Chapter 5

Zayne

I tapped my feet restlessly as we waited. The Air conditioning was on but I was beginning to sweat. The shirt suddenly felt too tight and the air too thick.

Elias didn't look bothered. He hummed away to the music coming from the car radio on low volume.

“How much longer?” I asked impatiently.

I saw him resist the urge to roll his eyes at me.

“Few more minutes. Maybe more.” He shrugged.

“It's taking too long.” I grumbled.

“You're the one who insisted on leaving early even though I warned against it repeatedly.” He replied, his irritation very obvious.

“You're the one who suggested we wait in the shadows like criminals. I should be in there right now.” Even as I said it, I knew how unreasonable I sounded and the look on his face said the same.

“You want to waltz in there, throw her over your shoulders and hop on the next flight out of Maine?” Elias drawled.

“Not exactly that but…”

“Good, then we wait, Alpha.” He said the last word as a way to hold himself back.

Elias and I had a relationship that went farther than an Alpha and a Beta. He was my friend long before he became my Beta and sometimes it was hard not to blur the lines between the two. Especially when it was just the two of us.

His act of helping out Marissa would have been considered betrayal as my Beta. But as my friend, and a friend of Marissa's as well, I could see why he did it. And if he hadn't, we both wouldn't be here. I would have lost Marissa forever.

He sighed and turned off the music. “She lost her memories, Zayne.”

“I know.” I said but he shook his head.

“No, you don't. All of them. She lost all of them. She doesn't remember who her parents were, where she grew up, what her favourite food used to be. Nothing. She doesn't even remember being a werewolf.” His voice was heavy with grief.

He was right. I didn't know. I didn't know exactly how bad the situation was. I wasn't there for her all these years but he was. Through the fear and uncertainty she felt, through the confusion and stress, He'd been by her side.

I ran a hand across my face. “I know you said to take things slow. And I promise I will, I just….” I trailed off.

“You did promise but I don't think you know what taking things slow means.” There was a hint of anger in his voice now.

“Look I was just anxious alright. I haven't seen her in five years.” I threw up my hands in surrender.

“Oh yeah? And whose fault is that?” He scoffed.

“Elias.” I growled in warning.

“I'm sorry. I just don't want anything to hurt her again.” He folded his hands.

“I know that….” I began but he cut me off.

“No, I mean it. You have to promise that if she says she doesn't want you back, you'll let her be. Don't complicate her life further .”

I looked at him in surprise but he wasn't joking. He kept his eyes staring straight ahead, refusing to meet mine but I could see them narrowed in determination. Marissa was still my wife legally since we'd never gone through an official divorce but to Elias, she was his to protect and care for.

I turned away from him. I could get angry at the situation if I wanted but he had every right to feel this way. I had rejected Marissa afterall. I regretted it but for now, that changed nothing.

I sighed in acceptance, “I promise Elias. If she doesn't want me back, I won't put up a fight.”

“Good. Here she comes.” He announced.

I perked up instantly and leaned forward. There, walking out of the building with other workers and laughing with a woman by her side, was my Wife. My Rissa.

It had been more than five years since I last saw her and I didn't know what to expect. She looked even more beautiful than I remembered. Her hair was kept shorter now but that highlighted her facial features better. Her hips swayed in the tight grey skirt she wore. Hips that were curvier than before. Every part of her looked curvier than before.

She looked, well, happy.

It took everything in me not to jump out of the car and rush to her. Take her in my arms and hug her close. Tell her I was sorry.

But Elias was watching me closely and I wasn't entirely sure if I made a move, he wouldn't tackle me to the ground before I got halfway across the car park.

Marissa and her friend got into her car. A small, beat up honda. I stayed still and watched them drive off. The silence in the car stretched for a while.

“She looks happy.” I said finally.

“Yeah. She doesn't remember her past life so there's hardly any bad memories to keep her down.” Elias replied.

“Yeah. But she also seems to really like this place.” I looked up at the company building. “Do you know who owns it?”

“I do,” Elias replied with a suspicious look at me, “Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.” I allowed the statement hang for a few seconds. “And what about the children? My children.”

“Ashlyn and Asher,” Elias chuckled, “bunch of troublemakers those two. They're doing great.”

“When can I see them?” I asked. I knew what his answer was going to be but still.

“Remember what I said about taking things slow?” He shook his head, “It's been five years, Alpha. You don't get to drop into their lives like nothing's happened.”

“Is she seeing anyone?” I asked, ignoring his reply.

“What? No. None that I know of…”

“Good. Let's head back to the hotel then.” I ignored Elias silently seething beside me. I was going to take things slow but not as slow as he intended.

Marissa loved me once. And she would love me again.