Chapter 50: The Alpha's New Weakness

[Dove]
Where he had bitten stung furiously the next morning.

I had to ice the area whilst Cole kissed me whenever he got the chance. I knew he was trying to comfort my pain, but I still glared at him in the swooning effects of his kiss.

Then, as my pain subsided slightly, he broke the news to me:

Claire had left the pack at dawn with Abe. She would bring Abe back, then find my father and convince him to leave the Moon Paw Pack.

“It could take a while,” her hand-written note explained. “But I will succeed.’

I read the note again then folded it. She had left the note on the kitchen counter and Cole found it when he was getting the ice.

“When will she be back?” Cole muttered.

I shrugged, feeling hopeful. “She didn’t say specifically.”

Cole dropped his head and shook it with a chuckle. “I have to review the rules. People are leaving the village freely without my consent.”

Seeing that I wasn’t in the mood for a laugh, he sat closer and I rested my head on his shoulder.


******

[Cole]
It has been two months since Claire left.

He had been busy with the political issues that emerged after the battle.

The peace period had passed.

The three Alphas - Oscar, Edgar and Wesley - had formed an alliance - a tripartite - that began to terrorize the region. They had cut all peaceful ties with the Whispering Moon Pack and would make petty attacks on individual members.

They would also harass Jave’s and Saul’s packs. Both Alphas insisted on maintaining neutrality in this warring period - they would neither ally with the tripartite nor Cole.

“We’ll start selecting new fighters soon.” Jude kept a stern look at the warriors sparring amidst the circle of bonfire.

Cole watched the same group with a grim expression, then turned to Jude and said, “Get Owin in on this one. We may need to shuffle our roles a bit.”

Jude nodded without taking his eyes off the warriors who were now practicing moves with the scarves. After a brief silence, he grinned. “Modis is back.”

Chuckling, Cole said, “Saul’s gonna go bald like Jave.”

“The Alpha’s daughter with a Gamma, we’re gonna be in deeper sh*t.” Jude shared his humor.

“Not yet. Owin’s still… Owin.” Cole returned to the warriors who were taking a break.

Jude sat on the scratchy grass and exhaled lightly. “Our pack needs to increase in numbers, Alpha. When will our Luna be expecting?”

Cole got on the grass as well and watched on as Owin appeared amidst the dispersing warriors and stretched out to touch Modis’s hair, as if something was caught in it. His eyes widened slightly as he said, "What about you and Megan?”

“What about us?” The dimply grin left the Beta’s smile. He was focusing on Owin smiling innocently at the blushing Modis.

“Megan’s been spending nights at your place, isn’t she?” Cole stated.

The Beta choked.

Owin, who had been moving up the slope towards them, noticed Jude coughing helplessly and asked if he was alright.

Cole glanced at his Beta and the corner of his lip lifted.


******

Cole finally had the chance to talk to Connie - as one of the oldest elders in the village, she would have an inkling as to who had leaked the pack’s information to Abe.

But Connie’s face fell into a solemn expression and she grew silent.

Sensing something wasn’t right, Cole asked gently, “Is there something I need to know?”

She swallowed hard and then her usual cheer was back in her face. “Nope. Nothing. Who do you think it was, Cole?”

“Him.”

The old werewoman was staring back with careful eyes. Cole recognized the expression - Connie wore this whenever she wanted to hide something.

True enough, Connie flashed an innocent smile and asked, “Who?”

Cole trudged on, ignoring her feigning of ignorance. “You know who, Connie.”

“What makes you think it’s him?” She retorted in her usual genteel tone.

“The red candles in the cave were laced with silver and he was the only person in the pack in charge of those candles. It could only mean one thing. If there’s anyone who would hurt the pack, it’s him.” Cole was sure that Connie would listen to facts. He had a whole load of them and they all spoke of one truth.

Connie took his hand and squeezed it gently. “But, he’s dead, Cole, isn’t he? We all saw it.”

The giant Alpha relaxed his grip. Connie’s right. That person is dead. Everyone who was present then had seen it with their own eyes.

Connie’s voice chirped once more. “I don’t think anyone in the pack would tell outsiders our secrets. Perhaps it was a slip of tongue?”

Cole gazed at his cup of tea and exhaled heavily. It sounded plausible.


******

Stepping out of Connie’s B&B, he was greeted with the cold, dense air of winter, white blanketed landscapes and his mate’s smiling face.

“Why are you here?” He grinned down at her as his feet brought him down the stairs, closer to her.

“I have good news to tell you,” she breathed coolly.

Cole pecked on her cheek, took her arm, wound it around his and tugged her along as he walked towards the forest in the backyard.

With quizzical eyes, she asked, “Where are we going?”

“A walk.” Cole strolled towards the nostalgic spot from his childhood. “So, what’s the good news?”

“Jude just proposed to Megan.” A wide grin appeared on her face as Cole widened his eyes incredulously.

“And I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

Everything stopped.

The giant couldn’t move. Then, he felt her fingers weave through his and the warmth radiating from her palm. Her grinning face filled up his entire view.

“We’re going to have a baby, Cole.”

He studied her features for a while more until he finally found his voice and pulled her slowly into his embrace. “You are… incredible.” He took her lips for a long kiss and then hugged her again.

Cole kissed the top of his mate’s head and wondered what his life would be if Dove hadn’t barged in. She had given him so much more - a wife, a mate and a child. He smiled warmly with his eyes closed, thinking that he would have to convince her to reconsider having kids the size of a football team.

Exhilarated, they stood in the middle of a snow covered woods, savoring each other’s embrace for a long while until Dove abruptly pulled away. Her head turned right and then left, as her dark round eyes scanned their surroundings.

“What’s wrong?” Cole frowned with concern.

“This place looks very different with the snow,” she muttered mindlessly. “But I know this place.”

Cole watched his mate in silence as she stepped from him, glanced around and then walked towards a heap of snow. Cole followed her. Pointing at a spot that was familiar to Cole, she exclaimed, “There! I remember meeting a boy here.”

Thinking she wasn't being taken seriously, Dove clutched the giant’s hand and squeezed it. “The kids at the village were harassing me constantly, so I would shift into a wolf form and escape. I’d stay here until father whistled for me to go home. It was here I met the boy. He was comforting me and… ”

As Dove’s voice trailed off, Cole wondered in silent awe.

Did they truly meet because of a petty insult?

Or were they brought together by Her to save each other from misery?