stuck around long enough to show her the way? Maybe she should create little sticky notes with arrows to help her navigate in the future.

When Penelope entered the brilliant light of the infirmary, she found August standing next to a window looking out. She still had on the white hospital gown, and her arms were wrapped around herself in a self-soothing kind of way. Penelope felt a pang of guilt when she saw her standing like that—looking so lost and alone—but she reminded herself that this was for everyone's benefit. And August would remember everything soon, including her baby. She would make sure of it.

"I brought a few things for you, and there will be stew done a little later. How are you feeling now?" Penelope asked, setting the tray on the side table before glancing back up at the forlorn girl.

"Confused," August mumbled, one of her hands playing at her neck as if something should be dangling there. "I don't remember anything, but I feel like I should."

"Amnesia is like that. Don't worry, it will come back to you," Penelope encouraged. "Would you feel better getting into some clothes? There is a room being made up for you right now."

"A room? I'm staying here?" August turned to look at her surprised. "Can't I just go home?"

"No, not just yet. We want to keep you under evaluation for the time being," she explained.

There was also the issue of August's family not remembering her, Penelope thought, grimacing internally. The home that she recalled was no longer available to her. This memory alteration was not her favorite enchantment to perform, but it could always be reversed. That was the thought that kept Penelope sleeping at night.

"But I'm fine," August scoffed, looking down the length of herself as if it were obvious.

"You may feel fine, but we still need to keep you for observation. And honestly, part of it is pandemic restrictions," Penelope told her.

August took a look at the tray and Penelope thought she saw her visibly pale. She must really be feeling the effects of her pregnancy at this point.

"Try the ginger tea," Penelope offered, knowing that as a natural anti-nausea supplement, ginger may help ease the girl's discomfort.

"Thank you," August replied, hesitating but eventually picking up the cup and wrapping her hands around its warmth. She sat on the edge of the bed with the overwhelming urge to cry.

"It will get better," Penelope told her, sitting on the neighboring bed.

"Where did you get that necklace?" August asked, gesturing toward one of the chains hanging around Penelope's neck.

"Which one?" Penelope asked, looking down with a curve on her lips.

"The silver medallion. Is that a… crow?" August asked, taking a test sip of the tea.

"Uh, I don't know. I actually found it. Would you like to wear it?" Penelope offered, removing the necklace.

"Oh, no. No, that's okay," August shook her head. "I just… it reminds me of something I guess."

"What does it remind you of?" Penelope asked, setting the necklace on the table between them where the tray of food was.

August picked it up in one hand and ran her thumb over the raised surface of the design. "I don't know," she mumbled, but as she did a small smile formed on her face.

"It has no sentimental value to me at all. Why don't you keep it? As a gift from me," Penelope said, patting August's knee.

August glanced up at the interesting neuroscientist slash nurse. "Are you sure?" she asked. There was something about this medallion that brought her a kind of peace.

"Absolutely," Penelope smiled. "How is the tea?"

"It's good. Thank you," she answered, taking another sip as her eyes continued to wander over the strange silver design in her hand.

"Good. How about I go check on your room and give you a chance to get dressed? There are some clothes for you…" Penelope trailed off, rising from the bed to approach a small cart that was stationed nearby.

She opened a drawer and removed the freshly laundered clothes that August was 'found' in. She could have easily gotten her new clothes, as Zagan seemed to have an endless supply of whatever was needed, even clothes in Penelope's small size, but she hoped that giving August back the clothes she had on previously would further help in jogging her memory.

Zagan may insist on doing things his way with this memory enchantment, but that didn't mean Penelope couldn't encourage August to remember on her own.

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