The Beta's Justice

Chapter 16

Audrey's POV

I was taken aback by her response. There was no way that Leon had not been by to see her. It was possible that she didn't know he had come to see her. "That can't be true," I smiled, trying to sound as though I were joking with her. It was possible she was joking too, just doing a terrible job at it.

"It is," she looked at me with a straight face. Okay, she was not joking.

"Oh, I'm sure he's just been very busy. I mean the pack is slowly going back to some form of normalcy. He's been working so hard," I tried to make it less like he was ignoring her and more that taking care of the pack had taken up so much of his time.

"Why would I care?" She asked and then answered her own question. "Right. I should care. He is my mate," she seemed so nonchalant about it. Could she not feel the bond? Even if she forgot everything, wouldn't she still feel the bond? We don't need to know our mate to feel the bond.

"You don't feel the mate bond, do you?" I decided to ask.

"I'm not sure what I feel," she admitted.

"Oh, well I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure everything will work out. Maybe your body just needs time," I smiled.

"Maybe, but I'm not sure I want to remember," she shrugged.

"Why not?"

"By the sound of it, whatever happened to me before isn't worth remembering," she responded coolly.

I glanced over at June, unsure of how I should respond to what he just said. "Understandable," I agreed. If I could forget, I might just try to.

"I'm getting kind of tired," she suddenly announced.

"Yes, of course," I quickly stood. I had been here longer than I intended to be. I stood up. "Thank you for seeing me," I gave her a slight bow and then headed for the front door.

"You can come again if you want to," she said after me.

I stopped, confused. Why would she want to see me again? I thought maybe I had overstayed my welcome and given her a terrible first impression. "Really?" I asked as I turned around.

"Sure," she shrugged.

"Okay," I smiled. "I'll come by again soon."

She agreed that it would be okay. Leaving the house, I turned around and looked at the house. Something was off about Nova. We were not close, exactly. Nor did we know each other well, but she felt off. Maybe it was because she didn't have her memories. Did memories really shape us so much that without them our whole personality is altered? Letting out a sigh, I turned and left.

Leon's POV

I received word that Audrey had been by to see Nova. I figured she wouldn't do anything to her. However, I couldn't be sure. I was worried.

"You asked to see me?" Audrey asked as she poked her head in.

"I did," I said as I set down my pen.

"How can I help you?" She asked. "Did you want an update?" She inquired further.

"Not at the moment. I called you in because I heard you visited Nova today," I began.

"Oh, yes, I did," she confirmed.

"I see what was discussed?" I tried to keep my tone even.

"I just talked to her about the pack. I also told her about the project you gave me. I said nothing bad, promise," she smiled at me.

"Oh, good," I responded.

"Were you worried?" She laughed.

"I was," I told her and her laughter stopped immediately.

"Don't worry about a thing, but I do have one question," she started. I motioned for her to continue. "Why haven't you seen her?"

Her question felt like a knife to the heart. I had left this office numerous times to see her, but each time I turned back. Her eyes would flash through my memory. The eyes that didn't know me. The eyes didn't feel anything for me. Those eyes would stop me from continuing. I made it all the way to her front door a few times. Even raised my hand to knock on the door, but then someone would call for me or I would be needed by someone. I failed each time to make it all the way to her.

"I tried, but she doesn't know me," I admitted with a sigh.

"It must be hard," she agreed. "But you have a chance at a whole new beginning. You can write a new story with her that isn't tainted by the past," she encouraged.

"I thought that at first, too," I told her. My heart felt heavy at the thought of wishing to see her, but also knowing our bond was barely there if at all.

"Then what is stopping you?" She pressed.

"She is."

"How?" She wasn’t going to let me escape. She was going to keep pushing until I gave in. I knew I should. I knew I should go. I should try bonding with my mate.

"I don't know how to approach her. She doesn't know me anymore. She doesn't know we are mates," I groaned. I need to man up. But she could reject me. She could truly reject me.

"Create a new bond. Maybe over time, the mate bond will kick in. You never know. Her body and mind may just need time. We have no idea what her emotional and mental recovery time will be," her voice begged me to keep trying.

"Since when are you so caring and smart?" I asked in disbelief.

She laughed. "Darren has been really good for me," she beamed at me.

"Apparently so," I chuckled.

"So..." she prompted with raised eyebrows.

"So, what?" I questioned.

"Are you going to go see her today?" She rolled her eyes.

"I'll try," I told her.

"Don't try. Do it," she huffed as she stood. "If you don't step in and start some kind of relationship with her, you could lose her," she stared at me. The seriousness of her tone was almost daunting.

"Okay, today," I promised.

"Good," she nodded and then left the office.

I was left alone with my thoughts. "Who knew the little she-wolf had such great advice," Blaze chuckled.

"I know, right," I agreed.

"Now get going," Blaze urged.

"I have work today," I told him. "I'll go later."

"There will always be work to do. But if you don't do something, we may not always have a mate," he growled at me.

"True," I admitted, and then left the office.

"Now wolf up and go to our mate. Stop being afraid of what she might say or do. You don't know how she will react. The only way we will know what she will say or do is by talking with her and seeing her," he was past agitated. He has been patient with me over this past month. He has not pushed me to see her. He has let me process and work for the betterment of the pack. But now he has had enough. He was done waiting.

"I'm going to stop pushing," I groaned.

"I've given you a month and, during that time, I've kept quiet. I've let you deal with the pack. Now I will complain, order, and say whatever I wish until we reach mate's house," he told me frankly.

"Fine..." I conceded.

"Good," he was appeased. Then he went on a fifteen-minute rant until I reached Nova's house. By the time I got there, I had a headache.

Just as I reached the door, he began another rant. "Blaze, we're here," I stopped him.

"Fine, but I'm not done yet," he promised. Sighing, I knew he was going to continue to rant and tear into me later. I couldn't wait.

"Okay," I muttered and then knocked on the door.

I waited for someone to come to the door. My heart was pounding hard. Then it opened. June stood there, surprised. But soon anger covered over her surprise. "Where have you been?" She whispered-yelled at me.

"I... I've been working on repairing the pack," I tried to explain.

"Don't give me that pathetic excuse," she hissed.

"Her eyes," I started.

"The gaze that says she doesn't know you. Get to know her again and her eyes will change. However, keep staying away and her gaze will remain the same," she cut me off.

"I know, I've already gotten this speech from my wolf and Audrey of all people," I admitted, shame washing over me all over again.

"Good, since we have an understanding, I expect you to treat her with respect, patience, and kindness," she stared me down until I responded to her.

"Yes, I will. Promise," I tried to sound as sincere as possible.

"Then you can come in," she stepped aside to let me in.

"Thank you," I said as I went inside.

"She's in her room. I will get her for you. You can wait in the living room," she instructed me. I nodded and went straight to the living room.

Taking a seat, I waited for her to return, hopefully with Nova in tow. The sound of the clock ticking, louder and louder. The longer I waited, the louder it became. Only the echoing of footsteps began to drown out the ticking clock. Then she was sitting down in a chair across from me. June left the room, but she could still be heard as she moved around the kitchen. Looking at Nova, I could see she was sitting uncomfortably in the chair. The last time we were here, we sat on the couch together. I had given her a necklace. I had given her a picture of her family. It was nice. It was our moment and now she was so far away.

"Leon," she started.

"Yes," I responded quickly, hoping she remembered something. Hoping if she didn't, she wanted to get to know me.

"Why did you come over?" She asked, her voice was flat. She didn't appear thrilled for me to be here.

"I wanted to check on you," I told her honestly.

"Why now?"

"I've been busy."

"Audrey mentioned."

"And worried."

"Worried, why?" Her tone changed. It was less cold.

"Everything between us has changed. I was worried you wouldn't want to..." my voice trailed off. I wasn't sure how to say it and not sound demanding or worse.

"Worried that I wouldn't give you a chance," she finished the thought for me.

"Yea," I confirmed, nervously.

"I'm giving you one now, aren't I?"

"Yes, yes you are," I tried to keep my tone even. "Would you like to go out with me?" I decided to put myself out there.

"When?"

That wasn't a no. "If you're not busy, now?" When she made a face, I quickly tried to give her another option. "Or sometime this week. Just let me know when you are free," I wanted to give her as many options as possible. I wanted to seem flexible.

"I don't have any plans today," she said. Now she seemed nervous as well. That had to be good. If she was nervous, then maybe she wanted to try as well.

"Okay, do you need time to get ready or are you ready now?"

"I'm ready," she gave me a small smile.

"Okay, let's get going. I have someplace great in mind," I thanked the Moom Goddess that I had driven my car over.