Chapter 24
Cole
Phones.
If I heard another freaking phone ring, I was going to smash mine and all those in the hands of anyone I could get in contact with.
I finally opened my eyes, wincing in seeing the morning light. Almost instantly, I was reminded we were headed back to reality.
Back to dealing with the grindstone.
Yet a familiar, delicious fragrance filtered into my nostrils, the scent of the beautiful female lying in my bed.
My mate.
Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?
I laughed as the line slithered into my mind, said in character by some gruesome werewolf of course. After how hard I’d ravaged Chelsea’s body the night before, she might be worried I was more of a cartoon character than a man.
Yawning, I stretched, ignoring the blip indicating a text, or maybe I’d turned on notifications on social media. I couldn’t remember and honestly, at this point I just didn’t care.
What I did care about was the woman sleeping in my bed. Okay, not technically my bed as we were still at the bed and breakfast, but since I’d never spent a night with any other woman, this was a pretty damn big deal.
She was still sleeping, her long hair splayed out across her pillow. Reaching over, I brushed hair from her face, ignoring my aching cock while longing to tease her.
My phone chimed again and this time, I grabbed it, ready to burn someone a new asshole.
Ford: Meet me outside.
What? Was he kidding me?
Me: Not a chance in hell. Go away.
Ford: Brother, you need to come outside and by yourself.
A strange cold chill drifted down my spine. He obviously knew I was with Chelsea. What could be so frigging important?
I didn’t bother answering at this point. He’d better be quick since we had to leave in a couple of hours and I had no intention of doing so without taking a long, hot shower and not alone.
Chelsea rolled over when I eased from the bed, the sheet falling all the way to her waist. I resisted touching her, but man, was it tough to be a good boy.
I grabbed my jeans, struggling into them and without combing my hair or brushing my teeth headed to the door. Even as I threw it open, I stretched and yawned. It was funny how a couple of rounds of hot sex and a long, sex-filled night’s sleep could do a body good.
Ford was pacing, stopping just long enough to toss me a glare like I’d never seen on him before.
“Jesus, brother. What time is it?” I closed the door behind me, fighting the sleepiness as I walked closer. The air was fucking chilly yet I was burning up, my body temperature raised with her remaining so near. I gripped my forearm, wincing from the early morning light coming over the horizon.
“Yeah, well, I was hoping to get here before the press crashed down on this place.”
“They know we’re here?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Crap. We shouldn’t have teased them about being married.”
He tossed me a look but continued to pace. What the hell was going on? “I think there’s more to it than that.”
I took a deep breath, trying to shove the fog from my mind. “So the old lady at the desk talked? Is that what this is about?”
“Well, someone did. Hell, maybe that… girlfriend of yours. She certainly had a solid plan in mind. That’s for certain.”
“Whoa. Whoa. What the fuck are you insinuating?” I was awake now.
“I guess you’ve been too busy fucking to pay any attention to social media.”
Now I was extremely angry, taking a couple of steps toward him and even fisting my hand before realizing what I was doing.
He reared back, more surprised at my response than concerned about my reaction. “Well, shit. She really is your damn mate.”
“Yes. Maybe. Hell if I know for sure, but I do know you have no right to insinuate anything without proof.”
He carefully placed his hands on his hips and hung his head. “You’re right, but I’m your big brother and trying to look out for you.”
Now what the hell was I supposed to say?
“Let’s just start over, man. I’m exhausted while enjoying myself for the first time. If you’ve got something to say, just do it.”
My brother wasn’t usually one to mince words. That’s why we’d gotten into arguments as kids. Mr. Know-it-all assumed he was great at everything. He pulled out his phone, using his thumbs to search for something. “I want to see you happy, bro. You should know that.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at. Honestly, I don’t care if the press thinks we’re married. Maybe that’s just fine by me. Who knows. That might happen in a few weeks or months.”
He took a couple of seconds to lift his chin, eyes flicking across my face. “That’s not the issue. At least not personally. But she’s not who she pretends to be.”
I took another step closer, angrier than I’d ever been in my life. So much so it was difficult to breathe. “I’m only going to tell you this once, brother. You’d better have something to back that up or get the fuck out of my face. And my life.”
Ford knew I meant what I’d said, the realization I’d choose her over my blood shocking. Another indication she was my mate. We’d die to protect what belonged to us. Well, fuck. How did things get so out of hand so quickly?
He said nothing, merely handing me his phone. What I saw were pictures of us a few assholes had cobbled together. The captions were wild.
The Hottest Player in the AHL is Off the Market
Cole ‘the Rebel’ Kendrick has been Officially Tamed
And my personal favorite.
Can Chelsea Black Handle the Beast?
“So the fuck what?” I threw out, trying to hand him back the phone. “You dealt with worse. We’re adults and we did egg them on. Kinda fun if you ask me.”
“Keep looking, little brother. You were upset last night about the sale of the mill and maybe the house. My house is affected too, you know. If the company has their way, they’ll force every family of shifters out of North Bend.
Dad wasn’t telling you everything. He was trying to protect you. To protect all of us.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“There’s legislation being worked on under the table, laws being written to help with data centers.
Since so many are being built in rural areas where shifters have made their homes, they’ve come up with a crazy way of terminating ownership.
I don’t know all the details, but it’s legit and unless everyone within the purchase area agrees to sell, evidently all the land including the properties surrounding the proposed site will be taken. ”
“That’s not possible.”
“Yeah, well. You fucking forget we’re still considered second class citizens.” His tone was bitter, full of rage.
How could I blame him? Forget fighting for our ability to play sports. The fight was more about our entire lives, our pasts, and the futures. About being able to make choices for ourselves, something my father had fought for.
“What does this have to do with Chelsea?” I finally asked.
His sigh was deep, rattled, and full of pain. For me. “Keep scrolling.”
So I did.
When I’d read two different articles, both damning, I realized I no longer felt anything. How could she do this? How could she pretend to care? I lifted my head, haunted by the emptiness.
Ford nodded. “I’m sorry, man.”
“What does this mean?” The question was pointless. I knew what it meant. Everything we’d grown up with, all the incredible experiences in so many incredible places would become nothing but memories.
“The company is merciless,” he continued. “They couldn’t care less about the people working at the companies they absorb. There are hints of corruption all over the place, but the owner has too many connections, powerful friends willing to do whatever to protect him.”
When the reality of what was really going on settled in, the fury was instant, but also cooled immediately as every emotion vanished. Every desire. Every thought about the future. Every need.
Gone.
He waited for my reaction and when I simply handed him back the phone, he squinted. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Just… fine. I need to take care of something. Is there any way you can arrange for a ride for Chelsea? I’m going to hang around a little while before heading back.”
“Yeah, I’ll make sure that happens. I’m sorry, Cole. I really am. It was so good to finally see you happy.”
“You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“She mentioned I should consider buying the mill from Dad. I knew there was no way I could do so alone so I’d contemplated talking to you and Beck about buying it together.
Maybe even Samantha if she wanted. Then we’d just hire a couple more people.
Mom and Dad could travel like they always wanted.
Yeah, we’d need to purchase the other parcels including the rink, but given what was being offered, I thought maybe it was possible. Isn’t that fucking ridiculous?”
He shook his head. “Not ridiculous at all. You were always the glue for the family. You adored the mill even as a little kid.”
“And see where it got me.”
“I get it, bro. You should try and hurry. I’ll hang around in case the press arrives, but I can guarantee someone from the local news will want their fifteen minutes of fame.”
This was the way it would always be. I’d never be able to live a normal life.
There was nothing else to say, no words that would provide any comfort. Just the truth, as ugly as it was.
My reaction was still mixed, every move lethargic and why? Because I’d never felt so betrayed in my life. Not from anyone, including a couple of friends who’d once they’d learned I was a shifter had done everything to try to destroy my career. This cut was far deeper.
She was no longer in bed. I found her outside on the small deck, staring at the morning sky. And she was in my tee shirt.
With my heart aching, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand before walking to the door, easily finding a similar headline as Ford had shown me.
I stood watching her for a couple of minutes, uncertain what to say.
As soon as I walked outside, she took a deep breath and every inch of her body was instantly covered in goosebumps. That’s how strong our connection was.