“I wish I could help you, Zahra. But Riley didn’t want me either, so…” I turned around and faced her.
“That is actually why I invited you here. I was hoping you would tell me why you are not with him.”
I took a deep breath because I had no idea what I should be telling her. I didn’t even know why I was here and not with him. She wrapped an arm around me and pulled me to her side as we walked down the stairs to the main house.
“Does it have something to do with Andrea?”
My head snapped to her side as my eyes rounded. How did she know about her?
She guided me to sit down at the dining table before she went to one of the cabinets, took out a folder, and sat beside me.
“A year ago, I felt something snap, and since I was with my husband, I knew it had nothing to do with him. So I traveled to see if it had something to do with Riley or Melvin. I found out Melvin died, and I was convinced the bond that snapped was the Alpha command that he gave me. I was finally free to see my son. But I didn’t go to see him right away. Instead, I hired a detective to gather information about him. I had missed his entire life, and I wanted to have something to tell him when I saw him. It was then that I found out how much he hated me. That he avoided females of the Alpha lineage. He doesn’t trust Alpha Females, and he has chosen Andrea to be his mate.”
My heart clenched at the mention of Andrea’s name. Zahra opened the folder, and pictures of Riley and Andrea popped out.
“Those were taken a year ago. Andrea was still in a boarding school, and Riley would often visit her. And I thought maybe she was his fated mate, only for the detective to tell me that she was only seventeen. It was like history being repeated.” Her hand reached for mine before she continued. “Please tell me he didn’t reject you for a chosen mate?”
I shook my head, and relief washed over her face. “Andrea found her mate, and they parted ways. She was already out of the picture when I came.”
I didn’t want to tell her more about Andrea because it wasn’t my story to tell.
“Oh, Goddess, thank you!” A real smile tugged at her mouth as she squeezed my hand. “Tell me, this disagreement between the two of you, can it still be fixed?”
“I don’t know. If he wants me back, he should have found me by now.”
“Did you feel anything if he had been intimate with someone?”
I shook my head again.
“I don’t know my own son, but I think he’s an idiot if he lets you go. Well, he is already, right?” She giggled, and I couldn’t help but giggle as well.
“I honestly have no idea why he got mad and asked me to leave. Maybe he just got tired of me.”
“I don’t think so. He has the power to reject you. If he didn’t want you, he could have easily done it and moved on. Maybe it’s better this way. Let him think. I’m sure he won’t be able to fight the pull of the bond and will come looking for you. And while he thinks things over, do not for a second think you are at fault. Misunderstanding happens. It’s the way you react to it that makes a difference.”
I smiled at her words because she was right. Riley and I needed to work on our anger issues.
“But while you’re here, I will make sure that you’ll enjoy your stay. Why don’t you move in with us?”
END OF FLASHBACK
Chapter 64
NADIA.
Although I didn’t movein with them, I spent most of my free time with her and her lovely family. I met her mate, Leandro, as well as their twin daughters, Bella and Ellie. And they never once made me feel like I was an outsider.
Leandro even complained that he was further outnumbered by my presence and would joke that he needed Riley, so at least he could have someone to complain to.
The mention of Riley’s name filled my heart with pain. And every day that I didn’t see him was adding to the pain growing in my chest.
I spent the whole morning just rolling and lounging in my bed. I was too lazy to get up and didn’t have any appetite to eat at all. It wasn’t until my stomach complained that I forced myself to eat. But even then, the food tasted bland, which was strange because omelets have always been my favorite, and I cooked them the way I wanted them. But then I guess I was just missing Riley too much today, and nothing felt right.
I didn’t have work today, and I was meeting Zahra. She wanted to introduce me to the new owner of the boutique a few blocks from the restaurant where I worked. She said that the new owner was human but mated to a shifter like us.
I kept walking, enjoying the breeze as it played with my hair and waved to people greeting me along the way. I was only three blocks away from the boutique I was heading to when Arrow began prancing in my head.
She seemed agitated, but she didn’t know why either. Goosebumps started to rise from my skin, making me stop in my tracks. I spun my head around to look at the surroundings.
