Chapter 131: Chapter 25

COLE

Lexi falls asleep as soon as she’s back inside the cab of my truck. I silently thank the Goddess. That was rough.

I’m also grateful that Ethan was here to intercept her and intervene. It’s almost two in the morning when we pull into the territory. I tell Ethan and Emmett to go home.

Josie volunteers to take the pup for the night since they have the setup to care for the nine-month-old. Lexi’s new place lacks any furnishings at the moment. I don’t know how she would feel waking up in my bed since she specifically wants her own space.

So, I carry her to a room in the pack house that’s big enough for us to share for the night. I stop in the middle of the hallway when I smell sunflowers and ice. Dara is behind this door and Lexi is asleep in my arms.

I’m torn about what to do since I’m physically drawn to both of them. I’ve never been with them both at the same time. I decide to keep moving when the door opens.

“Colton,” Dara whispers.

She gives me a soft smile, then sees Lexi and her smile fades. I step closer to plant a kiss on her forehead.

“You’re up late, my sky angel.”

“I am usually awake at night.” She nods at Lexi. “I see you are busy.”

“Let me lay her down then I’ll come talk to you. Okay?”

Dara nods and Lexi is getting heavier in my arms. Dara’s eyes sparkle, but she shows no other outward emotion.

“Okay.”

I lean down for a quick peck on her perfect lips.

“I’ll be right back.”

The room for Lexi is two doors down. Once I get her settled and tucked in, I kiss her head.

“Sweet dreams, my magnolia.”

Lexi hums then rolls over. I close the door as quietly as possible then return to Dara still standing in her doorway.

“Colton. I have missed you. It is very difficult needing your presence and you are not around,” she tells me as I pull her against me. She inhales deeply then her body begins to relax as she exhales.

“I’m sorry for being gone so much. I’ll be here more often, but I still have a job to do. At least you can be with me while I’m traveling.”

I take Dara’s hand and lead her into her room, closing the door behind us.

“Yes. I am looking forward to our time together. What will you do with the wolfless while we are away? Will she not be upset that you are with me?”

Dara looks up into my eyes.

“Does she know yet?”

I pull away from Dara to pace her room while she sits in an armchair. She crosses her arms.

“I told her that we’re wolves, but that’s as far as I got. I’ll tell her everything else tomorrow. You have my word.”

Dara shakes her head.

“I have realized something while you were away. I have known you all of your life, yet I know very little about you. I know the kind of man you are and that you are not taking our situation lightly. You are trying to be fair. But the situation as it is will not be fair to one of us. What happens if you choose me yet she desires to keep her wolf? What happens to me if you choose her? I work alongside your kind. I would see you often.”

I stop to kneel in front of Dara so I can look into her beautiful eyes.

“I don’t have answers to your questions. But you’re right, I know very little about you as well, even though you’ve always been a part of my life. We’ll have time to talk more while we’re driving.”

“Will she be willing to let you alone with me? I have seen how territorial she-wolves are when their mate is with another female. I fortunately am not territorial, however I do not like it and I feel betrayed. I know that is not logical, but it is the truth.”

I think this is the first time ever Dara has shared her deeper feelings with me and I can’t help but smile. I’m touched that her feelings are more than just a physical desire to be with me.

“Dara. You’re very right. She may wish to come with, but I can’t take her into other territories. She’s too human, and she could get hurt or an enemy could use her against me. You’re able to handle anything that may come. Also, I doubt you would give me the choice; you do as you please.”

“Not always. If I did, you would have given yourself to me already.”

I swallow, trying to maintain some self-control. Dara places her cool hand on my cheek.

“Go to bed, Colton. You need your rest. Inform me when you plan on leaving, and I will accompany you.”

I nod, and she leans forward to connect her soft lips with mine for the briefest, most tame kiss.

“Sweet dreams, Colton.”

I hold her hand to my face a moment longer just to feel the warm tingling sensation she gives me. I kiss her palm, then stand.

“Good night, Dara.”

Lexi

I don’t know where I am, but the warmth of Cole’s body brings me comfort, and I know I’m safe here, even though all my dreams were of him last night. Over and over, I saw him change into a wolf right in front of my eyes.

I doubt my senses and think it’s only my dreams; however, I remember how soft his fur is and the way it shimmered in the moonlight. My brother knew, Rosalie knew. How could they have known and never said a word?

Is that why my mother called him and my dad monsters? Does she know of their existence? Is that why Ethan left? I have so many questions that need answers.

I replay everything I heard and saw over and over again. Ethan said that Cole is the second strongest werewolf there is, that he’s a prince of some kind. He said they’re all wolves, but he also said something about an Oracle and a Starlight Sister.

I don’t remember what he said; I was a little preoccupied with the giant, yet beautiful wolf in front of me. That can’t be right, can it? It happened, I know it did.

“Why are you so tense, my magnolia?”

Cole’s arm subtly tightens around my waist.

“Are you scared of me?”

I roll over to see his handsome face.

“I’m not afraid of you. It was just a lot to take in.”

“I can understand that. I’m sorry for springing everything on you the way we did, but I had to tell you.”

His hand moves over my hip soothingly.

“How did you all become werewolves?”

I ask the first question on my mind.

Cole chuckles, his beautiful smile lighting up his face as he tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

“What do you mean? It’s not like Hollywood. We’re not bitten. The Moon Goddess blessed us with the ability to shift around the time we hit puberty.”

I remember that’s about the time all of the fighting between Ethan and my mom started. He was always angry, and she was always watching him, waiting for him to snap.

“So my dad passed it on to my brother.”

Cole’s expression turns serious, yet there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. His smile, however, remains.

“No.” He lets out an awkward breath. “Your parents are both Were. How much do you know about your mom’s upbringing?”

I’m shocked that he would know anything about my parents.

“How much do you know?”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he opens his eyes again.

“Lexi. I know a lot more than you could ever imagine. My mother is the Oracle. She can see the past, present, and future of any wolf, except her immediate family. She and my dad are linked to every wolf there is. I know how bad it was for your mom because I’ve seen it. I saw what her pack did to her through my mother’s visions. Your mom denies her wolf because of what they did to her. She pushes her wolf away because she doesn’t want to be one of them, the monsters she knows. Because of it, your mom is dying.”

I’m absolutely stunned.

Cole wipes my face free of the tears that I didn’t know were falling. He knows that my mom was abused. He knows that her family hurt her. But to tell me my mother is dying… I don’t know if I can believe that or not.

When I left four years ago, she wasn’t in the best of shape, but she still got up and went to work. My mom is ill-educated, so she works as a maid. She made enough to afford what we had in our three-bedroom house.

…My mom could afford a three-bedroom house working as a maid?

I push the blanket off of me and pull on my clothes from yesterday.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to see my brother,” I answer as I slip my sandals on.

“Where is he?”

Cole gets up and dresses.

“I’ll take you to him.” He leads me through a massive lodge with halls and rooms everywhere, my hand in his.

People look at me with questioning glances. Is it because I’m human or is it because I’m with their prince? Perhaps it’s both?

~It is both. Cole is very respected but it has taken a long time for him to find his mate, well mates. You are a novelty. It’s rare for humans to be in our territory. However, I am finally able to feel your connection, which means you are not a human, are you?~

I stop walking and look around me with my mouth open.

“Who said that?”

Cole looks at me with his brows scrunched, then closes his eyes with a grunt.

“That would be my mom. Come on. She wants to meet you. Your brother will be too busy to see you for a few days.”

I’m so confused, my head is scrambled and I’m honestly a little scared.

“What is going on? Why can’t I see my brother? I’m not ready to meet your mom. We haven’t been dating long enough and why is she saying I’m not human? Why do you have mates? What is a mate? How is she talking to me and she’s not even here? How did she know what I was thinking? I’m going crazy. This isn’t really happening.”

Cole pulls me into his chest and I lose it. I’m not usually so emotional, but my brain can’t take any more weirdness.

He shushes me with his hand rubbing up and down my back.

“Lexi. I know it’s a lot, but we’ll get through it together. I’m here.”

“I want my brother. Why can’t I see my brother?” I sniffle as I wipe my eyes.

Cole chuckles like it’s a joke.

I glare at him and the smile drops from his face. He presses his palm to my cheek.

“Lexi, Rosalie went into heat this morning. He’s taking care of her. They’re not engaged, they’re mates. They’re two halves of one soul. Partners for eternity. Heats happen about a month after mating. They come about every three months or so.”

“Wolves generally only have one heat.” This is all so crazy. The mate thing sounds like a fairytale.

Hello, Alexis. You’re dating a wolf. Your brother is a wolf, hell, your whole family are a bunch of wolves.

“We’re not wolves. We’re wolf shifters. We’re more human than wolf,” he explains, but I’m really not listening. My mind is elsewhere.

“Lexi. Are you all right with meeting my mom?”

“Oh, Goddess. Cole, don’t you think it’s a little soon?”

He chuckles a single puff of air.

“No, my magnolia. I think it’s long overdue.”

“Oh, Goddess.” I repeat as he takes my hand and leads me down a long hall and into a massive study.