The Missing Mate

Chapter 5: Therapy

Mave

I sat down outside in the rose garden. He still had it the same way, I had left it except for some new roses. I was crying and I could feel the tears running down my face. "Hey come here." I felt Raiden wrap his arms around me and kiss the side of my head. I leaned into him. "You said dating not engaged." I tried to make light of the situation. "They were just dating! I didn't even know they were engaged." He sounded just as shocked as I was. I shook my head at the situation. "Why are you being nice to me?" I asked him with a smile on my face. "When did you become such a crybaby?" He shoved me a little in a joking manner. "Ugh I wish I knew!" I laughed. "I'm sorry for chaining you guys up yesterday. It's just when I saw you, all these emotions of what we had and lost and then you leaving me came bubbling up to the surface. I didn't know how to handle it." Raiden paused. "I know we will never be mates again but maybe we can be mates again?" After everything we've been through he wanted my friendship. "I'd like that."I nodded smiling. "As for Levi, I don't think they're mated and she's not really his type, he's gonna be wanting you back." He kissed the top of my head again and walked away. When he left Scar came out and sat next to me. "Hey you ok?" Scar had concern written all over her face. "Yeah. Raiden warned me, still hard to see though." I shrugged. "Yeah apparently it's hard to explain to." Scar joked. "Blondey in there is pretty confused." We both laughed. Levi would have fun explaining this whole situation. Scar stood up and grabbed my hand. "Cmon Adi's wondering where her Aunty Mave is." She laughed and dragged me back inside. We walked inside and found Raiden coloring with Adi. It reminded me of how he used to play with our son. He was a great dad, I hoped he got the chance to be one again.

Scarlett

"I don't have any toys but I had some old coloring books laying around." Raiden stood up from the table. We had walked in on them coloring. Something about the sight of him with Adi made me feel something inside. I wanted a husband, a man that loved me fiercely, wasn't afraid to walk into danger and didn't think twice about it because it was somebody he loved he did it for. I wanted more kids and I wanted a father that would play and spend quality time with his kids and raise them to do right in the world. I wanted a family, more than anything. I knew Raiden wasn't that man, my mate was out there, in trouble, it was up to me to find him.

Mave

"Hey Mave can we talk?" Levi walked in the room. He must have realized we walked back in the house. "Yeah." I nodded. Raiden got up and left saying he had some pack errands to check up on quickly. Scarlett sat down next to Adi giving me her best "You can do this" face I've ever seen. I followed Levi into the living room. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I didn't know you were alive, I searched for 2 years but I couldn't find you. I should have never given up. I'm so sorry but I'm so glad to see you alive." He was rambling, he was nervous. "Raiden told me about you and Tatum, I'm happy for you as long as you're happy with her." I wanted to be happy for him even though I was heartbroken and devastated. "I saw you're with Raiden again, I'm happy for you two." He didn't mean it I could tell, he was hurt by the thought of it. "We're friends. We could never be what we were but we still have friendship." Levi smiled at that. "That's good, I'm happy for you." I Was ready to ask if Tatum was his mate but she came out asking him for help with a light bulb. Guess her timing was perfect, because he left with her and left me alone in the living room with my thoughts.

Mave walked back into the room looking hurt. "He's an idiot." I told her. "Whatever makes him happy, if that's her it's her." Mave shrugged. "I think it's time to start hitting the road again to look for Ryan. I understand and support you if you want to stay." Mave just shook her head. "You ain't getting rid of me that easy." She came over and hugged me. We went back into the guest room and started packing up the very little we unpacked. "We still need to get the keys from Raiden." She said, picking up some of the bags, I followed her out with the rest, tossing them on the floor of the kitchen and sitting at the table. "He should be back soon. He said around half an hour earlier." I informed Mave. His ears must have been ringing because no sooner the words left my mouth Raiden came walking in carrying a bunch or bags. "We need the keys and we'll be out of your hair." Mave held out her hand for the keys. He handed her a set of keys. "Those aren't my keys." I refused to believe he was dumb enough to think they were. "No you're right, those are my keys to the motor home I rented." What the f**k was wrong with this guy? "Why would you give us keys to a motorhome? Where are my truck keys?" I demanded. "I'm going with you and it's a lot less cramped then a truck." Mave left out an exhausted sigh, like she was over the theatrics. "You are not going with us, you have a whole pack to take care of." Mave tried but it was no use. "My third in command is in charge, my pack will be fine. Levi and I are going with you along with a few other abled bodies from my pack." Mave threw her head back, that was probably the last news she wanted to hear. Her rejected mate and her mate who was engaged to some other chick wanted to join us on a crazy journey to find my assumed dead mate. Could this get any crazier? "What about Levi's girlfriend? Bet she wouldn't like him running off with his old mate?" Mave was pissed now. "She's staying home and she will get the f**k over it or she will leave my pack. I really don't care, he's my beta. He was already informed." Raiden started throwing more stuff into his bags. "Why do you even want to go?" I asked frustrated. "There are dangerous people out there and I rather not have 2 dead bodies on my conscience and a sad little girl who lost the people she loves most in her life be killed right in front of her eyes. No child deserves that. There's safety in a pack." I hate that he made sense. It pissed me off. "Fine." I agreed. "We leave tomorrow morning. Scarlett if you'd like to Adira here my cousin offered to watch her." I gave him the dirtiest look possible. "I barely know you, I don't know your aunt. She goes with me." He held his hands up in surrender. "I figured as much but I wanted to give you an option." He walked out of the room and out of the house.

~few hours later~

Mave

I opened my eyes and the room was still dark. I looked at the clock on the bedside table it was midnight. I couldn't sleep. I looked over at Adi and Scarlett; they were both fast asleep. I got up, padding my way to the kitchen. I saw Raiden sitting at the table a cup of coffee in his hands. "Can't sleep either?" I asked. "No, unfortunately, I have too much on my mind. Thinking about going for a walk it always clears my mind." He stood up placing his cup in the sink. "Mind if I join you?" I asked, it's been years since I've been here. It may be late but I wondered just how much had changed. We walked along a path behind his house. "This is new." He nodded. We kept walking in silence along the path until we got to the berry patch. "You made this part of your territory?" I asked with tears in my eyes. "I kept it in his memory, he loved picking berries, Mave. I come here every week." He sat on a bench next to a gravestone with our son's name in it. My knees gave out and I was on the ground. I clutched the headstone like a lifeline. "I'm sorry Mave, I should have chosen a different path. I'm just used to taking this one." He was kneeling down next to me holding me in his arms while I wept. "It's OK it's beautiful. You did right by him." He kissed my head. "I miss him so much. I miss watching you play with him, you were such a good dad. Our little boy loved you so much." I cried harder into his chest, completely losing it. "I miss him too. You were such a good mom, all I did was follow your lead. He loved you so damn much." He lost it then to. We sat there holding each other crying. That was our therapy.

Raiden

I hated seeing her cry. Despite everything we've been through, I'd always love her. She'd always hold a special place in my heart. She was my first mate, the mother of my child, and back when we were kids my best friend. I hope we could get back to that last one. She still knew me probably better than anyone else besides Levi, who knows maybe even better than him to, even after all these years. She cried herself to sleep in my arms. I picked her up in my arms and carried her home gently placing her on the bed. I could feel Scarlett's eyes on me as I did. But I paid her no mind tonight. I couldn't handle another heartbreak conversation tonight.