Chapter 50

**Cole**



I'm so glad Winter is home and safe. It has been two days since she woke up. All of her cuts have finally healed. She is back to her old self and will be starting to get back to work today. I have been trying to keep my distance from her though.

I just feel so ashamed. I have no idea what they did to her while she was there. I have the notes the hunters took while they held her captive, but I don’t know if they wrote down everything they did. They wrote plenty though. Some of which was so horrible I can’t bring myself to tell Winter about it. She doesn’t need to know what they tried to do. The doctor checked her and said that she is okay. They told me that she can still carry pups, despite what they tried to do. I thank the Moon Goddess for this.

I hate hunters. They are so cruel. It isn’t enough we have other threats to worry about. I am happy we wiped them out. Well at least the ones close to the city. Hunters don’t really attack pack boarders. They try to isolate the wolfs. So at least we don’t really have to worry about them attacking us at home, or even in the city now, since we purged them all. It is such a relief to know they are not out there anymore. I can’t stand the thought of her being taken again.

I know I am in the wrong though. It is my fault that she was taken. I failed her. She was missing for about a week. How could I take so long to get to her? She does not deserve to be stuck with someone who cannot protect her. I know it is wrong to keep this distance from her. She is my mate after all, but when I look at her or talk to her, I get so angry with myself for not protecting her.



**Winter**



I'm sitting in my office pouring over the email I just wrote out. It is an invitation for all the she-wolfs in the pack to gather at the training arena on Saturday morning. I am inviting them for a discussion. Everything looks well laid out. So, I hit send and then I mind link to all the females in the pack as well.

“Hey, I hope to see all females Saturday. There are some important things I want to discuss with you. It is the upmost importance that all the she-wolfs in Red Dawn Pack attended.” I hope they come. I need answers from them.

I need to know why a lot of them choose not to shift. Then I need to see if I can encourage them to train. I think it is important. I want to make this pack stronger. After all it is my Job as Luna.

I start to receive emails and mind links from she-wolfs saying they will be there. That’s good I know that not all of them will respond, but I hope they come. I sit back in my chair and try to think. Healing from the hunters has been really exhausting me. However, today I have work that needs to be done. Mostly planning for the upcoming endeavors for the females in this pack. My plans have been put off for far too long.

Now that I have gotten the word out my mind starts to flutter to what happened while I was gone. The last two days I have been having memories resurface as I have been healing. Whatever they used to torture me is out of my system.

I remember all their vile words. They called me an abomination. At one point they gave up on trying to kill me and focused on trying to destroy my reproductive organs, but they failed. Those idiot hunters no nothing about science. They just make their concoctions and destroy things without clue about what they are doing.

This has been my first encounter with hunters, and I am not eager to ever repeat that experience. Running across hunters is not a normal phenomenon though. They never approach packs. They mostly target rogues or wolfs who are far from home.

Recalling the memories of what they did to me is not so easy to move past. I have been talking to the Goddess, and she has been giving me some comfort. I am glad she is here for me. I just wish my mate were more present.

He has been avoiding me. I don’t understand why. He hasn’t touched me and has taken to sleeping on the couch in the room. I hate it. He keeps saying he needs rest and that sleeping in the bed with me while I am healing will just make him more tense.”

Wich is a joke I mean we are mates. His touch would comfort me. Everyone knows that mates help comfort each other. I just don’t understand why he will not come around. He just keeps leaving me to do my own thing. Athena misses Dante severely.

I keep encouraging her. I tell her that he has just been very busy with work. I hate having to comfort Athena; because her mate should be here comforting her. Hell, she needs Dante and I need Cole. With him being distant I have just focused on my plans for the pack.

No, this is not all right! Cole should not be avoiding me. Not only do I want to be comforted and feel him next to me, I also need his help with my plans for the she-wolfs in the pack.

My wounds have healed. I can go for a run. Maybe Cole will go for a run for me. It would make me feel so much better. Running has always been revitalizing for both Athena and me. If Cole is there with me I think I would feel back to new. Especially if it is a run under the moon. So, its settled.

I mind link to Cole. “Hey, will you go for a run with me tonight after dinner.” He isn't responding. So, it is not enough that he has avoid me for two days. Now he will not talk to me either. I get up from my desk, I storm out of my office, and strait into his.

As I burst through the door I yell with a snarl “What is wrong with you?! Aren’t you my mate or was that not you who marked my neck?!”

I notice that he is in a meeting with Marcus. I am fairly sure he is not happy that I am here. I need to know why my being kidnapped has made him hate me.

“Marcus I am sorry to interrupt your meeting, but can you let the Alpha and I have a moment alone.”

Marcus is about to speak, but Cole speaks first. “Winter we are in the middle of something. You and I can speak later. I'm so sorry Marcus we can continue.”

“Really Alpha it is fine. I will just be outside when you are done.” Marcus replies.

He quickly exits the office.

“What is so important that you had to interrupt me in the middle of an important meeting?” Cole asks.

What is Cole's problem. I am so over this. Why is he being like this?