Chapter 18

**Winter **



Well, this has been a wonderful morning, I think to myself. Well, except for that little fight with the warriors. I definitely enjoyed sparring with Cole. When he was on top of me, it was like a fire was burning inside me. I think back to how it felt to have his lips on mine while his body was pressed against me. It was total bliss. If it had not been for the whooping and cheering from the pack warriors, I think things would have gotten very heavy, very fast.

It was a bit embarrassing knowing that people were watching me get all flustered. I am definitely not an exhibitionist. However, I can't seem to stop myself whenever he kisses me. It is just like yesterday when he had me pressed up against that tree all over again. Whenever he touches me, it is like a switch flips and I cannot stop myself.

As we walk into the pack house, laughing at just how ridiculous we look, we are stopped in the entrance by a tall woman with salt and pepper hair. She is not as tall as Cole, but definitely taller than me. She has her hands on her hips, and she is giving a stink eye to Cole. Who is she?

Before I can ask, Cole greets her. “Good morning mother.”

Oh, great Goddess this is Cole’s mother! I can’t believe she is meeting me like this. I look like a child who has been rolling in mud. Come to think of I was rolling in mud... With her son!

“Who is this child you are with Cole? She reeks. You know better than to sleep around, and with a rogue no less. This is unacceptable behavior for an Alpha.” I’m stung by her words. Of course, she hates me.

Why is she looking at me so intently? It's like she knows me or something. Who am I kidding? She doesn’t know me. She just sees some young girl with her son. A girl who is covered in mud. I hate that I'm meeting Cole's mother like this, but there isn't anything I can do about that now. I will just try to be polite.

Cole speaks up. “Look, Mom this is Winter. She will be joining the pack, and...”

She cuts him off. “No, she will not! We do not take rogues in. They are dirty criminals. I taught you better. You need to get your head straight. We have a mating gathering coming up, and I’m sure this time you will find her. Now, you need to send this plaything of yours packing, and get to finding your mate!”

With every word she says, I can feel my temper rising. I feel like I’m about to rip her a new one. I don’t know if I can hold it back. I told myself I was going to try my best to be polite. Nope, here I go “Who do you think you are? I don’t give a fuck if you are Cole’s mother! You don’t have the right to talk to your Alpha that way!” She opens her mouth. But I’m not done talking yet.

I raise my voice louder. “Don’t try to cut me off! I won’t take that shit! I am Cole's mate. If you don’t like it, well then you can get over it! The Moon Goddess picks out who our mates are, not you. Do you think you know better than the Goddess? I don’t think so! Also learn to show some damn respect for the position your son is in! Finally, so help me Goddess, if you ever call me Cole's plaything, or anything else demeaning ever again, you will wish you were a rogue wolf!” With that I storm off trailing mud all the way up to our room, where I slam the door.

I know that was rude, but I couldn’t help myself. She called me his plaything! Besides that, she called all rogues dirty criminals! Yes, granted that is the normal for many rogue wolves, but that is not me. The thing that sent me over the top though is the fact that she is planning a mating gathering for her son. She might have assumed that I am his mate, or maybe she has. Maybe she wants the gathering so that she can find someone she thinks is more suitable for her son.

I know it’s not likely that she knew we are mates. Now that I have found Cole though, and we have decided to be together, I really hate the idea of him with anyone who is not me. The thought of him with another women makes my blood boil.

I may have lost my cool, but she was being completely disrespectful. She may be Cole's mother, but Cole is still the Alpha, and it is not right to boss your Alpha around like a child. Who does that? Right out in the open too! Whatever, I am glad that I stormed off. I do not need to hear any more of her slander.



**Cole**



Damn, that mate of mine is sexy as hell. She is a spitfire, that is for sure. She just screamed at my mother and didn’t give two fucks who heard her. I’m sure everyone in the pack house heard her. Between the fight earlier and now telling off my mother for everyone to hear, I don’t think anyone will try to mess with her. She will be one hell of a Luna.

She can handle anything. Thank the goddess, I have such a great Mate. She can kick ass and run faster than me. My little mate can stand up for herself and for others. She stood up to my mother to defend my role as Alpha. That was a surprise.

“Cole, how can you let her speak to me that way? I am your mother! She says she’s your mate. Is that true?”

“Yes, she is, and honestly you had it coming. I wouldn’t be rude to her again if I were you, she put two of my best warriors in the hospital.”

“She did what? How can you let this happen? Look, keep her if you must, but don’t be naïve. Do not mark her and make her Luna? If it were up to me, I would even not even let her into Red Dawn. Rouges are wild cards. You know that. They go crazy out there, living in solitude.”

I take a deep breath. “Let me make this clear. She is my mate. And honestly, she is the toughest wolf I have ever met, so just drop it. She will be a member of this pack and your Luna. I am the Alpha and it is my call, not yours. Maybe you and Dad need another vacation.” With that I start walking away to head up stairs.

My mother grabs my arm. “This is a mistake. You will regret this, I can promise you that.” She let’s go and storms off.