Chapter 13
13
Cole
C ole couldn’t stop his worry for Kai from dominating his mind as he prepped a simple meal of soup and sandwiches for lunch. He could scarcely believe Kai even volunteered to go, but the idea of exposing Kai to a situation Cole knew would frighten Kai dimmed his joy at being able to attend the inaugural summit with his pack. The others would definitely be able to pick up Kai’s distinct fragrance. Even remaining in the lodge wouldn’t prevent them from scenting Kai’s presence. He would need Nick and Thayne’s help protecting Kai. They were the only ones who knew about Kai’s true nature aside from his parents.
Neither of them spoke much during lunch. Cole wondered if Kai regretted his decision to go, but he didn’t ask the question, letting it hang in the air between them. The afternoon went by fast afterward. Cole gave Kai his next guitar lesson before putting in a movie for the two of them to watch. After it ended, Cole made Kai a quick dinner and then put on his shoes and grabbed his keys and wallet. “Will you be all right on your own for a little while?”
“I’ll be fine,” Kai promised. “If it’s okay, can I use your computer again?”
“You don’t need to ask. This is your home too, kit.”
“It’s still your room.”
Cole waved away his concerns. “Feel free to use the computer whenever you want, as much as you want.”
“Thank you,” Kai murmured.
“No worries, kit. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
More than anything he wanted to have the right to kiss and hug Kai, but he restrained himself and patted Kai on the shoulder before leaving. The sun dipped below the horizon as Cole climbed into his truck, started the engine, and backed out of the driveway. He was uneasy leaving Kai alone, but he prayed to whatever ancestors he might have to watch over his mate while he tended to business.
There were already several other vehicles at the pack house when Cole arrived. He recognized Howard’s red Ford F-150 and Wilson’s black Dodge Charger. They were his father’s trusted Betas. Cole had known them since he’d been born, and both men were like family to him.
“Hello, Cole” came from his left, and Cole turned to see Nick standing there, hand entwined with Thayne’s. They hadn’t exactly parted on the best of terms the other day, despite Cole’s apology for being such an ass.
“Nick, it’s good to see you.” Cole meant it. “Hey, Thayne.”
Thayne offered his hand to Cole in greeting. “Cole.”
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Nick said.
“I’ll be attending the summit,” Cole replied, watching Nick to gauge his friend’s reaction. Surprise registered on Nick’s face. “Kai agreed to go.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Mom came by earlier today, and Kai volunteered to go. Except he’ll be staying in the lodge for the duration.”
“I’m happy for you, Cole,” Nick replied.
Cole sighed. “I worry for him and his safety while we are there.”
Nick frowned. “Why? You’ll be there to protect him.”
“Yes, I’ll be there, but there will most likely be times I can’t be with him. There’s no chance someone will not pick up his scent, especially since we aren’t mated.”
“Are you sure it’s wise to go, then?” Thayne asked. “Someone may challenge you for the right to mate with him or even challenge your right to lead this pack someday. They’ll think you’re weak for not being able to claim your mate.”
Cole let out a fierce growl. “Let them challenge me. I’ll take down anyone who dares to think they can.”
Nick reached up and slapped Thayne on the shoulder. “Why the hell did you have to say that?”
“Because it’s a reality!” Thayne protested. “The pack will see it as a failing on his part if he can’t claim his mate.”
Cole’s vision shifted, and he blinked heavily, took a deep breath, and struggled to keep his wolf under control. “My pack mates would never believe such a thing. You must be speaking of your former pack and what they will assume of me. Do not underestimate my desire to claim Kai. They live under old laws, outdated ideas. Not giving in to my wolf and marking Kai as mine is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and takes more strength than anything I’ve ever withstood. Created Ones included.”
Thayne flinched at the stress Cole placed on the word former . He clenched his hands at his sides. “I did not mean to insult you. I merely meant to give you warning of what may happen if they were to find out your situation.”
Snarling, Cole tossed his head, sending several strands of auburn hair across his forehead. “They can try, but know this, anyone who dares to challenge me for Kai or the right to lead this pack will die.”
Thayne blanched at the sheer power rolling off of Cole. He struggled to remain on his feet.
“Cole!” Nick grunted, also having trouble staying upright.
Cole closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to calm himself. The idea of anyone trying to take Kai away from him caused his entire being to vibrate with rage. After several moments, he regained control and reined in his instinctual need to tear someone’s throat out. “Sorry,” he muttered.
Nick wiped at the sweat on his forehead, his hand shaking a bit. “We just want to help, Cole. Thayne didn’t mean anything by it.”
Thayne swallowed visibly. “I’m sorry, Cole.”
Heaving a sigh, Cole hung his head in shame. “No, I’m sorry. The whole situation has me and my wolf on edge. It’s not an excuse for what I did, though.”
Nick moved closer and set his hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Believe me, I understand.”
Cole reached up and set his hand on Nick’s, squeezing in thanks before letting go. He straightened up and lifted his head higher. “I know I don’t have the right after being an ass yesterday, but I wanted to ask you both to help me watch over him while we’re at the summit.”
“Of course!” Nick exclaimed. “No matter what, I’m still your friend and will stand by you.”
Relief washed over Cole. “Thank you.”
Thayne gave Cole a brief nod. “We’ll be there for you.”
“I’m more grateful than you can know.” Cole looked up at the house. “Let’s get in there, I guess.”
The three of them entered the pack house and headed to the back deck. At least half of the pack stood outside, looking at Cole’s father, waiting to hear what was expected of them at the summit. Cole joined his mother off to the side while Nick and Thayne trotted down the deck stairs to be with the others.
“Everyone knows why we’re here,” Elijah began. “Next week we will travel to Bear River Lodge in Kamas, Utah. We have reserved most of the available property, but some of you will have to bunk together in order to accommodate everyone attending the summit. Sara has put together an assignment list for each of you to make it easier. You will be able to shift and run as you wish, but still, remain alert to the possibility of humans in the area.”
He paused for a breath. “The Senaka pack will be extremely skittish at first. Until Thayne’s brother met our previous pack mate Seth Davies, they believed they were the only true-born wolves. We are meeting on neutral territory to try to reduce the aggression they might feel. I expect every single one of you to do your best to set their minds at ease. There will be no tolerance for fighting, posturing, or signs of aggression from anyone attending. Is there anything unclear about those rules?”
Everyone nodded almost in unison.
“If someone should happen to find their mate this time around, approach the situation with care. Your true mate may not be as receptive right away as you are.”
Sara stepped forward to take Elijah’s hand. “We must remember the purpose of this summit is about opening more doors to finding our other halves as well as building the foundation of peace and trust between us and the Senaka pack.”
There were a number of murmurs among the members, but Cole sensed they were all good things. Until one person asked, “Are the rumors true? Has Cole found his mate?”
Cole started in surprise. The only ones who’d known about Kai were his parents, Nick, Thayne, and Julie. How had anyone found out? His father turned toward him with a question in his eyes. Cole took a deep breath and moved to his father’s side. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Where are they? Why haven’t we met them?” another pack member shouted from the crowd.
“My mate has been through a lot in a short number of years. He is still recovering from a traumatic experience. One day I will present him to you.” Cole hoped he told the truth about introducing Kai to everyone.
“Why can’t we meet him now?”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Are you still attending the summit?”
Questions came from several directions. Cole held up a hand. “I know you’re all curious, but I ask you, please respect my request for privacy for now. When the time is right, I will bring him in front of the pack. Yes, I will be at the summit.”
Cole could see a number of the others were skeptical, while some radiated disappointment. He knew the pack didn’t understand. All he could do was pray to the ancestors he would be able to give them what they wanted sooner rather than later.
His father spoke up once more. “Please see Sara before you leave in order to get your airline ticket. If anyone has to change their flight time or cannot go, make sure you let Sara or myself know.”
The crowd dispersed, some heading immediately inside to meet Sara and others milling around the yard talking among themselves. Cole glanced at his watch anxiously. He’d been away from Kai for over an hour, and it felt wrong. “I need to go,” he told his father.
“Go. Take care of your mate. The pack can wait to meet him until he’s ready.”
Cole hugged his father tightly. “I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, son. Now go on. Meet us here Friday morning at ten.”
“We’ll be here,” he replied before hurrying into and through the house and out the front door to his vehicle, wishing he could be sure once and for all that Kai wouldn’t run.
The trip home seemed interminable, and he couldn’t stop the sigh he let out when he turned his truck into the driveway. He caught sight of Kai peeking out of the front window as he shut off the engine. A smile edged its way over Cole’s lips at seeing his mate waiting for him. Cole jumped out of the truck, shut the door, and rushed into the house. Kai had sat down on the couch by then, but Cole couldn’t resist the urge to scoop Kai up and into his arms. “I missed you,” he murmured into Kai’s dark locks.
His heart tripped a beat when Kai returned the embrace. “Did everything go okay?” Kai asked once Cole released him.
“Everything went fine. We will meet my parents at their home Friday morning and fly out shortly after.”
Cole sensed Kai’s instant fear, and he frowned. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, kit?”
Kai nodded. “I can do it.”
“Okay. I won’t ask again, but promise me the second you’re uncomfortable, you’ll let me know.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Now, let’s get some dinner going, okay?”
T he days leading up to the summit were spent wholly with Kai. Cole made it a point to start telling Kai about the pack members and showing him pictures to ease his transition into meeting everyone. He also told Kai more about himself, dying to ask questions about Kai as well, but he knew he needed to be patient and wait for Kai to trust him enough to tell him about his past. Someday Kai would tell him everything.
Kai’s new clothing arrived two days after it was ordered, and Cole couldn’t help but smile when Kai tried to hide his excitement. He knew Kai still felt bad Cole had spent money on him, and he guessed Kai didn’t want to appear too eager because of it. The clothing was a little loose on Kai, but Cole had ordered a size bigger to accommodate Kai gaining weight. Pride at being able to provide for Kai made him more hopeful things would work out over time.
They continued the guitar lessons, but Cole had the notion Kai would prefer art supplies and bought several things from Amazon: colored pencils, charcoal, a sketchpad, paints, brushes, and a couple of small canvases. He couldn’t wait to give them to Kai. They would arrive while they were gone to the summit, unfortunately, but Cole could surprise Kai with them when they got home.
Kai’s wariness of him seemed to be dying away, and he no longer jumped out of his skin whenever Cole touched him or entered the room. Kai’s expression would light up whenever he saw Cole, and Cole hoped it meant their bond was growing stronger with each moment they spent together. Every day found Cole more and more reluctant to let Kai disappear into his room each night alone. He wanted to wake up with Kai in his arms, see Kai’s face on the pillow next to his, and know without a doubt Kai would never leave him.
Cole found it difficult to sleep the night before they were due to leave for the summit. He eventually gave up around four in the morning and got out of bed. He listened for Kai’s heartbeat and found the steady rhythm he knew better than his own by now. After stuffing his feet into a pair of beat-up sneakers, Cole slid on a T-shirt and left his room.
The rest of the house remained silent as he let himself out the back door. He made the short walk to his first greenhouse by the last sliver of the waning moon. Maybe the soil would calm his nerves about the summit and Kai being there. He flicked on the lights as he entered before breathing in deep. The fresh, overturned soil around newly planted vegetables tickled his nostrils, and Cole smiled. Even after all this time, he still enjoyed the scent. It humbled him and reminded him of what he did for his pack and the local businesses.
Organic veggies and fruit grown without chemicals were becoming more popular. Still, many foods were treated, injected, or made with some sort of substance that made people sick, fat, or unhealthy overall. Cole tried his best not to ingest anything he didn’t grow himself.
Grabbing a small trowel, Cole made his way over to one of the half-planted soil beds and, after checking what Julie had already started planting there, began to dig several evenly spaced holes, in which he planted seeds. Light had started to fill the sky when Cole unwrapped the hose from the wall and turned on the faucet. He sprayed a light mist over the area until the soil darkened and grew damp. He didn’t want to overwater them as that would ruin the freshly sown seeds.
The sound of the greenhouse door creaking open surprised Cole. He turned and found Kai standing inside. “Hey, kit. It’s a little early to be out of bed.”
Kai shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep anymore.”
Cole smiled. “Neither could I. Nervous about the summit?”
Kai looked away from Cole. “A little.”
Cole turned off the hose and wrapped it around its rack. “Just remember I’ll be there, kit. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
He saw Kai nibbling at his bottom lip and approached him. “Do you trust me, Kai?”
Without hesitation Kai nodded.
“Then trust I will protect you, and my parents will too. No one there will hurt you.”
Kai fingered the leaf of a still-growing tomato plant. “Okay,” he murmured.
“Let’s go get dressed and eat something. We have to be at my parents’ place by ten.”
Cole turned off the lights on their way out. They wouldn’t be needed during the day, and Julie and the others would be there soon to start their shift.
When the two of them entered the house, Cole went to his room while Kai headed to his. They met in the kitchen about forty minutes later, fresh from showers and ready to head out after eating. It was just after nine thirty when they placed the bags they’d packed the night before into the bed of Cole’s truck and climbed into the front seat. Kai sat huddled as close to the door as possible, looking terrified out of his mind. Cole didn’t know if his mate could handle this as well as he’d said he could. “One last chance to back out, kit,” Cole said quietly.
The only noises in the cab were those of the wheels on the asphalt and their combined breathing. Cole heard the audible sound of Kai swallowing, hard. “No.”
Tightening his hands on the wheel, Cole wished with all his heart he could take away whatever in his past made Kai afraid of everything. He still didn’t know the truth of Kai’s history, but he had a feeling when Kai did finally open up to him, he would want to find the person or persons who had done Kai wrong and rip them into bloody pieces.
He reached out and grabbed Kai’s hand, pressing it to his right thigh and holding on tight. “Whatever you need, tell me. Okay? I’ll make it happen, no matter what.”
Kai gave his hand a slight squeeze in response.
They arrived at the pack house a little before ten. Cole’s mother stood on the front porch, waiting for them. She smiled the instant Cole pulled into the driveway, but she remained standing at the top of the steps as if she knew Kai would need space and didn’t want to crowd him. Cole released Kai’s hand and opened his door. “Ready?”
Kai took a visible breath and reached for his own door handle. They met in front of the truck, and Kai immediately took Cole’s hand again, much to Cole’s surprise. As they approached the porch, he saw his mother’s gaze flick downward and then away, a small smile teasing her lips.
“Hello, Kai. How are you?”
“Okay, I guess,” Kai said.
She reached out to touch his cheek. “Everything will be all right.”
“Where’s Dad?” Cole asked.
“He’s on the phone with Howard, going over some last-minute instructions.”
“They aren’t flying with us?” Cole frowned.
“No. Your father figured it would be best if we traveled with just the four of us. They’ll join us tomorrow with everyone else.”
Before Cole could respond, his father came out of the screen door. He came forward and stopped next to Sara. “Hello, Kai,” he greeted gently.
Kai moved closer to Cole and managed a nod in return. “Kai, this is my father, Elijah Ferris. Dad, this is Kai, my true mate.”
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you. Cole tells me you can draw.”
Kai shrugged. “A little.”
“ Pfft ,” Cole scoffed. “More than a little, kit. You’re beyond talented.”
Flushing, Kai looked at the ground.
“Oh stop, you’re embarrassing him,” Sara chided. “Let’s get your bags into the car and we’ll head to the airport. Gives us time to get a coffee and talk.”
“Sure thing, Mom.” Cole tried to step away from Kai, but Kai refused to let go and remained glued to his arm while he grabbed the bags from the bed of the truck. He brought them over to his father’s SUV and tossed them into the cargo area. He helped Kai into the back seat and slid in beside him.
Kai stared around in awe at the inside of the vehicle. “It’s my dad’s pride and joy,” Cole said. “He got it less than a year ago and is still demanding people take off their shoes to ride in her.”
With a squeak, Kai bent to remove his shoes, and Cole chuckled out loud and stopped Kai. “I was teasing, kit.”
“Don’t let him fool you, Kai,” Sara interjected from the front seat. “My husband is most assuredly protective of his girl, but you don’t have to remove your sneakers.”
Kai gave Cole an exasperated look. “You’re mean.”
Laughing again, Cole replied, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously.”
It warmed Cole’s heart to see Kai open up at least a little with his parents around. Kai rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest in an adorable pout. “How would I know you were kidding?”
“Because he didn’t take off his before he got in the car,” Elijah answered.
Cole slid closer to Kai and put his arm over the back of the seat behind Kai. “You mad at me, kit?”
Kai looked at Cole for a moment from the corner of his eye and then dropped his pout. “No.”
Cole chatted with his parents the remainder of the trip to the airport while Kai stayed quiet. The closer to the airport they got, the more edgy Kai became, leaving him twisting his hands together in his lap. Setting his hands on top of Kai’s, Cole leaned in and whispered, “Relax, kit. I’ll be by your side the entire time.”
Kai gave a wan smile and turned his hand upward to link fingers with Cole. “I don’t mean to be such a pain.”
“You aren’t. Someday you’ll feel comfortable enough to tell me what happened to you, but until then we’ll take it one step at a time.” Cole squeezed Kai’s hand in comfort.
Ten minutes later they arrived at the airport in Redwood City, and after his father located a spot in the parking lot for private charters, they headed inside. It was a lot calmer than the commercial airport, and only a few others were waiting for their own flights. Cole led Kai to a seat and urged him down into it.
“Can I get you anything? Chips or a drink?” Cole asked.
Kai shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
Cole didn’t press the issue even though Kai still needed to add on several pounds to be at a healthy weight. He figured nerves kept Kai from being interested in food. “We’ll get you something when we get to Utah,” Cole said.
Elijah checked in with the desk and then guided Sara to seats near Cole and Kai. Cole casually chatted with his parents while keeping an arm around Kai. A couple of people looked at them with distaste, which Cole ignored, not caring what strangers thought of him or his holding on to Kai. When a man finally came to advise them they were ready to board, Kai tensed again, and Cole squeezed Kai’s shoulders in a reassuring manner and stood, holding his hand out to Kai who took it right away.
A few moments later, they were buckled into their seats. Cole had urged Kai to the window seat, so he could be on the outside to offer a shield of sorts to his mate. The flight to Utah passed without incident, though Kai did remain on edge throughout the entire time. They landed in Salt Lake City where they rented a car to drive the remaining 120 miles to Bear Lake Lodges. Kai fell asleep on the hour and a half drive, slumping into Cole’s side at one point, resting his head on Cole’s shoulder.
When Bear Lake came into view, Cole took note of the awe-inspiring view, his keen senses picking up the multiple scents of prey in the area, the clean smell of fresh water, and the tall grasses nearby. “Wow, great choice here, Dad.”
“Thanks, son. I came here once a couple decades ago and thought it might be a great place for this. Neutral territory and lots of space between the rentals. I figured it best to do this in the off-season and to rent out as many of the lodges as possible. There might be a stray human or two, which means we will still need to be careful, but I think we’ll be fine overall.”
After a quick stop for his father to check in at the gatehouse and grab the keys, they continued toward the lodges. They pulled up in front of a sprawling two-story cabin, the fa?ade fashioned from logs with tree bark for the trim. Trees surrounded the property, but there was plenty of open space for the younger pups to play in.
“Where are Kai and I staying?” Cole asked.
“There’s a small place up the hill behind the lodge. This is where our pack will be staying, and about half a mile to the west, there’s another large cabin the Senaka pack will reside in.”
His father put the rental in Park in front of the house while Cole gently shook Kai’s shoulder. “Time to wake up, kit.” Kai muttered and burrowed his face harder against Cole’s arm. Cole chuckled and tried again, cupping Kai’s cheek with his other hand. “Come on, baby. Open your eyes. You can rest in our cabin, okay?”
Kai snuffled and then opened his eyes, peering at Cole for a second in confusion. Cole wished the innocent expression would remain on Kai’s features, but it faded away and remembrance set in, along with trepidation. “Sorry,” Kai murmured and sat up, rubbing at his eyes to clear the sleep out of them.
“No worries,” Cole replied. “Let’s get our stuff together and we’ll head up to our place and get settled in. Tonight we’ll have dinner with my parents and tomorrow we’ll be on our own.”
“Okay.”
They got out of the rental and grabbed their bags from the back. Cole took the key from his father and headed in the direction of the smaller cabin. Kai followed behind at a slower pace. Their cabin had three rooms: a bedroom with a decent- sized bathroom, a kitchenette, and a small living area. A huge king-size bed dominated the bedroom. “There’s only one bed,” Kai whispered.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Cole said while placing Kai’s suitcase on the bed. “It’ll be fine.”
Skeptically, Kai peered into the living room at the barely love-seat-sized couch. “You’re too tall and won’t fit.”
“I will in my wolf form,” Cole replied easily. “Do you want to take a shower while I unpack?”
“I can put my stuff away.”
“I’ll do it. Try to relax for a bit. We’ll head over to the other lodge in a couple hours for dinner.”
Kai shook his head. “I’d rather be doing something than just sitting.”
Cole wanted to insist but held his tongue. He didn’t want to crowd Kai’s need for independence. He could sense Kai’s nervousness, and he figured if something as simple as putting his own clothing away gave Kai even a small slice of peace, Cole didn’t want to argue. “Sure, kit.”
They worked in tandem in silence. Cole took the top two drawers in the dresser for his underwear, socks, and tanks. The jeans went into the second drawer, and he hung his shirts in the closet. Kai took longer, but Cole didn’t rush him. He sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard, watching Kai slowly fold a few items for the dresser. “When we get home, we’ll have to see about getting you some more clothes. The new stuff is great, but I think you could use some more jeans and maybe some shorts for the hotter weather.”
“What? No. I’m fine. I don’t need anything else.”
Cole snorted. “You scarcely have enough to get through a few days without needing to do laundry.”
“I-I don’t want you to keep buying me things.”
“You still don’t understand, do you?” Cole replied and stood from the bed to approach Kai. He set his hands on Kai’s shoulders. “You’re my mate.”
“But—”
“You’re my mate. It means I take care of you. No matter what you need, I will get it for you.”
“I feel as though I have nothing to give you in return.”
Cole smiled and brushed a light kiss over Kai’s head. “You have no idea how much you’ve given me already.”
“What have I given you?” Kai asked. “I’ve hurt you more than once. You almost disappointed your parents because of me. I don’t see how I could possibly have given you anything.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to see. Just know when I tell you something, I mean it.”
Kai still appeared skeptical, but he gave a small nod. “Okay.”
“Good. Now, let’s take a look around the rest of this place and then head over to dinner with my parents.”
They took their time checking out the cabin before following the same path back to where the rest of the pack would be staying. His father already had the grill fired up and had steaks ready to go on for a minor searing. Cole grabbed a soda for Kai and a beer for himself. Sara led Kai away from the two of them to help her set the table. While keeping an eye on Kai, Cole asked his father, “I would assume the Alpha of the Senaka pack is attending as well?”
“Jeremiah, yes. He’ll be here with his mate, his son Kasey, whom you’ve met, and of course, Seth.”
Seth, their former pack Rho, had mated the Alpha-to-be, Kasey Whitedove. They’d had a tumultuous mating as well. Kasey had been extremely prejudiced against white men and didn’t believe Seth could be his mate. Kasey almost lost Seth when a crazed wolf from Seth’s past had kidnapped him, determined to never let him go. Thankfully, Kasey rescued Seth at the last moment and came to his senses about their mating.
Cole had met Kasey and trusted his instincts that Kasey was a good man. Even though Cole hadn’t grown up with Seth because of Seth’s parents moving around all over the country, he still felt responsible for him as another member of his pack. Kasey had proven to be a great mate since their brush with tragedy, and Cole was thankful Seth had found an honorable man like Kasey.
“You think his father regrets exiling Thayne?” Cole asked.
Elijah sighed. “What man wouldn’t regret having to hurt his son in such a way? As a father I can’t fathom doing something so gut-wrenching, but as an Alpha, I can understand why he did it. To show weakness in any form leaves his position open to challengers who intend great harm to the pack. If he lost, the pack would suffer exponentially.”
Staring at the horizon where the sun hung low over the trees, Cole took a sip of his beer. “I don’t know if I would have the strength to do something so painful to my own son. To choose the pack over blood… seems harsh and heartless.”
Elijah flipped a couple of the steaks. “As Alpha you have to make the hard decisions, to do what’s right for the many, not the few. Even if it means hurting someone you love.”
“Would you have chosen the pack over me or even Mom?”
“I know I love you and your mother with all my heart. The idea of choosing the pack over her or you seems unfathomable. Sara is my true mate. You are my only son. I wouldn’t want to give up either of you for the world. I would most likely choose to step down and allow you to take over.”
“You’d give up being Alpha?” Cole asked, shocked.
“If it’s the best path I could take for the good of the pack and my family.”
“Do you judge Jeremiah harshly for doing what he did?”
“No. He did what he felt best for his people. Thayne broke their laws, and if he hadn’t upheld the law, they would have lost faith in him as their Alpha, which leads to unrest and possibly further problems among the pack.”
“I see,” Cole murmured.
“See what?” Sara asked, walking up to slide her arm through Cole’s.
“Just discussing some pack stuff,” Elijah answered.
She seemed to take the hint in Elijah’s words and didn’t press for more details. “The table is all set.”
Cole glanced around for Kai and frowned when he didn’t see him. “Where’s Kai?”
“He went to use the restroom, baby. Try not to worry. Nothing is going to happen to him here.”
The idea of possibly dozens of unmated shifters around his mate set his teeth on edge already. Not having Kai in sight at all times only increased his agitation. “I think I’ll go check on him.”
“Really, he’s fine,” Sara chided, but Cole ignored her and headed inside anyway.