Chapter 33: Realizing A Soulmate

[Dove]
We left after visiting Owin.

Aeson said that Owin’s healing had started at daybreak. It usually takes five days for a full recovery so Owin would be three days late.

This was good news.

Jude seemed to be breathing properly again. When he learned that silver might be in the flammable liquid, he requested to be in charge of the investigation. Cole agreed on a condition that he let Megan assist him and Jude obliged.

“Why did you insist on Megan’s involvement?” I sipped the water from my hands and sighed happily. My mind felt more refreshed. I stepped away from the stream and sat on a large moss-covered rock nearby.

“She knows a lot about the human chemicals. We need to learn about them. For the battle. And it would help us if Jude learned it fast.” Cole took his sip of water and sat beside me. "Besides, she's a great teacher." The corner of his lip lifted mischievously.

The morning mist was clearing as I quietly admired my husband’s quick wits.

“I have one last question.”

He chuckled, stretched his arms skyward and let out a yawn. “I’m sure it's not.”

After a narrow gaze and a roll of my eyes, I faced him directly and asked, “Wouldn’t you want to stay in the village? In case the attackers return.”

Cole froze with his right arm stretched across his chest and turned around with a surprised look. Then, his head dropped as a chuckle escaped from his lips. Abruptly, he stood, opened up his arms like he was hugging the world, took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I was worried too.”

He turned around and said, “But I can’t stay in the village all the time. I need more information to make better plans.” Then he sat and stared ahead. “Besides, I should trust my pack.”

“When the Alpha leaves temporarily, the pack naturally has a greater sense of responsibility to fend for themselves till the Alpha returns,” I muttered my father’s wise words.

Seeing Cole’s look of amazement, I sheepishly shared about my father and how much of him I see in Jude when he trained the young warriors.

“Do you miss him?” Cole asked quietly.

I stared at my jeans and nodded. “But I know he’ll be fine.” As long as he’s with the pack. I smiled at the thought.


******


[Cole]
The real reason for leaving the village was to speak to the devil himself.

Cole had an inkling that Oscar would be connected to the rogues’ attack. Even if that crazy mutt wasn’t involved, with his arrogance, Cole could still get something useful out of his dubious relationship with the rogues. The meeting is inevitable.

His wife, as usual, had hit the bull’s eye about his concerns. He was actually worried about the village’s safety and had wanted to send Jude instead. But something nagged at him, telling Cole that he should do it, so he decided to take the risk.

When Dove uttered her father’s wise saying, Cole was stunned. He had picked it up from Saul when he was younger and never told anyone nor heard it from anyone.

Till now.

Watching her walking beside him, his mind drifted back to last night. She immediately knew that Cole was replacing Owin in his duties even before he told her. It was like she could read his mind.

He felt like she was his…

Soulmate.

He blinked furiously and swung his head forward.

Cole couldn’t remember why he brought Dove along - it wasn’t part of his original plan. When she came to him last night, the idea flooded his mind and he blurted it out without thinking twice.

As the familiar tall stone gate came into view, Cole reminded himself that he didn’t want Dove to be near Owin so he had brought her along.

That’s all.


******


[Dove]
The White Howling Tail Pack is as large as the Whispering Moon Pack.

But their village resembles an extravagant town. The town square is a polished, white cobbled-platform right after the stone gate. Concrete roads rolled out like threads from the town square to various houses, training grounds, a large ranch and the Alpha’s mansion.

The White Howling Tail Pack had been bartering their meat for the Whispering Moon Pack's fruits and vegetables since the time of Cole’s grandparents so both clans had been maintaining a good relationship.

The Alpha’s mansion - a singular four-storey white building with a glossy, grey rooftop - is not as huge as Cole’s single-storey mansion, but it’s definitely taller. When we arrived, the Alpha Jave, a skin-head hulk with a large grin and merry eyes, cloaked in thick grey robes, was waiting in the garden in front of his house.

Jave ushered us to his study, skipped all the formalities and dived into the hot discussion.

“How’s Owin?” His voice matched his grave expression.

Cole gave a weak smile. “Not good. The doctor said he would need a miracle.”

Jave shifted his eyes to me.

Sensing that Cole was deliberately holding back on the details to prevent the true mastermind from getting the truth, I played the supporting role and pursed my lips into a grim line and nodded sadly.

“Oh my Goddess,” Jave started pacing the room. “He was such a smiling delight.”

I would have laughed out at the remark but the atmosphere forbade it, so my eyes silently followed the hulk around the room.

Cole went to Jave, patted on the elder’s shoulder and gently squeezed it. “I need your help, Jave.”

Jave grabbed Cole’s elbow and cast an earnest look. “Just say it. I’ll do what I can.”

“I need a cover. I want to speak to Oscar. Discreetly.”

A hand shot up to Jave’s mouth as he gasped in horror. “Is Oscar behind this?”

Cole shook his head solemnly. “I don’t think so. They were rogues so I thought Oscar would know something.”

It was another lie. But again, I held my tongue.

Jave seemed to follow Cole's train of thoughts and blurted, “But he won’t talk unless…”

“Unless he feels safe to do so.” Cole finished with a pleading gaze.

Jave quickly nodded. “I’ll invite everyone over for dinner tomorrow.” He paused and spun around his study, then rushed over to his shelf and took out a dusty box. Turning to face Cole again, he beamed proudly. “It’s time for this baby’s grand debut.”

“Your thousand-year-old liquor?” Cole wanted to snatch the box away in protest but Jave shoved it out of his reach. “It’s not worth it, Jave. It’s from your ancestors.”

Jave pushed Cole’s hand away and shook his head firmly. “This is the only way. Oscar’s been eyeing this, he wouldn’t miss it for a good fight. Trust me.”

Cole heaved his shoulders.

Jave opened the box and revealed an arm’s length of a snake-shaped glass bottle. It took on the color of its contents - a dark brown, almost golden, liquid. Waving it at Cole, Jave said, “Let me do something for Owin. I’ve always regarded him as my godson.”


******


After dinner, Jave put us up in ‘Cole’s usual room’ - a guest room at the ground floor of the mansion.

Brushing my hair, I glanced at Cole’s reflection in the mirror. He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

“Cole, are you asleep?”

“No.”

His curt reply bothered me but I quickly dismissed it. He could be exhausted, I thought.

We fell into silence again. Soon, it became unsettling so I decided to distract myself.

“What did Jave whisper to you before he left? You looked crossed.”

His eyes were still closed and he remained silent.

I turned around in my seat. “Cole?” Had he finally slept?

He cleared his throat and said, “Nothing.”

I returned to the mirror and frowned in silent annoyance. Forget it, I thought silently. If it was important, Cole would definitely tell me.

As I climbed into bed next to him, Cole opened his eyes, got off the bed and headed for the door.

Utterly confused, I almost shouted, “Where are you going?”

He slammed the door behind him.