"Y-You don't remember me?" I already knew the answer to this question. I hate that I had to ask her, because saying those words had my heart breaking. When after 40 seconds Maya doesn't say anything, all she does is blink, I ask her again. My fingers brush some hair out of her face and tuck the unruly strands behind her ear. "Do you remember who I am?"

Her cerulean orbs gaze into mine, but there's no recognition and yet again no answer. In an effort to conceal my feelings so I won't overwhelm her, I gently push the back of her head so she'll press against my chest. I inhale deeply and exhale heavily, hurriedly blinking away the tears and swallowing the lump in my throat. Jax is whining in my mind and his nails scratch against the cage I have placed him in. I pull her back out and smile, well I try to smile. It's probably more of a grimace than anything. Maya blinks again and darts her focus to random things around the room before her eyes linger on the needle in her hand. Her delicate and bony fingers move to take it off, slowly I place my hand on top of hers to stop. "It's to get fluids into your system baby girl. Let's leave it in, okay?"

My mate's hand falls but she doesn't acknowledge in any other form that I had even spoken let alone asked a question. "Are you hungry?"

'Maggie, bring Maya's food please.'

I didn't even wait for a response, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't get one. I don't like this. I hate this so much, my heart hurts. It literally feels like someone is clenching my heart in their hands and squeezing until I can't breathe anymore. "Are you in any pain baby girl?"

'Cory, Maya's awake.'

I can't believe I didn't call for him immediately. I'm going to get him to give her some medicine just in case. Seconds later the door opens, I can hear Kris growling lowly and a young voice telling him to calm down. Cory's eyes focus on Maya in a frantic manner, I hold her tighter – surprisingly she isn't pulling away. I'm sure she's afraid of repercussions if she does which I hate but I love holding her in my arms. After inhaling, his hands unclench and he slowly steps towards us. "Morning Maya." Even though it's 7:56 at night.

No response.

"How're you feeling?"

She won't even look at Cory. Her focus is completely fixated on me… more specifically my eyes. I remember staring into her eyes for minutes on end, there was so much emotion. Love, lust and more love swirled through them because it belonged there. Scratch that, belongs there. But now, I don't see anything and there's that painful clench of my heart again. "Can you give her some pain medicine, just as a pre-caution? I don't want her hurting."

He's already pressing a button before I can even finish my sentence when there's a knock on the door. Maggie comes in with a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal and a glass of ice water. "I gave her another dose. Try and get her to eat before she falls asleep again, you have maybe 10 minutes."

I nod in understanding and watch the retreating figures as everyone leaves the room. "Alright baby girl, I'm going to prop you up on some pillows so we can get you something to eat." Again, I force a smile on my lips and carefully roll her on her back after fluffing a few pillows behind her. "I was going to get you steak because that's your favorite, that or chocolate covered strawberries but we didn't want your tummy to hurt." I explain while rubbing her belly lightly.

Again no words but she's just staring at me with her brows just slightly furrowed. I hold her gaze and blindly reach out for the bowl and spoon. Swallowing another lump that's formed in my throat, I scoop up a bite before blowing on it to cool down. "So unfortunately, no steak but oatmeal. Sugar and Cinnamon oatmeal, your favorite type."

She doesn't open her mouth, it's as if her lips are permanently sealed. "Come on baby girl, we need to get you fed, I know there's a monster in your belly." I quip and chuckle lightly to myself, unfortunately she doesn't laugh.

One can hope. Her gaze flickers from my eyes to the spoon and back again before roaming vicariously around the room. When she sits up – without even making a sound from the pain I know she has to be feeling – I watch her every move. "Baby girl why don't you lay back down." I whisper as my hand strokes her arm in a gentle manner. Maya doesn't listen, instead she actually gets up out of bed. "Maya, baby come on." I just can't believe that she's moving with all these injuries and there's no sign that it's actually hurting her.

With an unequivocal amount of girth she grips onto the bar that holds her bag of fluids and drags it. I just sit there and watch her, I don't want to scare her and unfortunately she isn't going to tell me what she's doing. It's when I notice that she's walking to an empty corner in our room that my chin begins to tremble. She curls into a little ball in the corner of the room and closes her eyes. Jax's whimpering knows no bounds.

'Go to mate.'

I was planning on it, but first I hurriedly wipe away my tears. My feet touch the cold hardwood floor as I step out of bed. "You don't have to sleep on the floor baby girl." Maya doesn't acknowledge me but flutters her eyes closed and falls back asleep. Rolling my lips in to keep the sobs at bay, I lie down beside her and pull her fragile body into mine. My lips press against her temple, and I just hold them there to let my tears silently fall. "I love you Maya, I'm going to get you back. I promise. I'll always be here."

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About an hour after we had laid on the floor together – even if I wasn't invited, I carried her back to bed. Luckily she didn't wake up, Cory had come in and explained that she could feel like she was back in the basement if she woke up on the floor. And that's the absolute last thing I want. "W-Why won't she talk?"

'Don't cry Josh, be strong for mate.'

Quickly I blink away the tears before Cory even realizes they were there. "I-I don't really have a good explanation. Either one of two things happened, um silver in her lungs that's prevented her from speaking or she doesn't want to." He rushes out the last one to prevent me from losing control, but I'm just at a loss. By my perplexed emotion plastered on my face he continues, "My bet is on the latter since her throat doesn't seem to be inflamed." Cory stops and furrows his brows for a moment while staring off into space. "Do you remember how I said she shut down? Well, this could be part of that. She doesn't want to subject herself to anymore pain, she doesn't want to show any pain, or feel any pain. I love Maya, but you and I both know that she has, or had a mouth on her." And I'm sure that got her in trouble. "This is her brain's way of coping with that, she can't really feel physical or emotional pain. If she does, she probably won't show it."

My entire body begins to shake with rage. "So you're telling me, she became so accustomed to torture that her body has basically fucking accepted it?!" Before he can answer, I press my nose in the crook of her neck and inhale deeply. Strawberries and vanilla sooths my fury for the moment.

"It's her body's way of coping with it, yes Alpha." He opens his mouth again but shuts it quickly, then repeats his actions. What is he doing? "That's also why she doesn't remember you – or me." He tacks on and is already wincing from the reaction I'm yet to have. I had already gathered that much. I just pull her tightly to me and nuzzle her face with my nose. After thanking Cory and dismissing him for now, I flutter my eyelids closed and will myself to fall asleep and dream of Maya and her voice.

Just her and her voice.

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"Come on baby girl you need to eat. This isn't healthy for you." I beg with my chin trembling, I can feel my eyes start to water as well. It's been 2 days since I first tried to feed her and she's refused every time she's woken up. Not refused, just not said anything or opened her mouth. Instead she stares at my eyes. No, not at my eyes – in my eyes. What does she see? Why is she so mesmerized by them? Not that I'm not flattered but she's enamored by them. "Nothing in this oatmeal will hurt you."

Before I can say anything else the door swings open, instantly I'm hovered over Maya and growling at the intruder. That's what I get for sending Kris away, "I apologize Alpha but I can't wait anymore." Riley. Once I inhaled deeply, lavender tickles my nose so I lie back down beside my mate.

"You don't have to apologize Riley, you've stayed away long enough. I just wasn't sure –"I stop mid-sentence and she seems to know that I wasn't sure about Maya being ready to see anyone else. Who knows, maybe this will help jog her memory?

Riley seems to be caught off guard by my words, but shakes it off as if the emotion wasn't there in the first place. "Hi Maya." Carefully she treads towards the bed, our eyes are locked on our mate who is staring at me then back to Riley over and over again. "How're you feeling?"

When she doesn't answer, I can feel Riley's heart race. I was kind of hoping that since her and Riley were so close and for so long that she would remember her, but that doesn't seem to be the case. She's blocked out anyone who meant anything to her, even if it was unknowingly. "We're trying to get her to eat aren't we?" I reply with a smile in an effort to ease Riley's nerves.

'You try taking a bite first.'

My brows knit together in confusion before reaching for the bowl. Lifting the spoon to my lips she watches every movement. After taking a bite, I hum in agreement because it actually is very good. "See Maya, Alpha Josh took a bite and he's okay." Riley speaks so calm and so sweet, sweeter than normal I don't quite know how she does it. "And guess what? But before I tell you, you can't tell anyone Maya. Okay?" She blinks but glances at Riley as if asking her to continue. "Good. You were always great at keeping secrets. I'm going to have a pup." Riley's eyes lighten in pure and utter happiness, and right now that seems to be the only thing that I'm happy for. "That's right, you're going to be an aunt! We haven't told my mom and dad yet. Do you remember them? My dad is the one who comes in to help you, the doctor. My mom is the one who would get mad at us when we'd play hide and seek in her garden."

"RILEY!" The door slams open again with a frantic Lucas. Again, my body is naturally hovering over Maya who is staring up at me. Once I realize it's him, I peck her forehead and smile wide. "Get back in bed you sneaky little she-wolf."

She playfully winks at my mate before turning to her own, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Feigning innocence, but by the look on my beta's face it's obvious that he can't stay mad at her long.

"So you didn't send me down to the kitchen for a bowl of Lucky Pebbles?" Do those even exist? "You were having me search for a false cereal so you could come down here." My beta wastes no time and lifts her bridal style into his arms. "I know you want to see Maya princess, but you are supposed to be on bed rest for another 2 days."

"Bye Maya." Riley whispers dejectedly. As soon as she's off bed rest I am pretty positive it will be difficult to get her out of this room, so good luck Lucas.

Lifting the bowl off of the nightstand I place the spoon at her lips. "Come on baby girl, I took a bite and I'm fine. Just a few bites and I'll quit bugging you for a little while at least." I can hear Jax whimpering for Maya, like her own little cheerleader. As soon as her lips part from one another, I do my best to not cry out of joy. Her plump lips quickly wrap around the spoon before pulling away like the spoon is silver and slowly chewing. "That's amazing Maya." I applaud with a wide ass grin. "See, it's good right? Just a few more bites."

Progress.

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2 days later.

We're pretty sure Amber has come back. Most of her bruises have healed along with scrapes and cuts that weren't made from silver. Plus, I can feel the sparks like tenfold what I was. Unfortunately Jax is unable to make contact with her, I'm assuming because she's so focused on healing her human. I don't want to think that Maya would block out her wolf. Then again, her mind is the one doing so. Not necessarily her conscious state. Every day is the same, a routine that I've kept her on so she has a sense of normality. She'll wake up at 8 p.m. which only confirms my suspicion that he switched her days and nights. We'll take turns taking bites of the oatmeal till it's all gone and every time she eats a little bit more since I'm eating a little less.

I'll take her to the bath and wash her body, all the while talking about random things. Well, I'm talking about random things – Maya has become a wonderful listener. I have hope that she'll speak in a few days, especially now that Amber is awake. I'll dry her off and lather her body in unscented lotion before using the frankincense cream on her back to help heal the scars. Once she's dressed, I'll brush out her hair. That's Jax's favorite part of the day, from the moment she steps into the tub to the part where we are grooming her. That's when he feels the closest to our mate and I can't blame him because she seems so content, she'll even have her eyes closed. I'd like to think she's enjoying the moment, even if her eyes – when they open – are free of any feeling.

The rest of the day, we lie together in bed. She takes a lot of naps, and I give her lots of kisses all over her face. I have the TV on with her favorite show playing but neither one of us actually watches it. Today, I want to try and mix things up a bit. "Hey baby girl, would you like to walk around outside a bit today? Go to the garden that you used to work on with the Omega's?" Before all this crap started happening. As soon as war was declared she hadn't been out there but I know for a fact she liked all the colors that were in the garden.

When she doesn't answer I crawl out of bed and saunter into the closet with a big smile. I pull a dress down and her leather jacket while I grab a tee shirt to throw on. "I think you'd really enjoy it. I'll get you some sunglasses so it won't be too bright out there. How does that sound?" She just blinks and allows me to dress her. I know it's only been 6 days but I want so badly to hear her voice. Once I'm done putting on her shoes, I take her hand in mine to lift her off the bed.

As soon as we step out of our room an eager Kris stands at attention. His focus fixated on Maya, I'm not quite sure what all he knows, "Maya this is Kris."

"Alpha?" My focus shifts towards the steps where Lucas and Riley are waiting and astounded we've even left the room. "Um, Alpha Allen needs to speak with you." My grip on Maya tightens, I don't want to leave her. "I brought Riley so she could sit with Luna for a little bit."

"I'll stay as well." Kris tacks on, even though he's speaking to me his eyes are on my mate and I hate that. But, I brush it off because I want her safe.

"Lucas post 2 guards outside the door, you and Kris will be inside the room." My beta nods and his eyes glaze over as he calls for our two strongest guards. I shift my body towards Maya, my thumb gingerly strokes her cheek that now has some color in them. Leaving a trail of sparks in my wake, I tuck some hair behind her ear. "Riley is going to stay with you, just for a little bit while I go talk to Allen." I don't want to say 'father' or 'dad', it may be silly but he was the one who kidnapped her. "Once I get back we will go to the vegetable garden and maybe tomorrow we could go to the clearing? Hmm?"

Grinning like a madman, I lift her off of the ground and peck her lips before taking her back in our room. "Don't let me get away with not taking you out there baby girl. You hold me accountable, I'm sure you're dying to get out of this room." Lying her down on the bed, I can't help myself from kissing her again. "You hungry? I'll have Maggie send up some food that isn't oatmeal. I don't think we've made it to steak yet, but we'll get there." I hear 3 sets of footsteps behind me, my heart falls knowing I'm leaving her even if it's just for a few minutes. "I love you baby girl. I'll be back as soon as possible. I won't leave you, okay?"

As I'm about to pull away, I feel warmth on my cheek which makes me halt my movements. Oh my Goddess, she's willingly touching my cheek. Before I have time to relish in it, she removes her gentle caress and closes her eyes to fall asleep. "I love you so much."

Progress.

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So how is everyone feeling about Josh's new caring character? I for one, love it! He's not just being nice to Maya but he's being nicer to Riley as well.