Chapter 129: Chapter 23

COLE

Finding the pups isn’t as hard as I thought. Convincing their mother, Courtney, is a completely different story. She’s about nineteen and has no family to speak of.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I’m telling you the truth. Your son is half wolf. We have a place where you’ll be welcome and safe.”

Courtney looks at her son sleeping in his swing. “You’re crazy and I think it’s time you leave.”

Dara squeezes my hand to keep me still. “You are a foolish human.”

Her palm glows white and she takes hold of Courtney’s arm. Courtney gasps as Dara heals the mark running down the left side of her face. It was left by her attacker; the one I already killed.

“What are you?” she asks with tears in her eyes as she scrambles to the closest mirror.

“I am a Starlight Sister, daughter of the Moon Goddess and the Sky God. The Moon Goddess created their kind,” Dara tells Courtney as she points between me and the sleeping wolf.

Courtney picks up her pup and holds him to her. “What do I do? I can’t just leave.”

“Why not?” Dara bluntly asks.

Courtney looks between me and Dara. “I have a job and bills to pay. I can’t afford to move.”

“That’s an easy fix. We have a home all ready for you at the pack house. Once you get settled into the pack, you can choose to move into a home of your own if that’s what you want. You have a car, right?”

Courtney shakes her head. “It’s New York. If it’s too far to walk, you take a cab.”

“I’ll be back in about an hour with a vehicle. Do you prefer a car, truck, van, SUV?”

“Are you serious? You’re going to buy me a car and move me to a new place?”

“Yes, of course. The territory is on the East coast of North Carolina. He’s a member of our pack, which makes you part of the pack. We take care of our own. So, car?”

“Um... I’ve always wanted to drive a VW bug,” she timidly answers as she taps the pup’s bottom.

I smile at the young woman. “You got it. Take what you need and want the most. Leave the rest. Everything is furnished and ready to go. We’ll be back. Dara,” I call.

She nods and we head out. I find the nearest car dealership and buy a tiny blue VW bug for Courtney. I get the car set up with insurance then give them the address for it to be delivered.

Courtney is already packing when we return.

“I forgot to ask. The guy that did this to me, will he... be at…”

I shake my head. “No. He’s already dead.”

Courtney’s mouth drops open and tears spring to her eyes. She wipes at her face. “Thank you. You know when it happened, I had only slept with one guy and he left me months before. Other than waking up feeling sore and cut up, I had no idea what happened until I found out I was pregnant. Most rape victims would abort their unwanted pregnancy, but I felt a connection to him. I couldn’t go through with it. I was always afraid the guy who did this would come back to hurt me again. He’s gone.”

“Yes, Courtney. He’s gone.”

She gives me a hug of appreciation. I give her the keys, money, and all the information she needs then Dara and I head out.

“I’m glad you’re here, Dara. I wouldn’t have been able to convince her otherwise.”

“I am glad to be able to help you, Colton.”

I take her hand and stop her from climbing into my truck. I hold her delicate face as I leave a gentle kiss on her lips. “Thank you, my sky Angel.”

She cuddles into me. “You’re welcome.”

The little girl in foster care is much easier to take care of. After finding her social worker and paying her off, we got the girl transferred to our pack since we legally have foster care there. Emmett and his mate Josie will be picking her up tomorrow before coming back to help load Lexi’s things.

It’s dark when we make it back to Princeton.

“What are you going to do now?” I ask Dara.

She looks up at the sky. “I am going to go to your territory as planned. I am going to stay out of the sky until everything is settled. I will try not to interfere with you and the wolfless wolf.”

“All right. I’ll be glad to see you when I get there.”

“Bye, Colton.”

She kisses my cheek then dissipates from the cab of my truck.

DARA

“Bye, Dara.” I hear him say before I leave. I hate to leave him, especially knowing he is going to be with his other mate. I have no choice in the matter, and I feel him growing more and more distant as the days progress.

It is moments like this that I prefer to walk on the beach. I feel minuscule and insignificant here. It helps remind me that this is only a mere moment in time. I have lived for millennia. Cole has only lived for a short twenty-five years. It is a mere blink compared to my lifespan, though being a celestial being has never felt the same as being on the earth. On Earth, my existence matters. In the sky, I am just another star to the humans.

“Hello again,” Ian says from behind me.

I turn around to face him. “Hello. I did not know you were here.”

“I’m here most nights,” he says as he makes a pile of driftwood.

I find a few logs to add to his pile. “That I did know. I see you. You always look like you wish to speak, yet you remain quiet. I would hear if you wish to speak to someone.”

“You watch over me, Dara?”

He sets the wood ablaze then sits with his elbows on his bent knees. He breaks small twigs to throw into the fire.

“I watch over you, Ian. May I join you?” I point to the sandy beach beside him.

“Of course. Thank you, my lady, for watching over me. I do feel alone most of the time.”

“That is why you come here? To be alone instead of being with the members of your pack. You do not have to be alone,” I tell him, then sit beside him. His hair is longer now and blows in the slight breeze.

Ian looks over his shoulder toward the general direction of the pack house. “This pack includes me more, but no one understands how I feel. No one here over the age of twenty-two is single, except Cole, but apparently he found his mate.” Ian tosses a stick into the fire much more aggressively. “He has his mate, but still flirts with you.”

“Yes. He found both of us.” My eyes are on the fire and I can no longer look at Ian.

“What does that mean?” Ian breaks another stick.

I finally lift my gaze to meet Ian’s captivating eyes. “I am also his mate. He must choose between me and the wolfless wolf.”

“That’s pretty fucked up. Is that Cole’s idea? To string you along for a while so he can screw around?”

I pick up a stick to break. “No. It is not. We are both his mates. Although I have known him all his life and I have felt a connection to him, I didn’t realize what that connection was until after he met the other mate. He also didn’t realize our connection until after he met her. I know it is the truth, no matter how much I wish otherwise.”

Ian shakes his head. “Cole gets two mates and I get nothing. I know he’s a good guy and everything, but I really hate him.”

“Why do you hate him? He has done nothing to cause you trouble.” I feel a strong urge to defend Cole. He is a good person.

“I know. I just hate him on principle. I’m jealous of him. He’s known and respected everywhere he goes. He’s strong. He’s even good-looking for a guy. He has two mates.”

“You are not much different. You are strong and good-looking. Although he is well known, he is lonely. I know because I have seen him weep to the Goddess at his most desperate times. Also, he only gets to keep one of us.” I toss another piece of a stick a little harder than I intended to.

“Do you think he’ll choose her or you?”

I close my eyes and take a breath. “That is a question I do not have an answer to. I am honestly scared to know the answer.”

Ian places a warm, strong hand on my shoulder. “I hope everything works out. I would hate to see you hurt.”

I look up into Ian’s sincere eyes. “Thank you, Ian.”

He looks toward the water that sparkles under the light of my mother and sisters. It looks like a second sky. “Have you ever gone for a swim under the moonlight?”

“I have never gone for a swim.”

He gets to his feet and dusts off his rear. My eyes follow the movement and I am surprised to find he has a very shapely bottom.

He pulls his shirt over his head then looks to me. “You’re no stranger to nudity, right?” he asks as he pulls me to my feet.

“I am not.” I follow his lead and pull my clothing off to lay on top of his in the sand. He waits for me with his back turned and his feet just under the water.

I step beside him as the water licks my toes.

He turns his head to look in my eyes. “The water is warm.” He raises his hand so I look to take it. His body is just as attractive as Cole’s.

I place my hand in his. Then he takes a few steps forward, pulling me with him. When it becomes too hard to walk, he squats down. I follow his lead and our bodies are encompassed by the water.

“I like this. The water feels nice and soothing,” I tell him.

“Were you having a rough night?”

“No. I had a pleasant day with Cole until it ended and he returned to her. I do not wish to see what he does while he is with her so I chose to remain on Earth for the time being. I will be staying in this territory except for when I travel with him. I still have work to complete.”

“Cursing children with gifts they never asked for?” Ian bitterly comments.

“You are the only blessed whose gift is unwanted. Did you not use it well just three days ago?”

“I did and I got paid very well for it. Doesn’t mean I like it.” He continues to lead me deeper into the water until my toes barely reach the sand.

I feel uncomfortable being this far away from the shore, so I step back until I have better footing.

“Sorry, Dara. I didn’t mean to bring you out so far,” Ian tells me as he swims back toward me.

“Here. Relax your body and you’ll float.” He lifts my feet from the sand and holds my back as I lay in the water. I relax my body as suggested, even though it is unnecessary as I can bring more water under my body to stay afloat.

I still would like to try.

“You’re doing great. I’m going to let go now.”

“I am ready.” Ian’s arms move away from me. I close my eyes and let the soft ripples of the water’s surface carry me. I feel so serene and at peace.

Ian takes my hand and I open my eyes to see him floating in the water beside me. I let out a breath and listen to the absence of sound with my ears under the water.

This is the most peaceful I have felt since Colton was born.

Ian’s voice reaches me through the water and I open my eyes to look at him. “Did you say something?”

He gives me a soft smile. “I said, we’ve been floating for about an hour now. Do you want to grab a burger with me? It’s late and I’m pretty hungry.”

“I would like that.” I try to get to my feet, but the sand below throws me off balance. Ian steadies me as the water is only thigh deep.

He helps me stand and I see his eyes begin to trace down my body, but he stops to look away.

“I do not mind you looking at my body.”

“I’m trying not to get turned on here, Dara,” he says as he pulls his pants over his rear. “Besides, you have a mate.”

“Oh.” I pull my clothing back on. “May I try a strawberry milkshake this time?”

Ian smiles as he turns to what is left of the bonfire. “You can try anything you like.” He douses the flames then we make our way to his truck.