Chapter 127: Chapter 21

LEXI

A knock raps at my door. ~That can’t be him already, I just got off the phone.~ I rush to the door and pull it open.

Cole is standing there in all his delicious glory. His chin is covered in stubble and his hair is a little on the messy yet still so sexy side. His button-down shirt is open over a tight T-shirt. His jeans hug his thick thighs. His scent hits me and my mouth waters to taste him.

“Hey, gorgeous. I’ve missed you.”

I can’t help myself. I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around him. He chuckles and holds me tight against him. My nose goes straight to his neck where I can breathe him in. He hums and rubs his hand down my back.

“I take it you missed me?”

I giggle and realize I must look like a complete idiot. “Yeah,” I whisper as I start to climb down from him. He just squeezes me tighter, keeping me in place. He presses his lips to my cheek and I relax.

“I’m sorry I left you.”

“I’m sorry I let you leave. It’s not going to happen again. You’re mine, Lexi,” he says with a growl in his voice.

The sound goes straight to my sex and I moisten for him. He hums and deep down I know he’s aware of my arousal. He lets me down to stand on my feet and gives me his sexy smirk.

“You smell intoxicating.” He takes my hand then steps inside my apartment. He nods to Janine. “I need your PayPal.”

Janine gives him the information then her phone chimes.

“Whoa!” Her mouth is open as she looks up at him. “Cole, that’s way too much.”

“You took three days out of your life to help me, you fixed her necklace and you had to reschedule your flight. It’s the least I could do. Now, let’s all go to breakfast.”

Cole’s right arm is wrapped around my shoulders as we eat breakfast with Janine. Every once in a while he brushes his nose up my neck causing me to shiver.

“So what do you want to talk about?” It’s been driving me crazy thinking over different scenarios.

He kisses my cheek, then clears his throat before he begins speaking. “I have a new job that I need to take care of. I’ll be traveling a lot more, but I don’t want to leave you here. I want you to come to North Carolina to live with me, my family, your brother… just live in the territory. I know that’s huge, but Ethan is there with Rosalie. You can stay with me, him, or even have your own place. There are wolves in the territory so you can do your work there. I’ll even cover moving costs and fees for breaking your lease.” He stops speaking and waits for my response.

My mouth is hung open and my brows are in my hairline. I don’t know what to say. I look to Janine for help.

She sips her drink as she looks between the two of us. “Um…”

“That sounds like a good deal to me,” Janine chimes in. “Rosalie is there and your brother. I’m leaving so you would be alone here.”

I can’t believe she’s on board with this. Cole is a complete stranger… Well, she’s hung out with us a few times. She doesn’t even know him. I don’t really know him.

I look back to Cole’s sincere face. “I need a minute,” I weakly tell him as I grab Janine’s arm and pull her away to talk.

“Are you seriously saying I should do this? We barely know the guy.”

She crosses her arms and rolls her eyes at me. “I know he covered you up with his shirt then tucked you in when you were drugged out. I know he kicked Kyle’s ass for you. I know he paid for me to stay with you to make sure you’re safe and healthy. I know you were pacing back and forth and fiddling with your necklace every day until you finally heard from him. He’s not saying you have to even live with him, he said you could have your own place. There is not one reason to stay here and there are about fifty to go. Why are you even questioning this? You’re totally into this guy. Bonus; he’s pretty damn hot. You’d be an idiot not to go. Besides, if anything happens between you, you can always go to Rosalie and Ethan.”

“You’re right, and I do want to go, but it’s so fast.”

“You spent every minute with him for a whole week. That’s like two months’ worth of dating.”

I laugh. “It is not.”

“Okay, but still… Lex, you’re head over heels for Cole. Take a chance. What have you got to lose?”

“I just don’t want to end up like my mom,” I tell her honestly.

Janine’s eyes soften and she gives me a hug. “You’re nothing like your mom. You told me how screwed up her life was. You’re going to be fine.”

She pulls back. “Now, come on. Cole is waiting for us at the table. But Lex, you don’t have to give him an answer right this second. Take a few days and think it over. He seems like a patient guy. He’s not going to force you if you decide it’s not for you.”

I chance a look over my shoulder. Cole is perfectly relaxed and scrolling on his phone. He looks up and gives me a wink, which brings a smile to my face.

He pockets his phone, then sips his coffee, never taking his eyes off me. Janine sits back down and I follow her lead.

“Lexi. I’m sorry for freaking you out. You don’t have to give me an answer right now,” he tells me as he wraps me back into the security of his strong arm.

I lean into him without even thinking. “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I need for now.” He softly kisses my cheek.

“I’m going to be taking care of some business. I’ll let you two have the rest of the day together since you’re leaving tomorrow, Janine. I’ll be back tonight?” he asks me, and I give him a nod.

We finish eating, then Cole drops us at the mall so we can hang out and get a few more things Janine needs before she goes. He kisses my cheek, then I watch as his truck drives off.

COLE

I like Janine. She pretty much convinced Lexi to move to my territory. I’m still trying to figure out how to tell Lexi about our kind, but right now, I have other things to focus on.

The Smith Pack, now Daugherty Pack, is in need of a visit from the destroyer. Dec and Chase are at the pack house when I pull in.

I grip both of their arms in greeting. “Any news?” I ask Dec.

“Yeah. I got a list of names of victims.” He hands over a few pieces of paper.

I pore over the names and last known locations. “These women won’t be easy to find. We need to approach them with caution. They’ve been through a horrific experience and probably don’t want to be reminded of it. How did you get such a detailed list?”

“Alpha command. It’s much easier, but less satisfying than torture. I agree we need to be mindful of what these women have been through. Chase and I will proceed with caution.”

Kevin Daugherty speaks up. “Alpha James, I’m sorry for the trouble my pack has caused. Alpha Redd informed me that you would need to see all those involved.”

I study the new alpha. His wolf is mild and gentle. “Yes. Is there anything more you both need from these guys?” I ask Dec and Chase.

“Nah. We got everything we needed,” Chase informs me.

I nod, then turn to Kevin. “After you, Alpha. You guys coming?”

Kevin clears his throat then leads us to the cells. I look over the first two and leave them in their cells. The third guy, however, is a ball of raging animal.

I try to connect with his wolf, but he’s crazed and out of control. “Open his cell.” Kevin complies and I walk in, not even seeing the human.

I have no idea what I’m doing but instinct takes over as I grip his head between my hands. I feel the energy of the Goddess soar through my body as the guy drops to the ground, dead.

Dec and Chase both watch with their arms crossed over their chests. Kevin is looking around in shock and confusion. I can see he wants to say something but knows we outrank him.

“Blue. That makes sense,” Dec comments.

I scrunch my brows in question. “Your palms glow blue and so does your mark.”

“I can’t see it,” Chase says. “Is it like Nat’s blue glow?”

Dec nods and I understand what they’re saying. I was blessed with the gift of life… at least half of it. I’ve seen the way the blessed hands glow when they use their power.

I guess mine is a bit more subtle. I look at my hands and see if I can pull that energy I felt a moment ago, but I’m not able to. I drop my hands then find guy number four, the one that drugged and tried to rape my mate.

I growl as I look him over. He’s still pretty beat up, which brings me some satisfaction. I look the guy over and rage fills me when I see his wolf still in control.

I grit my teeth. “Open his cell.” I walk in, towering over the guy laying in the cot since he’s still too injured to stand. I grip his head between my hands and feel the energy of the Goddess.

Her warmth washes over me and I stop myself. I drop the guy back into the cot. His wolf is not corrupted, so he gets to live. I growl then punch the wall in frustration.

I exit his cell, slamming the door shut, then pace as I try to cool down. Dec, Chase, and Kevin all watch me with different eyes. Dec gets it; he understands my frustration.

Chase isn’t judging; he’s more in awe of my restraint. Kevin is just confused. I look up at Dec, who watches me as I slowly get control of my emotions.

“You’re going to be fair. That’s why the Goddess chose you. I would’ve killed him just on principle.”

I chuckle an ironic breath. “Believe me, I want to.” I let out a deep breath then look to Jackson Smith. His wolf is fine, so I move on to his dad. The bastard is corrupt and arrogant.

“Open his cell.” Kevin is hesitant but does as told. The former Alpha Gregory has a smug look on his face.

“You think I deserve to die because of a few human bitches. You’re a traitor to our kind,” he spits at me, but I move back.

“No, actually it’s the other way around. The Goddess sees you as corrupt. Your soul will be destroyed and your mate will be given to someone else,” I tell him.

He lunges at me, but he doesn’t stand a chance against me. I move behind him and trap his head between my hands. The Goddess’s energy flows through me and shreds his soul apart.

I see the pale blue glow fade as the body drops to the ground. “I saw it that time, barely,” Chase says with a little too much excitement for the situation that I feel absolutely no remorse for.

Dec and I both blast a few chuckles. “Fucking Chase.” Dec claps his shoulder. “Let’s get out of here. We have work to do.” I nod and follow them out.

Dara is standing outside the pack house when we arrive. She gives me her soft smile. “Hi, my sky angel.”

I greet her with a kiss to her forehead.

“That was stupid,” she tells me as she takes my hand and heals it instantly.

“Sorry. I was kind of mad. What are you doing here?” I ask as I pull her against my body and rub up and down her back.

“I came to heal your hand. I could not let you remain in pain.”

I tilt her chin up to kiss her again. “Thank you.” I look to Dec, who’s still watching me. “I have to get going. I have work to do.”

“I am aware. Goodbye, Colton.” I close my eyes as her light flares then recedes.

“So… you and the Starlight Sister?” Chase asks.

I huff out a breath. “Yeah. She’s one of my mates.” All three of them cross their arms and look at me like I’m nuts.

“The Goddess informed me that I have two mates; Dara and Lexi. I have to choose.”

Dec’s brows go almost to his hairline. “Have fun with that. Just don’t screw around with them. Women don’t like that.”

Chase snorts a laugh. “He would know. My sister rejected him because he was such a man whore.”

I rub my hand down my face. “I have no idea what to do. They’re both so amazing.”

“Get to know them and pick the one you feel the most connection with,” Dec supplies.

“Right. Easier said than done. I’m connected to both of them.”

Chase and Dec both grunt.

“Then pick the one that makes you feel alive,” Kevin timidly says.

I look at him and he looks down. “That’s sound advice. Thanks, man,” I tell him as I offer my arm.

We grasp forearms, then Dec and Chase follow suit. We load up into our trucks to leave this pack behind.