Zane's Point of View
"Okay, thank you for letting me know Dan. I'll see you again tomorrow."
I sigh while putting my phone down and run my fingers through my hair.
"Nothing?"
I look up at Jake as he enters my office and takes a seat opposite me.
I shake my head.
"No, nothing. He says it's just like last time, the tracks and scents just vanished."
Jake frowns.
"How is that even possible? They cant just disappear into thin air. They have to be somewhere."
I sigh again and shake my head.
"I honestly don't know. It makes absolutely no sense. I'm heading over there again tomorrow. Maybe we missed something."
We both sit in silence, thinking about the leads that keep turning out to be dead ends.
"He looks just like you, you know."
I frown and look at Jake confused.
"What?"
"Your son. He looks exactly like you."
"My son? What are you talking about? I don't.." Suddenly realization dawned on me and I stopped midsentence. "Shay's son?"
Jake nods his head.
"Yes. He's yours. There's no doubt about it. It's why neither her nor Megan ever mentioned him to me."
I swallow. "My mate had a son. My son."
I whisper more to my self than to Jake.
"He's a beautiful little boy Zane. And strong, his aura is already noticeable."
I stare at Jake and try to swallow the lump in my throat.
"Why didn't she tell me? Is that why she left?"
Jake sighs and nod his head.
"Yes, that's why she left. She didn't tell you because you rejected her. And she didn't want the same to happen to her baby."
I frown. "I wouldn't do that."
"Come on Zane! You cheated on her the morning after you found out you were mated and rejected her. Why would she think you'd want the baby after the things you said to her? You told her you didn't want or need her."
Jake stopped talking and sighed again.
"She told me to tell you something."
I sit forward in my chair.
"What?"
"She asked me to tell you she didn't need you then. And she doesn't need you now."
I feel a stab to my heart and sigh before I sit back in my chair.
"So she knows you figured it out and were going to tell me?"
He nods.
"Yes. She knows."
"Do you think she'd let me see him?"
Jake shrugs.
"I honestly don't know. You could try. No harm in trying. Do you want to see him?"
I frown at him.
"What kind of question is that? Of course I want to see him. I want to see them both. You know I've been trying to find her."
"Yeah.. About that.. Apparently she doesn't believe it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I told Megan, and Megan told her on the way here.. But she doesn't believe it. She's still convinced that you didn't want her, and she's terrified that you'll subject her son to the same rejection."
"Our son.. And I wouldn't do that."
I sigh and run my hand through my hair.
"I know she has absolutely no reason to believe that but I would never reject our son. He is my first born.. My rightfull heir.. Shit, no wonder her father suddenly started to hate me and Dan got so distant. They knew all along."
Jake nods at me.
"Yes they knew. Megan says Shay's mother had to step in a few times to calm them down. They wanted go cut alliances."
"Shit... My parents are going to kill me.."
Jake smirks at me.
"Oh, please let me be there when you tell them how royally you've screwed up."
I frown at him.
"Watch it, Jake."
He shakes his head.
"No, I warned you that day to stop screwing around. You didn't listen to me then. You may be my Alpha, but I'll side with Shay on this."
I glare at him and then sigh defeated shaking my head.
"I know okay, I was stupid. I didn't really expect her to demand a rejection. And then I didn't want to seem weak by asking her not to give up on me. I was a stupid kid."
"You should apologize to her."
"I know. Do you think she'd let me?"
Jake shrugs.
"I don't know. Honestly she still seems pretty pissed at you.."
I sit there and think for a while.
"I don't know what to do.. I want to go over there and see them both. But I don't think she'd appreciate it if I showed up that soon."
"She probably wouldn't appreciate that yes.. Maybe give her a day or two? You can go over there to see Dan, but don't go looking for her."
"Won't that make it worse? She knows you told me about our boy. So if I know about our son but still don't show up to see them she might think that I'm rejecting him, by not going to see them."
Jake frowns, thinking over what I said and then sighs.
"I don't know. That makes sense though.. We could ask Meg?"
I give him a questioning look.
"Do you think she'd help me? Thus far she hasn't "
He shrugs.
"We can try."
I see his eyes glazing over and I know he is mindlinking his mate.
I wait in anticipation for Megan's arrival.
Soon there's a knock on my door and she steps in.
She walks over to her mate and gives him a kiss before she sits down and smile at me.
"You called for me?"
"It's about Shay.." I start, but her face drops and she stands up.
"No." She says shaking her head turning for the door, but Jake grabs her hand and stops her.
"Meg, please. Just listen to him. For me."
I see them conversing through the mindlink before she frowns and sit back down.
Jake looks at me.
"You can continue."
I look at Megan and she glares at me but gives me a nod.
"As I was saying. It's about Shay. I know I screwed up. But we have a son and I would like to get to know him. I'd also like Shay back, but I'm willing to wait for her. I don't expect her or you to forgive me for what I did. But I really would like a chance. I just want to ask you something since neither my beta nor I know what to do in this situation."
She frown but nods at me again. "Okay?"
I swallow.
"Okay. My first instinct is to rush over there and claim them both but I'm pretty sure she won't appreciate me showing up there this soon. But she knows Jake was going to tell me about our boy. So if I don't show up, I'm afraid she'll see that as a rejection. What do I do?"
Megan looks as me skeptically.
"You want Shay now?"
I sigh and run my hand down my face.
"You don't have to believe me. But I've always wanted Shay. I was a stupid kid en did something equally as stupid. And I regret it."
"Do you just want her back because of Zayde?"
"Zayde?" I frown at her.
"Your son."
I test the name and smile to myself.
"So?"
I look up to see Megan impatiently waiting for my answer.
"Sorry. And no, I don't want her back just because of him. I wanted her back before I even knew about him. I know you probably don't believe me, but it is the truth."
She looks at me for a while and then nods.
"Fine. She doesn't want to keep Zayde away from you, but she's also not ready to deal with you yet. My advice is let Dan set up a meeting between you. Tell her you want to make up for everything but that you'll give her space until she's ready to talk to you. And then ask her to get to know Zayde. That way she'd feel less cornered. And don't demand anything just ask her and tell her your willing to take as much as she's willing to give at the moment."
I look at her and smile.
"Than you Megan, that might just work."
I pick up my phone to call Dan, hoping he'd agree as this would be the most important meeting of my life.