Chapter 37: Changes

[Dove]
I woke up to a bear hugging me like a pillow.

The late morning sunlight stung my eyes. I winced. My muscles stirred and then the sores and aches came all over my body.

I groaned, trying to move the stiffness out of my limbs. Then I realized that the ‘stiffness’ was actually Cole’s heavy, toned arms over my bare chest and thick, muscled legs over my thighs.

His peaceful breathing caught my ears and then my neck felt the gentle caress of his breath.

Memories of last night flooded back to me. His voracious touches. His hoarse whispers in my ear. The feel of him in me. The wild flitter and sweet tightness in my belly. The sounds I made. We had another round after the first one.

I squeezed my eyes in embarrassment.

His arms tightened around me and then his lips touched the back of my neck. I sighed and smiled.

My hand slid behind and caressed him lightly. A groan escaped through his lips, vibrating the skin of my nape, sending goosebumps up my naked back. I exhaled in anticipation. He quickly grabbed my hand and moved it away.

As I turned sideways to check his face and he descended swiftly to take my lips for a deep kiss. Breaking off, he whispered in a gruff, “Don't.”

Grinning at his lips, my fingers reached over my shoulder to tickle his stubbled chin and I chuckled, “You started it.”

He mimicked me, then turned me back to the front, swept his legs over mine and resumed his cuddling.

“Cole, did I hurt you?” The worry still nagged at me.

He laughed softly above my head. "I should be asking you that, cub."

I felt his smirk and frowned. "Not that, you ox. I mean, are you alright?"

His breathing paused and then continued as he whispered into my ear, "I'm alright."


******

[Cole]
She was always looking out for him.

Even during the dinner, though she shared their beliefs, she was on his side and stood up for him. The world was against her and she had only one worry - him.

Cole stared down at his wife's worried round eyes and was almost lost in them. Absentmindedly, he lowered his face and drank her sweetness again.

He couldn't stop touching her. It was like his untamed passion had been liberated.

When she pulled away, she was slightly breathless. Her hands swiftly came onto his cheeks and she tilted his face in all angles.

"You sure you don't feel… strange?"

Cole swallowed at her knitted brows. He is actually tingling with the need to touch her again. At the thoughts, his head dropped and swayed sideways, as he chuckled. Contented, he exhaled, lay back on his pillow and pulled her onto him.

After a brief silence, she gave a disappointed sigh. "I made the situation worse, didn't I?"

He had a hard time focusing. Her finger was tracing circles on his chest. Guessing that she meant her outburst at the dinner, he said, "Yes." He grabbed her finger, brought to his lips and kissed it. "But you did well."

“I did?”

He held onto her hand and grinned. "Well, now we know Abe is not out of the picture."

She sat up instantly. "Are they behind the rogue wolves' attack?"

"I know Oscar is." Cole tightened his jaw at the memory of Oscar's fake expression. "I'm sure of it," he muttered angrily under his breath. "But I'm not so sure about Abe. He was as calm as Oscar so it was odd."

Dove covered his hand with hers. "I'm sorry about Saul and Jave."

Cole smiled weakly, remembering the look of betrayal on their faces. "I wouldn't expect otherwise. They are devoted to her." He would need to speak to the two elders when they had cooled down.

Dove narrowed her brows. "How did Edgar and Wesley find out? Seems like they knew only recently."

Cole was impressed and gave a tiny smile. "Oscar told them."

"How did Oscar know?"

He raised a brow. It was another sharp question - one that slipped his mind.

Studying his wife's knitted brows, Cole smiled and shrugged. He made a mental note to ponder over it. He caressed her temple then ran her soft silver hair through his fingers. "We'll look into it."

"Oscar, Edgar, Wesley and Abe," she breathed, then panic filled her eyes. "Will we be outnumbered?"

Cole stroked her cheek gently and tucked her silver tresses behind her ear. "We'll figure something out." His hand slid to her nice jaw and then his eyes trickled lower. He returned to her with a deep gaze and then rubbed a thumb over her rosy lips.

She leaned forward and took his lips.


******

[Dove]
It was noon when we emerged from Cole's bedroom.

Claire brought our lunches and left.

Eating his beef sandwich, Cole abruptly announced, "You won't be going to the fields and the B&B anymore.”

“Why?” There was reluctance in my voice. I had just gotten used to the people and the work and didn’t want it to end so soon.

Cole swallowed and answered coolly, “You’re ready to join the discussions.”

My expression fell flat. “That was part of my training?”

The ox-brain of my husband grinned as he continued chewing.

He had been preparing me for my role all along. Working at the fields would allow me to meet everyone and know every corner of the village; supporting Patrick would help familiarize myself quickly about the pack’s culture and systems; helping Connie would make me realize the ways I could support the Alpha as his Luna.

The smug on his face was quickly replaced when he said, “We are meeting Jude and Megan later.”

I returned to my food and nodded solemnly.


******


There was silver in the kerosene.

Cole was fuming again when he heard it. He couldn’t hide it as he briefed Jude and Megan about what had happened.

Jude had already simmered down until he learned that Oscar was likely behind the sneak attack. It was the first time I saw his eyes clouded with rage.

Gritting his teeth, Jude growled, “That fucking son of a witch has the audacity but not the brains. He wouldn’t have come up with such a sophisticated trick on his own.”

Cole shrugged. “We don’t know who taught him. But I’m sure there is someone. He was like a trained mutt.”

Megan scoffed, “Who can train that crazy shit?”

“Abe.” Cole gave me a knowing glance.

I nodded at Megan who was astounded. “What? That sleeping beauty?”

“It’s possible.” Jude looked at Cole and said, “We hardly know Abe.”

Cole tapped his fingers on the table. “I don’t know much about the Moon Paw Pack either except that it’s very small.”

Megan turned to me. “No offence.”

“None taken,” I smiled back.

“Does he know about human chemicals?” Megan looked at me.

Her eyes seemed hopeful that I felt guilty. Abe never talks about his doings and forbids the pack to ask about them. He dictates almost everything that we do so I couldn’t provide any insights.

Cole interjected before I could reply. “You know we can’t betray our packs, Megan.”

Jude looked amused but said nothing.

Megan smiled apologetically at me. “I didn’t mean that.”

I shook my head with a smile, not knowing the right words to say.

“We’ll watch him and the others closely,” Cole concluded. “We would definitely be outnumbered if Jave and Saul joined them.”

Jude jolted forward in his seat. “Have they agreed?”

“They might.” Cole exhaled heavily.

“They may attack soon,” Jude said under his breath. “Oscar would pick the most auspicious time for it.” He stared at Cole and added, “You are his most formidable opponent. He will want to savour this fight like a good ale.”

Cole dropped his gaze on the table, thought for a while and then breathed, “The next full moon.”

It was a guess but everyone took it seriously.

“That’s a week away!” Megan exclaimed, her eyes dilated with horror. “We still don’t know what crazy shit they’ll be using. There’s really a lot of chemicals and explosives.”

For a while, Megan’s cries resonated across the study room.

Then, Jude lifted his gaze at Cole, “We start from them.”

Megan shot Jude a frown. “What?”

Cole halted his tapping finger and stared at his Beta. “These mutts have limited resources.” Then to Megan, he said, “They’ll go for the most obvious ones. Make a list, Megan.”

Megan looked ready to strangle Jude.

As Jude argued with Megan, trying to convince her, an idea sprang in my mind.

The Alpha may know everything about his pack, but his Beta knows everything about him.

I need to speak to my father.