Chapter 121: Chapter 15

LEXI

Cole hasn’t left my side, except for the one time he grabbed his stuff. If it weren’t for his family and the fact that I can’t stop kissing him, I would assume he’s homeless and using my apartment as a place to crash.

It’s Friday morning and my graduation is in three hours. Janine promised to do my makeup, but I’m nervous for her to meet Cole. She’ll be leaving on Monday to go back to Arizona and I’m going to miss her like crazy.

We’ve been planning to celebrate after the ceremony, but I haven’t told Cole that yet.

He’s still asleep, holding me against his hot skin. Only his shorts and my thin pajamas are separating us.

Cole’s mouth turns into a smile. “You’re staring at me.”

“How did you know that? You haven’t even opened your eyes,” I protest, but he softly chuckles.

“I can feel it. Your breathing changes and I feel it on my chest and chin.”

He opens his eyes then pulls me on top of him as he rolls over. I feel his erection and I’m getting used to it, he has one every morning. He holds my hips and I just barely resist the urge to grind against him.

“I can also feel that you’re aroused. Your nipples are poking through your top and your panties are moist.”

“Cole!” I playfully smack his chest then climb down off of him. “I’m going to take a shower. My friend Janine is coming over. If she shows up while I’m in the shower, will you let her in please?”

He rolls onto his side with his head in his hand. “Of course. What do you want to eat? I’ll start cooking while you shower.”

“Um… something light, I’m going to be nervous later.”

He says nothing as he watches me gather my things. I blow him a kiss then step into the bathroom.

I hear talking when I get out of the shower so I peek to see if they’re getting along. Janine laughs then touches Cole’s arm. He just smiles, but I growl in annoyance. How dare she touch what’s mine.

Cole moves his arm and looks up at me, catching me spying. He gives me a wink then turns back to the stove. “Lexi, breakfast,” he calls out to me.

“I’ll be right there.”

My bedroom door bursts open just as I get my bra on. I startle and turn to face Janine.

“Damn it, you scared the hell out of me.” I throw on Cole’s T-shirt since I’m going to be changing into my dress.

“He is fucking hot! Where can I get one?” Janine says as she places her makeup bag on my dresser. “I know it’s against the rules, but if you two don’t work out, I have dibs.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t think so. He is mine.”

“Wow, possessive much. You’ve never been like this over a guy, Lex. Honestly, I can’t blame you.”

I slip my pants on then head to the kitchen. Cole pulls me into his body, kisses me, then serves three plates of crepes so Janine can join us for breakfast.

***

Cole watches from the bed with his head in his hand as Janine applies my makeup and styles my hair, a sexy smirk on his face and eyes blazing the entire time.

“All right, babe. Done. What do you think, Cole?” Janine turns my desk chair so I’m facing Cole.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful,” he says. My cheeks warm up.

“Okay, out big guy. We ladies need to get dressed,” Janine tells him as she adjusts her eyeliner.

Cole grunts but stands up. He kisses my forehead before closing the door behind him. I think I hear my front door close, but I ignore it so I can slip my dress and shoes on.

“I love this necklace. It matches your dress, you should wear it.” Janine pulls my moonstone necklace from the jewelry box.

“Cole bought it for me,” I tell her as she fastens it around my neck.

“Well, he’s got excellent taste,” she comments.

“Yes, he does.” I smile as I hold the little charm then look at myself in the mirror. I look beautiful.

Cole is standing by the island in a sharp-looking tailored suit, checking his phone. I forget how to breathe. He looks up and locks eyes with me. I feel an inexplicable pull toward him. My feet move on their own accord, bringing us closer.

Cole holds out his hand and gives me that sexy-as-sin smirk. “Wow, Lexi. You look stunning.”

“You too. When did you change?”

“While the two of you were.” He holds out his elbow. “Shall we?”

I accept his arm and we head out the door. I almost forget that Janine is standing right behind me until Cole compliments her as well. I barely manage to keep from grinding my teeth. Janine is your friend, idiot, I remind myself.

Janine took an Uber to get here, so Cole opens the back door of his truck for her, then the front for me. He steals a quick kiss then helps me inside.

Cole**

After dropping the ladies off, I sniff around until I find Wyatt. He gives me a nod of respect and I make my way over to sit beside him.

“Alpha,” he greets me. “Were you able to figure anything out?”

I clear my throat. “Alexis is my mate. She reacts to our bond every once in a while, but I can’t even feel her wolf.”

“I’m glad she has such a strong mate. I doubt just any wolf would be able to help her. Take care of her, Alpha,” he says then stands.

“I will. Are you leaving?” I ask, confused.

“No, Alpha, but I can’t sit with you. If she sees or smells me, it will upset her. I’ll be on the other side of the room.”

He turns to leave, but I stop him. “Wyatt, wait.” I pull out my phone. “Give me your number so I can keep you informed of your family’s wellbeing.”

He gratefully nods then gives me his number. I send him a quick text to make sure he has my number as well.

“Let me know if you need anything. You can call me Cole, since we’re practically family.”

He blasts an ironic laugh. “If only Danielle had any clue of what’s going on. Is there any way you could help her?”

“I can ask. No promises though.”

“You’re already doing more than I have any right to ask for.”

“Not at all. It’s what my family does. You should come around sometime, if you ever get the chance.”

“We’ll see.”

With that, I watch as he walks farther back from the stage and holds the program in front of his face. I shake my head.

Poor guy. I couldn’t imagine being in his shoes. Danielle may have had a shitty childhood, but the Goddess gave her the best mate she could.

He’s a really good guy. I hope he comes around.

The ceremony begins and Lexi finds her seat on the stage. She looks over the crowd until she spots me and gives me her gorgeous smile.

I watch her throughout the ceremony until her name is called.

She walks across the stage, then back to her seat.

After the graduation, I take the ladies to a nice restaurant for lunch.

“You smell… interesting,” Lexi tells me as she sits beside me.

“What does that mean?” I ask with a slight laugh.

She shakes her head. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

I take her hand. “Lexi. Talk to me.”

She swallows. “It’s impossible, but for a second I thought I smelled my dad. He always had a distinct scent and I thought I smelled him for some reason.”

“That’s because I talked to him. He was there.”

Lexi’s mouth opens and closes a few times. Then she licks her lips and wrings her fingers. “He, he, how…?”

“I met your dad last week. I was checking things out in Montana. He’s a pretty decent guy.”

Lexi’s face hardens and she abruptly stands from her chair. “No, Cole. He’s not. You don’t know anything about him.”

She shoves her chair back under the table then storms out of the restaurant.

“Shit,” I mutter. I chase after her as she storms through the parking lot.

“Lexi, stop,” I holler just before catching up with her.

She’s too angry to listen and just keeps walking.

I get in front of her. She shoves at me, but I stand firm. “Lexi.”

“I already told you, my dad was never around. Now you’re telling me that you know him and you’re taking his side. Screw you, Cole.”

“Lexi, you can be mad at me all you want, but your dad came all the way from Montana for your big day. You may not think anything of it, but it says a lot to me.”

Lexi swings on me, but I catch her hand and step into her space so she can scent me, hoping it can help calm her down.

“You don’t get to have an opinion, Cole. You don’t know him, hell, you barely know me. I’ve let this crazy thing between us come on too fast and too strong.”

She rips her necklace off and drops it at my feet. “Don’t follow me, Cole. I will have you arrested for stalking.”

She storms off, and I take a step after her.

She growls, literally full-on wolf growls at me. “I mean it, Cole. Don’t come near me.”

Dad always says the best thing to do when a female is pissed off is to give her a little space. Not too much, but enough that she can’t rip your head off while she’s stirring.

I watch her until she finds a cab and the car drives away.

I pick up her necklace, then head back into the restaurant where Janine is still sitting, looking confused as hell.

“Can you fix this, please?” I ask her as I sit down and swallow Lexi’s champagne in one gulp.

“What just happened?” Janine asks as she accepts the necklace.

“I hit a sensitive topic, but I took the wrong side.”

Janine looks at the chain. “I can fix it. I’m going to go check on her.”

“She already left in a cab. I’ll take you to her place. I have a hotel room I can stay at while she cools off.”

I pay the bill, leaving a fat tip just for the drama, then drop Janine at Lexi’s.

Fuck, I really screwed up. I know she thinks her dad is scum, and I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in it.

~Cole. We have an emergency situation.~ My mom’s voice cuts through my link.

I close my eyes and grunt. Perfect timing.

~What’s going on?~

~Your dad and I are in Bulgaria dealing with a three-pack conflict, but there’s a forest fire in California. It’s going to wipe out the Branston Pack. I need you to gather all the blessed and try to get it away from them. It will hit their pack by Sunday around four a.m. their time.~

Son of a bitch, this just keeps getting better. Most of the blessed are surrounding no-man’s land, except for Bristol; she’s in Vermont.

~Contact the blessed and have them meet me tomorrow. I’ll go grab Bristol then head down.~

~Thank you, son. I’m sorry to spring this on you, but we’re pretty much stuck here until these morons pull their heads out of their asses. I’ll have the plane ready to go. Take off will be at one-thirty p.m.~

~No worries, Mom. I’m on it.~