CHAPTER 67

Mila watched her supposed mate move with agitation through her house. It's been only a few days but it felt like she had known the brooding man before her forever. She could not say the same for him though. He barely acknowledge she was there unless he wanted to ask her questions related to the pack or he wanted her to do so something for him, like showing him the way to Rose's house and helping him sneak in.
She would love to believe she was helping him against her will, because he was holding her like a prisoner and all. But she would be lying to herself. She was no longer restrained and she could tell him to get lost from her life but she was not doing that. She was helping him every step of the way.
Maybe, just maybe because he was fighting for the right cause and although he looked ruthless, she knew he was harmless. That was the only reason Rose had even listened to him.
Mila recalled Cole's impatience when Rose had told him she could not help him out.
"You can't or you won't? ," he had asked impatiently, his suppressed anger making him look even more forboding.
"I can't. I'm sorry Mila," Rose had said looking at her. "He knows my role in keeping his mate's secret. We are not exactly on good terms now."
"But that doesn't mean you can't warn him," Cole had answered sharply.
The old woman had shaken her head slowly, with a sad smile playing across her lips. "You dont know him as much as I do. He hates as much as he loves."
Mila had not needed her to say more to understand her meaning. Everyone knew how much the Alpha cherished Rose. So if he no longer felt that way because of a misunderstanding, it meant the exact opposite of the feelings he had for her were driving him crazy. Mila could just imagine Rose trying to present Cole to him as an ally, the Alpha would most likely deem them all as betrayers and have them punished even before Cole started to pay back the debt he owed his brother.
"I still don't understand," Cole said sharply.
"I'm telling you I'll love to help in which ever way I can but I won't want you to ruin a good move by involving me. I promise to help you get to him somehow, but he must never know we have met," Rose said in an equally sharp voice. "And need I remind you that this is my territory? And my bedroom? You have no right whatsoever to question me. You are at a disadvantage here and Alpha or no Alpha, i could alert everyone of your trespassing and have you punished. "
If Cole was less of a man, he would have been left cowering after her sharp retort. But instead, he fired back at her. "And I could wring your neck just before anyone gets here. You are kind of defenseless in your human form and if I do that, you won't be around long enough to see me punished."
Rose's eyes widened momentarily at that. Then she had one of her derisive, laughing moment, throwing her head back and cackling with glee. It seemed to piss the hell out of Cole as the veins in his neck stood out angrily.
"See? You can only get angry young man. You don't have the darkness in you to kill at will, " she had said with her gaze boring into him.
"I'll help you because my grandson has the most to gain here. But you must do well to hide yourself until I tell you otherwise."
And since then, Cole had made her house his hideout without even asking her. The man was as arrogant as they come but she could not even bring herself to not help him. After all, he was her mate.
As if he heard that thought, Cole turned to give her a fleeting look and Mila's staring stopped as she looked out the window.
She missed her days of sneaking around unnoticed. That had changed ever since she met Rose. Now, people that would have never have spoken to her nor spared her a second look in the pack knew about her. Someone like Adele was certainly out for her blood, just the same way Cole was out for Adele's blood.
The thought made her smile. Every once in a while, he still asked her about who had done a number on her face. She refused to tell him but it had felt good knowing someone cared enough about her to want to defend her.
From the corner of his eyes, Cole saw the smile and his heart did a double leap.
Mila was breathtakingly beautiful. He had looked at her hard and long enough to know that a head-turner was hidden beneath those layers of disguise, from her dyed hair to her masculine clothes.
If his life was anything close to normal and not turned upside down, it would have been a pleasure having her in his world. She was the the best mate he could ever ask for, a pity he never did ask for one. Everything about her made him feel good, although they rarely ever talked to each other. Talking to her meant he had to spend time with her and get to know her, it meant he got to listen to her sexy voice and watch her beautiful lips move and torment him, and making him dream of things he would love those lips to do to him.
But he could not allow any of that. Not right now. Her world was perfect without him messing it up. He would love to mate her but what he was getting himself into was a head-on fight with his ruthless and coldblooded twin. He understood more than anyone that he might not make it out alive to be there for Mila. So why start what he was not even sure he could finish?
For now, there was going to be no commitment or familiarity. She was just there to help him out when necessary. If things eventually goes well and he was able to take Collins down, then maybe there would be time to think about a mate.
But right now, his priority was his pack, his people Not a woman he barely knew.
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Shana's question kept coming back to haunt Asher over and over again. He had left home right after she walked out of his study and he had not gone back for days now.
It was beginning to look like he was running off instead of facing everything that was wrong with his marriage. He acknowledged that but made no move to do anything about it.
"What do you want?," he thought to himself.
"I think we know the answer," his wolf growled but Asher ignored him, like he had been doing for a while now.
"What do I truly want?." He kept asking himself till he heard a knock on his door and Mark walked in almost immediately.
"You look really happy to see me," Mark joked, seeing the thunderous look on Asher's face.
"What do you want?" Asher did not pretend or try to hide what he truly felt towards the other wolf.
"I come in peace," Mark said with his hands over his head, palms out.
"Indeed," Asher scoffed. He could still picture Shana smiling at Mark even then. And it was going to be a long time before he forgave Mark for apologizing to Shana.
"We need to talk about my father. I think he's up to something," Mark said without preamble.
"I know," Asher replied with a nonchalant shrug. "I knew before my mating. Someone in the pack saw everything and told Rose about it. Then you know the rest."
"Yes, I think I do. I talked to Rose and she told me everything. I'm really sorry Asher. You should know I support any decision you make. But how could you keep something that big away from me? "
"There was no way I could tell you about it without knowing everyone involved," Asher stated.
Mark scoffed. "I think you meant to say you couldn't tell me until you confirmed my involvement or otherwise." Mark understood Asher perfectly but it did not make it hurt any less that someone he had called his friend for years could not trust him well enough. But who could blame Asher? He was no better than his father himself, taking into consideration the havoc he wrecked in his friend's marriage.
"What are you going to do now?," Mark asked then wished he had not. "You don't have to tell me about it."
But Asher wanted to. He could see he had misjudged his friend. He felt sorry about that but he was not about to give him any apology just yet. They still had more score to settle.
"I know he's been talking with Collins of Bleeding Moon pack." Mark's eyes widened at that. He could not believe his father could go that far. "For now, he's not been making any moves. I think he knows I'm unto him. So, we wait," Asher finished.
That did not settle well with Mark. Anything could go wrong while waiting. As much as it pained him, the only thing to do was to bring his father in for trial on account of treason. But he realized the folly in that as soon as he had the thought.
Bringing his father in for questioning without evidence was not going to go down well with the pack. Asher could still go ahead to do exactly that but it would not reflect well on his image if his father was able to proove his sham innocence.
"We wait then, but I hope not for long." He was still expecting a report from Adele. That could count for something if she did it anytime soon.
"I paid your mate a visit after seeing Rose," Mark started hesitantly.
He did not see Asher move until he was before him and landing a punch on his face.