Returning To My Rejected Mate

Zane's Point of View

As soon as I see him my feet stop working and I just stand there, staring at the little version of

me.

My heart start beating loudly and I'm struggling to swallow the lump in my throat.

I have a son.. I can't believe we have a son. For a moment my anger sparks at the fact that she

hid him from me for five years I know it's not completely fair of me, I know I hurt her but she hid him from me on purpose, with the intentionof never telling me I had an heir. She didn't even give me a chance.

Before my anger can go any further a loud whisper catches my attention.

"Is he my daddy?"

I blink, trying to focus staring into the wide eyes of our son. I feel tears starting to prick my eyes. And before Shay can even speak I get down on my knees and smile at him.

"Yeah buddy I'm your dad. My name is Zane."

"Almost like me! My name is Zayde!"

I hear the excitement in his voice as he smiles brightly at me. I smile back and nod at him.

"I know. It's really nice to finally meet you Zayde. Can I get a hug?"

I see him look to Shay, silently asking for permission. She nods at him and he rushes over to me,launching himself into my arms. I hug him close to my chest, smelling his hair, imprinting his scent into my mind.

I can't stop the tears spilling down my cheeks when I hug our son and when I look up I see Shay crying silently as well as she looks at us.

We hold eye contact, over our son's head and she gives me a smile. I give her a small smile back before looking at our son.

He touches the tears on my cheek, frowning.

"Why are you crying daddy? Are you sad?"

I give him a smile and shake my head.

"No I'm just really happy to meet you."

He gives me a big smile and hugs me again.

"I'm really happy too!"

He pulls away and looks over to his friends.

"Do you want to come play with us?"

He gives me a hopeful look and I stand up and look over at Shay again.

She nods as she moves closer to us.

"I think that's a great idea. Why don't you two go play with your friends and I'll go get us some food and drinks?"

Zayde nods and starts pulling me along to his friends.

I see Shay watching us for a little while, before she heads into the packhouse.

As we approach his friends, Zayde introduces me to his friends and heart wants to burst from

happiness as he introduces me as his father.

The pups all smile at me and soon we're kicking the ball around the playground.

Shay's Point of View

I take a deep breath trying to get myself together as I look at them through the kitchen window. "Are you okay?"

I whip my head to the side. Holding my heart.

"Jesus Ash! What are you doing? You scared me!"

"Sorry, how was I suppose to know you didn't hear or smell me?"

She said as she shrugged and looked out the window at Zane and Zayde playing with the other pup.

"I see you've introduced them. I'm assuming your talk went well then?"

"I guess. We didn't really talk you know, like we talked but we didn't talk about things regarding

Zayde, we sort of just yelled at each other.. So we still have to have a talk."

I shrug as well while I head over to the fridge to get out bread and things I'd need for sandwiches.

"So what happened?"

I sigh and give her a rundown of what happened after we left the office.

"Oh wow.. Okay. How do you feel about that? You know him stating that he's going to pursue

you? Or the fact that he's still your mate?"

I look up from the sandwiches and frown.

"I'm not sure. I always thought that maybe there would still be feelings between us, but I didn't

expect an actual matebond to still be between us. That threw me a little. I don't really know how I feel about him or this matebond."

She nods as she leans against the counter.

"I get it. You were unsure of things even before the matebond was thrown in there again. But you said he'd wait right?"

I nod.

"That is what he said.'

"Well, then give it time. Let him and Zayde get to know each other and then maybe you could spend sometime together as well."

"I don't want to be alone with him. Not yet. I'm scared of giving in to the matebond before we've sorted things out."

"Then spend time with him and Zayde, it'll take the pressure of a little. With a kid, there ain't enough time for deep conversation."

I smirk at her.

"That's true.. Maybe I'll try that."

I look up at her and then narrow my eyes before they widened and I squealed.

"Your marked!"

I take a wiff of her scent.

"You've mated as well! Go Ashley, so did you start on making me some nieces and nephews?"

"Oh god Shay stop!"

Ashley says blushing and pushing me away from her.

I laugh and wrap my arms around her, giving her a tight hug.

"I'm so happy for you Ash. Dan is a great guy, and I'm not only saying that because he's my brother."

She smiles and nods, getting a dreamy expression on her face.

"He really is great. I know we came here under terrible circumstances but this trip is the best thing that has happened to me."

"The best thing huh? What about me?"

Dan says as he comes into the kitchen and wraps his arms around Ashley from behind. She

snuggles back into him and gives him a kiss.

"Okay the second best things."

"Now that sounds better."

He says grinning down at her.

"Awww you guys are so cute!"

Dan smiles at me. "How are you?"

I shrug.

"I'm okay I guess. We still need to have a talk but for now I'm not going to do anything. So,

would you guys like to join us for lunch outside?"

I say, gesturing to the sandwiches.

Ashley nods.

"Yeah sure, I'll just get a few more things, Dan you go find Jake and Meg and then all of us can

have a picnic?"

I nod and smile.

"That sounds great. I'll just go get Zane and Zayde."

Ashley nods at me as I leave to go get my boys.

I stop in my tracks when I realized what I hust thought.

It has to be this damn bond. I have to be careful around him.

I put on a smile as I near the spot they're playing at and two identical pair of eyes turn towards

me.

"Boys! Come on, were going on a picnic."

Zane comes over, with Zayde on his back.

"Who's we?"

"Well, us, Dan and Ashley and Jake and Megan."

I say as we fall into step, heading back to the packhouse to meet the other.

My heart skips a beat when suddenly he takes my hand.

"That sounds like fun."

"Hmmm."

I make a noncommittal sound, while staring at our intertwined fingers.

"Shay, are you okay?"

"Uhm, yeah fine. Let's go they're waiting for us."

I untangle our hands and walk faster to put some distance between us.

Yeah, I'll definitely need to be more careful.