Sacred Ties

Chapter Ten

Zach's POV

Remember it all.

Don't make yourself forget it.

Remember!

I sat up on bed with urgency as I inspected my room corner to corner. My heart was racing and my body felt off like something was watching me. I got off the bed and contacted my bodyguards who gave an okay that nothing was wrong.

I went to check on my son and sleeping soundly, so I left him there then went back to my room. Slowly, the strange feeling on my body dissipated and my heart rate went back to normal. I had sweated so much to dampen my t-shirt so I took it off and proceeded to undress so that I can take a shower.

I thought about the strange dream as I stood in the shower cubicle with hot water raining on my body. It began good as I was with Cemil on a date but suddenly our surrounding felt eerie and I began looking around. I don’t recall how Cemil disappeared but he was gone and I remained there alone.

That’s when the voice sounded, urging me to remember.

I had no idea who it was or what I had to remember. It felt so real and if I wasn’t aware of supernatural beings, I would have dismissed this as nothing but it could be something.

I finished the shower and got out of the bathroom in a towel. I stopped short when I saw Shane standing by my bed. I quickly scanned him up and down and he seemed fine so I quickly went in my closet and grabbed some shorts to put on. Once I was dressed, I went to my son who wanted to just sleep beside me so I held him in my arms and lied down together.

My phone beeped and I reached out a hand to my bedside stand and picked it up. I smiled when I saw who had messaged me so early. It was a quarter to five in the morning of a Friday.

‘Good morning, Mr. Rude.’ The message read and I chuckled. I had protested on the nickname a few times and that seemed to make Cemil relentless in using it. I got from feeling irritated to feeling butterflies when he called me that.

‘Good morning, Lemon. ;)’ I replied and it didn’t take long for my phone to beep once again which was one thing that I loved about Cemil. When texting, he didn’t take too long to reply and he made sure nothing was boring.

‘That nickname doesn’t make sense at all. Stop calling me that already.’

‘Now Lemon, aren’t you calling a pot black? What makes sense to me being a rude man?’

‘Because you are; dull.’

‘And so I’ve told you a lot by now that you, my dear, are sweet and sour; a true perfect combination of a Lemon.’

Our conversation went on like that and it was like no time passed at all but my alarm clock of six proved me wrong. I told Cemil I’d text him later and got Shane up for school.

Ever since that crazy Saturday that I went to take Cemil’s phone number, we have been texting back and forth. I was lucky I got his number that day because I became very busy from the night of that evening and we haven’t met since that Saturday afternoon. Tension has been building little by little until now that I was craving to see him. My day was beginning with him and ending with him. Whenever I had time during the day, I’d call him and hearing his voice was wonderful. Unfortunately, he refused video calls so I could only hear his voice all week.

I was expected to finish my work today and possibly this weekend I might take him out.

I finished getting Shane ready for school and sent him downstairs for breakfast. I got dressed in my work attire and after getting things ready, I left to join my son in the dining room for breakfast.

I sat opposite Shane and started eating my food. I saw Shane occasionally stealing glances at me and then he would focus on his plate then back at me again.

"What is it?" I asked after a moment.

'Why you laugh a lot in bed today?' He signed after a silent moment of our staring contest where he had the stare of 'it's nothing, just looking at you' and I had the stare of 'spill it young man'.

"Did I keep you from falling asleep? Was I too loud?" I frowned. I didn't remember being loud and I made sure to be quiet to not disturb him.

'No.' He shook his head and I narrowed my eyes at him and he quickly nodded. 'Yes you did but I didn't mind it. It was good to hear you laugh so early in the morning.'

Despite the smile that spread on my lips, I still felt bad that I kept my baby from sleeping. I continued eating but a knock on the table had me looking up to Shane again.

'Who was it; a new friend?' He asked and I stared at him wondering why he wanted to know so much. I could have been talking to Charles or Janelle after all.

'I know it wasn't Uncle Charles or Aunt Jane. You don't laugh or smile that much when texting them. You are always scowling.'

I raised a brow at my boy who smiled in return. It seemed I had a very observant child in my care and I loved him for observing and knowing that much about his father.

"That is because they are always annoying me with their texts and I get fade up so I end up scowling at my phone." I explained and he smiled. "And yes baby, a new friend indeed." He nodded and we finished our breakfast in silence.

After breakfast, I took Shane to school and I even walked him to class but just like all week, my hopes of meeting Cemil in the school were unfruitful. I left him at the classroom with a kiss on his forehead and left for work.

The morning went by very well and at lunch I found myself gathering my two best friends for lunch outside the office building. We don't usually go out or I should say I don't usually go out for lunch. I'm always clamped up in the office working my ass off. However, today I needed a break out of that office just during today's lunch time.

"So how have you been guys? We haven't really bonded in the past weeks." I asked while we waited for the food we ordered.

"We've been busy working." Janelle answered in a duh tone.

"Yes to what she said." Charles said while pointing a finger in Janelle’s direction who in turn slapped the finger off. The exchange led to Charles pouting at her while Janelle scoffed while crossing her arms on her chest in irritation. I rolled my eyes at the two and waited for them to be done with their squabble.

"How have you been?" Janelle asked me while ignoring Charles who was still pouting. It was a very amusing sight.

"I've been good and busy like always." I told her as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly texted a 'hello lemon' to Cemil.

"That's a lie."

"Yes to what she said." Charles piped up and I rolled my eyes and turned to Janelle whom I thought would definitely be the one talking sensible sentences today.

"Why is it a lie?" I asked as I checked my phone. I hadn't got a reply yet. I looked up at her and she rolled her eyes.

It seemed by the end of this lunch, eyes would be rolled a thousand times. I just hoped it won't come out of our sockets after getting dizzy from being rolled.

"You are not the same anymore, Zach, you have changed." She stated and took a mouthful of her food that came a minute ago. Charles cleared his throat and I looked at him.

"A good change; ever since you came back from the 'alone time week' you have shown some changes." Charles explained and I stared at the two in question.

How have I changed? What made them say that?

"The occasional smiles to yourself when you think we are not looking." Janelle started and was followed by Charles.

"The distant look in your eyes. Not the bad one but more of a 'thinking about someone special' kind of look."

"The constant checking of your phone has been happening frequently than normal."

"He’s probably waiting for a call or text."

"To sum it all..." Janelle clapped her hands and looked at Charles who caught on to whatever they silently exchanged.

"...we'd say you are happy." Charles finished with a smug smile.

"Okay enough guys. So what? You don't want me happy?" I asked annoyed that they knew me that much but deep down glad that they do. It was like the morning with Shane all over again.

"We do and that's why we are happy for you as well." Janelle smiled and I gave her a nod then turn to Charles.

"Whatever happened out there, I'd say it was excellent. I guess you are not yet ready to give us details." He said with a shrug.

"I'm curious though. Is it someone or something or perhaps, a love interest or a fling?" Janelle inquired.

"It can be a friend too." Charles added. I swear I had been moving my head back and forth between these two so I was frustrated.

"I don't know guys!" I exclaimed.

"Oh come on! We are just asking for that and nothing else, so spill!" Shouted a very annoyed Janelle who hates being in the dark about things.

"Calm down woman, geez. I met someone, happy now?" I smirked at her and she scoffed.

"Yes!!!" Charles shouted happily. If we weren't in a private room then I guess we would have had all the people looking at us. "Not really but okay." He then said with a cough after being hit on the head by Janelle.

"I can't tell you that much but our relationship doesn't have a label yet. So until I at least get together with them, I advise you guys to stay away and don't stick your nose in it." I didn't want to say it was a male. Not that my friends would hate it but it would make them more curious and up my business if they knew.

"Whatever." Janelle said and continued eating, probably ignoring us.

"Just be careful. I won't stick my nose in it for now since I see all is well but one frown on your face then I'll be throwing myself in it just not only my nose." Charles said.

"Okay. Thanks bro." I smiled and we continued to eat in silent.

I know my friends are worried having not to know this someone. We are protective of each other like that and I'd be worried too if I was in their shoe right now. But I can't tell them about Cemil. If they know he's a werewolf then they would think we are mates. If they discover we are not, then they would make sure I don't go after Cemil.

I’ve thought about it, I mulled over it for days. I weighed the pros and cons. I know what I’m getting into with Cemil and I have come to terms with it. I started small, texting; flirting and now I want to take him out. He flirted back whenever I did and that gave me hope. I wanted to try a relationship with him even if it was doomed to fail.

I sighed and took my phone to see if I'd a response yet. I frowned when I didn't find one.

"You okay, bro?"

"Yeah," I answered Charles in a whisper.

Why haven't Cemil texted me yet?

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