Chapter 30

**Cole**

Holy Goddess all mighty! Winter just smashed up Charlotte’s face. I am completely turned on, and I have no clue why. Maybe it was seeing her jealously protecting what is hers. Whatever the case that was sexy as hell. She really put Charlotte in her place.

After the whole thing with Charlotte, Winter wraps her arm in mine and snuggles up next to me like nothing happened. I have noticed she doesn't like to dwell in her anger. I don’t know if it is an amazing character trait, or simply weird.

We get back to visiting with our guests. Winter seems to be enjoying herself. After the mating gathering, we head upstairs and get ready for bed. Winter goes into the closet. When she comes out again, she is looking so hot. Her hair is still up, and her breasts are popping out of the top of her small black night gown. She crawls into bed and I am right in after her.

“So, what happened with you and Charlotte?” she asks.

Oh, man I am going to have to explain my ex to Winter. I didn’t want to have to do this, but she asked. I don’t want to lie. I think it will be best to explain the whole Charlotte story. “Well, Charlotte and I used to have a thing. It wasn’t really a relationship. I was getting lonely and I hadn't found a mate yet, so we hooked up. We were sleeping together for a while. She took that to mean that we were in a relationship, but we really never were. I have been trying to make her understand that for months now. I never wanted a relationship with her. Ever since it has been made clear that is what she is after I’ve been trying to get her to back off. Especially since I found you.”



“Okay.” she says and turns over. I wonder if she is upset. I mean she did wait for her mate and I'm sure she would have preferred I had waited. Even though the first time we had sex she said knew most don’t wait.

“Winter are you upset with me?” She doesn’t respond.

I nudge her but she just says, “I’m trying to sleep okay.” Yep, she is upset.



**Winter**



I can't believe he slept with that whore. I didn’t expect Cole to be a virgin. I figured he slept with someone, but her. Why? She has no respects his position as Alpha. I think the bigger reason I am upset though is jealousy. I feel protective over Cole. Just the thought of anyone else in his bed makes me upset. I know he is my mate, and he wouldn’t mess that up. I am feeling self-conscious now. I just want to be left alone to work through my feelings and move past this.

I did not sleep well. I wake up screaming.

“Hey, your safe. You are okay.” Cole pulls me in and starts petting my head. I'm sweating and crying. “What happened?” Cole asks.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I'm going for a run.” I push him off and run out the door. As soon as my feet hit the soil outside, I shift and let Athena take over.

We run and run. I know I shouldn’t go out of the territory with Gerard out there, but I desperately need to be alone. Fuck it, I need a break. I'm going. I run for hours. Eventually I head back to my old home. I shift back and relax sitting naked in the woods. The sun is up, and I have no idea how long I have been gone.

After a while I start feeling hungry. I shift again and Athena smells a deer. She follows the scent and we get sight of the deer. She lunges forward taking it down. We eat it in wolf form. Athena is satisfied and so am I. I just need to feel the woods around me and let Athena be free sometimes. It feels good to let her do what she wants sometimes.

I haven’t smelt any rogues on my run today. So, I guess Gerard is out recruiting more wolfs, or still trying to find a pack he can take over. He probably knows he can’t attack Red Dawn. Either his numbers of rogues are too small, or he doesn’t have enough skilled fighters. Regardless he is not in the area. He will come back to avenge his brother at some point.

I try to mind link to Cole but don’t get anything. I must be too far away to connect with him. So, I decide to head back to Red Dawn Pack.

When I get back, I try to mind link with Cole again as I walk into the packhouse. “Hey I'm back.”

I can hear a door slam upstairs as Cole comes storming out of his office. He is already yelling even though I haven't reached the floor he’s on. “Where the hell where you?! Why did you go so far?! I couldn’t mind link with you!” Then he catches sight of me as I’m coming up the stairs. “What the fuck?! Why are you walking around naked?! And, your covered in blood!”

I roll my eyes and continue to walk up to the room. He is still yelling at me. The people in his office come out to see what is going on. Oh, great now he is going to be all butt hurt about them seeing my backside. He tells them he will be back in a bit, and runs to catch up to me. He needs to get over himself. I have been on my own for five years. I don’t need his protection. He keeps forgetting that.

When we get in the room, he starts back up with the yelling. “You know Gerard is out there! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? You said yourself he is a psycho building some weird rogue army! You can't just leave the territory whenever you get upset! Now you’re walking around the packhouse NAKED! We have guests! You know we don’t live here alone, right?! You are covered in blood, and you haven't been seen all day! It’s almost dinner time for Goddess’ sake!”

I look at him and ask, “are you done?” he nods, but I can tell he is still fuming. “Gerard isn't out there. I don’t know where he went, but for now he isn't in the area. He must either recruiting or trying to find another pack to commandeer. I know he will be back, but I don’t think anytime soon. He knows he can't attack this pack yet. Otherwise, he would have stayed in the area.” I say calmly. Then I head to the bathroom to shower off the blood.

“I'm not done talking with you about your behavior!” He Shouts.

“I'm done talking with you though.” I say as I step into the shower. I hear him slam the door. No doubt he is going back to his meeting with the Blue Moon Packs Alpha. After my shower I text Gale.

“Do you want to go out to the bar tonight? I need to blow off steam.”

She is always happy to go party. We agree to head out just as soon as I am ready.

I don’t tell Cole that Gale and I are going out to have fun at the bar. I know he will be angry, but he is already upset with me. So, what's one more thing. I should not have to deal with that shit. He isn't my father, and I am not some child he can boss around. I haven't been a child for a long time.