Chapter 109: Chapter 3

COLE

The training room is empty when I begin my early morning workout. After a jog on the treadmill, I start lifting weights. Wolves begin to trickle in.

Then Jackson calls everyone to attention. “Cole, would you be willing to join us today? It’s guard training.”

He invited me, so I survey all of the guards. “Where are the females?” I bluntly ask.

Jackson swallows. “We only have male guards. The females do train in our pack, but they tend to be a distraction for the guards.”

“So your guards are too busy checking out she-wolves to do their jobs, is that what I’m hearing?”

Jackson scratches the back of his head. “Call your females that want to be guards to training,” I order, waiting for him to comply.

“They will be here within ten minutes,” he informs me. “While we wait, your guards can start their laps.”

I look out over the group. They don’t seem to realize who I am, so I let my alpha vibes out, just enough to light a fire under their asses. “NOW.”

I turn back to Jackson. “I know you to be a good guy, Jackson. Fix your mistake now and I will not inform Alpha Redd that your pack needs a little visit.”

“It’s my father. He’s stuck in that mindset.”

I get into his face. “Are you or are you not the alpha of this pack?”

I see him swallow. “You’re right, Cole. I am the alpha.”

“The women of this pack will be treated fairly. Your pack is what gives you your strength. The females are just as much part of this pack. If they feel oppressed, it reflects on you. It makes you weaker. Do I need to have words with your father?”

He shakes his head. “No, of course not.”

“Good. When the females arrive, I’m not even here. I will monitor and step in when I see fit.”

I step back and a large group of she-wolves enter the training room. Damn, once again she’s not here.

I nod to Jackson. He steps up and makes the announcement that females will be guards from now on, then tells them to get a twenty-minute jog in.

I join the females on their jog, then observe once training begins. Jackson is correct that the males are distracted.

Every time I catch one slacking off or checking out the females, they get dropped, hard. I trip them up and slam them to the ground in one fluid movement.

One punk gets to his feet and swings at me. I catch his hand and crunch down, breaking his fingers.

I use his hand to flip him onto his back, my right hand behind my back the entire time. I catch one female watching me out of the corner of my eye.

“You’d be better off paying attention to who your opponent is. There’s always someone stronger. In this case, that would be most everyone in this room. You may be a guard, but that doesn’t make you invincible. Focus on your job, not the beautiful ladies.”

When he finally cries out, I let him go. I look up to the she-wolf then signal her over with my finger.

She immediately walks forward. I sniff the air, but I smell nothing but the sweat in the room.

“Name?”

“Rosalie,” she confidently responds.

“Show me what you’ve got,” I tell her, then get into a loose stance.

Rosalie takes a stance then starts attacking. She’s agile and quick, better than some of the guys.

After pinning her for the fifth time, I look around the room. Everyone is watching us.

“Guards, pay attention. I don’t care how big and bad you think you are, I have news for you. You are all lacking. Alpha Jackson and I will be working on making you better.”

I point out the guard that was bullshitting with the one that swung at me. “You and Rosalie, head to head. Let’s go.”

Rosalie kicks the guy’s ass. I stand beside Jackson and watch as she pins him.

“Still think an all-male crew is a good idea?”

“No, Cole. I get it. Everyone is wondering who you are. What should I tell them?”

“I’m just an alpha friend visiting for a little while,” I answer, never taking my eyes away from the match.

“Friend?” he asks timidly.

“Would you prefer to have me as your enemy?” I glance his way.

“No. Kevin told me he was visited by a Starlight Sister last night. I almost didn’t believe him. He said Sophie was blessed.”

I wait for him to get to the point. “Did you bring her here?”

“I didn’t. The Starlight Sisters do as they wish.”

I step forward. “Enough. Good work, Rosalie. Team up and start sparring.”

I look to Jackson. “I’m finished for today. I have things to do. Tomorrow, have them start with a five-mile run. Build up their endurance. You should join them since you are the leader.”

I don’t wait for a response and just leave. After a quick shower, I drive to Princeton and stop at a diner for a quick breakfast.

No one catches my attention, so I wander around the mall for a little while. I grab a suit and get it tailored while I’m here.

I stop for lunch at the food court, still turning up nothing. As I’m walking out of the mall, a scent hits me.

I take the biggest whiff of my life. I’m reminded of magnolias with their soft, yet sweet floral fragrance.

It’s a breath of fresh air barely on the breeze, and I lose it just as I find it. I search for the scent, but it’s eaten up by the smells of food and shoppers.

Shit! I find a bench closest to the door and start looking over the stock market on my phone.

My mother taught me when I was a teen, and I’m pretty good at reading the trends. The day I turned eighteen, I purchased my first investment with the ten grand Auntie Lindra left for me.

Now I have just over $16.8 million. The breeze continues to blow scents my direction, but none of them are hers.

I’m sitting for hours, but the scent never returns. I smelled her. I know I did.

I’m in the right place. I let out a breath.

Finally. I know she’s here and that she does in fact exist. I have a mate.

I almost gave up, but now I know she’s real. I’m not leaving until I find her.

My excitement and hope begin to wane as the sun sets and darkness overtakes the light. I stand up to stretch my sore back, then sit back down.

More time passes, and the mall closes for the night. I trudge to my truck and climb inside, once again disheartened.

How could I have missed her? I know I smelled her.

It had to be her. Even the magnolias down south never smell that delectable.

I grip my hair in frustration. “Goddess, please, cut me some slack,” I half pray.

I know the Goddess is as real as Dara and Aunt Realta, but I feel like she forgets that I exist. I’ve had a very blessed life with good parents and sisters.

My family is huge. My best friend and beta, Emmett, has been there for me through thick and thin.

But I’m alone. I work hard to keep peace throughout the Were world.

That’s my job, and even if it wasn’t, I would still help those I can. My father raised me to respect our people.

Without them, we wouldn’t be necessary. Every last one is important, even the rogues that have already gone feral.

We try to help them, but sometimes we just can’t. My father told me about the time he almost went feral.

I’m so grateful the Goddess stepped in to help him. But here I am, lonely in an empty parking lot, sitting in my truck.

I know that sometimes mates don’t find each other. It happens.

People never leave their pack, they live on different continents, they die. That’s the number one reason Weres go rogue; lack of a mate.

I get it. The emptiness I feel consumes me all over again.

I lay my head back against my headrest and open my eyes to the night sky. It’s harder to see within the city, but the Moon Goddess still ignores me.

Maybe it was all in my head. Someone had a nice perfume.

Maybe Dara just wanted to make me feel better and I’m just blind to her advances. I shake my head.

I know her better than that. I half smile, knowing she’s meeting potential partners.

I hope one works out. She shouldn’t be alone forever.

At least she looks out for me, unlike the Goddess that forgets that I exist. Dara is beautiful, but I don’t love her the way she deserves.

Hell, I never even thought of her romantically until she kissed me the other night. My stomach grumbles and I look at the clock on my dashboard.

It’s after ten p.m. and I haven’t eaten since noon. I start my truck as a light drizzle begins to fall, matching my mood.

The local diner is the only thing open this late, so I pull in. The only patrons are quiet and alone, just like me.

I never thought I’d fit in with a group of humans, but here I am. Why am I even here?

A rogue she-wolf would never be this close to a pack. The Smith Pack territory is only a fifteen-minute drive.

I’m such an idiot. I should just pack up and move on, but this place feels right.

Goddess, none of this makes sense. The magnolia scent hits me again as soon as I sit down.

What the fuck? I look around, but no one catches my eye.

I peek through the blinds, but the lot is empty except for a few lonely cars now spotted with water droplets. The waitress is cute, a little on the chubby side, but I don’t mind a thick chick.

I’m strong enough to handle her. “Hey, sugar, what can I get ya?” she asks, and there’s no connection between us, not even the heavenly scent. She’s completely human.

“Double burger, extra cheese, onion rings, and a Coke.”

She nods then walks off to put my order in. I sniff around me only to realize the scent is gone.

Goddess, why couldn’t I be a tracker? I’ve never met a tracker that hasn’t found their mate.

Rhi is a tracker. I’m guessing that’s how she was able to find her mate from across a crowded hall.

She has taught me a few tricks, but I’m not nearly as skilled as she is. The waitress delivers my food in no time at all.

It looks damned good, so I dig right in. I leave a nice tip then head back to my temporary abode.

~Cole, where are you? I’m worried sick,~ my mother links me as I pull up to the cabin.

~I’m twenty-five years old. I don’t need Mommy to worry over me.~

~Colton Declan,~ she admonishes with her dad voice.

I close my eyes and let out a frustrated breath. “Sorry, Mom. I just need time. Dara and I didn’t do anything, so stop holding a grudge for nothing. Dara is as much of a virgin as I am.”

“Ugh, fine.”

I can practically see her roll her eyes. “I love you, Cole. Check in once in a while, yeah?”

“Love you too.”

I cut off our link and lay in bed. Goddess, I’m pathetic.

I’m a twenty-five-year-old male virgin and my mom is checking in on me. At this point, I may as well say fuck it and just sleep with Dara for a while.

My wolf inside of me growls at the idea of betraying our mate. I growl back.

We probably don’t even have one. I roll over and close my eyes, hoping sleep quickly takes me.