hey guys sorry I haven't been writing much, I just haven't had that much going on for me as of late and I've been in this kind of....funk for the past few weeks. Its totally thrown me off when it comes to writing. It's like....the idea is there but I can't find the words. But I managed to put this chapter together for all of you guys because I know you've been waiting for it! Hopefully I'll be better soon but until then, please enjoy this chapter guys and I love you all <3
Chapter Twenty Seven
I looked around the room and felt the first worm of fear wiggle in my mind. The visitor's room looked like a highschool cafeteria almost with small tables that only had two chairs to each of them. The room was nearly empty except for Clyde the guard and a woman with three children, talking to a man, I assumed her husband.
I looked forward at the only other person in the room .The back of his blonde head was the only thing I could stare at as I walked towards him unconsciously.
Jesus Mia you're fucking crazy.
I took a deep breath and stopped in front of him, waiting for him to look up. When he did I found myself staring into those red brown eyes of his.
"Mia princess I wasn't expecting you."
I stared at Tanner, feeling no fear. Only determination.
"Please sit princess. Don't want you straining yourself with that child now do we?"
I stared at him for a moment before sitting in the chair across from him. Tanner rested his handcuffed hands on the table and stared at me. I stared back at him and had the absurd thought about how orange was definitely not his color. Wow Mia.
"So what do I owe this lovely visit from you?"
"I need to know how to get the venom out of Ethan's blood." I said, straight to the point.
Tanner smiled, leaning back in his chair.
"And why should I tell you that?"
"Because if you don't he'll be a demon for the rest of his life and my children will be fatherless."
Tanner was quiet for a moment.
"And that concerns me how?"
I rested my hands on the table as well and we stared at each other in silence. I thought about my next words carefully.
"You know every day you give me another reason why I should hate you." I said.
His eyebrow shot up.
"Should?"
I nodded, wringing my hands together.
"I've never truly hated you Tanner you must know this. You're my other mate. But I've loved Ethan since I was a child. We were meant for each other from the beginning. You were never truly meant for me Tanner. Rowena."
His face crumpled at the mention of my great grandmother and I could see his icy inside start to melt. I struck a chord in that stone heart of his.
"She broke your heart and for that I'm sorry. But there's no way I can go back and change something that happened a hundred years ago Tanner. I wish....I wish I could because no one deserves the loneliness and torment you've gone through for the past one hundred years. You deserve love Tanner."
With all the courage I could muster I reached forward and grabbed one of Tanner's icy cold hands in my warm ones. He didn't move as I kept talking.
"I now completely understand why you've done what you have to my family all these years. Heartbreak, it's the worst pain that lasts a lifetime and a fuel to the hate fire which has frozen your heart. I understand why you've always chased after the women in my family with the white wolf gene. Tanner you're so stuck on the past that you know of nothing else. You have to move on, forgive Tanner. Forgive Rowena. Forgive yourself. And move on. Because only then will you truly get what you deserve and that's love. And I believe that there is someone out there just for you Tanner. For you only."
He was frozen like a statue and for a second I was afraid he was dead or something. Then he took in an unnecessary breath and stared at me. I waited for him to say something but something miraculous happened. Tanner looked straight into my eyes and instead of anger and hate I saw happiness and love and the opposite of Tanner.
"Do you really...mean all that?"
I squeezed Tanner's hand.
"Every word."
He inhaled loudly, mulling over my words.
"It's too late to suck the venom out isn't it?" He whispered.
I nodded.
"There's only one thing you can do then." He whispered.
I stared at him hopefully.
"You have to bite him and let lose all that gross werewolf venom in him."
I frowned. That would be a brilliant idea only if... I let go of Tanner's hands and rubbed my baby.
"I can't. Not with..."
Tanner sighed.
"Look Mia that's the only way. You have until the first full moon from the day I bit him. I bit him on the 25th. You have until Christmas."
I looked down at my baby in my belly. I could feel him; I liked to think it was a boy; start kicking again as if he were swimming. I reached for Tanner's hands and pulled him forward. He was basically on the table. I lifted my shirt and pressed his hand against my belly. He gasped and looked up at me slowly, his eyes wide. I watched as he slowly placed both of his hands on my belly where he was kicking away like a little speed demon.
"I can't hurt my baby." I whispered.
Tanner looked up at me with something I never recognized in his eyes: regret. He pulled away and I pulled my tank top down.
"Mia...I'm sorry for everything I've ever done. I wish...I wish I could take it all back...I hope one day you and your family will forgive me for everything."
I swallowed before standing up. I squeezed Tanner's hand one last time.
"Thank you Tanner."
He nodded but didn't let go of my hand.
"Can I write to you Mia? It gets awful lonely in here and I have...no one..."
I smiled sadly and nodded.
"Write yes but not to me, address it to everyone."
He smiled and nodded. I leaned over and kissed his cheek gently.
"Thank you Tanner for everything."
His face went pink and I was surprised. This was the first sign of life I'd ever seen from him. I smiled and headed for the door where Clyde was standing.
"Mia."
I turned around and looked at Tanner who was standing now.
"Do you really think there's someone out there...for me?"
I smiled and nodded.
"I know it."
He smiled and I watched as the guards took him back to his cell. I sighed when I made it to Clyde who was silent as he walked me to the front desk again. The man who checked me in was busy with some other people and I silently walked out of the prison, feeling more hopeful then I had for a long time.
The car ride back to the house was deadly silent and I couldn't stop wringing my hands together in my lap. I looked over at Kyle who was watching me, smiling. He just stared at me before turning back to the road. I looked out the window and sighed.
"So what happened in there, who did you visit?"
"Tanner. I needed to know what I could do to save Ethan." I whispered.
Kyle was silent for a moment and I could feel his anger.
"Mia Cole how in the world could you do that? You went in to that horrible prison and saw Tanner! Of all people! And alone? Why?"
I turned to him.
"Kyle it's not that big a deal look I needed to talk to him alone okay?"
He was silent and I turned to the front again. My eyes widened when I saw someone in the middle of the road in front of us.
"KYLE WATCH OUT!!"
He looked to the front and slammed on the brakes. I closed my eyes waiting for us to hit the person in the road but nothing happened. Once we were stopped I opened my eyes looking around. The person stood directly in front of our car and I could see it was a girl. A woman about our age with tears falling down her face. Kyle unbuckled his seatbelt and rushed out of the car towards the woman. A feeling of light entered my body and I watched as Kyle touched the woman's shoulder. They both looked at one another with a new look and I smiled, a tear falling down my cheek. Kyle stared at the woman with awe and wonder while the woman still had tears falling down her cheeks. I got out of the car and headed towards them.
"Kyle I think this lady needs to be taken home." I said.
They both looked towards me and she looked me over.
"Hi I'm Mia, Alpha female of the SilverMoon pack. This is Kyle, one of my friends."
She was shaking in fear and I noticed she was dirty and beat up pretty bad. She was a rogue.
"I'm R-Rachel."
Kyle reached for her and smiled shyly.
"Hi Rachel would you like to come to the pack house and get cleaned up? We won't hurt you."
She stared at Kyle's hand for a long moment before nodding and slipping her hand into his. We all piled into the car and I sat in the back so Kyle could sit next to Rachel. The whole ride was silent and when we got home I sighed, sitting in the car.
"Kyle go show her around. I'm going to go for a walk."
He looked back at me worriedly.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" He asked.
I faked a smile and he nodded, getting out of the car. Rachel followed suit, looking back as Kyle led her into the house. I sat in the car, leaning back in the seat and closing my eyes.
"Boo!"
I jumped and looked at where the door should be. Gale stood there with the car door open, smiling.
"Gale how on earth did you get here? How come you're not with Uncle Tony and Aunt Andrea?"
He grabbed my hand a pulled me out of the car.
"Because I was worried about you mom and someone has to look out for you. With dad in the hospital and Kyle finding his new mate you have no one."
I smiled down at Gale who had grown taller since the last time I saw him. I was very proud of my son, he gets bigger and more mature every single day.
"I love you Gale."
He hugged me.
"I love you too mom. Now let's get inside mom, I'm hungry."
I smiled and we walked into the house so I could cook him lunch. After a filling meal of Mac n Cheese with hotdogs we headed down to the basement to go watch movies. It was just that kind of day. While we were in the middle of a movie Gale looked up at me and sighed.
"What's up bud?" I asked him.
He sighed again and looked up at me embarrassed.
"Mom how...how do you know if..."
I smiled down at Gale.
"If what?"
He stayed silent and I saw a tear fall down his cheek. I made him look at me.
"Gale what's going on?"
He sniffed.
"I'm worried about dad. What if he doesn't make it mom? How are we going to do anything?"
I could feel tears meet my eyes and I pulled Gale into a hug. This boy was an angel both inside and out.
"Oh Gale. I know your father won't give up on himself. He'll keep fighting for you and me and the twins. And if...if he doesn't make it then we still have Uncle Tony and Uncle Sam and Uncle Dakota and Uncle Nick and Kyle and everyone Gale. And I'm never going anywhere. I promise."
He sniffed and hugged me tightly and I kissed his forehead.
"I love you mom." He whispered.
"I love you too Gale."
He pulled back and wiped off his face, puffing out his chest.
"Hey mom can we pretend...that didn't just happen? Uncle Nick told me that real men don't cry in front of women."
I stared at him and smiled.
"Young man did Uncle Nick ever tell you that he has cried in front of me multiple times?"
Gale smiled.
"He has?"
I nodded and started tickling him.
"Of course he has! And let me tell you this, Gale there is an exception to this rule. Real men do cry in front of women. But there are only two women they can cry in front of. Their wife and their mother."
He smiled at me and hugged me.
"Thanks mom."
"Don't mention it Gale. Now we have to get you back-"
"No! I want to stay here with you and the baby."
I lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Please mom?"
I sighed and smiled at him.
"All right. But let's call Aunt Andrea and let her know you're here."
He nodded and we headed upstairs for the phone. As we called Andrea I watched Gale talk on the phone. He was growing up so much faster than I wanted him too. I sighed and shook my head as he walked around the house on the phone. A warm feeling entered my body, striking my heart and a pink tint filled my cheeks.
Maybe there is a little hope after all.