Chapter 25: This Is Not Mating So It's Okay

[Cole]
His wife is slowly driving him crazy.

First, she made a unanimous decision to leave him and turned him into a panicky helpless fool, running around like a headless chicken.

Then, she believed that she would weaken him, which should have comforted him since she would volunteer to stay away, but he became flustered.

Finally, she told him to let her leave and sounded ready to let him go. Cole was irked. How could she give up so easily? Did he mean nothing to her? The times they spent together - they must mean something to her, right?

And he's her husband, damn it! Not some lover she can just throw away when she's done with him.

Cole can't have it.

His idea was brilliant. It is flawless - she has no choice but to stay and he will make sure she knows his importance.

"As long as both of you don't mate," Jude repeated his words carefully.

Cole gave a nod and beamed proudly.

Jude shook his head with awe, "You're an idiot. I'm heading back."

Cole frowned at the sandy blonde hair warrior strode out of his study. Alone again, he grinned broadly.


******

[Dove]
"This is not mating so it's okay."

This was rapidly becoming Cole's favorite catchphrase.

Although I'm glad and relieved that I was able to stay in the village - by Cole's side - I am still bothered. I was skeptical about Jude’s solution so I decided to stay as far away from Cole as possible.

But, strangely, Cole kept making it impossible.

At breakfast…

I arrived at the dining room and he was already seated, reading while eating. Once he saw me, he put down the paper and smiled.

"Claire made beef broth this morning - your favourite dish."

Claire appeared at the moment with a bowl of nice steaming beef broth. I must admit - the sight of it did lift my spirits a little. I sat three chairs away from him and then Claire set the food in front of me and left. Carefully avoiding his gaze, I drank the soup and marveled silently at the exquisite taste.

But I couldn't stop the burning question from slipping through my lips. "How did you know that beef broth's my favourite?" I had not told him.

"Of course, I know. I'm your husband." His voice was suddenly next to me.

I looked up and he was getting comfortable on the chair beside me.

After taking a glance at me, he casually said, "This is not mating so it's okay. Eat."


After breakfast…

"Cole, I'm going over to Connie's now."

He continued walking leisurely beside me. "I know. Let's go."

"I know the way. Megan had shown me. So you can leave to attend to your important matters."

He halted. I paused and looked at him, puzzled at his frown.

"Don’t use the word 'leave'." He stepped near, towering over me.

This is preposterous, I thought and folded my arms. "Then what should I use?"

"Just don't use it." He stepped away and added under his breath, "I hate it."

I rolled my eyes at his back.


At lunch…

"Why is Cole here?" Megan stopped behind Cole and glared at the top of his head.

She glanced at me and I shrugged with an awkward smile.

Then, she came over and sat beside me, maintaining her glare at the Alpha, "I thought you said that you would only have one meal with her a day."

Cole said nothing and continued chewing and reading.

Megan threw a scowl in his direction and then started sharing her daily gossip.


After lunch…

"Megan, can you tell Patrick that Dove will not be at the fields today?" Cole suddenly said.

Megan and I swung around at the same time and cast puzzling looks. "Why?"

Cole looked at me and said, "Because she needs to be somewhere with me."

A brief silence filled the air around us as I stared into those deep blue eyes. No. I blinked away. You were supposed to keep a distance from him, Dove.

But before I opened my mouth to refuse Cole, Megan swiftly agreed and scurried off.

Then, Cole grabbed my hand. Seeing my tiny hand in his, I gaped and started to pull out of his grasp. "Cole, let go. We can't--."

He tugged me close and laced his fingers through mine, "This is not mating so it's okay."

"Where are we going?" I breathed with anticipation.

"I'm bringing you outside the village." Cole strolled towards the exit. "To look around."


******

We continued North after exiting the village.

Cole pointed in the direction towards Connie's B&B and said, "You know that path well so I will skip it."

I nodded, already used to his large hand covering mine.

"This path will bring you to a crossroad. From there, you can move onto the other villages." He paused and pointed to an abrupt drop in the ground. "Watch your step."

Next, he described the packs and explained their history with the Whispering Moon Pack.

"So there's the White Howling Tail Pack - their Alpha, Jave; the Night Whispers Pack - their Alpha, Saul; the Blue Howlers Pack - their Alpha, Edgar; the Red Night Pack - their Alpha, Wesley; the Moon Paw Pack - their Alpha, Abe."

At the mention of my old pack, my mouth fell into a grim line. I felt a squeeze in my hand and looked up to see Cole smiling down.

Then, he faced forward and continued.

"Lastly, the Silver Claw Pack. Oscar is their Alpha." His voice fell low as he added, "He's the most dangerous out of the six. The three wolves you met are likely his informants."

A familiar shiver crept up my spine. I heard it in my voice as I whispered. "So they are with Oscar?” My eyes shot up at Cole.

He looked down and nodded. “Oscar’s probably aware of it now - what happened between you and them. Someone saved you and Oscar will be hunting for him.” His jaw tightened.

“What does Oscar look like?”

“To be honest,” Cole pulled me close and whispered into my ear, “He looks like Claire - dressed in black - but meaner.”

I pulled back and laughed. We stopped and he smiled at me. “You finally laughed.”

Instantly, I was reminded of my powers and turned from him in embarrassment. He quickly grabbed my hand again and pulled me to his side.

“Don’t leave my side when we’re out here,” he muttered angrily.

I gazed into his eyes and nodded slowly. A warm grin appeared on his face before he straightened and pulled me along. We arrived at the crossroads and he tested me on the six packs and their Alphas. Then, we went West and Cole started describing the rest of the Alphas.

“You must be able to identify them when you see them,” he said and I nodded.

Soon, we arrived at the edge of a vast barren land. It was as wide as the sea, stretching flat and empty for as far as the eyes could see.

“The Hopeless Desert,” Cole sighed.

“I’ve read about it but never seen it,” I whispered. The sight seemed to sap the happiness out of me. I turned away and noticed a familiar scenery.

Cole came up behind me and took my hand into his. “Was this the place you met them?”

I nodded and his arm went around my shoulder. “It’s their usual preying spot. See the low cliffs - they will hide there. I’m here so they won’t show.”

Not removing his arm, he ushered me along, past the low cliffs and then into the forest. The sky has turned orange so Cole moved faster and I tried to catch up.

When cheerful green meadows returned and the fresh warm breeze blew again, I was back at ease. We slowed down at the top of the slope, above the training ground, and I saw three werewolves sparring intensely.

I made a mental note to learn new self-defense tricks from Megan when Cole’s broad muscled chest crashed into my view. “Let’s go. Dinner’s ready soon.”

“We’re having dinner together too?” My heart fluttered.

“Of course. I’m your husband.”

My eyes slanted at him suspiciously, “Why do you keep saying that?”

Cole shrugged, grabbed my hand and pulled me over. Then, he swept down and took my lips into a slow and long kiss. When he tore away, I felt hot and hazy all over.

Resting my forehead on his, I whispered breathlessly, “We can’t do this, Cole. Your powers will weaken.”

“This is not mating,” he said in between deep breaths.