AYLA

We had landed. I couldn't believe that I was back after being away for almost a year. As I drive on the country road, it strange to see familiar places. Places that I grew up in. It's so weird. And some how it feels foreign...different. There is change in the air. This place has changed since I've left...or maybe its me. Maybe I'm the one that's changed. I don't see this place as a bad place anymore. I don't think of bad memories, regret, or bad decisions. I some how have forgotten all about the bad. All I see is everything that has made my life better, that's including Solomon. 

I look at the back and see Milo was asleep still. I was nervous. I had called Mia beforehand. She told me they'd moved to the mountains to hide from Kendrick. I told her not to tell anyone that I've come back. I didn't want anyone to know yet. I didn't want them to have this expectation that I have dramatically changed or anything. I didn't want to disappoint anyone. Even though I am definitely better, I'm still messed and I don't want anyone to see me and not be happy. 

I don't know what I'm going to say to Solomon. I don't know what I'll do when I see his face. Just the thought of actually seeing him again made me feel happy, but scared. My wolf inside, she was excited to be reunited with her mate. It's weird, being away from your other half for so long. You do notice that as time lengthens...parts of what makes you, you, begins to chip away. And you feel hollow. You try to move on and think everything will be okay, but at the end of day, a wolf cannot survive without their mate. It's physically impossible. You become emotional unstable which is probably why all of my demons decided to smack me in the face, including Kendrick. 

As I drive, the mountain came into view, from a distance, I could see a small glow, they must have lit a fire. I was excited to see everyone again. I'm excited to see Zapora, Mia, Lizzy and even Xander. I'm excited to see the kids again. I'm excited to see Mia's little baby boy....And I think I'm pretty excited to see Solomon.

The thought of being with my mate...it gives me hope for some reason. Hope for a good and happy future. I just think about the times when Milo would be asleep and it would just be us two. He would hold me and I will feel total and utter completeness, there will be no room for the broken. 

My hands were shaking as I pulled into the base of the mountain. I climb out of the car and open up the back to wake up Milo. His eyes slowly peal open and he squints them as he slowly wake up. I smile down at him, "Hey Baba, we're back home."

His eyes lit up and climbed out of his seat quickly in excitement. 

"We get to see Papa!"

I nod my head, "Yup! We get to see everyone again."

I grab my sons hand I look up at the mountain. Here we go. 

SOLOMON

I took down my tent and walked over to Xander and grab his shoulder, he turns around facing me. I hand him my tent, "Here, give this to anyone who needs it."

Xander grabs my tent without a word, his eyes were on the floor, there was no expression on his face. I smiled sadly and grabbed him on his shoulder, "Don't be sad, big brother, I'll be alright."

Xander gulps and nods his head. I lean and said, "We've done terrible things to each other, we've said terrible things to each other. We've both made big mistakes. But at the end, when it comes down to it, we've always had each other's backs and that's what I've always remembered," I squeeze shoulder and I pull him into a tight hug. I whisper in his ear, "You're a good big brother, Xander. Don't feel like you've failed because you haven't."

Xander finally raises his arms wraps them tightly around me. I knew at this point it was hard for him. He was letting me go. I think he needed to hear what I said. I wanted to release him from any guilt he may still held. I wanted him to be free of every darkness. I wanted him to have a long, long happy life, even if I'm not there.

We step back from each other. Xander's eyes are slightly glistening and he clenches his jaw. He looked over at the lake and says, "I love you too, little brother," He turns to me and smiles at me sadly, "Try make a good life for yourself."

I nod my head. Xander steps back and holds onto Lizzy and their pups. Zapora steps in front of me with unshed tears. A sob escapes her lips as she jumps into my arms. I pull her into my chest tightly and she cries. I was trying to hold it together. My eyes stung with tears as I held my baby sister. "I'm going to miss you so much, Soul."

I nod my head, "I'm gonna miss you too, Zay. You know, I've watched you grow into this beautiful and strong she-wolf, I've seen you find your mate and make your own family. I've seen you becomes such a wonderful mother...and I couldn't be prouder of you," She releases a big sob and she balls the material of my shirt into her fists as she cries, "But I want you to know something," I pull back just enough to see her face and smile, "It won't matter how old you are, or what you're doing, or how many pups you have, you're always going to be my baby sister. Always."

She nods her head and wipes her tears as she said in a shaky voice, "And you will always be my big brother. I love you so much, Soul. You've always been there for me. I'm going to miss you."

I wipe her tear and said, "And I will always be missing you, baby sister."

AYLA

Milo and I are walking, we thought to leave our things at the car. We can get them later. I was just excited to see everyone...and Solomon. My heart was beating so fast. I might have my mate back.

SOLOMON

Eddie, Noah and Lincoln came forward. I shake my head and said, "Please don't cry."

Noah had a disgusted look on his face, "Of course not, you bloody dumbass. As if we would cry for you."

Eddie nods his head, "Yeah we're pretty relieved that you've finally gone."

Lincoln steps forward and says, "Yeah, we finally have some jobs to do since you took all of them."

I laughed and shook my head, "Well I'm glad I don't have to see your faces, I won't be getting nightmares anymore."

All of us laughed together, but I could see, they didn't want to see me go, I nodded to them, "Well, it's been a pleasure being pack warriors with you hopeless bastards. But it's time for me to depart."

Mia steps forward. She stands there for a while looking at me...and I stare back. She looks down at her feet and she makes her way towards. She wraps her arms around me silently and just stands. I wraps my own arms around her. Mia was a good friend during a hard time. I owe her a lot. 

"Mia-"

She shook her head, "Don't say anything. I'm not saying goodbye because I'm going to see you again. So please...don't say anything."

I shrug, "Well I don't care what you want...I get it Mia. You had a thing for and I know you're still in love with me," I step back and chuckle, "But I'm sorry honey, you can't get all of this," gesturing to my body. I see her role her eyes, but smile, "There it is," I said, "There's that smile," I step back to Mia and I said, "This isn't good bye, but I do want to say thank you Mia. Thank you for being you,"

She smiles and nods her head, "I'll definitely miss you, Solomon Nightwalker."

I bow down to her and stand back up. 

https://youtu.be/KJzhbXvzTTc

I look at all of them standing there. My family. I'll never forget them. I turn and look at the dock, at the boat that's waiting to sail me across the lake. I stand there for a while as I feel this pull in my chest. For some reason, I feel like I was supposed to say good bye to someone else. I turn around and look deep into the forest. Was I supposed to say good bye to another person?

AYLA

Milo and I was still walking, I could hear some talking from a while away. It sounded like Mia? And Zapora? Why are they near the lake? I decided to change directions and follow the voices instead. I pull Milo along with me. I look up at the sky and see the sun was setting. I strange feeling formed into my chest. I felt this feeling of yearning and longing. But it got stronger as I walked closer to the voices. Why was I feeling the urgent feeling to get to the lake? I picked up my pace and walked faster. 

SOLOMON

I kept staring at the green forest, waiting for something, or maybe someone? I gulped. Was something supposed to happen? 

"What is it, Solomon?" Asked Xander, "What're you waiting for?"

What was I waiting for? I sighed and shook my head, "N-nothing. Just...memorising the forest. I'm going to miss it."

I turned to the dock and started to walk down it.

AYLA

The urgency in my heart grew and grew until it sat uncomfortably in my chest, I held Milo's hand tighter and my walking slowly began to change to a jog. I felt as if I was supposed to stop something. 

"What is it, Ma?" Milo asked as he follows me. 

"We have to get to the river!"

For some reason, my heart hurt. Something was happening, but I don't know what. 

SOLOMON

I slowed down and I stopped in the middle of the dock, I turned around and looked back at the forest, "Come on," I said for some reason, "Something has to happen," I whispered. I gulped, I was being stupid. I'm just scared of leaving. I take a deep breath and ignored the yearning feeling in my chest and I walk down the rest of the dock to the boat.

AYLA

I grab onto Milo and lift him into my arms and I start to run. I feel as if there was a time limit, I felt like I could hear a clock ticking in my head, But I don't know why. I do know, however, is that I have to get to the river. I could see the lake glistening up ahead through the bush. My heart was beating fast. 

I didn't look where I was going and I smashed into something, or someone. 

Zay stood there wide eyed, "AYLA?!?"

I smiled widely and nodded my head, "Hey, I'm back."

Zay stood up from the ground and dusted herself off, "What're you doing here?" she said while wiping her eyes. 

I frowned and stepped closer in concern, "Zay? What's wrong? Have you been crying?"

She stood there for a moment, staring at me with her mouth slightly agape, "Oh my gosh," she whispered to herself, "You don't know." She stated. 

My brows pulled together, "Know what?"

"About Solomon."

My heart stopped, "What about him?"

"Ayla?" I turned and I saw Mia emerge from the bush and her eyes widened at the sight of me before they into heartbreak. 

"What? What's going on?"

Mia stepped closer and grabbed my hand, "Ayla...Solomon he's...he's..."

"He's what Mia!" I shouted, please let nothing bad happen to him. 

Mia stepped closer and said, "Solomon, he's gone. He's taken a boat to cross the lake, and then he's going to England."

I stood there for a moment. He's not here, "W-when is he gonna come back?"

Mia and Zay looked at each other before looking back at me, "We don't know. No one does. He may never come back."

My heart broke. I run away. I burst through the bushes and see the lake. Everyone who was there looked at me in shock. But my eyes was on the boat that was floating away from me. I sprinted down the dock with Milo in my arms. Tears streamed down my face. Desperation consumed me. 

"Solomon!" I shouted, "Solomon!" I kept running. 

Milo cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled in his high voice, "Papa! Papa wait!"

A sob escaped me, it was too late. The boat was drifting away. Solomon was Drifting away from me.

"SOLO!" I screamed. I put Milo on the dock, but held his hand tightly. I was breathing heavily as we both stood there, watching the boat disappear. I was too late. I may never see him again. 

SOLOMON

The sunset was beautiful. The way the golden light hit the surface of the water was magical. But it didn't make me feel magical. The scene should have looked amazing to me. But it didn't. The colours some how seemed a little bit dimmer, the light didn't seem as bright. Everything had a sort of drained look. I think that's me though. 

As I slowly drifted away from the dock, I was going towards a future. A future where I can be the master. I can design whatever kind of future I want and it is my choice. I get to do anything I want. 

Most males would look at this as freedom. It was chance to have a clean slate. To do everything right. But when I thought about it, I didn't want a clean slate. I wanted everything, I wanted the good, the bad, the ugly. Everything. Because what is life when everything is clean? What is life without some pain, without some bad stuff along with the good stuff. It wouldn't be life at all. I gulped and rubbed my chest. 

The mate bond was dwindling. It was a delicate candle that will go out if there was a slightest breeze. I could feel it leaving me. But everything inside of me didn't want it to go. I wanted to still be connected to Ayla. That one connection is all I will ever have of her, both her and Milo. I yearned for her, I still do, and I always will. I will always want her and I will always want Milo. They will always and forever be my family...and I will always hold them in my heart. But at the same time, I cannot let them hold me back. They have made their choice. I have to accept it. Now I have start making my own choices. It will only be by the grace of the moon goddess that there would be a sign to tell me otherwise. 

My ears tingled at a very small sound I heard. A voice. I stood there. It stimulated me...this sound. I stood still and I listened. There it was again. I frowned in confusion. I looked over my shoulder at the other side of this big boat. My heart was beating fast. I ran to the other side of the boat, facing the dock. It was now after sunset, dusk. I squinted my eyes. I didn't know what I was looking for or what I was trying to hear. All I knew was that I had to focus. 

I stood and try to focus my eye. We were quite a distance away. I was about to give up, until I saw something. At the very end of the dock, there was a figure and then next to it was a small figure. My heart was beating fast. The bigger figure waved...and everything in me knew exactly who it was. 

"Ayla?" I whispered breathlessly to myself. 

I leaned over and I listened closely...

And in a small voice...I heard it. 

"Solo!"