Chapter 35: I Want To Hold You Now

[Cole]
That fucking slimewolf tried to hit on his wife.

A well-known sweet talker, Wesley would hit on anything that moves. A slimewolf, Cole's buddies had nicknamed him and Cole decided to start using that name today.

It happened right after his brief private moment with Oscar.

The crazy mutt was unusually tight-lipped, giving frivolous responses throughout the conversation. Cole figured that someone had been training him as the proud Alpha continued his acting.

"I'll sniff them out, Cole. I swear to Goddess." A strange smirk appeared on his face and disappeared. "Those fuckers deserve to die! How can they use fire on poor Owin?"

Cole caught a glint of satisfaction in the wild eyes but maintained his composure. Once Oscar was out of sight, his smile collapsed and he threw his glass out of the window in fury.

Returning to the waiting room, Cole saw the slimewolf already making his move on Dove.

Dove was seething. She held her ground well until Wesley leaned in to smell her face.

Cole's brows twitched with pure rage and his eyes turned blood red.

In a breath, he was behind Dove, holding onto her trembling hand that was about to strike the obtrusive face, and put an arm around her.

Holding Dove tightly, his blood-red eyes shot a warning glare at the platinum hair Alpha, who wisely backed away.

Then, a grinning Oscar in the shade caught Cole's fleeting glance, his wild eyes were twinkling with amusement.

Instinctively, Cole put on a straight face and pretended to cast Dove aside.


******

[Dove]
Dinner proceeded with a cordial atmosphere.

But underneath it, I could tell that mixed emotions were breeding and converging into something huge and sinister. The polite smiles and light-hearted conversations were merely a performance.

Jave's thousand-year-old liquor seemed to be stronger than average ale. After a few glasses, I watched silently as the drinkers began to relax and loosen their tongues.

Edgar, a short man with a squarish face, hedge-like hair and a stagnant grin, who had been quietly observing Cole from across the table, abruptly broke his silence, but not his smile, and asked about Owin.

Jave, without giving it much thought, jumped in to answer, repeating Cole's words.

Edgar laughed and returned innocently, "What miracle were you hoping to get, Cole?"

Again, Jave immediately said, “Why a miracle for Owin to survive, of course! Edgar old friend, weren't you listening when I told you that Owin was attacked? He caught fire! That poor cub.”

The Lunas gasped as if it was their first time hearing it.

Wesley chuckled. “I think what Edgar didn’t understand, dear Jave, was Cole hoping for a miracle when he doesn’t even pray to the Goddess.”

Jave’s glass halted at his lips.

Saul flung around and stared at Cole.

Wesley cast a victorious glance at Cole.

Edgar finally stopped grinning.

Ignoring the states of Helia and the other Luna, my eyes wandered further to the other end of the table.

Oscar continued drinking. His slouching body heaved as he chuckled quietly.

Abe was leaning against his chair with folded arms, wearing his usual serene look.

“Is it true, Cole?” Jave whispered, staring at Cole like a disappointed father.

Cole remained unmoved. For a moment, I saw myself in these people who were judging him with contempt and realized that all Cole needed was time to heal his wounds and have faith again.

“Silence means consent, my friends.” Wesley tipped his glass to his lips.

“Why would you do that? We can’t do that. Not the Goddess, Cole.” Jave slumped into his seat.

“She’s our deity! Are you mad?” Saul slammed the table, stood with a scornful glare and stormed out of the room. Helia excused herself and walked out gracefully after her husband.

Wesley broke into a cold laugh. “The mighty Cole has actually been disregarding the Moon Goddess, our deity.” He stood and thrust an angry finger at Cole, “You ungrateful scum. All that you have, including your arrogant snout, are from the Goddess. You and your pack don’t deserve any of it!”

“Perhaps,” Edgar leaned forward and spoke in a low, airy voice. “What happened to Owin is a warning from the Goddess, cub. You had disrespected her.” He glowered.

“The Moon Goddess doesn’t warn.”

My voice was clear and crisp, echoing above the harsh remarks thrown at my husband. I turned to the shocked faces with my chin held high. “She doesn’t hurt her creations.”

An abrupt giggle broke out from the far end of the table and Oscar waved his glass lazily at me. “And a cursed thing like you would know? You were abandoned by her, you silver slut.”

Abe caught my eye and he lowered his chin with a cynical smile.

“The Moon Goddess doesn’t abandon her creations - not even the rogue wolves.” I held my gaze firmly at Oscar.

“Why you wench!” Oscar hurled his glass in my direction like a bullet.

Cole’s hand shot up, intercepted the whizzing glass and placed it on the table.

The mean glare instantly glowed in bright red. Oscar lunged forward onto the table, toppling and crashing the porcelain in his way, when Abe coughed and shook his head. Obediently, he recoiled into his seat and kept his killing stare on Cole.

“Some rogue wolves set Owin on fire.” Cole grabbed my hand and addressed the fuming crowd. “I will find these damn wolves and give them what they deserve.”

He tugged my hand and we left the room.


******


As soon as we returned to the room, we packed and left in our wolf forms, sprinting through the cold night air.

Cole worried that another attack might happen, especially after the dinner confrontation, so we sped back. When we arrived at the village gates, we switched back to human form and greeted the elders on guard duty.

After talking to them, Cole entered the village. I followed him quietly.

Once she left, Cole grabbed my wrist and trudged towards his quarters.

Knowing that my struggles would be in vain so, again, I followed him quietly. I was going to be reprimanded for speaking out without his permission. I had aggravated the situation and endangered the pack.

He pushed me into his room, closed the door, locked it and then turned around to face me.

I recognized the dark cloud in his eyes and swallowed hard. “Cole, you know we can’t do it.”

“I don’t care. I want to hold you and I want to hold you now,” he muttered in a low, husky voice.

My body crashed against the wall, my arms pinned above my head and my lips crushed under the weight of his fierce lips. They moved passionately, pressing and tugging hungrily as if to fulfill years of pent up need and desire. His body flattened against my body and started grazing my curves. The rough fabric rubbed against my skin, electrifying the nerves beneath it.

The familiar wash of thrill, delight and anticipation frightened me once more and I tore my lips away. His lips then moved downwards, nibbling and kissing any bare skin in their way.

“Cole,” I gasped. “Don’t do this. Please.” Then, I inhaled sharply.

He was nuzzling my neck. A shiver shot up my spine and I tilted my head more to give him better access.

Trailing wet kisses up to my ears, his warm breath tickled my sensitive spot as he whispered, “You smell good.”

His words were magnetic. I was succumbing to his touch and tantalizing scent. But the fear anchored in me grew stronger. In a panicky voice, I begged him to let me go. We have to end it before it goes any further and we can’t turn back, I said.

“You’ll be hurt.” A sigh of pleasure and fear escaped my lips.

Instantly, he lifted his face to mine. “Reject me, then.”

Our warm breaths mixed as we stared into each other’s eyes. His piercing blue gaze intensified as he repeated in a low raw voice. “Reject me, Dove. Because I can’t stop.”

His head dipped and his lips were on mine again, kissing me even harder and coaxing me more urgently.