Chapter 196 - The truth comes easily (2/2)

Andy smiled, ”The two of you were very much the same back then. There was no doubt of either of your feelings either.”

Jos let out a heavy sigh. ”I'm not so sure about that... He seemed really reserved if I'm remembering right... and I'm not so sure it was love or just blind admiration I had for him.” She let out another long breath as she lifted a card from the deck and placed it face up on the discard pile. ”I won't know until I have more of my memories back.

Andy laughed as she nodded toward the untouched mug. ”Then you really should get to drinking! What is this, your third day?”

Jos nodded. ”Yeah, but Peg had said one a week so...”

”That was before all this claiming business came up. I personally think the more you can remember before all that mess goes through the better!” Andy said as she lifted a card from the pile and held it out toward Shelly, then placed it on the pile after the wolf shook her head.

”Do you think I'm making a mistake?” Jos asked lifting the mug to her lips.

Andy drew her own card, trading it out with a less desirable one in her hand. ”No... but I guess I'm bias towards Arei anyways, no offence.” She added turning toward the wolf. Andy giggled when the wolf just shrugged. ”You too then?” She asked giggling even harder when the wolf nodded. ”Well there's your answer! Bottoms up and get this love on the roll!”

Jos could feel the blush spread across her entire face now. ”I've already told him... I'm not giving up on what Russ and I hav-had...” Shelly interrupted her with a snort causing Jos to let out a low groan. ”I know it's probably not going to work out romantically for us, but I'd at least like to see him settled into his role as leader... and possibly happy with someone that could be good for him and his people.”

Andy set her cards down and reached out to stroke Jos's arm. ”Do you want to because you truly love him or because you feel guilty about your involvement with him and his parents? Do you really think being around him would be the best thing to help him move on or... deep down know it would only hold him back... maybe?”

Jos let out another long, ragged breath. ”You may have a point... whether it's something I'm willing to face right now or not... I do feel guilty and I do honestly love him.” She shrugged. ”I've always wanted to be there for both of them in whatever way they needed me... I guess somewhere along the line I let things get out of hand... I truly thought being an Alpha meant he would have the same immunity against my curse as his father, but when the signs were there proving otherwise, I forced myself to ignore it.”

Andy nodded in agreement. ”But you know for a fact what Arei felt, still feels for you is true. Why not give him another chance while you have time away from the kid-Russ.” She corrected herself.

Jos frowned. ”Because it seems dishonest towards both of them. I feel like Russ and I haven't gotten the closure either of us need... and that until I understand my own feelings for Arei more, I'll never be able to give him the full chance he deserves.”

Andy gave her a half smile as she nodded. ”I suppose that makes sense.” She leaned back and lifted her cards back into her hand. They played a few rounds in silence, before Andy asked. ”I heard Ry is still working out a way to lift your curse. How's that going?”

Jos shook her head as she traded a card on the discard pile for one of her own. ”I don't know why he's even bothering. I doubt there is any way to reverse it, and apparently tracking down my mother is impossible... as if asking her to lift it would even help...”

Andy studied her for several minutes. ”You never know she may... You shouldn't give up so easily.”

”I should if it's other people risking their lives for the cause.” She muttered as she lifted a card for Shelly's investigation.” A gentle tap drew their attention toward the door. Arei smiled as he rested his head against the door frame. ”Your lush of a husband has had too much to drink and needs taken home promptly.”

”Too much to drink?! But how?” Andy said indignantly as she set the cards down and pushed up onto her knees to crawl off the bed.

Arei chuckled, ”Father's here... You know how he gets when he's bored.”

Andy rolled her eyes as she moved toward the door. Shelly leaped off the bed and followed at the mention of her new favorite person. Arei watched as they disappeared into the living area before turning his attention to Jos. She was gathering the cards and putting them into the box. He carefully closed the door and walked over to the bed. ”Was what you said true?” He asked as he lifted an empty bag of ch.i.p.s from the bed and set it on the nightstand.

Jos frowned not meeting his gaze. ”Which part?”

He took the cards from her hand and set them on the nightstand as well. Hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted her eyes up to meet his. ”I may have caught more of that conversation than I should have from the bathroom...” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. ”As much as I appreciate your consideration for my feelings,” His smile widened mischievously. ”Trust me when I say, I'd appreciate the chance to make you fall in love with me all over again much more.”

Jos closed her eyes tightly. ”I told you, I can't...”

”You can... if you wanted to... I believe you're more scared than anything else right now.” He whispered softly. ”You're afraid of getting hurt again... but, Kitten, I promise you I'll not make the same mistakes.”

Jos jerked her face away from his grip. ”But you already have, haven't you?”

Arei sighed as he lowered himself to a squat in front of her forcing her to meet his eyes. ”You're not going to let me live that down, easily are you?”

To her surprise when she shook her head 'no', he smiled. ”Because without it you would be out of excuses to continue holding back as you are?” He ran his hand teasingly along her jawline until he reached her ear and began tracing it. ”Father's out there right now ready to sign and submit those doc.u.ments, I'll not sign my portion without your honesty right now.” He held her surprised, troubled gaze. ”As things stand right here, right now if nothing else was to change... no recovered memories, no lifted curse, no werewolf prince resolution in the foreseeable future... could you still bring yourself to love me? Could this thing between us ever be mended?” His eyes searched hers as he continued. ”If no, tell me now. I'll go in there and sign away the next however many years of my life to you without a second thought... If yes, I beg you tell me...” He stroked her face with the rough pad of his thumb. ”I have to know; can you see yourself ever loving me again?”

Tears filled Jos's eyes as she held his pleading gaze. She nodded her head slowly at first but with more assurance as she watched his eyes light up. ”Yes...” She whispered as she bent forward and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. ”You're right about why I hold such a grudge about before... You have to know... it's so easy to fall in love with you...”