Shay's Point of View
About and hour later Zayde and I were still playing outside when my mother approached us. Zayde smiled at her and ran to give her a hug. She bent down and swept him up into her arms before she hugged him tight and started to kiss all over his face.
I smile as I watch them, Zayde's laugh ringing out around us as he squirms in his grandmother's arms.
"Stop! No more!" He laughs trying to push her face away.
"More? Okay!" She says as she starts to kiss him again.
"No grandma! Mommy help me!"
I give him a grin.
"Okay I'll help."
I say as I begin to tickle him.
He shrieks of laughter and tries to wiggle away from us.
Suddenly I feel someone's eyes on us and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I turn to see if I can see anything. My eyes fall on Dan's office window and my heart jumps into my throat. Eventhough I can't clearly see him, I know it's him.
Zane's here. For a minute I just stare at the window before I swallow nervously and turn back to my mother and my son.
"He's here."
My mother stops tickling my son and nods at me.
"He is. That's why I came down. Dan asked me to come take Zayde and to tell you they are waiting for you in his office."
I nod, but I stay rooted to my spot.
"Are you ready?"
I look at my mother and give her a small smile.
"I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
She gives me a side hug.
"You got this sweetie. Whatever happens in there and whatever you decide, I'll be on your side okay?"
"I know. Thank you. And I promise I'll keep an open mind in there."
I turn to Zayde and give him a smile.
"You're going to play with grandma for a little while okay? Your dad is here. Us grownups are going to have a quick talk and then I'll come and get you and you can go see him."
He smiles at me and nods.
"Okay mommy." He turns to my mother with a frown. "No more tickling grandma okay?"
She laughs at him and nods.
"Okay I'll stop. I promise."
I smile at them and shake my head.
"I'll see you both later."
I give Zayde a quick kiss on the head before I head over to Dan's office.
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Zane's Point of View
"Don't you think they'd mind us showing up earlier than arranged?"
Jake asks with a frown from the passenger seat.
"I don't know. I've tried to phone Dan but he isn't answering. I just feel really antsy. I needed to get out."
"Dan found his mate last night so he's probably to busy to focus on you right now."
Megan pipes up from the back and I look at her in surprise through the rear view mirror.
"He found his mate? Who?"
"Our friend, Ashley that came down with Shay."
"Oh wow. That's great. Now I kind of feel like we'd be intruding."
I sigh and run my hand down my face.
"Let's go have some breakfast at the diner on the way. Once were done eating we'd be there closer to the arranged time. Plus this pup is really hungry. "
Megan suggest and Jake nods in agreement.
"I think that's a good idea. You had us out of the packhouse so early that we didn't even have time for breakfast. She's eating for two now you know."
I nod, turning the car in the direction of the diner.
"Fine. Let's go have some breakfast before we head over there."
About an hour later we're back in the car and heading over to the Desert Shadow Pack.
"Are you nervous?"
Megan suddenly asks and I look at her in the rear view mirror.
"About seeing Shay? Or about meeting our son for the first time?"
"Both."
"I'm nervous but also really excited about meeting our son. And Shay.. Well yeah.. I'm nervous, really nervous. The last time I saw her was the day we rejected each other. That wasn't a good day for either of us. I'm not sure what to expect."
"Are you hoping the mate bond between you two still exists eventhough you've rejected each other?"
For a moment I just sit, thinking about her words before I nod.
"If I'm completely honest.. Yes. I hope it's still there. I hope I can fix what I screwed up back then."
Megan just humm at my words and turn to look out the window.
I look at Jake, who has been mostly quiet this entire trip.
"What are you thinking?"
He looks at me and shrugs.
"I'm mostly just wondering how this meeting will go. I mean in the last five years she's never asked about you. Whenever one of us brought you up she would change the subject. And yesterday. What she told me to tell you. I don't think she ever wanted to see you again, and she was definitely never going to tell you about Zayde. I know you want there to still be a bond between you two, but I'm not sure she wants that. "
I frown at him.
"So you're saying that I shouldn't try with her?"
He shakes his head.
"No.. I'm just telling you what I've seen so far. I don't think she's over what happened. And forcing your way back into her life is going to make things worse."
"So what would you have me do Jake?"
"You're used to getting your way and everyone doing what you tell them. That won't work with her. You'll have to be patient and keep your temper in check. I'm pretty sure she is going to try and test you. You'll have to show her you've changed, prove to her that you'd be worth a second chance."
"I'll try not to let my temper or my ego get the better of me. But I will make my intentions known to her."
Jake frowns but before he can speak Megan pipes up from the back again.
"Make your intentions clear if you have too. But also make it clear you won't force anything on her. Otherwise you can kiss a second chance goodbye. She's always been really guarded. And it's gotten even worse the last 5 years. You really hurt her."
"I know. And I wish I could change what I did back then, but I can't. All I can do is apologize and ask for another chance."
Before she can answer we near their border and the patrol stops our car.
"We're here to see Alpha Dan."
The patroller nods his head before his eyes glaze over.
As soon as his eyes clear he looks at me again and motions with his hand for them to open the gate.
"The alpha says you can head through. They'll meet you at his office Alpha Zane."
I nod, putting the car in gear again.
"Thank you."
As we near their packhouse my heart starts beating wildly.
I park the car and we get out. Jake and Megan head into the packhouse while I stand outside taking a deep breath.
This is it. This is possibly the most important day of my life, I'm finally going to see my mate again after 5 years. And I'm going to meet my son for the first time.
I really need this meeting to go well. I think to myself before I head inside as well.