Chapter 126: Chapter 20

COLE

The seats on the plane are far more comfortable than the beds in the Branston Pack house. I wake up as we land, before Bristol can jump on me.

Aunt Realta stares at my forehead, then gives me a soft smile.

“You’ve been blessed by the Goddess herself.”

I scrunch my brows.

“How do you know that?” I ask, rubbing the spot where the Goddess kissed me.

“I feel her power inside of you.”

“It also helps that you have a crescent moon on your forehead,” Bristol chimes in. “Don’t worry. It’s not very visible. It’s pretty much faded now. What gift did she give you?”

“She told me that I am to eradicate corruption in our kind.”

I sit back up in my seat and notice everyone’s eyes on my forehead.

“Is it that bad?” I question, again touching my forehead.

“You’re the destroyer,” Aunt Realta tells me. “No. Your mark is very subtle. We are all gifted and can feel the power. Other wolves will not even notice.”

She looks toward the cockpit.

“Hanna? Do you have a moment?”

Hanna steps out with her friendly stewardess smile.

“Yes, Luna?”

“Do you notice anything different about Cole?” Aunt Realta asks.

Hanna looks me over, then shakes her head.

“I’m sorry, I don’t. Is there something I am missing?”

I look at Hanna and instead of focusing on her, I feel her wolf. She’s not strong, but very good.

“Whoa,” Bristol comments. “You just used your power and your head lit up like a lightning bug.”

Hanna’s brows scrunch as she looks between me and Bristol.

“You didn’t see it, did you?”

She shakes her head.

“Sorry, no.”

“Thank you, Hanna. Don’t worry, you’re not missing anything,” I tell her.

She nods then heads back into the cockpit to be with her mate.

“So my forehead glows like my mom’s?”

Everyone nods.

At least I know what her forehead looks like when it glows. I can put that fun fact out of my mind and focus on my new task.

I look everyone over and each wolf greets me with respect.

They are all good people. I had no doubt, but now I know what’s going on and how I’m supposed to accomplish the Goddess’s work.

The plane lands and we all part ways.

Bristol and I head straight for my truck and we make the drive to the Redd pack.

Ellie and Conall welcome us as soon as we pull in.

“I’m glad to see you used the road this time. How are you, Cole?” my sister asks with a hug.

“I’m better.”

I pull my three-year-old niece, Oliva, from her arms and toss her up into the air.

She giggles as I tickle her little belly.

“I have a lot going on now and you’re pregnant again. You didn’t say anything last time I was here. Ang is having a boy this time around. Maybe you’ll get your heir, Cannoli.”

Conall gives me a glare, but his smile is still taking up the majority of his face.

Bristol looks Ellie over, then smirks.

“What, Bris?” Ellie asks.

“Oh, nothing,” she sings as she walks to the kitchen to grab a drink.

“You want anything, Cole?”

“I’m good, thanks,” I call after her, then look to Conall. “Where’s Dec?”

Conall tilts his head. “He’s in the office.”

I give a nod, then head back.

Dec is typing into his laptop and talking to Chase when I knock on the open door.

“Hey. Mom said you have info for me?”

Dec leans back in his chair and crosses his fingers.

Chase relaxes into his seat beside the one I take.

“Yeah. That pack is dirty. I already told Virgil. He stripped the alpha and gave the pack to the beta. The ex-alpha is in a holding cell waiting for you.”

“That’s it? That could’ve just taken a phone call.”

“No. That’s not it, Cole. The one you almost killed wasn’t the only dealer. There were three more. They specifically target humans. Most of their targets have been date raped. The guys don’t use any protection so Goddess knows how many may have been knocked up. Those pups and their human mothers would have no clue as to what they are. If they shift for the first time in front of other humans, they could potentially be put in a lot of danger. Not to mention our kind. We need to find those pups, if there are any, and find them fast.”

“We? Will you be joining me?” I ask as I look over the file he hands me.

“Chase and I will both be looking for these victims. You can keep that file. It’s your copy.”

“Thanks. Are you a tracker?” I ask Chase.

“Who do you think taught your dad?”

I know Chase is an amazing wolf. I look him over and his wolf practically glows at me.

“What the hell was that?”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You just touched my wolf.”

Oops.

“I was blessed by the Goddess last night.”

Dec’s mouth goes up into a satisfied smirk.

I look him over and I can feel the Goddess in him.

“You were touched by the Goddess,” I state as a matter of fact.

“Only her light on a few occasions. You have a mark on your forehead, like your mom’s.”

I touch the spot, unsuccessfully attempting to rub it away.

“I didn’t notice anything,” Chase says under his breath.

Dec ignores him.

“What’s your gift exactly?”

“Aunt Realta called me the destroyer.”

Chase’s brows go up and Dec whistles.

“There was a destroyer centuries ago. If the Goddess is bringing him back, there’s a lot more evil going on than we know about. Do you want to start with our cells?”

“I didn’t even think of that. I’ll have to go to the Weston and the Castleson Packs too. There are still guys there from before I was even born.”

Conall pops his head in the office.

“What’s up, dad?”

Dec nods to me.

“I need to visit your cells,” I tell him.

Conall scrunches his brows, but my brother-in-law trusts me enough to oblige.

I shake Dec’s hand.

“Let me know what you find out.”

He gives me a nod, then I follow Conall to the dungeon.

I look each of the three prisoners over.

The human sides are scum, but their wolves are not corrupted.

“They all pass. Where’s Bristol? We need to get on the road.”

“She’s at the river with Clara and Imogen.”

“I’ll go to them. Thanks.”

I grasp Conall’s arm, then head out.

I hear the girls screaming and laughing before I even make it to the river.

Bristol flies off the rope swing to dive into the water.

“Cole! Jump in. The water is great!” Imogen calls out to me. She and Clara are Conall’s sisters. Imogen has always had a little crush on me.

She’s turning eighteen in a few months and Clara is fourteen. My cousins Lindsey and Blaire are also here with, I assume, Grant, Blaire’s boyfriend, who is Ian’s nephew.

Bristol surfaces then sends a water rocket straight at me. I move just in time.

“Damn it, Bristol. At least let me get my phone out of my pocket,” I tell her as I pull off my shoes and shirt. I would keep going, but there are minors present.

I don’t mind swimming in jeans. I dive straight in then grab Bristol and toss her over my shoulder. Imogen, Lindsey, and Clara all get tossed a few times too.

Bristol creates impossible waterworks, splashing us all in the face.

The sky begins to darken so Bristol and I say goodbye to our family and friends. After changing out of my wet pants, we make the long drive to Vermont.

“Are you staying here tonight?” Bristol asks as we pull into her territory just after midnight.

“I need to get back to Lexi.”

“You need to get some rest so you don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Just set your alarm for five. The way you drive, you’ll get there by 9:30. That’s still morning. Plus, our beds are way more comfortable than the ones at the Branston Pack.”

She’s right. I’m exhausted and driving isn’t the best idea at the moment.

“All right. I’ll get a few hours in. Thanks, Bristol.”

“Of course. Come on.” Bristol shows me to a nice room on the ground floor with its own bathroom. It’s perfect and the bed is really comfortable.

I set my alarm and fall asleep almost instantly.

LEXI

“Goddess, I’m such an idiot! I never should’ve left him. He is literally the most perfect guy.” I rake my hair then grip it in a tight fist as I pace my apartment.

Janine’s eyes follow me from my couch. “He said today at the latest. You’re sure he’s coming back?”

She rolls her eyes before answering me for like the hundredth time already. “Yes. Why else would I still be here? He asked me to keep an eye on you. Especially after that dickhead drugged you. If you’re so worried, just call him.”

“Didn’t you say he has a family emergency?” I stop pacing to face her.

“Well, he was with his cousin and they said they’re going to California. He’s probably driving by now.” She leans back into the couch and grabs the remote.

I guess she’s tired of my rambling. I throw my hands up in frustration then go back to my room. Cole’s duffle bag is still in my closet, so he has to come back at some point.

When I left him, I was so distraught, but after Janine told me what he did for me, I owe him big time. I can’t believe Kyle had the nerve to slip something in my drink. I never even saw him do it.

I’ll never trust that asshole again. I never should’ve let him near me, but I was upset and already had two shots and a beer in when he showed up. Janine told me Cole kicked his ass. Good, he deserved it.

I thought to call the police, but Janine told me Cole took him to the authorities. Plus, I have no proof unless Cole does. Maybe I should at least text Cole. He did save me.

That’s it, I’m texting him… but what should I say; thanks for stopping my rapist? Ugh, that’s terrible.

“Lex. Your knight in shining armor is on the phone,” Janine calls out.

I scramble through the door. “It’s Cole?”

Janine rolls her eyes and holds the phone up.

I grab it immediately. “Cole?”

He softly chuckles and his voice is gruff. “Hey Lexi. How are you feeling? I just wanted to check on you. I called Janine’s phone because I didn’t think you would answer after the way we left things.”

He’s so sweet. I don’t know how I’ll ever get him to forgive me for what I did to him. First, I basically kick him out of my life, then he catches me almost naked with another guy. Granted, the guy drugged me, but I was still with him beforehand.

“I’m fine, Cole. Thanks to you. Janine told me what happened. I’m…”

“Yeah. I’m really sorry about that,” he says at the same time.

“I’m sorry I blew up on you. And I’m even more sorry for the way you found me,” I tell him before he can say anything more.

“Yeah. Lexi, we need to discuss some things. Are you up for some breakfast?”

“Breakfast?” I ask like I’ve never heard the word before.

“Yeah, breakfast. You know, food you eat first thing in the morning. Preferably with coffee.” His voice is playful. Goddess, I miss him.

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Great. I’ll see you soon. Bye, Lexi.”

“Bye, Cole.” I hang up and drop my hand, still holding Janine’s phone.

Damn, I really screwed up. I wonder what he wants to talk about. I wonder if he’ll ever forgive me. I mean, I told him to leave and not to follow me.

I know it was my intention to break up with him, but I miss him so much already. Janine holds out her hand, so I give her phone back to her, then plop down on the couch beside her.