Reject, A Continuation

Chapter 4

We've settled into our motel room, and after I checked the beds for bed bugs I laid Archer down for a nap since he used up all his energy in the car. 

Sighing I began to sort our suitcases out, taking out a bunch of the snacks and groceries. Cursing to myself that I forgot to get Archer's cheeseburger. I would quickly go out while he's asleep but seeing how we're going to have an important visitor soon, I figured I'll get sorted out first. 

It was only an hour and a half before I heard knocking - no pounding - on the door, and I thought for a moment. 

What if I didn't open the door? 

I stood right before it, taking a deep breath as I go for the door handle, opening it slowly and the scent of my mate overwhelmed me. The smell of the ocean strangely enough. 

I took a second to take in his appearance. 

His hair was a lot longer than I last saw him,  tied in a messy bun on the back of his head but it looks like it is just longer than shoulder length. He noticeably has a thick scruff, and large bags under his eyes like he hasn't had a proper nights sleep in a long time. 

Though he was still the tall and strong man I remember all though years ago. 

"Marina?" He breathlessly asked, looking at me like I was an illusion. 

"Hi Q," I awkwardly shuffled from feet to feet, not knowing what to say to him as he continued to stare at me, like he just memorize every detail of my face. "D-do you want to come in?" 

He was unresponsive, gaping at me and eventually reaching forward, gently caressing my cheek with the back of his finger. Going up and down and eventually just cupping my cheek, my hand instinctively holding his hand to my face, leaning into it as his scent continued to surround me. 

"Y-you're here," he mumbled more to himself than to me. 

I backed up slightly to get back into the room much to his displeasure as he took a massive step forward, easily getting rid of the distance between us and wrapped his other arm around my body, pulling me even closer so that there wasn't a single gap between us. I was now drowning in his scent, his smell now clouding my mind and judgement. 

It was like it was just me and him. 

I didn't even realize we were fully into the room until the door slammed automatically since I let go of it. 

Jumping, I snapped out of my mate-induced trance, pushing away from him which he really didn't like, removing his hand from my face to link his fingers behind my back  to keep me in his arms. 

"I've missed you so damn much," he murmured, staring down at me. In fact I don't even think he's blinked since he's laid eyes on me. "I'm so so sorry that I took you for granted." 

"It's fine," I comfort, knowing it wasn't really his fault. I behaved as I thought I should according to my visions, not really considering his present feelings or our relationship. "It's not your fault." 

He shook his head, pulling me incredibly close and resting his head in the crook of my neck, taking a deep breath only to let out a little growl. 

"You smell like another male," he seethed, pulling away just to look me right in the eye, "Who?" 

I smile at his silliness, "Your son," I blatantly stated pushing him away slightly so I could look to Archer who was still deep in sleep. Usually I'd wake him up by now so I won't ruin his sleep schedule, but I really need to speak to Q alone. 

Like he completely forgot about him, Q stared at Archer like he was just a stranger would. It was a bit understandable as children born from non-mate couples have a tendency to be rejected by the wolves of their parents, but Archer was too important for me to allow him such a terrible fate. He was the reason I was given my powers in the first place. 

"He's a good kid," I whisper, pushing Q's arms gently only to realize he'll definitely not let me move, "He reminds me of you sometimes." 

Q seemed to still be processing the fact I kidnapped his child and raised him as my own for the past 7 years. He seemed to just be one-track-minded to find me. 

"He's Elise's child." Q mumbled. 

"He's your child," I corrected, "And I love him like my own." 

Sensing my anger, Q focused his attention back onto me, a worried expression on his face like I was going to leave him again. "So he's 7?" He asked, trying to appease me no doubt. 

"Yes," I smiled, satisfied with his interest in his own son, well as interested as he could get, "His favorite color is red, he likes chocolate, and he'll be 8 in a few weeks." 

I felt him pull me close once again, propping his chin on my head and just standing there, staring at his child. I didn't really care that he had a kid with someone else, not like I could give him a child, not that I wanted to. My body was too frail to carry a child and my lifespan too short to raise one. 

"Archer is meant for something much bigger than us,"  I whispered, feeling him tense up. 

"Is that why you left?" He mumbled, his jaw bumping into my head as he talked. I could feel his grip on his own hands tighten, effectively trapping me within his arms. I doubt he'd ever let me go an arms reach away from him.

"Elise was going to kill him," I explained, noticing Archer beginning to awake, "I'll let you know more later." I push away, putting more force into it when he didn't loosen up at all, "I'm only going to check on him."

Q relented only slightly, holding onto my hand as we approached the bed. I could feel him squeeze my hand as I brushed a bit of Archer's hair out of his face, making note I'd have to cut it soon. 

Archer grumbled something, definitely something about cheeseburgers given he drooled a bit as he began to wake up. 

"Hey," I crouched, Q also crouching given he was still holding my hand, "Archer, this is your dad, Q."