The Rejected Mate
chapter 31 : decisions

* 2 years later *

Leaning against the balcony of the New York pent house I and Matthew shared, with a hot cup ofcoffee in my hands while I watched New York life go about below me. People rushing into work,some walking without a care in the world. So different from Beacon Hills with its forest andlandscape.

"Guess who's got a date tonight baby!?" A voice interrupts my trail of thoughts. I roll my eyes at hisantics. Two years went by and he still hasn't changed a bit.

"Let me guess, Mr. Antern who lives down the street? Please tell me its with Janet across the street, Imean I kind of knew that they liked each other-" I stop talking when I look at Matthew's face,looking at me with a deadpanned expression.

He seemed unimpressed with my words. I snicker under my breath.

"HAHA, you aren't as funny as you think you're” he sneers at me, his face becomes red withfrustration. Making me burst out laughing this time. There wasn't a day were we went withoutpulling eachothers leg.

I shrug "but the expression on your face made it worth it."

Matthew moves towards the kitchen island, filling the kettle with water to brew some coffee.

"You know I was thinking about something." I trail off.

"About what?" He asks me with his back turned towards me.

"I think it's time to go back" I reply back.

My words make him halt in his actions, slowly turning towards me I watch a smile take over hisfeatures, lighting up his face.

"About damn time" he finally says making me chuckle.

* 2 days later *

He looked out of the window, replaceing the warriors training hard. Some sparring while others foughtin their wolf form. Fortunately, everyone had fallen back into the routine faster than he'd thoughtafter the attack. years went so painfully slow though. Looking up at the grandfather clock across hisoffice, he replaces that it's time for him to leave, his son might be waiting impatiently for his arrival.Walking down the path, his mind travels towards a certain she-wolf with brunette hair and honeycolored eyes. He hadn't seen her in over two years, it took a lot of restraint on his and his wolf'sbehalf to not to reach out to her. She wanted her space, and he wanted to respect her choices. Buthe'd never thought it would take her this long, making him think that she'd moved on. His trail ofthoughts makes a small pang to go through his chest.

"Dad" the four year old calls out his father. Elijah has been the light in his darkness, his son madehim stronger and willed him to be his best version. He would do anything for the little boy. He was aray of sunshine after all.

The father and son duo walked hand in hand towards the clearing, this had been their ritual for thepast two years. They visited the clearing where Damien's mother had planted a beautiful garden.Also where her and Emily's grave was. They both plucked flowers daily, changing the old ones fromon top of their grave every single day without missing a beat.

It didn't hurt as much as it did all those years ago, guess time did him good. He had matured andthought more rationally before taking actions. He had come to peace with his demons over time,sure it took time but it was worth it at the end.

They both gazed at the butterflies as it circled around the flowers, with Elijah running his handsthrough the soft petals of the flowers, his face a mixture of awe and fondness.

The wind picks up and brought along with it a new scent, immediately alerting Damien. A scent hehadn't smelled in a few years. Strawberries.

At first he'd thought his mind was playing tricks on him but the snapping of the twigs somewheremade him believe that he wasn't.

He did think he would ever see her again but there she was, looking older than the last time he sawher, hair flowing till the middle of her back. Honey colored eyes shining brighter. She had changed.She looked more confident. She was no longer the timid little she wolf. Five years had done justiceto her beauty.

His was full of awe, slowly taking her in.

Serenity smiled at him, he looked handsome, even more than she remembered. He looked olderand more matured. He even looked more buffed up than the last time she saw him. A figure movingbeside him caught her attention. Turning her gave towards the little boy, she couldn't take her eyesoff of him. He was beautiful just like his father.

He was a small baby when she'd left, now he had grown up, an exact replica of his father with thosesame piercing grey eyes and brown hair. The only thing was that Elijah had an air of innocencesorrounding him. Her heart warmed when his eyes lit up with recognition.

"Serenity" the four year old yelled excitedly. His father had never failed to mention her along withhis mother. Infact he'd tell him everyday about how she'd taken care of him when his fathercouldn't. He never got to meet his mother so hearing his father talk about another woman sofondly, made him secretly wish that he'd too get the chance to meet her once, seems like his wishwas coming true and he couldn't be any happier.

Elijah's small arms circle around Serenity's neck, who had crouched down when she saw his smallbody rushing towards her.

"Miss me?" She speak up with a smile.

Her eyes trails towards the older man, causing his lips to curve up. Even though she'd asked Elijahthe question, they both knew she also meant to include him in the mix.

Good things take time.

You can't rush something you want to last forever.