Chapter 15
15
Cole
“ I ’m fine,” Kai murmured to Cole. The unease radiating from Kai set Cole’s wolf on high alert. He kept his arm around Kai while eating with his other hand and only half paying attention to the conversation.
While Cole knew the other two would never do anything to his mate, he still felt edgy around Maddox and Travis since they were unmated and he hadn’t claimed Kai yet. Throw in Kai’s nervousness, and he couldn’t help but feel as though his wolf could take control at any moment, if only to protect Kai.
He couldn’t be prouder of Kai for what he knew had been a huge step for his mate. In fact, Kai had taken more than one step outside of his comfort zone. Telling Cole about his uncle and his past couldn’t have been easy for Kai. When they returned home, he’d find out what had happened to the prick. Though he didn’t know how he would since he had very little information to go on, but he’d figure it out.
When they’d finished eating, Cole stood and drew Kai from the bench with him. “I think we should return to our cabin now. Kai needs to rest.”
“I’m fine,” Kai protested.
Cole ignored him. “Thank you for breakfast, Mom. I’ll see you all later.”
“Of course, sweetie. Try to get some sleep, Kai.”
“I’m so happy to have met you, Kai,” Maggie said. “I look forward to chatting with you again soon.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Kai murmured.
Cole led Kai away from the big cabin and up the hill to theirs. He didn’t speak until they were inside. “I’m sorry, kit. Having you around two unmated males is a bit more than my wolf can handle. If we’d remained and they’d made any moves toward you, innocuous or not, I am not sure I could have stopped from shifting and trying to hurt them.”
Kai stared at him, eyes wide.
“I really wish you understood, kit.” Cole ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He wanted to claim Kai more than anything, and he wondered if he’d be able to retain his hold on his wolf when running with the pack.
“Can you explain it to me?” Kai asked.
Cole didn’t know how to make Kai understand the difficulty in accepting that Kai didn’t want him or how much it hurt whenever Kai pushed him away. “I don’t think there is a way to explain it, Kai. It’s just… instinct.”
Kai frowned and looked ready to protest, but Cole gave him a lopsided, sad smile. “It’s okay. We’ll talk about it again later. I want to take a short nap as I don’t think there will be much sleeping until late tonight.”
“Tonight?” Kai queried.
“I will be required to run with the pack each night I am here.”
“Oh.”
“I will only be gone a couple hours at most.” Kai dropped his gaze to the floor. Cole pulled Kai into his arms. “I don’t want to leave you, but I don’t want the others asking questions before you’re ready to meet everyone.”
“I see.”
Cole cupped Kai’s chin in one hand and tilted his face up toward his. “You trust me, right?”
It pleased Cole when Kai didn’t hesitate to answer. “Of course.”
“Then trust I won’t let anyone harm you. It’s best you stay in the cabin because you are unmated and because you aren’t a wolf. They will be able to scent it.”
“All right,” Kai whispered.
Cole brought them both to the couch and sat, pulling Kai down onto his lap. He urged Kai to rest his head on his chest and began running his fingers through Kai’s hair. “Will you tell me about your parents?”
At first, Cole didn’t think Kai would answer, but after several moments of silence, Kai started talking. “It’s getting harder to remember what they looked like. I only have the one photo of us taken a few months before they died. My uncle threw out almost everything else he couldn’t sell for drugs and alcohol. They were good people. My mom always smelled of sunshine and daisies. She never got angry and always sat with me after school to have a snack and help me with my homework.
“My dad, he was a big man. I can still hear his deep laugh and remember how it felt like flying whenever he would pick me up and put me on his shoulders.” Kai’s voice hitched a little. “They left me with a babysitter the night they died. It’d been raining, and the only thing I can remember is the police telling the woman watching me how they must have hit a puddle and skidded across the road into a ravine. The car exploded on impact, and they died.”
Wet heat soaked through Cole’s shirt, and Cole sucked in a breath, pain shafting straight to his heart. “I’m so sorry, kit,” Cole murmured, rubbing his hand over Kai’s bicep.
“They took me away the same night. The babysitter, a friend of my mom’s, helped me pack some clothes, and then the police took me to their station. A lady cop sat with me until another came to get me. She took me to a strange home for the night, and a couple days later someone else came to take me to my uncle’s.” Kai sobbed harder. “H-he never wanted m-me. I thought for sure he’d leave me, and I wish he had before I shifted.”
“Shh,” Cole crooned, hugging Kai tighter. “I wish I could take your pain away, kit, but that part of your life is over.”
Kai shuddered and took a deep watery breath. A few moments passed as Kai began to calm down, and then he said, “I’m sorry.”
“There you go again, apologizing for something you don’t need to,” Cole teased.
Kai huffed a slight laugh. “I got your shirt wet.”
Cole shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I have more. Besides, it’s good for you to get it out. I’m glad you told me.”
A sigh rattled Kai’s slender frame, and he burrowed farther into Cole’s chest. Cole dropped a kiss on the crown of Kai’s head. “Rest, kit.”
“But I’m not tired,” Kai muttered. Only his words were disputed by a large yawn he let forth.
Cole chuckled. “Uh-huh.”
“Maybe a little,” Kai said.
Cole waited until Kai relaxed against him, indicating Kai had almost fallen asleep. “Kit?”
Kai snuffled. “Hmm?”
“What was your uncle’s name?” Cole held his breath, hoping his question wouldn’t stress Kai out again.
“Jerrod, his name is Jerrod,” Kai whispered and then a slight snore came from him.
Cole closed his eyes and released the breath in a hard rush of air. At least he had a name now. Kai had never told him his last name. A situation he’d have to rectify as soon as he could. Now he knew Kai trusted him, he didn’t think Kai would hesitate to tell him. He figured since Kai’s last name most likely belonged to the uncle, it would make it easier to find the son of a bitch. “I’ve got you, baby, and I’m never letting you go,” Cole murmured against Kai’s temple.
Kai mumbled in his sleep and snuggled harder against Cole. Cole picked up Kai and carried him into the bedroom, where he took off Kai’s shoes and covered him with the comforter. He left the room, closing the door behind him, and pulled his cell from his pocket to call Nick. Nick answered the phone after letting it ring several times.
“Hey, Cole, how are things with Kai being there? Any problems?”
“No. Actually he did well today. He met cousin Maggie and her family.”
“Are you doing okay?”
Cole moved to stare out the window at the big lodge. A pickup truck, two SUVs, and two luxury sedans were already parked there. “Knowing he’s around so many other unmated wolves makes it hard to keep my wolf in check. He’s restless.”
The wolf hadn’t settled down since his cousins had arrived. Cole could feel him pacing in his head, waiting for his chance to take control.
“No one will touch him, Cole. Our pack respects and trusts you. They would never betray you.”
“Our pack, perhaps, but they aren’t going to be the only ones here.”
“Thayne’s father would never allow any harm to come to him,” Nick swore. “I know it will be expected for you to be present during the pack run. If you’re really worried, Thayne and I will stay behind and watch over him. Make sure no one comes near your cabin.”
“That would help more than you know, my friend,” Cole said. The knowledge his Beta and best friend would be there to protect Kai settled his nerves, and his wolf began to lose some of its agitation.
“We are just now leaving the airport and should be there in about an hour.”
“Thanks, Nick.”
“No worries, bro. You know I’ll always be there for you.”
Cole heard a growl in the background and grinned. “Don’t think Thayne liked your declaration too much.”
Nick huffed, and then an unmistakable grunt came from Thayne. Laughing out loud, Cole ignored the twinge his heart gave as he doubted he and Kai would ever have such a relationship.
“You didn’t have to hit me!” Thayne shouted.
“Stop being boneheaded and then maybe I won’t have to.”
“You wouldn’t get jealous if I declared my undying devotion to someone else?” Thayne challenged.
“I’ll let you go, Nick. Tell Thayne I said thank you,” Cole interjected.
Nick sighed. “We’ll be there soon. Hold down the fort till we do.”
“See ya soon.” Cole hung up and shoved the cell in his pocket again.
He spent the hour before their arrival pacing and thinking, worrying more than anything. The sound of Kai’s steady heartbeat assured Cole his mate still slept. Every once in a while, he’d glance out the window to look for Nick and Thayne. They’d flown commercially and had to rent a car, so he wouldn’t know what kind they would arrive in. When a dark blue truck pulled up outside the main lodge and Cole spotted Nick in the passenger seat, Cole heaved a relieved sigh. He went to the door, opened it, and stepped out onto the porch. Nick glanced up toward the smaller cabin, and Cole waved.
Nick smiled and waved in return. He said something to Thayne and began to walk in Cole’s direction. Thayne hefted a bag onto each shoulder from the bed of the truck and went into the lodge. Cole hugged Nick the second he walked up the two small steps. “Where’s Kai?” Nick asked.
“Sleeping. He still needs rest.”
Cole ushered Nick into the cabin and shut the door. He gestured to the sofa. “He told me about some of his past.”
Nick raised a brow at Cole. “And?”
He shared a short version of the events Kai had revealed. Nick stared at him in horror as Cole spoke. “Jesus.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
“He’s strong,” Nick said with admiration. “To have suffered through so much and survived? He’s truly amazing.”
“I need to find the bastard. My wolf is going crazy at how Kai has been hurt. He told me the fucker’s name is Jerrod. I just don’t know how to find him.”
“Hire a private investigator. It’s what they do for a living.”
Cole grunted. He’d thought about it, but he didn’t want anyone else knowing Kai’s business without Kai’s agreement.
“Well, whatever you decide, you know I’ll help however I can,” Nick said.
“I know. Thank you, Nick.”
They chatted for a while longer before Thayne showed up. Cole thanked Thayne in person for offering to help. He knew this would be the only time Thayne had to spend with his family for at least six months due to his father’s banishment. “I won’t stay out long. Just enough to show my support of the summit and introduce myself to your pack.”
“They aren’t my pack anymore,” Thayne growled.
Cole winced. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“My father did what he felt was necessary for the good of the pack and his position as Alpha. He had no choice. After all, I’m the one who fucked up.”
Nick leaned against Thayne’s side. “I’m sure your parents will be happy to see you.”
“Maybe.”
The two of them left a few minutes later, leaving Cole to his thoughts and brooding. Kai woke as the sun went down, and Cole phoned Nick to ask him to bring food to the cabin when they came. “Nick and Thayne are going to watch over you while I’m out.”
Kai frowned. “I don’t need someone to babysit me.”
“It’s not babysitting, Kai. They’re going to make sure no one bothers you. It’s the only way my wolf will allow me to leave you. I need you to be okay with this.”
He didn’t think Kai would accept it, but after a few breaths, Kai nodded. “Okay.”
“Thank you, kit. They’re bringing some food for you to eat as well.”
Once the other two had arrived, Cole joined his family in front of the main lodge. Cole couldn’t quite hide his shock at the number of shifters there already, and he saw several of his own pack had already paired off with others he didn’t know. His father and mother stood with a couple he assumed was the Alpha of the Senaka pack and his wife. The man resembled Thayne, and Cole figured he had to be Alpha Jeremiah. Kasey and Seth were also with them. Seth smiled when he saw Cole and waved, beckoning Cole to join them.
“We weren’t sure you’d make it down,” Seth said, giving Cole a hug. “Nick told us you’d found your mate. I’m happy for you, Cole!”
“Thanks,” Cole grunted. He wondered if Nick had told them the whole story.
“Where is he? Did he come with you?” Seth asked, curious.
Cole stifled a wince, but he had his answer. Nick had kept his secret. “He’s a little people shy.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I’d love to meet him before the summit is over,” Seth said.
“I’ll talk to him and see. How’s the practice?”
Seth, a veterinarian, had actually met Kasey because he’d moved to Senaka to take over the practice from another vet. “Doing well. Of course, now I’m mated to Kasey, the business doesn’t stop.”
Kasey grinned and held out his hand to Cole. “Good to see you again, Cole.”
“You too, Kasey. Seth keeping you busy?”
Seth huffed and rolled his eyes. “You Alphas are all the same. As if I’m the troublemaker.”
“I actually keep him busy. I’m a bit of a slob,” Kasey replied sheepishly. “It’s more a lack of time to do anything, though.”
“ Pfft . You can toss your dirty clothing in the hamper. You just choose to throw them on the floor!”
Cole chuckled, ignoring the pang of longing in his chest. Would he ever have such a relationship with Kai? “I’m glad to see you’re both happy. I also noticed several of the Emerald Lake Hills pack have already paired off with some of yours, Kasey.”
“It seems we’ve been successful in uniting a few mates,” Kasey replied.
Elijah interrupted their conversation. “Cole, come meet Jeremiah and Emily.”
Cole excused himself and joined his father. “Hello. It’s good to meet you both.”
Jeremiah, an Alpha with much wisdom in his eyes, stood tall and muscular next to Cole’s father. He had shoulder-length black hair streaked with gray, and Cole could feel the power in the other man. It set his wolf on high alert.
“Hello, Cole. Your mother has told me a lot about you,” Emily greeted.
“I hope we have the chance to talk privately this weekend,” Jeremiah said. “Your father told me a bit about your mate, and I admit to being very curious about him. There have been a handful of rumors over the year, but we’ve never met another species of shifter.”
“I don’t know much at all, sir. Kai wasn’t raised with others of his kind, and his parents died before he made his first shift.”
“None of that sir business. Call me Jeremiah. I’m sorry to hear about his family.”
“What were the rumors you’ve heard before?” Cole asked, curious.
“Not a lot, I’m afraid. Just how there were other types of shifters. Stories about fox and bear shifters being sighted, but unfounded due to no evidence. I am certain much as we have the rule of not revealing our existence, they do as well.”
“There isn’t a whole lot to go on. Is there anyone else we’d be able to talk to? Someone who may know where Kai and his family came from?”
“I’m afraid I only know of one other pack farther east of our own, and they had no more information than us.”
Of course, up until recently the Senaka pack had believed only Native Americans could be shifters, so it made sense they wouldn’t have many contacts outside of their pack. “Thanks,” Cole said.
“I wish I had more to tell you,” Jeremiah said with regret.
A big bonfire had been built in the nearby fire pit, and many of the others had already shifted and were lounging near the open flames, waiting for Elijah to give the go-ahead for the run. Cole noticed Devin sitting with his parents and gave him a smile. Nick’s cousin Carter sat close by, but Carter looked miserable. Cole felt bad for him. He knew Carter wanted to find his mate more than anything, and with how sad he appeared to be, he hadn’t been one of the lucky ones this time around.
“When does the run start?” Cole asked.
“We were waiting for you to arrive before we spoke to the packs,” Elijah replied.
Elijah and Jeremiah moved together to stand atop the highest step. “Good evening,” Elijah started, catching everyone’s attention, even those already shifted. They all stood to attention and waited for him to continue. “Welcome to the first summit between the Senaka and the Emerald Lake Hills pack. The whole point of these next couple of days is to allow for us to work together to create unity between our packs and for our peoples to hopefully find their mates. I’m very pleased to see several of you have already found your true mates.”
“There are only a few rules we must follow while we are here.” Jeremiah took over. “No fighting or squabbling. Treat each other as you would any pack member. There is still the chance of encountering humans while in these woods, so please be careful where and when you shift. I ask my own pack to remember we are all born shifters, no matter our race.”
“Thank you, Alpha Jeremiah.” Elijah grew serious. “I have one announcement to make. I will be retiring by year’s end, and my son will be taking over as Alpha.”
Surprised whispers and gasps came from the attending pack members. Cole detected a few glances his way. Did they not believe he could rule as well as his father? He hadn’t thought his father would go through with retiring right now since his mating with Kai wasn’t going the way he’d hoped it would. Pressure weighed down on his shoulders, and Cole wanted to refuse to take over at the end of the year.
“All right, everyone, let’s run!”
Cole chose to back-burner any thoughts regarding becoming Alpha and shifted into his wolf form. He stretched with a whining yawn and dug his paws into the grass. The lingering scent of Kai trickled over his senses, and Cole closed his eyes. He wanted desperately to claim Kai and make him his forever, but he wouldn’t force Kai into something he didn’t want. Opening his eyes, Cole darted after his father, pushing himself away from the area.
The moon shone overhead, almost full, and spotted the ground beneath with shafts of light. Cole ran alongside his father, keeping pace quite well. A few feet from the edge of a ravine, Elijah turned and traced the edge, Cole easily keeping up. The scent of a rabbit caught Cole’s attention, and he began hunting it, breaking away from his parents and the others. A split second before he could capture the rabbit in his teeth, another slim wolf snatched the critter away and ran off into the woods.
He didn’t move for several breaths, shocked, and then tore after the other wolf. There weren’t many wolves with the tawny black-tipped coloring, and he couldn’t remember any of his pack being the same color. Cole felt pretty certain the wolf had to be from the Senaka pack. He reached a clearing to find the slender wolf had stopped and lay beneath a tree, enjoying its catch. Cole snarled and stalked forward, slow and calculating. The wolf merely gave him a bored look and tore off another piece of the rabbit.
Where the hell did this wolf get the nerve to steal his kill? When Cole stood within a couple of feet, the tawny wolf tossed the remaining carcass at Cole’s paws. Cole snorted and growled, but it had no effect on the smaller one. He stood and stretched and padded forward, rubbing against Cole. Shock held him immobile for several breaths before he spun and grabbed hold of the slim wolf by the throat with his jaw. He pinned the other beneath him only to feel the hard cock pressing against his fur. Before Kai, he would have taken what the stranger offered, but now he felt dirty. Cole shifted to his human half. “Shift,” he snapped.
The tawny wolf lolled his tongue to the side in a funny smile before a bright flash of light found Cole atop a gorgeous, slim male. Black hair cut short on the sides with a thicker bundle on top and bright violet eyes made an enticing package. “Did you not hear my father earlier?” Cole demanded.
The younger man smirked. “About your mate? You haven’t claimed him yet.”
How the hell could the other wolf know anything about his mating? “I have found my mate. Claimed or not, it makes no difference.”
Violet sparkled with lust. “I can provide some relief since your mate is clearly leaving you wanting.”
Cole jerked when he felt a hand cup his cock through his jeans. He snatched the shifter’s wrist and yanked his hand away from him. “This is unacceptable behavior. If this is how you intend to act during a summit until you find your mate, you will no longer be welcome.”
A pout forced the wolf’s bottom lip outward. “You’re so damn sexy. I only wanted to fuck.”
The tawny wolf shifter strained upward, rubbing himself against Cole again. Cole gave a rumbling growl. “Stop. If I catch you coming on to another mated wolf again, I will be forced to speak with your Alpha.”
Cole’s threat seemed to give the younger wolf pause. “You wouldn’t.”
“Don’t test me, pup. Now get the hell out of here.”
Sighing, the wolf shifted and slid free from beneath Cole, giving him one last look at the edge of the trees and then turning and darting off into the darkness. Cole felt unclean, and the other wolf’s scent permeated his skin and clothing. Kai would smell him for sure. He headed back toward the lodges while telepathically letting his father know the evening was over for him. He needed to hold his mate in his arms.