Chapter 101

*Ariya*

I felt the exhaustion hit me when we severed the connection. I also felt the hunger hit me. I was already laying on the mat under the blanket Ivan brought for me in case someone came in or looked into the room. They would assume I was sleeping. Boss was the only one with the access to be able to enter where I was and I knew he wouldn't wake me if he thought I was sleeping. He wanted my memories more than anything. Not that there was anything of use he was going to get from me. Everything that was useful was locked the second that I had the memory.

I tried to keep my eyes open, waiting for Ivan to reach back out but I was fighting a losing battle. My eyes were heavy and keeping them open was impossible. My eyes fluttered closed and a bright light flashed into my mind.

I looked around, unsure of what happened. The exhaustion I felt was gone and I was in a white room. At least it looked white. I couldn't tell if there were any walls. I spun around confused.

What is going on? I thought to myself.

"Ari!" Ivan shouted, running to me.

"Ivan!" I shouted, running into his embrace.

Ivan picked me up and spun me around. I giggled as he set me down. Ivan leaned down and kissed me passionately. I melted into his arms, happy to be in his embrace.

"Where are we?" I asked him.

Ivan smiled, flashing his wolf eyes at me, "I can't be completely sure, but I have a feeling that you're gonna get to meet my parents."

"Really?!" I jumped up excited.

"You know, usually people are nervous to meet the parents of their significant other. I know I was at first." An unfamiliar male voice said from behind us.

We spun around and Ivan grinned widely, "Dad."

Ivan's Dad was slightly taller than Ivan was. He had the same dark hair and eyes that Ivan did. Ivan's Dad had a slightly bigger build than Ivan did. Ivan's build was more toned and muscular. He was tall but he was quick. People usually underestimated Ivan because he had more of the sleeper build. Ivan's Dad was different. You could tell he had the muscle mass he did. Ivan's Dad was a bit taller but his build was more on the stocky muscular side. I began to wonder if Ivan's Dad was faster or Ivan.

"Ivan's definitely a lot faster than me at this point." Ivan's Dad laughed at my shocked expression.

"We know what you both are thinking. Though we try to be discreet about it." Ivan's Mom said, nudging his Dad.

Ivan's Dad laughed and apologized. He came over to me and gave me a hug which shocked me but I hugged him back.

"Ivan's build might be smaller, but he's definitely a lot stronger than I am. His body doesn't show it as much but his endurance and strength beats mine by a longshot." He whispered to me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean" I trailed off, embarrassed.

"There's nothing to apologize for or be embarrassed about. You're curious which is natural. My son needs to be strong. He's gotta be able to teach you and protect you. Though I get the feeling that you'll protect him just as much." His Dad winked at me.

I giggled, "Thank you. I never got to meet you before. At least I don't think I did."

"Oh sweety, you did. You met both of us. You just don't remember." Ivan's Mom said.

I clenched my jaw, looking at the ground. It was so frustrating not having all of my memories back. I wanted them back. Hell. I wanted my life back! I wanted our lives back. To be back home in our little town. To be able to just live peacefully. Ivan came up to me and wrapped his arms around me.

"I know. But even though everything has been so frustrating and difficult, I don't think we would be as close as we are if I hadn't ended up living with you guys for 5 years." Ivan said softly.

"But if none of this ever happened, they would still be with us. My Mom might still be with us." I said, feeling my heart break a little.

Ivan's Mom came over and put her hand on my shoulder. She pulled me away from Ivan and wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her back tightly. She felt like a lifeline. Like someone pulling me back from the anger I felt.

"Sweety, if things didn't happen how they had, you wouldn't be prepared for what's about to come. You and Ivan needed what happened to be able to make it through everything that will come in the future. It hasn't weakened you or broken you. It has made you strong. Don't let it frustrate you. The past is out of your control. The future is up for you to decide." Ivan's Mom said.

I nodded, "I just wish it wasn't so painful. But you're right. We can't do anything about what happened. We can only control what we do moving forward."

"Exactly. Which brings us to why we're here. We have a lot of things to go over with you both and not a whole lot of time to do it. We get small opportunities to be able to help out. But this is one where I can help with some of the frustration you feel." Ivan's Mom said.

I looked at her confused, "Help out with some of the frustration? How?"

"We can wedge the lock open a bit more. It won't give all of your memories back. But it will give you all the little ones. The memories that have a lot of weight on them, either in importance or emotion won't come until it's absolutely needed. Like how we weren't able to be there to help Ivan after we died until now. He got his memory back of our death and that is what triggered us being able to help out." Ivan's Dad explained.

"Think of it as a thank you for helping our son get through the emotional turmoil of our death. You saved him, Ariya. For that, we're eternally grateful for you." Ivan's Mom said and his Dad nodded.

"I'm the one that should be thanking you both. You made him. I wouldn't be able to get through anything I've gotten through without him." I smiled back at them.

I felt Ivan wrap his arms around me from behind and nuzzling close, "I love you."

"I love you." I said.

Ivan's Mom and Dad walked up to the both of us and each put a hand on our heads. We closed our eyes. Letting the memories flow through us. Ivan still had his arms wrapped around me and I hugged his arms back. I could feel the happiness that we felt when we played as kids. The 4 of us, enjoying the moment. I remembered Ivan's grumpy face from when he first got to us until he started to open up. I remembered Keo constantly teasing me about Ivan but only when Ivan wasn't around. I remembered Keo and I swapping places confusing everyone but Ivan. I remembered my Mom making breakfast and all of us setting up a table. I remembered watching as Derek taught Ivan and Caleb how to fight in their wolf forms. I remembered learning how to fight with Keo while Drake and our Mom taught us. I remembered a giant wolf whose fur was all black checking to make sure I was ok and another giant wolf whose fur was all white coming up next to the other wolf.

I gasped as the memories finished running through my head.

"I don't know the details but I saw both of you in your wolf forms!" I exclaimed to Ivan's parents.

They laughed, flashing their wolf eyes at me. Their eyes were also a different color from the yellow that most wolves had. They weren't blue and silver like Ivan's, but instead they were an emerald green color.

"You won't have the entire memory. It's one of the ones that will come only when it is absolutely needed. But we're glad we could be there that day. We both felt a pull to you and had our guesses as to why. We're happy that we were right." Ivan's Mom told me.

"Wait, are you a mated pair?" I asked, remembering their eyes.

"Yes, we are. Our mate bond is different from yours but still very similar." Ivan's Dad said, grinning.