Unexpected: Forever His (Book 1)

Chapter 47: Beyond the Boundaries

I wiped my eyes again as the plane landed with a bump. I had slept throughout the flight, but I didn't feel rested. I glanced at Ashley and she grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Xavon stared at me as though I would break. "I'll be fine." I whispered it, but Xavon nodded. Aeron was busy grabbing at Leena's hand and she was staring back at him mesmerized. I smiled down at them. "Dante said that Aeron had an interest in Leena." Xavon nodded. He spoke lowly. "They will be mates, Milady."

I smiled and Ashley gasped. "Well, it fits." She smiled up at me and I nodded as I turned and stared out the window at the small buildings of Syros beyond the airport gates and the crystal blue water behind them. I felt almost as nervous as the first time I took this trip. Except this time, I was returning with the task of trying to win my mate's attention again. I didn't know how I would even do it. It seemed impossible in the Redwood forest that night. He saw me as a threat. Maybe a threat to his heart, but a threat nonetheless. I shivered as pain blistered my insides again. I gritted my teeth and muffled the groan that accompanied it, but Xavon looked over at me as we stood. He looked down at Aeron and I nodded. "Thank you." It was a tasked whisper. Everything inside of me begged me to go back to Redwood. To be a coward. To walk away from everything that I was supposed to be. It was too hard. Too many sacrifices. I wrapped my arms around my waist as Xavon lifted Aeron into his arms. I was scared. The reality of my feelings hit me hard and I stumbled forward as I stepped off the last step on the airplane.

The uniformed man, who I figured was the pilot grabbed my arm just in time and looked at me with concern. "Are you alright, ma'am?" I looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"She will be fine. Thank you, sir." Xavon shifted Aeron in his arms and slid his hand around my arm. The man nodded and looked up at Xavon. "You're welcome."

I glanced down at the ground. Every step I took towards the vehicle that waited for us felt like one step closer to a life that would feel like a slow death. I sat down in the back seat of the car and Ashley slid in beside me. I looked up at my friend. "I'm scared, Ash." She wrapped her free arm around my shoulders as Xavon slid in beside her and glanced at us.

"It's obvious, Lala." She smiled and hugged me to her. "I remember the way I felt when I first came here with Aiden. He had made me want to hate you because of lies. Yet, the moment I saw you, I felt so ashamed for every feeling any animosity towards you." She glanced back at Xavon and he smiled down at her and kissed her forehead before he looked back down at Aeron and Leena. "You are our hope. That is a lot to place on one being's shoulders, Lala. And yet you do it with such grace and courage that I cannot even fathom. You encouraged me to open my heart to my mate when I felt that Aiden had ruined me to the point that even Xavon wouldn't want me anymore. I was ready to run away from him until you made me see that he was exactly what I needed." I nodded and smiled. I remembered that day and that talk we had. "And he needs you, Lala. Just like you need him."

Just then, the car came to a stop and I looked up at the white villa behind the gate. I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the pebbled path that led to the front door. I felt Ashley and Xavon right behind me. "I do need him." I affirmed her words, but more to myself than anything as I held my head higher and pushed courage and strength forward that I needed.

I heard Aeron's delighted cooing behind me and I smiled. He was happy to be back home. Instead of entering the house, I turned on the path and headed straight to the side building where I figured Dante would be this time of day. I glanced behind me and saw that Xavon and Ashley had stayed back at the gate. I pushed the door open and stepped into the foyer. I glanced in both directions and saw no one. The place seemed empty and unoccupied, but just as I was about to turn around, I heard a noise come from the direction of his office.