Chapter 19 Faye #2
“I mean, you don’t have to,” I blurt. “I just thought it’d be nice to get to know you better.”
“Of course, I’ll show you.” He grins and reaches for my hand, seeming to instantly forget about Laz who is getting enough flour everywhere to make snow angels. “Follow me.”
On the way upstairs, I pause to admire some paintings on the wall. There are lots of different styles including a funny cartoon of what looks like Cole and Laz high-fiving on a raft while tents burn in the background.
“That’s a Laz original,” Cole says. “From our time in camp.”
“The pack finding experience?”
He chuckles. “He told you about that, huh?”
“Only that you met there.”
“Well, the picture is pretty accurate.” Bemusement shines in his silver eyes. “But don’t worry, we made sure the tents were empty when we started the bonfire. Trust me when I say those alphas deserved it. Some of the hazing that goes on at those camps makes SVU sports teams look tame.”
On the landing, Cole motions to different doors. “Ren’s room is straight ahead. Laz’s is at the end of the hall, and this is mine.” He pushes the door open. “I’m sorry if it’s a bit of a mess. I wasn’t expecting visitors.”
Mess? It looks like it belongs in a showroom.
It’s not as big as my room in Stella House, but he has an en suite, and it’s incredibly neat.
There’s an enormous bookcase on one wall with lots of heavy-bound books next to a desk with neatly piled papers and a laptop.
His bed is pristinely made with sharply tucked corners.
Above it, there’s a crimson banner emblazoned with a wolf’s head and, “Silverwood Pack” written underneath.
Aside from that, there’s little else in the room, lacking any real personal touches.
The hairs on my nape rise, aware that he’s watching my every move.
“That looks like some serious reading.” I point at the book next to his laptop. “Do you study law?”
“Law and political science. My dad wanted me to major in finance, but I wanted to do something else. Something that’ll make a positive difference.”
Cole’s a hard person to read, but from what I do know, it’s clear that he cares about others.
“I understand that.” I run a finger along the books lining his shelves. “That’s why I’m studying health botany. To make people’s lives better. Law is kinda the same, right?” I grimace. “Well, unless you work for the bad guys.”
“I’m not planning on doing that.” His rumbling laugh sends a shiver of longing down my spine. “No matter what my dad asks me to do.”
“He’s tough on you?”
“He thinks he knows what’s best for me.” His cheeks puff up before he releases a heavy breath. “He’s planned out my whole life since I was a boy, but I want to forge my own path.”
“He should be proud of you for that.”
“Pride is the opposite of what my father feels for me.” His bitterness changes his scent. “He’s my father by blood, but even that seems to mean nothing to him.”
When his lips part yet nothing comes out, I sense there’s more he wants to say. “Do you want to talk about it?” I’m desperate to get to know him better, especially if we’re doomed to spend eternity together. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to push you. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s okay.” He sighs and sits on the bed.
“Last year, I found out I had a half-sister.” Something flashes behind his steely eyes.
Sadness or regret, maybe? “She’s only seven.
I didn’t even know she existed until her mom died unexpectedly.
My father had kept her a secret. He hasn’t exactly been a one-woman man over the years.
” I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows thickly.
“When I found out, I wanted him to take legal custody of her. Dad refused, claiming he wanted nothing to do with her. So I decided to try to get custody of her instead. I knew it was a long shot. I mean, what would I know about raising a child?” He wrings his hands.
“But I couldn’t bear to see my sister go into the system.
I was ready to withdraw my offer to SVU, and all the guys were behind me, ready to take her in.
But I lost the case. And now, she’s lost. I haven’t been able to track her down since. She could be anywhere.”
“I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to make it better.” I sit next to him. “You’ll find her. I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so.” He inhales deeply, straightening his spine. “Until then, I can try to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen to anyone else.” He gestures at his books. “I’m learning to fight for the good guys.”
Cole is a giant mountain of a man, but his heart is even bigger. He isn’t like the alphas I’ve grown up fearing who wreck lives. He wants to keep families together, not tear them apart.
“Although Laz doesn’t make it easy for me.” His lopsided smile reveals he has one dimple on his left side. “I want to kill him at least ten times a day, but that’s what it’s like being in a pack. Packs are even closer than family, and when we bond to an omega that’ll only strengthen us.”
I shift on the spot, the topic of bonding making me hot under the collar.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean…” His back teeth crash together loud enough for me to hear. “We’re not putting any pressure on you, Faye.”
“I know.” I look out the window, avoiding his gaze. “I just don’t know how I’ll fit into your pack.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and his cedar scent engulfs me, making me feel like I’m being cuddled by a thousand trees.
Since childhood, I’ve loved roaming around the forest close to Gram’s shop.
His smell reminds me of home, making me feel safe but also homesick at the same time.
Everything has changed in such a short time.
To my surprise, my eyes fill with tears.
“You don’t have to hide any part of yourself from me, or any of us.
” His sexy, silky voice wraps around me like a snug blanket.
“And you never, ever have to worry about fitting in with us. You’re our scent match.
You complete us. We’re in this for the long haul, and we all want to get to know you better. ”
“Well, maybe not all of you.”
“Damon’s complicated.” Cole exhales loudly, instantly knowing who I’m referring to.
“He’s made mistakes in his past that he’s afraid of repeating.
Mistakes that have made him question whether pack life is for him.
But he’s one of us. I’ll never abandon him.
And regardless of how he’s acting right now, I know he feels drawn to you too.
But we’ll wait until you’re ready, however long it takes. If you want us to slow down, we can.”
“You’re being so nice.”
He arches an eyebrow. “You say that like you’re surprised.”
“You’re not what I expected alphas to be like, that’s all. My past experience with packs has been ... bad.”
“Did someone hurt you?” A storm cloud has descended over his features, and his voice has a deeper, aggressive edge.
One look tells me he’s ready to put a hit out on them.
“Yes, but—”
“Who?” he growls. “I have my father’s connections. I’ll make sure whoever it is—”
“They didn’t hurt me in the way you’re thinking. Well, not directly anyway.” I hurry to explain. “An alpha pack passing through town killed my parents. They’re in jail now, but until now, I guess I’ve always had that in the back of my mind when I thought about packs.”
“Those men—no, those monsters—are not alphas.” He takes one of my hands into his giant palms and holds it tenderly.
His stare softens. “We will show you how real alphas act. We’re biologically predisposed to care for and protect you, Faye.
Nothing will ever be more important to us than your happiness, so you have our hearts in your hands.
If you need anything, any time, no matter how small, we will be there. ”
I bat my eyelashes. “Even for a late ice cream run?”
“Yes.” A deep laugh rumbles through him. “Even that.”
“Hey, lovebirds!” Laz calls up the stairs. “Pizza’s ready!”
I get up to go, but Cole hangs back.
“There’s just one more thing before we go.” He hands me a small fabric patch with the Silverwood Pack’s wolf head on it. “Something for you to keep with you wherever you go. I noticed your dresses are hand-sewn, so I thought you may be able to attach it to something, or just hang onto it.”
“You’ve already given me so many gifts.”
“And we’ll give you many more if you let us,” Cole promises. “Buying their omega gifts is an alpha’s favorite thing to do. Plus, we can more than afford it. My father may be a terrible person, but he gave me a trust fund with more than enough to ensure we’ll always be comfortable.”
“Well, thank you.” I tuck the patch into the hidden pocket in my dress. “I love it. I just don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”
“You don’t have to,” he cups my cheek. “Just enjoy it, okay? We’ve been waiting a long time for you.”
“I’ll put pineapple on your pizza if you don’t come down in a minute, Cole,” Laz threatens.
“We better go,” Cole shudders. “I can’t stand fruit on my pizza.”
Out in the garden, Ren is just pulling my pizza out of the oven, covered with all my favorite toppings that I picked out with Laz at the store.
“The next one is for you, Cole,” Laz grins, showing him the pizza.
I snort when I see it. Laz has artfully arranged mushrooms, pepperoni and various vegetables to create a stick person to resemble Cole.
“Corn?” Cole narrows his eyes at the three little pieces between the legs of the topping man. “Really?”
“Don’t worry, Faye.” Laz winks. “Cole’s knot is a little bigger than that. Maybe I should have used a button mushroom instead? That’s truer to size.”
Cole growls, his sneer fading at my giggling as he pulls me down to sit on his lap. From what I can feel underneath me, I’m pretty sure that Cole’s sporting a lot more than a button mushroom.
Ren brings me another lemonade as the sun sets behind him. Although we’re in a busy neighborhood, it’s surprisingly quiet, and the high fences between properties mean there’s no chance of being watched.
Spending time with three of my alphas today has been amazing and has brought us all closer together, but I can’t help but feel like something is missing.
The heavy metal music still blaring from the basement only serves as a bitter reminder that Damon should be here too. He can’t avoid me forever, can he?