Chapter 52
Chapter
Fifty-Two
Neither of us moved. His eyes were on me, watching me. Watching as I processed what he had just said. My mouth was open a bit, and tried to speak, but everything caught in my throat. I could see the pain in his eyes as he continued to wait for me.
“Seven…months. Not weeks…but…months?” I tried to wrap my mind around what that time meant.
“We were able to find your location in May. You’ve been living with us, with no memory, for almost two months now.
We didn’t know if you would ever regain them.
Without a cure, we had no idea what would happen.
” There was a small tick in the corner of his mouth.
“I think the little prank your mother and Colton ended up playing on you might have something to do with it.”
My voice was barely above a whisper. “Shut up.”
He hadn’t heard me. “What?”
“I said shut the fuck up!” I roared at him. “You’re saying I’ve been gone for seven months? I would have never…”
“It wasn’t under your control, Marcus. We know that, and so does Colt. If anything, Colt reminds us of that.”
Reaching out, I grabbed his arm with my claw. “You don’t know anything. About us or…”
“I know this is hard, son, but you can’t speak to Colt when you’re like this. He’s been through too much already.”
I let out a scoff. “Colton is my Omega. He is my mate. You are sorely mistaken if you think our bond will break so easily. Move. So I can find my mate. Whatever you’re trying to do, it will not work.”
“I’m trying to protect Colt.”
Roaring at him, I pushed him away with all the force I could muster. He wasn’t expecting me to be that strong, and he stumbled back, hitting the bookshelf in my room. I didn’t care that a few books fell loose as I strode past him. Throwing open the door, I stepped out into the hallway.
“Mar?” Mom was coming up the stairs. “Are you okay?”
“Okay? Am I okay? Dad is spewing some bullshit and you ask me if I’m okay?”
She flinched back, but I didn’t even feel bad. “Marcus…”
“Hey! You don’t get to talk to Mom like that!” Beau was standing at the bottom of the stairs, her arms crossed over her chest. “Apologize.”
“No,” I growled. “Where is Colton?”
My sister snorted. “None of us are going to tell you if you’re acting like this. You need to calm down. Your emotions are probably already getting to him.”
Stalking down the stairs, I grabbed my sister’s neck and pushed her back into the wall. Nothing and no one mattered to me, but my mate. I needed to make sure that he was alright. She actually looked afraid, but she was just as angry, and that was winning out.
“You…don’t…deserve…”
Growling, I pressed her further into the wall when a hand landed on my shoulder. Turning slowly, I looked at my brother. Peter had a serious look on his face.
“I’ll take you to Colton.”
Everyone tried to argue with him, but I let Beau go. She retaliated immediately, throwing a punch into the side of my face. It hit my jaw and my head moved, but I stood like a statue. Her eyes were a bright purple.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for months. Colton wouldn’t let me. You deserve more. You don’t deserve him.”
I growled again, stepping back up to her, but Peter’s hand stopped me.
“Marcus, come on.”
Rolling my shoulders, I turned to my brother.
He nodded and headed toward the back door.
Stepping out into the open air, I froze.
Above us, there was a smattering of clouds, but it was the wind that was an issue.
It was warm. It should be cooler. It should be the winter wind that doesn’t have time to warm as it blows over the lair.
Shaking my head, I looked at Peter, who was watching me with his usual intensity. “Where is Colt?”
“He told Laila that he planned to spend a little time at the creek.”
“Show me.”
Peter nodded and walked to the northwest. I’d already tried to yank and pull on the bond, but there was no reaction.
It was disconcerting. Not feeling Colton’s emotions, not feeling where he was or being able to talk to him.
Our bond had taken a hit, but it was fine.
It was an easy fix the moment he was in my arms again.
“Marcus.”
I hummed.
“Don’t hurt him.”
My eyes widened ever so slightly. “What are you talking about? He’s my mate. Why don’t you worry about your own damn mate?”
“Colton is the reason why I have Lai back.” His voice turned so soft that it actually made me pause.
“What?”
He turned to me, a smile on his face. “Colton saved Laila. More than just picking her up off the floor. She came back to me, ready to make amends. Ready to talk and work together. I’ve never been happier, Marcus.
” Tears shone in his eyes. “It’s all because of your mate. Both of us are protective of Colt.”
My growl was deep. “I said…”
“I know what you said, Marcus. Except you weren’t here.
It took all of us to make Colt feel even fractionally as safe as when he does in your arms. He loves you infinitely.
I thought I knew what love was. I didn’t.
Colt showed all of us what it really means to love someone.
That’s why we are all worried. He called us his mother hens, but he knows we are more his knights. ”
As much as I wanted to growl, I didn’t. Peter was always serious. He rarely said much, and when he did, it didn’t hold much emotion. Yet here he was, telling me with tears in his eyes that Colton was special to him and Laila.
“Where is he?” My voice was no longer as strong as it had been.
Peter nodded, seeing the result he wanted from his words. “Just a bit further. Colt found this place when he was running around the territory. He and Lai hung lanterns around and even built a seat from old fallen logs.”
I winced. He was talking nonchalantly, simply giving me the facts.
Except that he said Colton was running. He couldn’t run in his condition.
Hell, he hated walking. The waddle was getting so much worse and it was uncomfortable.
Our little girl was going to be big. It was going to be so wonderful to finally meet her and see how much she took after us.
Peter stopped, and I almost ran into the back of him. “I’m sure you don’t want me to interrupt your reunion.” He stepped away from me, turning to allow the line we were walking to be open for me. “I just ask that you don’t get angry with him. I’ll still be close by. We all will.”
“You don’t need to protect my mate.”
He smirked and shrugged. “I hate to tell you this, but we all like Colton better than you. Especially the version of you we had to be subjected to since you’ve been home.
We will protect him over you every single time.
You’ve got a lot going on in your head right now; that’s why Dad wanted you to take a second. ”
I growled, but he put up a hand. “I know. You love him more than anything. If I went through what you two have been through, I would want them to lead me straight to Lai. So I understand. Just…take it easy. If you can, don’t open your mouth until your mind is clear.”
Staring at my brother, I realized he had changed. It was subtle, but it was there. Before, he was smart and strong, but now he had the air of an Alpha about him. Turning away from him, I continued in the direction we were walking.
It was quiet and even the air was calmer here.
There had been a breeze, but the forest was denser on this side.
The sun had slipped down completely, and now the sky was getting darker by the minute.
Colton shouldn’t be out in the dark like this, and I figured we might have to head back inside before we talked.
There were a few trees I had to climb around, but I heard the creek before I saw it.
There was a slight break in the surrounding trees.
As I stepped into the clearing, I took everything in.
There were lanterns set up in the trees, casting a warm glow over the clearing.
It wasn’t fire, but it made the area feel magical.
I saw the chase-like chair off to the south end of the clearing.
It was easy to see why they made it like that.
The entire build looked inviting to sit and read in.
Or curl up and listen to the sounds of the forest. Ahead of me, the brook cut through the little clearing at the far edge, a small pool collecting before moving south.
My eyes finally took in the figure that was humming softly. Heart hammering in my chest, a smile wove its way onto my face. My Omega. My sweet mate. My entire world. The way the light hit him, his hair glowed with a silver rather than its usual striking blonde.
For a moment, my hand moved to reach out and call him to me. Except for the words died in my throat. I couldn’t help but truly look at him as my dragon whined in my head. He was thinner. Thinner than he had been when Beau and I were in his apartment and he’d just lost Bridgett.
The curve of his waist down to his hips was more prominent than before.
He wore a regular-looking shirt that fit his body more closely than his usual attire.
Colton’s hair was pulled back into a low ponytail rather than the usual top bun.
My smile fell slowly, seeing the hair fall down his back. Too far down his back.
It struck me like a lightning bolt. It stole the air from my lungs. Everything in me froze, and fear gripped my very soul. I realized I didn’t want him to turn around. I feared what I would find. Scared that all I would find was the truth in my dad’s words.
I swallowed, my hand falling back to my side. My heart hammered, but not with excitement anymore. Not in happiness for being able to pull my mate to me. I was terrified. What if my dad wasn’t lying? Did anyone expect me to believe that seven months had passed? Since I’d held my mate in my arms?
Licking my dry and cracked lips, I was losing my nerve. Taking a step back, I hit the root of a nearby tree. It cracked under my weight, and my eyes widened. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He turned, and the world suddenly slowed.