Chapter 12: Jealousy In The Air

[Cole]
Cole stood like a statue, staring ahead with a dull expression, his eyes in a grim line. In his most boring voice, he sighed at the werewoman clinging tightly to him. “What, now?”

He waited as Megan lifted her chin off his shoulder, then swung it around frantically as if checking for a sneak attack. Then abruptly, she untangled herself from him and continued scanning the area.

“Megan,” Cole exhaled heavily with his eyes closed.

When his eyes opened again, Megan was turning around to face him, and Cole saw a mischievous smirk on her face. He frowned at her, “What are you up to this time?”

“Nothing,” she chirped and patted him on the shoulder. “See ya!” Her body swiveled around and she skipped off.

With hands on his hips, Cole muttered in disbelief, “Werewoman.”

Ignoring Megan, his eyes started to search for the Dove. He had followed Patrick's directions and came this way, thinking that he could easily catch up with her. But after walking a distance, there was no sign of her.

Cole let out a grunt of annoyance. He should’ve asked Megan if she had seen Dove - that could help save him some time. He stomped off wondering: where the hell is that damn woman?


******

That damn woman didn’t appear until the next morning.

When Cole entered the dining area, Dove was eating quietly. But once he sat, her plate was empty and she had skittered off to the kitchen. He gave a puzzling glance at Claire who was setting down his food - she shrugged with a blank look and then returned to the kitchen.

The fleeting exchanges became their routine for the next few days - whenever Cole approached Dove, he would hear about a forgotten task or meeting then her hasty apology, and she would speed off after flashing an apologetic smile.

Cole’s irritation grew with each passing exchange until he couldn’t stop thinking about her, which annoyed him further.

Then, as if his problems weren’t enough, Megan started showing him the attention that was more than necessary. She constantly grabbed his hand, hugged his arm and touched his face, driving his frustration to the roof. He contemplated throwing Megan off a cliff; she could join Jude.

“You know, you could talk to her.” Jude was giving him another one of his silly grins.

Cole turned from him, shot a grim look ahead and barked a command at the young werewolves. Instantly, their punches went harder and their cries grew louder.

Satisfied, Cole turned back and said, “Didn’t you hear what I said? I couldn’t get hold of her; she’s all over the place, that damn woman.” He exhaled heavily with a deep frown. “Connie wasn’t even this busy. Maybe I’ve overworked her. Do you think I overworked her?” Jude knitted his brows and Cole rolled his eyes and snapped, “I'm talking about Dove, you mutt! Stop laughing. Is this very funny to you?”

Jude nodded, his shoulders still shaking with laughter. “Yes. This is new for me - you worrying about a woman.”

Cole wanted to throw a fist into the Beta’s face when he suddenly said, “ Dove had the same issue with you.” Cole became confused so Jude reminded him with a smile, “That time when you weren’t talking to her, remember?”

Cole widened his eyes then immediately fell back into his grim look.

“Seriously, it’s tiring watching you two. Just get it on already.” Jude laughed mockingly. Suddenly, he switched to a sharp look and shot a fierce gaze at the panting and gasping werewolves, and the field sprang into action once more.

“You’re all talk. When are you going to stop leading Megan on?” Cole breathed coolly.

Jude’s jaw hardened then relaxed. It happened in the blink of an eye but Cole managed to catch it and the corner of his lip lifted as he heard the old response. “I did no such thing.”

“You didn’t reject her.” Cole reminded his childhood friend and then shifted his gaze from Jude’s face to a gasping werewolf near them and glared at him. The young man stiffened and immediately punched the punching bag. Hearing the loud grunt, Cole gave a satisfactory nod.

After listening to another round of rhythmic punches and grunts, Jude laughed. Then, Cole felt a pat on his shoulder when Jude said, “Say goodnight to Dove for me.” He watched on as Jude stormed towards the worn out cubs who had started dropping to the ground like flies.

Cole was mentally reaching for the darn Beta’s neck when he was hit by the true intention of those last words. The corner of his lips lifted as a plan formed in his mind.

He could finally have a word with that busy wife of his.


******

It was a terrible mistake to talk to his wife in her bedroom; he had forgotten about her enticing looks and mesmerizing scent. But he had no other choice.

When Dove caught his reflection in her mirror, shock and anger crossed her beautiful features; she spun around to face him and didn’t look pleased to see him. Even so, he thought she looked stunning in the moonlight.

“Why are you here?” Her eyes widened as if she was surprised by the rudeness in her voice and then the glint in her eyes vanished. She was smiling again.

But Cole noticed that it was a sad smile. He stepped towards the table to put down the tray of tea he had intercepted from Claire outside her room earlier. Clearing his throat, he came up with the most natural answer.

“Claire told me to bring you your tea.”

Dove slanted her eyes at him. “Claire told her Alpha to serve tea to his Luna - why?” Cole silently cursed her habit of asking questions when her hands went to her small hips, and then he imagined holding that tiny waist. He quickly looked away.

“She didn’t say.” He finally managed with a shrug.

“Claire doesn’t speak, Cole.” She gave a weary sigh.

Ignoring her doubtful expression, Cole studied her closely. In just a few days, her shoulders looked like they had carried him to the mountains and back; her cheeks looked thin, and her eyes were red and swollen.

“You missed dinner.” He meant to show his concern but it came out as an accusation. He made a mental note of it.

“I wasn’t hungry.”

Her reply lacked her usual cheer and it bothered him. He heaved a sigh and finally blurted, “What’s wrong, Dove? Why are you avoiding me?”

Her mouth opened and closed again. Then, she looked away. “I wasn’t avoiding you; I was busy.”

Cole searched his mind furiously for the next thing to say but Dove beat him to it. “Is there anything else?”

He focused on her again and saw her eyes moistening - it irked him. Taking a step forward, he asked in a gentle voice that was foreign to him, “Tell me, Dove. What’s wrong?”

He heard a sharp inhale and then her back faced him. “Everything’s fine.” There was a hint of sadness in her muffled voice. He swallowed hard.

“Look,” he closed the gap further and continued. “If you needed help, you could--.”

“I’m fine, really.” But her hair had burst into bright silver.

As he was contemplating his next course of action, she suddenly spun around. Her eyes were sparkling like the surface of a lake under a full moon. With the same sad smile, “I’m fine, Cole. I need to rest now. Please leave.”

As if entranced, Cole took a final step and was a werewolf’s hair from her when he asked in the same gentle voice. “If you’re fine,” his finger reached out to touch her red and wet cheeks. “Then what’s this?”

At once, her lips quivered in an unspoken misery and then she slammed her body into his.