Shay's Point of View
We had just gotten our bags from baggage claim and were moving trough the airport, looking for Megan when suddenly Zayde screamed and tugged away from me.
"Auntie Meg!" He ran right at her, and she bend down to hug him.
"My little Cherub! Look how big you got!" She hugged him tightly and tickled him. "I missed you."
Jayde laughs and kisses her cheek. "I missed you too." Then in a whisper. "How's my baby doing?"
Megan smiled and ruffled his hair. "The baby is doing great and can't wait to meet you." Then she stands and turns towards us with a big smile.
"You guys! Get over here!" We had a little group hug.
"Oh god I missed you guys! I'm so glad you are here. Although I wish it were under different circumstances." She looked at my and gave me a small smile.
"How are you doing?"
I sigh and shrug. "I don't really know. I just feel kind of numb.. But also scared.. and angry, at the rogues.. but mostly myself. I keep thinking what if he doesn't make it, and I have wasted all this time that I could have spend with him.. That Zayde could have spend with him."
We reach her car and load our bags into the trunk.
"No, don't do that. Your dad is strong and so very stubborn. He ain't giving up just like that and neither should you." She hugs me before we get into the car.
I get into the back with Zayde while Ashley sits shotgun.
"So, no mate yet?" Megan asks looking at Ashley who sighs and shakes her head.
"No. Nothing. I am starting to think I'll never meet him." She pouts.
Megan shakes her head. "You two are so gloomy, how am I friends with you. I'm sure you'll meet your mate soon. Who knows maybe he is in one of the packs we're heading to."
"Won't that be great? Then the 3 of us can see each other all the time!" Ashley turns around in her seat and smile at me while Megan looks at me in the mirror.
I give them both a small smile. "Yes, sure. That would be great."
I look out the window, I hear Zayde and them conversing. But I keep thinking about what if Ashley does find her mate here. She would move here with him. It's not that I don't want her to be happy but then I'm losing both of them.. I sigh softly, resting my head against the window.
"Shay, are you even listening?"
I jolted looking at Megan, frowning at me in the rear view mirror.
I give her a sheepish smile. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
I saw Ashley and Megan giving each other a look and then Megan looked ahead again.
"I was trying to prepare you. There is a very high chance that you'll run into Zane." She said slowly.
I felt my throat constricting. "What?"
"Both packs have had a lot of rouge attacks. Both packs lost quite a few people until they decided to work together. Zane has been assisting your brother and handling the situation while your family is focusing on your dad."
My heart started pounding and my hands started to sweat. Why didn't I think about that.. I don't know if I'm ready to face him on the very first day I'm back.
"Mommy are you okay?"
I snap my eyes to Zayde, that is on his knees next to me touching my cheek.
I give him a smile and hug him. Burying my nose in his neck, breathing him in to help me calm down.
"Yes baby. I'm sorry, Mommy is okay."
I look up still hugging my son, and smile at the two worried looking ladies.
"I'm a big girl. And I guess if I am meant to run into him it is the Goddesses will. Although I do hope her will is on my side and holds out for a few days."
They both smile back at me.
"Just remembered, no matter what happens we're here for you."
I give them both a thankful smile.
The rest of the way we make small talk, while my stomach keeps fluttering at the thought of running into my ex-mate.
I look at Zayde talking and gesturing excitedly. I know Zane's wolf would smell and claim him as soon as he lays eyes on him but I am not sure if Zane himself would want to claim our son. I sigh.
"What's wrong?"
I look up and meet Megan's eyes in the review mirror.
"It's just.. He didn't want me.. I don't want him to face the same rejection." I look at my son, that has his face pressed up against the window looking out at the forest passing by.
"He's so sweet and innocent. I don't want that for him." I feel my heart clenching just thinking about it.
Megan sighs. "I need to tell you something. I promised Jake I wouldn't, and I haven't till now.. Only because you did not want to hear about anything that involved him. A few months ago, I accidentally heard a conversation between Jake and Zane. He was looking for you. I don't really know for how long but he did."
I look at her, thinking about what she said and frown before shaking my head. "No I don't think so. They had to have known you knew where I was."
"They know that yes. But I've never told them. Not even Jake. I know Jake tells Zane everytime we talk to you, but they've never asked me out right where you were, and everytime Jake tried to get something out of you, you'd change the subject or you suddenly had to cut the call. You even refused to meet me when Jake was around, which I get. And you know everytime I came to visit we were very careful in hiding were I were heading, so they had no leads. But according to Jake he has been trying to find you. I don't think Jake would lie to me, you know how much it bothers him what Zane did."
I look out the window thinking about it before I shrugged. "I don't know if I believe it. It's easy to say he's been looking for me, doesn't mean it's actually true."
"But what if it is? What if he realized he made a mistake and he did look for you?" Ashley asks softly.
I shake my head. "I honestly don't know. If he wants to be in Zayde's life I can't keep him away. But I'm not sure if I can just forgive and forget and allow him back in mine."
Ashley and Megan look at each other before they both nod slowly.
We sit in silence until Zayde suddenly sit up excitedly.
"Mom! Look! There are wolves running in the trees next to the car!" He shouts excitedly.
The three of us just smile at his excitement and I see us approaching the border gate.
The guards check the car. Looking at Zayde curiously but not asking anything.
After they're done they step back, and a guard, Luke, that used to be one of my friends comes to my window and smile.
"Welcome home Shay. We've missed you."