Chapter 125: Chapter 19

COLE

After six hours of battling the fire, the Branston Pack is safe and the fire is extinguished. It would’ve taken much longer if Dara hadn’t been here. Her power is limitless.

Everyone else faded in and out, needing to take a break now and then. It’s after ten, so the Branstons set us up in the pack house for the night.

~Mom. The fire is out,~ I notify her as I lay in the lumpy bed.

~That was faster than I thought it would be.~

~Dara was here helping out along with the blessed.~

~Huh… That’s weird. I didn’t see her in my vision. Good job. Make sure to thank everyone for me.~

~I will.~

~I spoke to Dec. He has some information for you so head straight there after you get back. Your dad needs you to handle the situation from here on out. We have a summit coming up. Use your judgment and decide what the best route is. If you need us we’ll be back in three days.~

~Sounds good. Thanks, Mom. Love you.~

~Love you too.~

~I wonder what Dec found out?~ I can’t wait to get back to Lexi, but one quick stop at the Redd pack shouldn’t make me late. I told Janine Tuesday morning.

With the flight back, stopping in at the Redd pack, then drive time, I should make it, but I still have Bristol to take home. I could just have Johnny take her, but he’s headed to Bulgaria to pick my parents up. It’s fine, I love hanging out with Bristol anyway.

A knock on my door pulls me out of bed. I recognize Aunt Realta’s scent before I pull the door open.

“Auntie, is everything all right?”

She gives me a sad look. “My mother will not tell me anything except that you have good instincts. I am not to interfere. I’m sorry, Cole. I wish I could help you.”

I give Aunt Realta a hug. “Thank you, Auntie. I appreciate you trying.”

She gives me a nod and pulls away. She takes a few steps then stops. “Remember what I said: try not to be in a situation where you’re able to mate. You need to figure this all out first.”

“Yes, Auntie. Thank you.” I close the door and take a deep breath while rubbing my temples. This is such a mess. I know that they’re both my mates, I’m sure of it.

I cross the room to look out the window. Dara has returned to the sky and her star gives me a wink.

“Hey, my sky angel. I’m sorry for the predicament we’re in. I don’t know how to fix this and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Her star blinks out and she appears behind me in my room.

“Colton.” I open my arms for her and she closes the distance to snuggle up into my embrace. I kiss her forehead then her plump beautiful lips.

“I do not wish to share you. I wish to be your mate. However, if you are destined to be with the wolfless wolf, I will have to let you go. I am not a wolf after all.” She lays her head back on my chest.

“She doesn’t even know of our kind. I could just mate you and let her have her human life,” I suggest, knowing I sound like a complete jackass. I shake my head as my hand caresses Dara’s back.

“Lexi deserves to know what’s going on. She deserves to know who and what she really is.”

“This is not fair to any of us. I do not wish you to mate her, however, you are right. She should know the truth. I just ask that you do not pleasure her while I am able to see. I would ask that you refrain from pleasuring her, but I know how difficult it is to resist the mate bond.” Dara reaches up on her toes to kiss my cheek.

“I will watch over you while you do your duty to your other mate. Goodnight, Colton.”

“That’s very generous of you. Goodnight, Dara.” I close my eyes and feel the instant she’s gone. I plop down on the lumpy bed and hold my face in my hands. This is insane how much everything has changed.

I thought I was destined to be alone forever. Now I have not one, but two incredibly beautiful mates. Most men would think they’re fortunate. Me, not so much.

My wolf is pacing inside of me. He’s antsy and needs out. I toss away my clothes and jump straight out the window to the ground below. I howl to our Goddess, then run into the charred forest.

Uncle Dave came back in and brought some of the vegetation surrounding the area of the Branston territory back to life, but it’s not completely finished. I move away from the charred woods to stay where I can scent my trail.

My wolf is strong and fast, but he craves his mate to run beside him. I’ve got news for you, our mate is either a Starlight Sister or near human. Neither one can run with us.

My wolf skids to a stop and howls his longing to our Goddess. I feel the ache deep in my heart. Before, I was alone and had no one. Now, I have two and I’m still alone.

I shift, still on my knees, and yell out my anguish. “What am I supposed to do, Goddess? I can’t have two mates.” I punch the ground, angry at myself for causing this mess in the first place.

If I hadn’t been so pushy, so angry at the Goddess for making me wait so long, I might’ve had a mate by now... at least that’s what I tell myself.

A pale blue light encompasses the area and I look around me as the light concentrates into a single beam. I block the light with my hand and squint as a figure takes hold within the beam.

A beautiful woman with hair so blonde it’s almost silver, and down to her knees, stands before me. Her eyes sparkle like the night sky, and the color is such a dark blue that they appear almost black. Her skin is pale like Dara’s and her features are soft with a heart-shaped face.

I know, without a doubt, the woman that stands before me. I bow even lower and I do not even dare to address my Goddess.

“Colton Declan James. My beloved child. You have need of guidance.” Her voice is smooth like velvet and airy like a spring breeze.

“Yes, Goddess,” I answer as I bow with my forehead to the forest floor.

“You may look upon me, Colton. You are one of my most favorite of all my creations. You believed for so long that you should not exist.

“That is partly true. When I created you, you did not yet have a mate. You were created for my daughter Dara. That is why you think of her. It is why you feel connected to her. I have seen her heart and I know she would make the change for you. That was my plan in creating you.”

“Was?” I pick up on the past tense.

“Was,” the Goddess repeats.

“So Dara is my true mate? Why do I feel connected to Lexi?”

“When you were young, I had to make a concession. I paired you with Alexis when her mother had her wolf repressed. Your wolf is powerful and I blessed you with your intuition. Only you are capable of waking the wolf inside Alexis.

“No other wolf would be capable enough to connect with her. If that is your desire.”

“I don’t understand, Goddess. I have to wake Lexi’s wolf and ask Dara to give up her immortality to gain a wolf?”

“No, my child. You must choose only one to be your mate. Two women, one wolf. I cannot create a wolf into a living being. When Realta took on her wolf, it was with the permission of Ryan’s former mate.

“Her wolf agreed to be given to Realta. Your wolf is already paired with the wolf that lies within Alexis. If Dara is your choice, she will become the wolf that is trapped inside of Alexis. If you choose Alexis, she will become the wolf. Either one will be forced to endure the pain of the transformation twofold.”

“I don’t want to hurt them. I love them both,” I admit out loud for the first time, and I know it’s the truth.

“Only one can be your mate, your souls tied for eternity. If you do not choose, you will be alone forever,” she softly warns.

I shake my head. “I don’t want to be alone. I hate being alone. I already feel the bond. I can’t fight it.”

“You have a choice to make, my dear child. Once you make the choice, your connection to the other woman will break and she will be free of you. I would not be so cruel as to leave my children to remain alone.”

“Goddess, I have seen many that have not found their mates. What of them? What if the one I choose doesn’t find her second chance?”

“Those that have not found their mates are those that gave up. You never gave up, Colton. If two hearts are willing, they will find each other. The one you do not choose will have a chance with another for love.

“Alexis will remain human and live a human existence. Dara will remain a Starlight Sister until she chooses otherwise.”

“Their lives are in my hands,” I comment to myself.

“Precisely.”

“Goddess. I’m humbled by your presence, but why am I so fortunate as to be able to speak to you directly?”

“Because you are a descendant of the original alpha king. Not just the Original Rogue Nathaniel, but my very first creation, Faolan. His mate was the Starlight Sister, Selene. Their love was so pure, I enjoyed watching them so I gave her a wolf.

“I was inspired to create more of your kind and pair them with a partner that would provide pure love. Over time, human’s hearts became corrupted and some of my creations became cruel and evil because of their human side. I remove those souls and give their mate wolf a second chance on Earth.”

“So, some wolves are reincarnated?”

“Yes. Your wolf’s previous life was one of cruelty and pain. He suffered much. Like Alexis’s mother, Danielle. She is frightened; however, she accepted her mate. Danielle’s mate is good and they will be together for eternity. Your wolf’s first mate was an evil, vile woman.

“She polluted the gift of her wolf, turning her into a monster. When she met her end, her soul was destroyed. I reincarnated your wolf to give him another chance. This time around, you get your choice in the human side of your mate. Both of your choices are good, kindhearted beings.”

“Yes. They’re both very beautiful inside and out. How long do I have to choose?”

“You have as long as you require. Just know that once you make your choice, it cannot be undone.”

“I understand, Goddess. Thank you for visiting me. Thank you for giving my wolf a second chance.”

“Colton. You are one of my greatest creations. You frequently ask why you were created, why you are the son of the alpha king and the Oracle. It is because I needed you to have their strength so no other wolf could overpower you. I have a task specifically for you.

“Your intuition has solved problems that no other could. You will not be the king, you are correct in thinking this. I need you to seek out the corrupt wolves and eradicate them. I wish for you to destroy any wolf that has been tainted by their human.

“Too many of my beloved children are corrupted. You will know them and you will judge them. Your mother is squeamish and hesitates to find the bad. Your father’s task is to restore my children back to the pack life and to their humanity.”

“So I’m to be an executioner?”

“In a sense, yes. However, you will know when to take and when to spare. I will not let your work tarnish your soul as it is my will, not yours. I will show your mother where to send you.”

“Yes, Goddess. I will do your work as you request.”

“Thank you, my child.”

The Goddess kisses my forehead, leaving a burning sensation on my skin. I close my eyes until the burning dissipates.

When I open my eyes, I’m alone in the woods once more. I shift back into my wolf to find my trail and head back to the Branston Pack house.