Chapter 29: Vacation

KOL

It had been just over a week since she went all royal alpha wolf on my dad’s ass, and let me tell you, it was the hottest thing I’d ever seen in my life!

“Kol, you’re staring again.”

I blinked. “Sorry, babe, am I?”

“Yes, Kol. Stop it.”

“Sorry, babe. It was just so hot!”

She giggled and rolled her eyes. “Kol, stop!”

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to me, “Make me,” I whispered, nuzzling her neck. She leaned into me and giggled.

The door to my office burst open, and she jumped away. “Hey, boss! Oh shit! Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was here.”

I looked at Jordan and snarled. “What’s the problem?”

He shuffled nervously, not making eye contact. “Ah, we got wind of some rogue wolves heading along the coast. Thought maybe you should check in with your cousin. See if he’s okay and stuff.”

I nodded in acknowledgment. He took it as a dismissal and left us alone in the office again. Gia was sitting on my desk, watching me.

I stood between her legs and wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her neck, breathing in her scent.

“You should call your cousin,” she whispered, stroking my back. I nodded, still not moving. She reached around and pulled my phone from my pocket. “Do it now, Kol. He might need help.”

I sighed. Of course she was right. She hopped off my desk and pecked me on the lips before heading for the door. “I’m going to find Liv,” she said. I dialed my cousin’s number and waited.

“Hey, man! Long time! How’ve you been?”

“Hey, Jax! I’m good, man. How’re you? I heard you have a rogue problem?”

He laughed heartily on the phone. “Yeah, we have a slight situation, all right. You looking to get in on some of the action, buddy?”

I laughed. “Yeah, actually. I kinda am. Plus, I’d like you to meet my mate. Would be nice to take her to the coast. We never really got a honeymoon; so much happened after we married.”

“Sweet as a bell, man. Hell yeah! Come on down. I’d love to meet the girl who tamed the player!”

I looked out the window and watched Gia stroll through the grounds with Liv, and then a thought came to me.

“Hey, Jax? I’d like to bring a couple more guests, my mate’s brother and his mate if that’s okay. He’s one hell of a fighter, and I know he’d jump at the chance to hunt some rogues.”

“Sweet, man. I’ll let the guys on border patrol know. When will you be here?”

“Tomorrow afternoon suit you?”

“Cool beans, man. I’ll make the arrangements now! See you tomorrow.”

After packing and unpacking several times because the girls couldn’t decide what to bring to the coast and eight very long hours of driving, we finally made it to my cousin Jax’s pack house.

He greeted us at the door. Gia had put a wig over her head, and Diego wore a hood.

They didn’t want to bring unnecessary attention, and with their being royalty, they got followed everywhere they went.

“Love what you did with the hair, man, highlights? Nice.” I smiled at Jax and shook his hand. “Can we go to your office? It’s a bit open out here.”

He looked at the three wolves standing behind me. Liv was the only one not covered up or wearing sunglasses. “Ah, yeah, sure, man. Right this way.”

I nodded, and we followed him through the house up the stairs to his office. Once in, Diego scanned the room, sniffing. “Any cameras in here?” he grunted.

“Ah, no, it’s all good in here. Kol, what’s going on, man?” Jax looked at me, dumbfounded. I just nodded to Gia, and she removed her sunglasses and wig. Diego followed suit with his glasses and hood.

Jax stared wide-eyed before sinking into his chair. “No goddamn way, man! I thought it was a rumor!”

I shook my head at him. “Nope. One hundred percent true, buddy. Gianna Gray is my mate, and her brother, you know, needs no introduction.”

Diego smirked in the corner. “I hear you have a rogue problem?”

Jax nodded, his mouth still open in shock.

“This is my mate, Liv. Sorry for being so suspicious, but we didn’t want to draw attention.”

He composed himself and rushed to shake their hands. “Anything you guys need, just ask. I’ll make sure you have it! It is such an honor to have you both here!”

Gia held her hand up. “Honestly, we’re not here as royalty. We’re here as friends; we want to help you.”

I looked at them both and sighed.

“Yeah, but you can’t stay hidden forever. You’re going to have to show your faces and get this over with. The hype will eventually die down.”

Diego looked terrified. “Ah, thing is, Kol, Liv and I haven’t gone public with our mating yet, and, ah—” He looked at Liv with wide eyes.

She just laughed. “Diego, it’s fine. I’ll just kick their asses until they know their place.”

Gia shrugged. “All right, let’s get this over and done with. Call a pack meeting.”

Jax nodded and picked up his phone.

“Beau? Call a pack meeting right away. It’s important. Get every wolf in attendance, and also get Roxy and prepare the grounds for a meeting. The hall won’t be big enough.”

“Beau? Who’s Beau?”

He sat at his desk and shrugged. “He’s my beta.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “His name is ~Beau~?”

Gia punched me on the shoulder. “Kol, shut up. No one makes fun of your name.”

An hour or so later, everyone started spilling onto the grounds and taking their seats on the benches in front of the stage. I stood beside Jax, while Diego and Gia remained hidden behind the stage.

Liv sat in the front row beside Jax’s mate, Katie.

“Welcome, everyone! Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I really do appreciate it! Now, as you may have heard, some rogue wolves have been breaching our borders of late.

“My cousin and good buddy Kol Sanders has taken time out of his busy schedule to come along to give us a hand, so let’s all give him a welcome.”

Everyone started clapping respectfully along with Jax until he hushed them and cleared his throat.

“Now, Kol has also brought along a couple of friends to help us out. He brought along the very stunning Liv Saintclaire. Liv, come on up here.”

I held out a hand and helped her up onto the stage, where she waved shyly.

“Okay, okay! Yes, she’s very pretty, but for our very special guests, I ask you please not to overwhelm them, as they have come here to do us a favor and ask to be treated normally.

“Please welcome Diego and Gianna Gray.”

I had to cover my ears from the screams and howls that erupted when Gia and Diego walked on, bright red in the face, waving politely. I even saw some she-wolves faint at the sight of Diego.

Choruses of “Oh my God,” “I can’t believe it’s really her,” and “That lucky bastard” rang out through the crowd, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I pulled Gia close and kissed her softly. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Diego do the same with Liv. ~Huh, guess they’re going public, then.~

Once the heat had died down and the crowd had parted after several autographs and selfies, Liv and I only had to do a couple of small warning growls. I’d say the night was a pretty good success.

We all retired to Jax’s house, which was situated on the grounds of the pack house but closer to the beach; actually, it was right on the beach.

I took Gia for a walk along the water. “So, G? We haven’t really had a chance to talk about things. Everything happened so fast after the wedding.”

She looked puzzled. “What’s on your mind?”

I cleared my throat slightly. “Well, I thought maybe we could talk kids? Well, you know, when we would start trying for pups of our own?”

She stopped and stared at me in silence. I cleared my throat again.

“I know with everything that’s going on with Merrida, and now being here helping out with rogues doesn’t allow much time for a conversation like this, but I think we need to.

“I—I need an heir, G. The pack needs to know their alpha has an heir.”

Her gaze followed mine out to the setting sun. “I understand, really I do. I’m not saying never.

“I would like us to have pups, but Kol, I won’t bow down to your every move like your mother does with your father. We will be equals in every way.

“I won’t be your pup machine who slaves at home and looks after the children.”

I took her hand in mine, and she looked at me. “I never expected you to be, babe. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’d kick my ass into next week if I tried.”

She gazed at me, smiling, a sparkle in her eye. “Okay, then. Let’s start trying now!” Before I could open my mouth, she had pounced on me, and like hell was I complaining.