"Come on Nyla. It's not even that bad."

Nyla kicked the edge water as she pouted.

"It'll get in my locks I just cleaned them."

Wayne shook his head as he moved past her. "No I just cleaned them."

Nyla rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

It's been almost the end of the two months divorce agreement and the bond between the two have become peaceful.

*I'm changing the 4 month divorce into 2 months. For book chapter purposes.*

The two of them are spending private time alone with each other in a beach home they rented out for the next few days. With only each other's company, Darci recommended It'll bring the two of them closer. Which in fact it did.

Wayne took off his shirt and got in the ocean water.

"Come on stop standing there pretty and get in the water!"

"No!" Nyla then grabbed her rubber hand and prepared to wrap her locks into a bun. "Besides, I like it over he-Wayne!"

Wayne held a smirk on his face as he grabbed Nyla off the sand and preceded to run into the water.

"Wait wait wait I didn't even finish wrapping my l-

Wayne threw Nyla into the salty water and bursts into laughter as she emerged with anger in her eyes.

"Wayne!"

Nyla tried throwing the water at the cackling asshole who ruined her moment.

"You messed up my hair!!"

"It'll wash out anyway."

Nyla cupped water in her hands and threw it over Wayne's hair. "Really? Then you should have fun washing it put of your hair too!"

"Nyla!"

Nyla mocked his tone. "Wayne!"

Nyla then chased Wayne out of the water as the two of them laughed and joked about. Moments later as Nyla was throwing sand at him Wayne stopped to rub his eye which made Nyla topple over him. Making the two of them fall onto the sand laughing.

"Did you really have to tackle me like this? I promised to clean your hair."

Nyla pinched his arm annoyed as she leaned on his body. "You ruined my hair regardless. I'm still mad."

Wayne rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Well we don't want that then do we?"

"Shut up!" Nyla laughed in his arms as the two of them stared at each other. It's been a while since the two of them held each other and looked at each other like this. Close in each other's embrace without bickering and just taking in each other's features.

Nyla stared at Wayne who stared up at her laying on the sand. She remembered the first time they kissed it was also a similar situation in the flower field. But unlike then, this time Wayne doesn't feel so distant. She can look into his eyes and see his eyes have become more softer and his facial expression has become more relaxed. Even his tone towards her is delicate.

"Would this would've been our marrige?"

"What?" Wayne stared up at the vulnerable eyes of Nyla.

"Would... would our marrige have been this way if we did it right from the beginning?"

Wayne felt his heart slam. For so long he closed so much of his emotions and now he's getting to the end of his marriage with Nyla he always wondered. Would their marrige been better if he did it right first? He didn't expect Nyla to think that way also.

"Yes." Wayne gently rubbed off bits of sand that was near Nyla's upper right eye. "It should've been."

The two continued to stare at each other silently trying to assess each other's thoughts.

"Wayne."

"Hm?"

Nyla wiped off bits of sand off the side of his cheek. "I want to kiss you."

"Okay."

Nyla usually wasn't an initiator when it came to romantic parts of their marrige but still. As the deadline she set comes closer she finds herself wanting to absorb these last few days left with Wayne. She wanted to remember these moments such as today. The taste of his lips. The rushing feeling she always gets when he's holding her. The desire to have more. She wants to savor this last moment.

"Wayne."

Wayne pulled apart from Nyla and fiddled with her locks. "Hm?"

"I-

When Nyla looked into Wayne's dark eyes she knew she wouldn't be able to say it. No matter how much she meant it. It would've made the situation real.

"I think it's starting to get hot now. Meet you inside?"

Wayne nodded as he sat up and dusted himself off. "Right." Wayne extended his hand towards Nyla. "Let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today was the last day of their marrige and Wayne went out to prepare the divorce papers. The atmosphere in the house was solemn. Carson said he wanted her answer by today since it'll be her divorce day and Nyla still don't know what to tell him two months later.

"Do you have feelings for him Nyla?"

"So in two months, give me an answer then okay?"

Nyla groaned as she rubbed her temples aggravated. "This is too hard."

Nyla then thought about the conversation she had with Wayne.

"It's nice to have you here Beta Long."

Wayne smiled at Darci as he sat down in a chair across from Nyla.

"Thank you for having me."

Darci grabbed her notebook as she also sat down behind her desk. "Actually in fact having you here makes this situation much more easier to deal with."

Darci then turned to Nyla. "Today, we'll take a break from our usual sessions and focus primarily on Wayne."

Nyla smiled as she sat back with her feet on the couch while she held a bag of chips in her hand.

"This'll be interesting."

~~~

"When was the last time you actually reflected on yourself?"

Nyla noticed Wayne's growing irritation which kindof made her laugh inside. Wayne was moody but he was rarely explicit with it.

"I do so all the time. During wor-

"You aren't listening to my question Beta Long. I mean when was the last time you reflected on yourself without having make it as a job."

Wayne fell silent. "I don't know."

"Did you ever process your sister's death Beta Long?"

Wayne shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, I have."

"From the looks of it you haven't." Darci stared at him. "If you had done so your wife wouldn't have been in the position she is in now." She pointed her pen at him. "She wouldn't want to be divorcing you in another 2 months."

This time both Wayne and Nyla flinched and stared at Darci conflictedly. Nyla turned to Darci. "Now why am I-

"Beta Long. About your sister's death. Tell us how you felt."

Nyla watched as Wayne's face shifted uncomfortably before he sighed. "I felt... feel lost, scared, angry, incompetent... I felt so many things."

"Did bottling those feelings help heal those feelings?"

Wayne shook his head. "I suppressed them, but sometimes I still feel them."

"Why do you feel them?"

"Because I lost my younger sister-

"But WHY did you feel those emotions." Seeing Wayne staring at her confused she elaborated. "Why do you still hold on to those feelings after so long?"

Wayne thought for a moment before he bit the side of his cheek. "I... I feel responsible. I should've-

"So what?"

"What?"

Darci saw Wayne's heated anger and clarified. "Should've, could've, would've- you were a boy. You aren't a God. You couldn't have known what was going to happen. I understand the loss was and still probably is painful, but instead of blaming yourself on something you won't ever be able to fix- you should be thankful you were with her during her last moments. Use that incident-" Darci gently pointed to the sleeping Nyla who has her back turned to them as she sleeps on the couch. "As a better way to treat your wife. She loves you. And it's well known you love her, but don't make her carry the trauma you force yourself to carry."

Wayne stared at her silently before he ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled. "You are right. I held on to so much resentment for myself I didn't consider Nyla's feelings or predicament. Whether I was supposed to be there during anniversaries or birthdays to small things like being there for her in the morning or just hearing her out."

His eyes softening as he went and stared at Nyla. "I'll do my best. To make her happy. Even if it's not for long."

Unbeknownst to the two Nyla wasn't deep asleep. She heard everything. Her heart warmed at the thought of Wayne geniunely trying to change.

Maybe. Just maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

"Nyla."

Nyla looked up surprised. "Carson."

Carson smiled at her as he sat down in the chair in front of her. "How are you?"

"I've been better."

"And Wayne?"

"He- Nyla signaled outside half heartedly. "He went out to go get the... yea."

Carson nodded as they sat in silence.

"Now. Your answer?"

Nyla thought for a moment. Wayne who she loved for nearly 5 years or Carson the man who seems promising enough. One long look at Carson and Nyla knew.

"I... Nyla looked into his eyes. "I can't."

Carson felt his heart crack. "Why not? Do you still love him? After all he's done to you? All he hasn't done for you?!"

"And? What about it Carson?"

"It's really the end then."

Wayne ran his shaking fingers through his hair stressfully. "This is when I let her go." Wayne walked up to the room door with a heavy heart. "Let's get it over with now."

"And what about it Carson?"

Wayne who had the divorce papers ready couldn't help but stop outside the door when he heard Nyla's voice.

"It's not like he purposely meant to hurt me."

"No but regardless he did a crappy job of not trying to either. "

Wayne felt himself sadly agreeing to Carson.

He's right.

"Yes thats true." Wayne felt pain in his heart. "But maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt."

"Now, this session will be for the two of you."

Nyla sat down besides Wayne. "Okay, give it your best shot."

"Nyla when did you first start noticing your marrige was falling apart?"

"Oh that's easy. When Wayne forgot my birthday."

Wayne shook his head. "I didn't forget it I was late."

"That doesn't make it any better."

Wayne glanced at Nyla who held her hands up. "Just saying."

"Which birthday was it?"

"My 22nd."

"I was only half an hour late."

"As usual."

"Nyla what was so important about that specific birthday?"

Nyla turned away from Wayne. "That birthday was important because that was the age Wayne first met me. So I hoped to spend it with him."

Darci saw the look of realization and self fustration settle in Wayne's eyes.

"Wayne, when did you notice your marriage was taking a bad turn?"

Wayne thought for a moment. "Well, there was this one time I actually had time for Nyla. It was a whole two days exactly. During our late second year of being married. I told Nyla I had two days without anything to do and asked her would she like to spend the few days with me." Wayne turned towards Nyla. "She was upset and then told me that I should find something to do. I tried convincing her but she wouldn't budge." Wayne then shrugged. "So that's what I did. I slept and basically did nothing those two days. Since then I didn't take days off often."

Darci stared at Nyla with a raised brow. "Wayne had time for you and you turned him down?"

"I was still upset he wasn't there during my birthday so I left him towards himself."

"Nyla." Darci placed her glasses down. "You can't complain that Wayne isn't ever there then push him away when he makes time. Thats not how it works." Darci said bluntly.

Wayne held back a snicker as Nyla blushed embarrassedly. "Well-

"Okay here's you guy's problem." Darci turned to Wayne. "You are too neglectful and inconsiderate because you feel like it doesn't concern you when it doesn't seem important to your cause." She then pointed to Nyla. "And you are not only to repressive when it comes to telling your feelings you are also too expectant when you push and pull him away as if he's supposed to understand you. If you aren't blunt then no one's gonna know what you want."

Darci then stared at the couple in front of her. "Marriage is all about communication. Yes, it's true Wayne is the main problem but the subtle things you do Nyla adds to this fire. So for now on the both of you for the next two months will drop all your work and spend time with each other. It's clear you both don't know each other as well as you think you do. So the best thing the both of you can do is start from the beginning."

Seeing the two shocked people Darci grabbed her pen and pointed to the door. "I mean now."

Nyla shrugged. "He wasn't the one always at fault. I wasn't exactly the most best person to be married too."

"That doesn't change what he's done to you!"

"All I ever wanted was for him to try and that's what he's doing.Wayne has tried! He's listened, helped, and respected my wishes. It's not like when we first married he set out to hurt me from the start. He made mistakes."

"He continued to do repeatedly."

"And so did I!" Nyla stood up fustratedly. "I wasn't honest when I should've been. At times he tried I pushed him away because I thought It wasn't enough! There was many things during my marrige I wish I could've done."

"What does all this prove that he deserves the benefit of the doubt?"

Nyla sighed. "Because." She found herself lost for a moment. "Wayne isn't a bad as he seems. Even under that hard shell he wraps himself under, he really is a geniune person." Nyla thought of the time he tried making breakfast over the past two months and burnt the toast. She remembered him smiling at her awkwardly.

I tried surprising you again but I think I'll just stay out of the kitchen.

"He's just... really clumsy and doesn't know how to expressive himself."

Nyla looked at Carson. "No matter what Wayne has done he truly does love me and in a weird sense always tried his best to put me first." Nyla then rolled her eyes. "Even when I end up last."

Nyla smiled lightly. "But I do- still love him. No matter how many times he pissed me off during my ordeal." And even during this ordeal there were times where he tried." Nyla felt guilt seep in her heart. "I just never gave him much of a chance."

Seeing Carson silent Nyla continued to be straightforward. "Carson, I don't love you."

Carson looked up at her as she continued. "What I feel for you is platonic... and gratitude. For being there for me when I couldn't even be there for myself."

She looked him in the eyes. "But I don't love you in the way you love me."

Carson who hadn't said anything sighed. "In fact, I probably knew this would've been your answer. I still just wanted to hope you felt the same." Carson ran his fingers through his hair. "I feel a bit guilty, I know alot of time people in your situation attach themselves very strongly to their support systems. I just hoped it was geniune."

Nyla felt bad but tried to console him. "Carson you are still young. You'll understand when you meet your mate."

Carson shook his head. "I don't believe the mate bond will change my feelings for you." Carson then got up from his chair. "I wish you well Nyla and when I find my mate I'll show you that my feelings won't change."

Nyla shook her head with a smile." When we meet again after you find your mate I'll be waiting to give you a hug and my congratulations."

Carson didn't say anything and just left the room. Carson spotted Wayne who was easdropping and gave him a genuine smile. "Take care of her."

Wayne watched him leave sadly and felt a bit funny in his heart. He felt proud but geniunely sad for him.

Hopefully he'll find someone who'll make him happy.

"Wayne."

Wayne jumped as he heard Nyla's voice from inside the room.

"I know you are there."

Wayne slowly walked into the room to see Nyla standing and staring at him. Looking at the envelope in his hands.

"If you want... can we...can we do this again?"

Wayne felt his heart smile. "Yes I'd like that."

She then stared at him with conflicted emotions in her eyes she finally sighed. "Wayne... please don't make me regret this."

Seeing the vulnerable emotions in Nyla's eyes as she sat down Wayne smiled lightly. "You always took the step first in our relationship. Whether It was dating or married."

Wayne held her gaze. "But you should stop." Wayne walked closer towards her and ran his fingers through her hair. "This time I'll come to you."

Wayne watched as Nyla's lip quivered as she sobbed in his arms. Wayne sat down next to her and held her closely in his arms as he listened to Nyla as she cried out her pain.

He kissed her forhead and tightened his hold on her.

This time... I'll do what I should've done. So you won't have to hurt anymore.

Wayne felt his heart squeeze.

Because I shouldn't have made you wait this long.

Carson sat down In his office fustratedly.

I shouldn't had fallen for a married woman.

"Dr.Jefferson Beta Female's Therapist is here to see you."

Carson shook his head. "Tell them I don't want to see them right now."

"Yea but I need to, so do you have any other medicine you prescribe to the Beta and Beta Female?"

Carson with teary eyes looked up at the woman in front of him wide eyed. Darci stared at him startled at the word he said.

"Mate."