Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
“How did it go?”
Sabrina groaned over the line. “I don’t know! I feel like I did okay, but I keep second-guessing myself. If I fail another class, I swear I’m giving up.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “You will not. If anything, I will make sure you pass everything. I’ve got so much more time now, it’s hard to even fathom. I could take a couple more semesters off and help you.”
“You better not. I thought you wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Plus, didn’t you say that you would lose your scholarship if you missed over two quarters in a row?”
“I know. If this keeps going though, I’m not going to be able to do summer session either.
I thought I could, but now I’m not so sure.
I kept reading up on babies and their milestones...
breastfeeding and pumping…everything that comes after having a baby, and suddenly I feel stupid for even suggesting going back to school a few months after she is born. Especially if I’m on my own.”
Sabrina was quiet over the line. It was Thursday, and we both finished our last final. I’d never been so relieved as I submitted the final essay question answer. Not even five minutes later, Sabrina called and started to cry over her math final.
“I need you to come shopping with me. Mike won’t go and there is no one to drag alone. Everyone is heading home for a couple of weeks. I don’t know what to do.”
I barked out a laugh. “I wouldn’t go shopping with you even if I were there.
Rin, I’m huge. I’m so much larger than I thought was possible.
My body is reaching its limit, and all my muscles hurt.
I’m so fucking done, and Eva is making me exercise by walking laps around the house.
Do you know how humiliating it is when I can barely make it around the house without feeling like I’m going to die? ”
She cleared her throat, and I growled at her, knowing she was laughing. “I’m sorry! You are adorable, Colt. That’s what you are. I know it’s overwhelming right now, but it won’t be for much longer. You’ve got what…four weeks left? If that?”
“I know. I’m just…I’m frustrated. Don’t mind me.” I let out a sigh. “Are you not going back to see your family? I know you broke from your pack in January, but were you going to see them?”
“Nah. There really isn’t much left for me. I mean, my parents love my sister. She will be their shining star, no matter how butt-ugly her kids are.”
I snorted. “Rin! Don’t be mean!”
“That is me being nice! Colt, they are so ugly. They look like aliens. Everyone is so excited for them, because she married the Gamma, but by the goddess, they make ugly children.”
Breaking down into laughter, I placed the book I was reading to the side so it wouldn’t fall. If it fell, there was no getting it back again. I couldn’t bend over anymore like that. Hell, I couldn’t even pull my shoes on anymore.
“I can’t wait to find out that Marcus and I make ugly kids.”
“Never!” Her reply was so quick and loud that I reflexively moved the phone away from my ear. “You could never. You alone could never have an ugly kid. Need I remind you how your mate looks?”
Leaning back against the window, I stared at the aisle of books.
My mind wandered. It had been doing that more lately.
My attention span was waning. Eva said it was pregnancy brain.
I did my best not to let it wander to Marcus, but it was hard not to.
Especially since one corner of my mind, the corner that was focused on school, was now done.
“Colt? You okay? Do you need me to give you an update? I have access to Mike’s computer.”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks. I’m just so uncomfortable all the time now. My mind just wanders.” Chuckling, I touched my shoulder to the glass pane. “Speaking of, how are you guys doing?”
“In what way? Like he infuriates me day in and day out, and the mate bond doesn’t help me not want to strangle him? Or like…?” Sabrina’s tone told me she was smirking.
“I mean, are you mostly in his room? Or are you keeping the dorm room for next term?”
She groaned. “I’m going to move everything out of there. I wanted to move into an apartment, but you know how Mike is about that.”
I nodded, leaning my head against the inside wall.
“I do. The amount of lectures I have received that apartments are just a money-pit and a waste of time from him. I think I’d be rich simply for getting a penny from every lecture.
” We were quiet for a spell before I asked, “Do you not want a house?”
“I do, but not here. I don’t want to stay in this city. The university is here, but nothing else. My family is close, and that automatically makes me want to move the hell away. Still, I would like to finish first. So that just becomes a whole thing.”
“Yeah,” I knew the feeling.
Sabrina didn’t take a breath. “Did you sell the other house?”
“Oh…yeah. The damage was pretty extensive. Plus, it didn’t feel safe anymore. Dylan knows I’m here, but at the very least there are barriers set up here. He can’t actually reach me. Mike is selling it or has sold it for me. I don’t know. I kind of washed my hands of it.”
“That bastard. He needs to die a slow death too. I almost wish for him to survive and watch his entire line be destroyed. Maybe we just castrate him and let him continue to live.”
I didn’t realize how much I needed just a normal chat with Sabrina until now. She made me smile, even though we were talking about the things I had been avoiding. In a unique way, Sabrina was there for me as much as Mike was.
“Mike said you were working on the glass house?”
Humming, I didn’t really want anyone to know. “It’s a secret.”
“Colt! You don’t get to have secrets from me!”
“It’s a secret, though!”
She growled. “Fine, then I’m not helping you with the interior.”
“Okay! Fine!” I caved immediately. “Yes. We’ve started the steps to build it. They haven’t even broken ground. Really, they are just mapping out the location and finding the ideal spot. I’m having Mike and Ezekiel, together with his father’s company, build it.”
“Where did you decide?”
I smiled. “Mrs. Truman’s plot of land she gave me. It’s beautiful, Rin. The entire area…have Mike show you the drone footage. It’s beautiful and woodsy, and I can see exactly why Mrs. Truman chose it.”
“Isn’t there a house already on it?”
“Was. The land has mostly taken over the thing. She had purchased it when they were younger, and it was a small cabin. After decades of neglect, it was sinking into the ground. I think we might try to use some of it, but nothing structural. I just want to bring what remains of her into the plans.”
Sabrina squealed. “I’m so excited for you. That’s your dream house. You’re forever home. Do you know how long it will take?”
“I don’t. I want to pour as much money as I can into it because it will make things go faster, but it will not be a straightforward job.
The lot doesn’t have the space or the ground for big trucks to be pulling up and the amount of glass…
it’s a whole thing. Still, Mike knows what to do on the money side of things.
I don’t care if it’s nearly everything I have.
I’d just like enough for my little girl and me to live comfortably for a while. The house can receive everything else.”
“Well, then, I guess I need to look at properties nearby. Either for a vacation home or to live in. ‘Cause there is no way you’re moving that far without us.”
Chuckling, I leaned my head against the windowpane. “That would make me really happy.”
The silence on the line told me she was going to ask me a big question. The same thing happened when Laila wanted to ask me something. They were so similar sometimes that I knew when they would finally meet in person, the two of them would be best friends.
“Are you really planning to do this alone?”
I expected this question, but I still took a minute to answer her. “I think if I plan for it, it makes it easier if it happens. Not that I’ve accepted it, but I’ve already planned to accept it.” Letting out a snort, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That doesn’t make sense, I know, but…”
“No, no. It does. I’m just sad. You deserved to have a mate and now…after everything…”
“It’s almost like I didn’t deserve one? That I keep getting it taken away from me?”
Sabrina sighed. “Don’t say that.”
“I wake up in the morning and the first thing I check is if my mark is gone. I wouldn’t know if they broke the bond or if…if he’s…” I trailed off my sentence, trying to force myself not to cry.
I heard a curse and the sound of a mug breaking. I listened with a raised eyebrow, but silence followed. Laila, I knew, was planning on taking a nap, but I didn’t know how long that was going to be. She stayed up late with Peter, which thrilled me, even though I had to deal with her grumpiness.
“Colt.”
“Sorry, I think Lai broke a mug. I heard her cursing all the way from where I am sitting.”
Sabrina growled. “Are you at the Archives again?”
“No?”
Her growl was much louder this time. “Colton! I swear! You have your thirty-five week checkup! You are too far along to be flying between the Alford’s and the Archives!”
“I’m fine, Rin. I promise. Plus, I’ve been digging around regarding search magic that earth witches used to find different ingredients, and I think I’ve found something interesting. I’m not sure if I can alter it to find a person, but I’m currently working through the book.”
“You need to think of yourself and your pup!”
“I am!” My voice broke. “Rin, if I have her and Marcus isn’t there…I’m scared…”
Her voice dropped. “I’m sorry, Colt. I’m frustrated with you, as I’m sure Eva and everyone else are, but I understand. I wish I could do more.”
“I appreciate it. There isn’t much you can do, though. I’m just…pregnant.” The disdain for the word made Sabrina laugh.
“We are coming to visit. I don’t know when. Your birthday is in two weeks. I know we have to finish some school stuff and move everything next week, but we will visit before spring quarter starts.”
“Good. I miss you guys. You’re my anchors now.”
There was a slam of the main door of the Archives. My eyes widened, and I knew there was no way that Laila had the strength to slam the doors like that. Getting up, I moved all my books to the table and started to put them away.
“Rin, I’ll call you back. I think…I think Ty might have found out I snuck into the Archives again.”
“Damn it, Colt. Go home!”
I chuckled. “I will! I will! I’m putting my books away. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Alright. Text me. Tell me how much trouble you’re in and how much food they force you to eat as punishment.”
Snorting, I knew she was only half joking.
I hung up and shoved my phone into my back pocket.
Luckily, I’d only grabbed about five books from the section I was in.
There were four sections in two of the books I had taken photos of the pages for to reference later, but I was on the fourth before Sabrina had called.
If they found out I had been here since breakfast, I was going to be in trouble. Throwing three of the books into my bag, I tried to put the other two away. If I could get to Laila, we could go out the back. There wasn’t a lot of space to shift for her, but there was enough.
Looking both ways out of the aisle, my eyes widened. I wasn’t fast enough as Tyson’s voice roared through the Archives.
“COLTON REINHARDT ALFORD.”