"She can't seem to understand it's not her fault." Kim mutters. "Instead, she blames herself for hurting him."

"Has she been in to see him yet?" Aphmau asks the duo of women.

"No. She wants to but Garroth and Zane refuse to let her up here." Nana says. "Poor girl."

Aaron hums. "Let her up here." he shrugs. "What harm could it do?"

Nana beams and giddily walks out of the room then reappears five minutes later with the redhead, Harper, behind her.

He watches as the girl makes a mad dash to his son's side; tears flying off her face rapidly.

"I'm so sorry, Blade! I didn't mean to do this to you. Fight this, my wolf. I promise you, I'll be waiting. So will Saige. We both will wait for you and Terzo to get better." Harper whispers quietly.

She leans her head over his and presses her lips to his forehead.

"Will he be okay?" Harper asks once she looks up.

Aphmau and Nana smirk at her as Aaron grins. Kim shakes her head at the two female shapeshifters responses.

"What is your relationship with my son?" Aphmau questions the girl.

"Your son? Oh, you're Alina and Blade's mom." Harper dawns in realization then smiles sheepishly. "He's my mate."

Nana screams. "MY SHIP!"

Aaron blinks at her as Aphmau gapes. "He's your mate?" he hears Aphmau ask.

"Yeah. I'm a Phoenix." Harper deadpans. "You know, the flaming bird?"

"Wow. A werewolf and a Phoenix. That's a first." Kim notes. "Never in history has that ever happened."

"If he's your mate, then are you his?" Aaron asks her sternly.

Harper shifts her eyes down to Blade then shifts them back up at Aaron. She inhales sharply and nods after she exhales.

"Yes." the Phoenix answers.

Aphmau recovers her shock and shrieks loudly. "YES! ANDREW FOUND HIS MATE!! OH, AARON! HIS PARENTS WOULD BE PROUD!"

After she says that, everyone except Harper and Aaron look at her with shocked expressions.

"Aph. You do realize you just revealed Blade isn't ours." Aaron harshly whispers into his wife's ear.

Aphmau blinks and gulps. "I mean, as his parents, we're proud!" she smiles sheepishly.

"Cut the crap, Aphmau and tell us the truth." Kim demands.

"Aphmau? Aaron? Is Blade actually your child?" Nana asks the couple.

"Why aren't you saying anything Harper?" the petite werewolf questions.

Harper sighs and keeps her hand interlocked with her mate's. "I already know the truth. My mom told me." she whispers.

"Then I suppose it's time our friends knew the truth, Aaron." Aphmau mumbles.

TEN MINUTES LATER

Aphmau and Aaron stand in front of their friends. Zana, Garroth, and Kim. This is the start, after they admit the truth to these four, then their other friends can know in time.

"Before we begin, don't hate what we did." Aphmau starts. "We are aware of what we agreed to."

"Fifteen years ago, you know we had Blade. But truth is, Aph and I were a surrogate for another couple. This couple is powerful so the only smart thing was to agree. After the child would be born, we were told he had a name but we could give him a nickname for the time being." Aaron explains as Aphmau keeps quiet.

"Who's the child?" Zane asks.

He has an idea as to which child it is. It makes sense considering the kid looks nothing like Aaron or Aphmau.

"It's Blade. And before you ask, yes; he knows he's not ours biological." Aphmau speaks up.

She remembers the day he found out. He was so angry at her and Aaron for keeping it a secret.

"Makes sense." Zane comments, gaining looks all around. "What? The kid looks nothing like you two! He's more tanned than the two of you and his eyes are more brighter than even Melissa's."

"So you're not mad?" Aphmau whispers in a shakily voice.

"Never, Aphmau!" Nana says. "You are our friend! Granted you lied for years, we understand why."

"Nana's right. You and Aaron are our friends! Friends can never stay mad at each other for long." Kim grins. "Plus, Zane's right in a deep way. Blade really doesn't look like your child."

"I have a question; who are his parents if they aren't you two?" Garroth blurts out.

"As a werewolf, you remember being told about the Grand Alpha, right?" Aaron asks the blonde.

The blonde in return scratches his head. "No?" he responds.

Aaron sighs frustratedly. "The Grand Alpha is the leader of every werewolf in the world. And the most wealthiest man in the world as well." he explains.

"He's Blade's biological father and the Grand Luna is his mother." Aphmau smiles.

"Damn." Kim whistles. "I bet it was an honor to raise their child."

"Raising Andrew as ours was an honor within itself. He is the future Grand Alpha as the Grand Alpha's heir." Aaron adds with a tiny smile of his own.

"Sounds like he's going to be a powerful man when he gets older." Nana smiles.

"And powerful men need an equally powerful woman by their side." Kim adds onto Nana's response.

"Before that even happens, he needs to recover from this first." Aaron tells the group.

"Kim, you mentioned something about him going to be in hiding for awhile." Aphmau says.

Kim nods and pushes her glasses further on her nose. "Yeah! Since the public knows he's alive, it's safer for him if he goes into hiding for awhile." she comments.

"How long will he stay hidden?" Aaron questions her.

The blond-brunette hums. "About two years. Maybe more, it all depends on when he wakes up. I can probably get Nathan to help him get used to his werewolf side." she states.

"Dottie, Daniel, and Rylan can help too!" Aphmau shouts. "Right?"

Kim raises her eyebrows as Nana gives a confused expression.

"The pups? Are you sure, Aph? They'll have to help Andrew out." Aaron says as Aph nods. "Okay. And Maria too."

"Great!" Aph fist bumps the air.

"I recall Dottie being a werewolf from high school and Maria too." Nana mutters.

"Daniel and Rylan are werewolves too." Aaron tells the meif'wa.

FIVE MINUTES LATER

Aphmau stands outside the lodge. Alina's in the backseat, staring at her phone while Harper stops in her tracks on her way to the car. She glances behind her shoulder and sighs.

Two years without her mate, she can do this. It can't be that hard.

"Are you ready?" Aphmau asks her.

"I guess." Harper mumbles. "It's going to be hard without him."

"I know how you feel. I spent a year without Aaron and it was hard as hell. But in the end, it was worth it. Think about this way, in two years; you'll be able to see him." Aphmau smiles at her.

"Yeah. Two years. I can do this." Harper smiles back. For you, my wolf. Hard or not, you're worth the wait.

"Come on. Let's go home." Aphmau tells her and Alina.

Aaron is staying back to help situate Blade somewhere hidden. Kim is with him as is Zane. Garroth and Nana are in the car beside hers as the sedan and suv pull out of the parking lot and on their way home.

Home. No matter how far away we are, Blade; home is where you are with me.

'Mate will be okay. He has to be.' Saige mumbles.

'Yeah. He's a fighter.' My fighter.