Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
COLE
Everything is working out fantastically.
He didn’t think the bodies of the brothers would be found that quickly—but the news article frightened her enough to lead her right into his arms.
He was going to stay with her either way—but this time, he doesn’t have to lurk. She’ll know he’s there.
Which makes it that much sweeter.
The only problem left is Eugene.
The Beta is the reason he came to Green Woods in the first place, but once Bree encountered him, he had to change his plans.
No one would miss Eugene, of course. But ridding the world of him will take longer than he thought.
In a twisted way, his girl ruined his plans.
She’s ruined him, if he’s honest.
His entire being is attuned to her. Every decision he makes is made with Bree in mind. Everything else is secondary.
Including his plans for pathetic, disgusting Eugene.
He knows the Beta isn’t planning on leaving Green Woods anytime soon—a quick cutting of the cables to his car’s ignition is enough to do the trick. So, Eugene is left to wander around town, half drunk and annoying the rest of the residents.
No one will miss him when he dies.
It’s just a matter of when he plans to do it.
It’s one thing to kill in another town, away from his girl—but to do it to here, when she’s the neighbor of the victim?
It would terrify her.
And as delicious as the scent of her fear is, he still wants his mate to feel safe.
He sits up in her bed, watching the moonlight illuminate her face as she sleeps.
The scent of her impending Heat is almost enough to send him into a violent Rut. Thankfully, he doubled his med dosage, so he’s fully prepared for when she needs him.
He can’t believe how lucky he is, after everything questionable he’s done in his life. His mate practically handed herself over to him, and she’s never spent her Heat with another Alpha.
He holds her hand as she rests, gently tracing her ring finger, doing a rough measurement in his head of her possible ring size.
Only the best for Breana. He wonders how many carats she’ll wear before she insists it’s too much.
But there’s a more pressing matter ruminating in the back of his mind, haunting him as he tries to sleep.
If she finds out what he’s done, he’s not sure she’ll ever forgive him.
He’s unsure if he could even explain why he does what he does—he imagines the horror on her beautiful face if she discovers his secrets.
But he didn’t know he would find his mate.
He never believed in soulmates before her, and now that she’s here, he’s determined to never let her leave.
Whether she forgives him or not, she’s his.
Forever.
He spends the next few days playing the dutiful boyfriend.
He’s on cloud fucking nine with her, breathing in her scent every chance he can as it grows sweeter.
“You don’t have to do that,” she insists as she sits at the kitchen island, perched on a stool. “I’m perfectly capable of cooking for myself.”
“You’re perfectly capable of a lot of things,” he agrees, as he cooks her stir-fry. “Except for allowing me to dote on you, apparently.”
Bree makes a face at him, but it doesn’t stop the beautiful flush that spreads across her cheeks. “Doting or obsessing? I could swear I felt you watching me sleep last night, weirdo.” But there’s no malice in her tone, just amusement.
He grins. “Nothing I could dream about would be better than looking at you, so what’s the point?”
She chokes on her water. “You’re ridiculous,” she croaks, shaking her head. “You can’t mean half the things you say.”
“I don’t make a habit of lying, Bree.”
“But you’re in law, aren’t you?” There’s a teasing glint in her eyes as she cocks her head. “I’m sure you’ve bent the truth one way or another before.”
His smile falls slightly as he’s reminded of how much he’s hiding from her. “And what about you, Miss Journalist?” He spoons the food into a bowl and places it on the island in front of her, and she murmurs her thanks. “You’ve never manipulated words to make someone appear the way you want them to on paper?”
She shrugs. “Maybe.” She fiddles with her chopsticks and looks down into the bowl. “But…” she looks back up at, her gray eyes soft. “I don’t do it with you. I haven’t sugarcoated who I am.”
He joins her on the adjacent stool and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“Then don’t start now,” he whispers.
“As long as you promise not to.”
His chest aches as he nods.
But the smile she gives him is worth it, and he allows his guilt to fade when she takes a bite of her food and lets out a soft moan at his cooking.
“So, law, huh? Any crazy cases?” Kyle asks him, taking a sip from his beer.
They’re at Darlene’s with Bree cuddled up to him on the couch while they chat. Their orange cat plops into his lap, purring obscenely loud as Cole scratches at the feline’s chin.
It’s all so…normal.
This is what he wants for the rest of his life. Just Bree, him, and the occasional evening at a friend’s house, followed by him eating Bree out until she passes out.
It’s his ideal life.
He even likes Kyle. The mated Alpha is obviously devoted to his Omega, and he’s in no way a threat to him. With Bree’s imminent Heat, there’s still a primal urge to hide her away from the world, but his girl was adamant that he meet the people that are important to her .
It’s hard to argue with that, especially since Kyle is harmless.
If he wasn’t, it would be a different story
With one arm slung around Bree, Cole frowns. “Define crazy.”
“You know, someone murders someone else in a jealous fit of rage, or a mistaken identity, or something like that,” Kyle supplies excitedly, as Darlene looks at him.
“Don’t be weird, babe,” Darlene says, making a face, then turning to Cole. “Sorry. He’s obsessed with true crime. He’s been losing it over the murders around here.”
Cole tightens his grip on Bree’s shoulder as she stiffens against him. He catches the subtle scent of her fear, and he runs his fingers soothingly over her shoulder. “It’s concerning,” he admits.
Bree huffs against him. “Concerning is underselling it.”
“You’re staying with her now, right?” Darlene asks him. “I just don’t want her to be by herself. I didn’t think it was a good idea for her to come alone in the first place, so I’m glad she has you.”
“I’m right here , Darlene.”
Cole grins. “I don’t plan on letting her be alone ever again.”
Darlene smiles wide and waggles her eyebrows at Bree while his Omega fights a smile.
“And keep her away from Eugene, too, the prick,” Kyle mutters, and Bree’s scent sours. “He’s such an asshole.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Bree adds, “he showed up at the cabin the other day again.”
Cole stills. Darlene and Kyle raise their eyebrows, and even Oscar tilts his head at her curiously.
Fury simmers in Cole. “Explain,” he says quietly.
Bree shrugs out of his hold, straightening the sleeves of her sweater as she sits up straight. “He was drunk, and he blocked my car for a minute,” she chuckles awkwardly, placing her hands on her knees. “He said some awful things, but then he left after I told him I would call the sheriff.” She glances at Cole and shrinks at his expression. “It’s fine,” she says quietly. “I forgot to mention it until now, after everything that’s happened.”
“When was this?” he demands.
She swallows. “The day we were at the cemetery.”
That was days ago. Days where he didn’t know that the sick son of the bitch went near his girl again.
“Bree, what the fuck !” Darlene exclaims. “You need to tell us when something like that happens!”
“It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time,” Bree insists. “And after I ran into you,” she looks at Cole, “I forgot about everything else,” she says softly.
His Alpha roars in delight, but that doesn’t erase his frustration.
He should have dealt with Eugene the moment he arrived in Green Woods.
And now that he’s bothered Bree again, he’s going to draw his death out longer than necessary.