Chapter 42: This Is Forever

[Dove]
I awoke to an empty bed.

Feeling the dent on my bed, Cole's warmth kissed my fingers. I realized that he had only just left. Probably to catch up on the preparations for tomorrow, I thought, feeling lonely without his presence.

Instinctively, I reached to the back of my neck and felt - nothing.

A comforting smile spread across my lips. I managed to stop him.

Then, I pulled my knees up, covered my face in them and broke down into tears.

I want him to mark me. I want him as my mate. He’s my mate, my mind screamed desperately. Why do I have such a sad life? I keep forming dreams only to have them shattered by my own hands.

Someone knocked softly at my door. Hastily, I sniffed hard and wiped away anything that would betray my vulnerability, then I answered the second knocking.

Claire entered with my breakfast. She raised her hand to above her head, placed the tray on the bed and then pointed at the steaming beef broth.

Cole told me to cook this for you, she signed.

Immediately, tears welled up in my swollen red eyes and I buried my face into my knees once more. Claire wrapped her arms around me as I wailed hard.


******

The day went by smoothly.

I trained hard with the villagers who were staying behind, going through the drills over and over again until our bodies were lethargic.

Owin was depressed that he couldn't recover in time for the battle. Though he tried his best to hide it, running through the same drills with his usual enthusiasm, he couldn’t fool anyone, especially Modis.

During lunch, she set him straight and slapped him to his senses.

Seeing them reminded me of the time when Cole and I first met. Swallowing back the tears, I told the pack to practice individually for the rest of the day.

Then, I went over to Connie’s house and practiced the moves that Cole taught me.

He didn’t show up for dinner, but I wasn’t upset. It was better that he works hard on ensuring everyone’s safety - including his own.

In the darkest night, he came to my room again and we spent another night in voracious lovemaking.

We tore at each other, kissing and tasting every inch of our bare skin, memorizing every scar, line and ridge until our passion and heat climbed to a tantalizing cliff, and then we cried out in sheer bliss.

With a racing heart and shallow breathing, we made love to each other over and over, each time our cravings grew stronger, our touches more eager and fiercer. Towards the end, Cole was like a wild beast, kissing me ferociously, leaving red marks all over my body, attending to my deepest desires with an untamed enthusiasm.

I was soaring, reaching the highest point of bliss.

And then, it stopped.

“Look at me, Dove,” Cole grunted.

I whimpered in dire need.

“Open your eyes,” he coaxed.

I did and his fiery blue eyes penetrated me.

“This is forever, Dove,” he whispered in a gruff voice.

My trembling forehead swayed left and right. I pleaded quietly, anxious about the impending consequences if I agreed. “Please, Cole.” My voice was strained with a dying need.

“Say it,” he growled. “This is forever.”

“Cole,” I begged.

“Forever, Dove.” His voice was resolute.

“Forever,” I gasped.

And he gave his final thrust, slamming hard into my sweetest spot.

I peaked instantly as my hair glowed its strongest glow.



******


I stirred at the break of dawn.

Sitting up, I saw Cole seated at the edge of the bed, staring out of the window. He was all dressed up and ready for battle. I swallowed a large lump in my throat and stared at his broad back, praying hard that this would not be the last time.

“Remember what you promised last night.” His voice was clear and crisp.

New tears flooded my eyes. My blurry view swayed as I shook my head in protest. He stood, walked to my side of the bed, leaned forward and kissed me gently.

Then, he was gone.



******


[Cole]
He had never felt so right.

Cole left his mansion feeling a burst of sunshine in his chest. Was this how his warriors had felt when they confirmed their mates? The feeling was amazing and refreshing at the same time.

Facing his warriors, he thought about Dove’s smile as he threw a fist to the sky and thundered, “For the pack!”

The undaunted warriors of the Whispering Moon Pack raised their fists firmly and snarled fiercely, “For the pack!”


******


Through the veil of the blowing sand and dust, Cole caught a glimpse of the other side and their size. Together, the four clans came to an astounding number, close to that of his pack.

Underestimating the enemy is the first sign of weakness, Cole recited in his mind. He focused on the four Alphas standing tall, at the head of the large army.

“All seems normal,” Jude murmured. “But they look too calm.”

Cole gave a slight nod. “Oscar looks too confident.”

“We’ll keep a lookout for surprises.” Jude raised his hand with a star sign, signaling a reminder to the fighters: watch out for unexpected attacks.

Before they could go any closer to take a better look, Oscar gave his loudest howl.

Wesley threw a punch in the air. “For the Moon Goddess!”

The four clans charged forward, echoing their Alphas’ howls and growls, while the Whispering Moon Pack and its Alpha held their ground, observing keenly, steadying their breaths and welcoming any attack with power and finesse.

Above them, thin wisps of greyish, black clouds collided and rolled around the radiant, white clouds, pushing them out of the vast sky, covering its striking blueness.

Oscar went straight for him.

As the grey wolf leapt forward, Cole shifted into his gigantic beastly form and sharpened his claws, aiming for his attacker’s neck. The collision almost threw him off balance, but his huge fangs managed to pierce through the skin on the intended spot.

Oscar snarled and swiped a claw at Cole’s face.

But Cole swiftly avoided the blow. He thrashed a claw across the golden eyes, then pounced onto the grey wolf’s back and gnawed mercilessly at the back of his neck.

With an angry grunt, Oscar threw himself on the ground and knocked Cole off his body. Backing away, snarling in rage, Oscar’s eyes crimsoned. He held his head back and sounded a chilling howl.

Cole stepped further from him and glanced around. Torches appeared like fireballs, striking the ground, blazing it with his attacker’s wrath.

The Whispering Moon Pack fighters continued clawing, striking, gnawing and biting, snapping on limbs and breaking them fearlessly as if the sear from the fire meant nothing to them.

Oscar’s eyes widened and Cole nipped on the chance.

“Let’s end this in peace, Oscar!”

Oscar’s breathing grew dense as he glowered back, his eyes now bloodshot, filled with wild fury. He howled again.

Instantly, a wave of forces emerged from their hiding spots. They stood on the cliff, overlooking the battlefield, and started casting glimmering bottles at the wolves of the Whispering Moon Pack.

Cole kept his eyes on the shimmering device and was about to jump out of its way, when Oscar pounced on him, going at his neck and ears. Cole swiftly turned and twisted, aiming Oscar at the incoming bottle.

But, the crazy mutt noticed it and leapt away.

The bottle smashed straight onto Cole’s opened scarf.

Cole watched as Oscar scanned his surroundings in bewilderment. His wolves are mimicking him, swinging their scarves to throw the bottles of chemicals off their aims, flinging them back at the attacking side.

Oscar bellowed with anger. When he recovered, Cole caught a familiar glint in his eyes and howled a warning.

His pack gathered again as the opposing side limped and whimpered away.

Cole returned to his pack and stood beside Jude. Everyone was panting heavily.

Jude turned to his back and then returned to the front. “A third down.”
Cole gritted his teeth. “We’ll get them back to the village. After we win.”

“Abe’s not here,” Jude reported.

Cole swung around, shocked for the first time that day.

Then, a sour, acidic smell filled his nostrils.



******


[Dove]
I stood at the village gates, in the middle of a formation, made by the elders and werewomen who had remained behind in the village.

We crouched low, maintaining our defensive stance and keeping our guards up as the face of malice came into sight.

“Abe,” I breathed with a mix of surprise and fear.