THIRD POV
Water splashed in Isaiah’s face for the hundredth time as the sound of child's laughter filled the bathroom. He looked down at my son, who apparently got a kick out of throwing soap in my face. Each time seemed funnier to him than the last.
“Arias, we’ve been in here for twenty minutes. You have to let me wash you,” Isaiah said, trying to grab him, but Arias slipped out of reach. Still thinking Isaiah was playing a game. “That’s it. I’m coming in.”
Arias shrieked, trying to get away from him. Who knew bath time could be this fun. After another ten minutes, Isaiah was able to fully wash and dress Arias for bed. Isaiah laid him down in his crib and grabbed a book from the bookshelf.
For the past few months, this has been their routine since Zira was…unavailable. After James passed, she barely survived it without Arias’s help. She felt like her being weak was the reason James passed. The reason Alaia was able to get to him and almost get to Arias. She blamed herself for everything and pretty much locked herself away.
Isaiah tried to speak with her on many occasions, but everytime he was turned away. He even tried bringing Arias by a few times, but all he could hear was her crying and he didn’t want Arias to see her like that. Everytime it broke his heart that he couldn't get through to her. So he filled his time learning how to take care of Arias and taking care of his pack. He wanted to focus on being a father and Alpha, his father knew he could be.
For the past couple of weeks, Mrs. Lake reported that now Zira was coming out of her room and eating dinner with them. So Isaiah would pop up unannounced hoping to see her, but still she refused to see him. He wanted to take it personally, but everyone grieves differently. At least that’s what he’s telling himself to make it through.
He knew eventually Zira would come around and he was going to be right here when she did. Isaiah waited for Arias to fall asleep before making his way to the Lake’s house.
Hey, I’m going in again. Can you watch Arias for me?
Of course, I will. Literally my favorite thing to do, as his aunt, Isabella said. Hey, don’t get your hopes up, OK?
Stop worrying. I’m just checking in.
Isaiah cut off his mind from her, not wanting to hear that it was a waste of time. Zira hadn’t seen anyone but her parents. Even then, they would only get a few words from her. Isaiah felt determined, as he did every day he dropped by. He knocked on the door and Mrs. Lake answered. She smiled when she saw it was him.
“Good evening, Alpha. Please come in,” she said, opening the door for him to walk through.
“How is she today,” Isaiah asked, looking up the stairs, hoping to see her coming down.
“She’s talking more and only cried once today, so maybe that’s a good thing. I did hear the shower, so at least one of my prayers came true,” Mrs. Lake laughed.
Isaiah joined her as they made their way up the stairs to Zira’s bedroom. Mrs. Lake knocked on the door and waited for a second. No answer, so she tried again.
“Zira, sweetie. You have a visitor.”
Isaiah wiped his hands on his clothes, not sure why they were sweaty or even why he was nervous. It’s just Zira, he reminded himself. Mrs.Lake knocked on the door again.
“Zira?” Silence. Now Isaiah was getting worried. He could smell her scent but he didn’t feel a presence at all. “I’m coming in, OK?”
Mrs. Lake opened the door and Isaiah slowly followed behind her. The room was empty. Knowing Zira, it’s never a good sign if no one knows where she is. Isaiah quickly ran to the bathroom and found it empty as well. He walked back into the room and saw her window open. He looked out the window and sniffed the air. He picked up her scent and noticed the direction it was coming from.
“She was just here,” Mrs. Lake said, looking a bit worried.
“It’s going to be OK, Mrs. Lake. She’s fine. I know exactly where she is.”
She smiled and nodded her head. Isaiah left the house quickly and shifted into Devon. His sense of smell was way better in this form anyway, and he was way too excited to find her. They followed the scent until it brought them to an ‘oh so’ familiar spot. Isaiah shifted back as he walked under the tree of lights he put up way back then. He kept walking until he spotted her, sitting on the edge of the cliff.
His heart leaped at the sight of her. It’s been a couple of months but it feels like this was the first time he was ‘seeing’ her. Her eyes were closed as she leaned back into a stretch, lifting a shawl above her head. The light from the moon outlined her figure perfectly. Her hair, which had grown into a lofty, curly afro, danced in the wind. Only one word came to my mind.
“Mate,” I whispered as I stared at her from the bushes..
Isaiah watched as she sniffed the air and momentarily the world stopped for him. Does she know I’m her mate? What will she think? Will she reject me now? What will happen to Arias? All these thoughts ran in his head simultaneously until he heard her whisper.
“Mate.”
She let out a sigh and finally turned her head in his direction. Their eyes met and Isaiah could clearly see her talking to her wolf. Nina was always a tough cookie, with him, with Devon, with almost everybody. So her approval was critical. When Zira came back, Isaiah stood there still frozen in place, watching her.
Zira turned away, pulling the shawl tight around her body as she continued to look over the waterfall. Isaiah didn’t know what to do, but hell he'd gotten this far. No way he’s turning back now. He made his way over and sat near her, leaving an adequate amount of space between them.
Coward, Devon snickered in his mind.
Isaiah laughed, knowing Devon was right. Zira looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Devon just called me a coward,” he explained.
I second that, Nina agreed. You both have something in common.
Zira laughed a little and that one small noise was enough to send a trill through Isaiah’s body. He wanted more, he thought, as he stared at her. Zira could feel Isaiah moving closer until their arms were touching. Even though the thin material of the shawl she could feel her body react to his.
A part of her wanted to move away as she felt like she was betraying James. Then she remembered the promise she made to him but she was scared. Love has cost her so much already. She didn’t want to go through it again. Though the other part wanted to feel the spark again. It wanted to feel loved and alive. She just wasn’t sure how to take that first step. A hand on her shoulder pulled her away from her thoughts.
“What’s going on in that head of yours,” he asked, with a pensive expression.
Zira blinked a few times. It was hard concentrating when his touch set her body aflame and the way his stormy, gray eyes took her in almost made her forget to breathe. She quickly looked away.
“I was just thinking about how this used to be our spot. It used to be so special and now, it’s just a reminder of that night.”
“Then we can make a new spot,” Isaiah said, grabbing her hand. “It was never the place that made it special to me, anyway.”
Zira looked at Isaiah and realized he was serious. His look was intense and filled with so much love, she could cry. She couldn’t bear his gaze any longer and looked away while suppressing a smile.
“Isaiah-”
“Look, Zira,” Isaiah started while standing to his feet and helping Zira to her feet. He’s been holding on to this for a while and he needed to get it out. “I’m not trying to rush you in any way. Goddess knows this has been a journey for the both of us, but I want you to know that I will wait. For however long you need and I will support whatever you want to do.” Isaiah’s hands balled into fists at his side as he said the next words. “But if you want to reject me…”
“No,” Zira said, surprising even herself with her quickness. “I…I don’t want that. I just…”
“Still need time,” Isaiah finished for her. Zira nodded and felt in a way she was disappointing him until she saw a smile spread across his face.
“That I can give,” Isaiah said, pulling her close against his chest, “if it means there’s a chance for us.”
Zira couldn’t help but smile at his determination. She stared into his gorgeous gray eyes and was reminded of the fire she felt for him. The fire, apparently, never left as it started to cover her whole body. Isaiah pulled her into a hug as they both let out a sigh. This felt perfect-felt right. Hugging each other felt like coming home after a long journey.
Zira didn't need time to know how she felt about Isaiah. She could feel it flowing throughout her body. There was something so intimate, so caring about the way he held her. It filled her soul with so much warmth, she wanted to share it. Zira pulled back only to caress her lips against his. The guilt she thought she would feel was replaced by the love overflowing from him and this kiss. They pulled back, giving each other time to breathe.
"That was...unexpected," Isaiah said, gazing into Zira's eyes.
"Is that why you're looking at me like that," Zira asked with a smile.
"No," Isaiah said, shaking his head. "I'm just...really happy. Being here with you."
"Me too," Zira whispered, capturing Isaiah's lips once again in a passionate kiss.
Their hearts fluttered at the same beat with each passing second. This must be love. This must be their love.