Chapter 108: Chapter 2

COLE

I wake up to sunlight in my face and the sound of birds singing in the woods around me.

“What a night,” I think to myself as I run my fingers through my hair and stretch.

Dara is an amazing kisser. It’s a shame she isn’t my mate. I’d give her everything she needs and worship her even more than she already is.

She’s certainly made an impression on me, that firecracker. It would be so nice to finally end my search. She is beautiful, but I long for my mate.

I grunt, then hop out of the back of my truck and open the back door.

I always keep a duffle bag with a variety of clothes. I throw on some jeans and a T-shirt, then drive back to our territory.

I have my own cabin, but I haven’t stocked the fridge in a while.

I let out a breath and close the fridge. I’m too frustrated to think anyway.

I dump my dirty clothes from my duffel bag and restock it. My mate is out there somewhere.

I’m not coming back until I find her. I grab a second bag and fill it up with more clothes, my charger, and some toiletries.

My mother’s voice enters my thoughts.

~Dara?~ she asks.

~I thought you couldn’t see me.~ The major benefit of being the Oracle’s child; she can’t see us nor hear our thoughts and links.

She can hear others’ responses, so she can figure out most unspoken conversations, though.

~I can’t. But I can see her and I can see the past. How far did you go with her? I stopped looking after she asked if she could…~

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

I finish packing, then throw everything into the backseat of my truck.

~We didn’t do anything,~ I say as I grab an iced coffee, then start up my truck.

I stop in no-man’s land for a quick breakfast from a drive-through, then head up the coast.

I have no destination in mind, but I’m determined to find my mate.

Dara made that comment about my search being among the wolves. Now I’m looking among the humans.

There are so many damned cities and towns that this task is quite daunting.

If I think of the Earth, there is no way to cover the whole of it.

I can’t think like that. I have to do what feels right.

My instincts say to go north, so that’s where I’m headed.

My mate will not be obvious. I wonder why that is.

Goddess, am I going to even know it’s her when I do meet her?

Will I know her from smell like most wolves do?

Will I have to lock eyes with her first?

Will her touch send tingles flooding through my body?

Goddess, so many questions.

I can worry about all of that later, but for now, the question is where. Where do I go?

I drive for hours, only stopping for gas and food.

The sun begins setting and I’m headed toward New York City.

At the last second, I change my mind and continue north into New Jersey.

New York didn’t feel right.

I see the lights of Trenton, New Jersey, and I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.

I know the nearby pack is run by Alpha Jackson Smith.

I pull up to his territory and I’m stopped by the guards.

They recognize my status but are unaware of who I am.

“Is Alpha Smith busy? I’m Colton James. I need a word with him.”

The guard hops into my truck and gives the directions to the pack house.

I park, then give him a nod and he takes off to get back to his post.

I stretch and crack my back as Alpha Smith greets me.

“Alpha James,” he says as he holds his hand out to me.

I know from his profile and from meeting him over the past few years that Alpha Smith is twenty-six and he found his mate three years ago at the mates ball.

He took over the pack just after mating.

“Alpha Smith. Just Cole is fine. I apologize for showing up with no invitation. I’m doing some searching in the Princeton area for a little while. I was wondering if I might crash here for the time being.”

“Please, call me Jackson. I gotta say, this is kind of an odd request, Cole.”

“I understand. I’m not here for your pack in any way, but I can pay or assist your pack in exchange for your hospitality.”

“I can put you up. Of course, I’m not going to deny the Alpha Prince anything. Would you rather a place of your own? I have a cabin at the north end of the territory. It would put you closer to Princeton.”

“Only if you can spare it. I would be most grateful.”

Alpha Jackson’s beta shows up and introduces himself.

“Alpha James. I’m Beta Kevin Daugherty. I’ll show you to the old cabin. I’m not sure it’s stocked, though. My place is on the way. You’re welcome to join me and my mate for dinner.”

“I’m grateful to you.” I nod to Jackson. “To you and your pack. I’ll transfer some compensation as soon as I get settled.”

Kevin points out the training center, then we stop at his house, which is across from the alpha’s.

His mate Trina welcomes me into their home and graciously serves dinner.

They have a little pup about two years old.

She has the cutest little natural ringlets in her light brown hair.

She holds my hand as soon as I sit down.

“Hi, cupcake. What is your name?”

“This is Sophie. I’m sorry that she’s bothering you, Alpha James,” Trina says as she moves to grab her pup.

I pick her up and hold her on my right knee.

“She’s perfectly fine. I love pups.”

I begin eating and the girl starts picking at her food, eating whatever I am eating.

I dip my bread in the sauce and the pup copies me.

Soon a knock sounds at their door and Beta Kevin moves to answer.

“Who could that be?”

“I believe Colton is here?”

I recognize the voice, so the pup and I move to the door to welcome the guest.

“Goddess. Are you looking for me?”

Kevin and Trina’s eyes go wide; they have no clue who the visitor is.

Dara’s red hair blows gently in the breeze.

“Actually, I am here for the pup.”

Dara takes the girl from my arms and speaks gently to her.

“Hi sweetie, I am Dara. I have a gift for you.”

Dara’s palm glows purple and she swipes the light across the pup’s forehead, blessing her with the power of water.

Kevin clears his throat. “Won’t you please come in… Goddess… We’re, uh, sitting down for dinner now.”

Dara looks to me, so I give her a nod.

She smiles, then steps inside.

“Kevin, Trina, Sophie, may I introduce the Starlight Sister, Dara. Sophie was just blessed with the gift of water. If your pack is lacking in the knowledge, the Ramirez pack is where we usually send the blessed to learn control of their gifts.”

Trina and Kevin look to each other in shock and wonder.

Trina bows her head to Dara. “Thank you for your gift, Goddess.”

I help Dara to an empty seat, then take the girl from her.

We sit back down and resume eating while Trina serves a plate to Dara.

“Did you want to talk to me at all?” I ask her.

“Your mother is pissed at me. I told her we did not do anything.”

She rolls her eyes, then daintily begins eating. “Ooh. This is delicious. You are quite the chef, beta mate.”

“I told her the same thing,” I continue our conversation.

“Yes, then you run off without a word. Virgil figured you went looking for your mate. Haley did not want to talk to me. I have seen what she is like in her private time with Virgil. Why are two kisses from you frowned upon when she uses her mouth to…”

I grunt, then wipe some sauce from Sophie’s chin. “I don’t want to know what my parents get up to in their bedroom. She’s just being overprotective.”

I reach out to hold her hand. “We did nothing wrong. Did you tell them where I am?”

Dara shakes her head.

I lean over and kiss her temple. “Thank you. I need to do this on my own.”

“Well, duh. No one else would know who your mate is. Emmett wanted to come after you, but I told him you would be back.”

“Shi… oot.” I catch myself, remembering I’m holding an impressionable toddler. “I didn’t even think about him.”

“Some friend you are,” she teases.

I lightly shove her arm. “Hey. I’m a great friend.”

Dara giggles, then continues eating.

“S-so, I guess you know each other?” Trina pries.

Kevin wraps his arm around his mate’s shoulder.

“Of course,” Dara states matter-of-factly. “I was there when the triplets were born. I have watched over this guy his whole life. He is one of the most honorable males around. Are there any mateless males in your pack? Preferably one that has already had a mate? I’m looking for a hookup.”

I snort a laugh, and Dara looks at me. “Is that not the right word?”

I shake my head. “That depends on what you mean. Are you looking for a one-time thing, or are you looking for a relationship?”

“Well, I don’t think one time is enough, based upon all I’ve seen. I would like someone more long term. However, I’m not interested in following my sister’s example. I don’t want a pup and I don’t want to be mortal. Not yet anyway.”

“You’re not looking for a hookup, then,” I answer her question.

Dara turns to the beta and his mate. “So? No longer mated males? Yes, no?”

Kevin thinks for a moment. “I think there are two in our pack. Are you looking for a certain age group?”

“I think younger would be better. I like Colton’s body. Do either look like him?”

I would blush, but I’m used to Dara’s ways.

“I can introduce you to them, Goddess. Louis and Isaac are both handsome young men. They’re both about thirty. Their mates were friends and were both killed in a car accident a few years ago.”

“Wonderful. I will be here tomorrow evening.”

Dara finishes her dinner. She thanks the Doughertys, then kisses the pup’s head.

I hold her face on the way up. She smiles at me, then leans in for a kiss. “Good night, Colton. I’ll miss your mouth.”

I kiss her again. “Goodnight, Dara. Enjoy your men.”

She chuckles, then leaves the house.

“I apologize, that must’ve been quite awkward for you,” I tell my hosts, then adjust Sophie onto my shoulder.

I rub her back as she falls asleep.

“It certainly is not every day we have the company of a Starlight Sister,” Kevin states.

Trina takes Sophie from me. “Our daughter was blessed…”

She whispers to herself. “You’re very good with pups, Alpha James.”

I give her a nod, and she takes her pup to her room.

“Thank you for being so accommodating. The Starlight Sisters have their own odd ways, but they’re very kind as long as you don’t hurt them.”

“You’ve met another?” he asks as we make our way to my truck.

“Yes. The first one was my aunt Realta. She gave up her mortality and became a wolf to be with my uncle, Alpha Ryan Weston. They have a daughter together, Bristol. She found her mate in Alpha Wilson in Connecticut.”

“I’ve met her. I had no idea she’s the daughter of a Starlight Sister. This is incredible. You grow up knowing about the Moon Goddess and the Starlight Sisters, but you never imagine them to be more than the moon and stars. Turn right up here. There is a dirt road.”

I get settled in, and the beta leaves me to relax after my long day.