Chapter 37
CHAPTER 37
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“This is great work, kid,” Carl praises her. “You managed to make a chess tournament sound interesting.”
Bree snorts. “If you say so.”
“I do say so.” Carl pushes his glasses down his nose, regarding her with knowing eyes. “Hey. Are you okay?”
“It’s the third time you’ve asked today. I’m fine .”
Bree is decidedly not fine. She spent her final night in Green Woods in Cole’s arms, unable to sleep. The kitten stayed between them, with Cole waking up every so often to tend to it.
Cole, the same man responsible for multiple murders, spent all night tending to a helpless, fragile creature.
It shattered her heart, and she knew if she stayed a day longer, she would never leave Green Woods.
She knows he followed her back to Holden, kitten in tow. She pretended not to see the sleek dark car only a few paces behind her on the drive home, telling herself she wouldn’t be able to stop him from following her, anyway.
But it’s also the ache in her chest that makes it so much worse. Her mate is near her somewhere, but she hasn’t tried to reach out to him.
She hasn’t seen him since the night he killed Eugene.
Being away from him physically hurts, and it takes all her willpower to not fall to her knees and weep.
“You haven’t been fine since you came back,” Carl huffs, sipping his coffee. Bree sits in his office during her lunch, forcing herself to eat her salad.
“You just said my articles were great,” she shrugs.
“No, damn it kiddo, you know that’s not what I’m talking about.” Carl sighs and places his soda can on his desk. “What happened there?”
She chews around a mouthful of lettuce. “Nothing. I went shopping and did my interview.”
“Really? So, you just stayed in your cabin, not talking to anyone for two weeks besides me or your mom?”
Carl doesn’t believe her and gives her a pointed look.
She makes a face back at him. “Yes.”
“You’re a liar. Tell me what happened.”
She huffs. “ Why ?”
“Because you need to talk to someone about it, and I can offer you some sage advice. I’ve been on this earth longer than you, you know.”
“I’m aware.” She stabs at a tomato viciously and sighs. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“I already think you’re crazy, kiddo. You spend your lunchtime with me. And you don’t eat meat.”
A groan escapes her. “Seriously, Carl?—”
“I’m just kidding. Talk to me, Bree. Did you meet someone there? Did some guy break your heart that I have to go and beat up? ”
The image of Carl trying to fight anyone, let alone Cole, is enough to make her chuckle. “You don’t have to do that. But…yes. I kind of did meet someone.”
“Excellent.”
She glances at her boss. “What do you mean, excellent ?”
“I mean, I’m glad you met someone. You’ve been by yourself for too long.”
“Carl, that’s not the point of the story,” she insists, her chest constricting.
Her boss sighs. “Fine. So, what happened?”
“It just didn’t work out.”
“Why not? Did you like him? Did he hold open doors for you?”
She turns to her boss, baffled. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m old fashioned. Did he?”
“I mean, yes, but?—”
“Then what’s the problem? If he treated you well and you liked him, what happened?”
“It’s not that simple,” she sighs.
“Of course it is. You always make things much harder on yourself than they need to be.”
She narrows her eyes. “What, are you my therapist now?”
“I’ve been your therapist since you started working here.” He peers at her over his sandwich with knowing eyes. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Because it wouldn’t have worked , Carl,” she snaps. “We’re…different.”
Never mind that they’re mated, and her body thrums with electricity every time she thinks of him.
“Life’s too short for that. If he cares for you, and you care for him, there’s no reason for you to be apart.”
“Oh, really? No reason?”
“No reason. ”
“What if he’s a murderer?” she spits out before she can stop herself. She grips her fork tightly, horrified at her outburst.
But Carl is unphased. “Did he try to kill you?”
“No, but?—”
“Did the people he killed deserve it?”
She looks at him, bewildered. “Carl, what?—”
“If the answer to those questions is ‘no’ and ‘yes’ in that order, then I truly don’t care. If he makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
She gawks at him. “Have you lost your mind ?”
Carl takes a massive bite of his sandwich. “No, kiddo,” he says over a mouthful of food. “I just want you to be happy. Remember, you’re allowed to be happy.”
She shakes her head and scoffs. “So much wisdom from a grumpy, middle-aged man.”
“It’s the best kind of wisdom. Now, go sort all this shit out with him so you can start smiling again. You look like someone ran over your cat.”
She frowns, thinking of the kitten at the cabin.
The image of Cole bottle feeding it plays in her mind, and her heart aches at the memory.
As much as she hates to admit it, she misses him.
He’s her mate, and it’s been two weeks since she’s seen him.
She doesn’t know how much more she can take.
She knows something is wrong based on her mother’s text later that day.
She never uses emojis, but Carol suddenly sends Dinner tonight?! with ten hearts following it.
But she finds out the reason as she pulls up to her childhood home that evening, her heart beating in anticipation as she spots the sportscar in the sprawling driveway.
Torn between excitement and frustration, she stomps her way to the front door, following the delicious smell that leads into her mother’s house.
She doesn’t even bother to knock. She tries the door and opens it slowly, listening to the conversation floating down the hall.
Cole’s scent overwhelms her, and she clenches her hands into fists, her nails digging into the skin of her palms as she stays in the front room to eavesdrop.
How dare he.
Her mother, the traitor, is absolutely fawning over him.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted her to date someone with a good career. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me about you! She never likes to talk about herself with me.”
She scowls as Cole chuckles.
“It can be… difficult …to get her to open up,” he says. “But once she did with me, I knew I had found my soulmate.”
“Aww,” her mother says.
She storms into the living room, ready to cause a scene, but when she spots Cole, her breath catches.
He’s sitting in the armchair across from the couch, a glass of her mother’s ridiculous sugar-free lemonade in his hand. Dressed in a black button up and grey slacks, he looks every bit the lawyer he claims to be, with perfectly styled hair and a clean-shaven face.
His scent fills the room, and all fury vanishes.
She missed him so much.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he says calmly, giving her a knowing smile. “How was work?”
If he’s just as affected by their scents as she is, he doesn’t let on. He places his glass on the end table, waiting patiently for her response .
She just gapes at him while Carol turns to her.
“You never told me you had a boyfriend!” she accuses. “How could you have kept him from me?”
“You were hiding me, darling?” Cole coos. Then, he turns to Carol. “She must be ashamed of me,” he says with a wink.
She doesn’t know whether to kill him or kiss him.
Or both.
“I didn’t know you were coming over,” she says, narrowing her eyes at him and crossing her arms. “We never discussed that, darling. ”
Cole raises an eyebrow at her. “I thought I’d surprise you.”
“Honey, he’s wonderful,” Carol adds. “I wish you would have told me about him sooner.” She motions to the couch. “Come sit down!”
With her eyes still locked on Cole, Bree begrudgingly sits. Without a word, Cole moves from the chair to join her, wrapping an arm around the back of the couch.
Her traitorous heart is full as Cole’s scent overwhelms her, soothing the anxious part of her heart.
Alpha is here!
She does her best to ignore her inner Omega, who is almost feral at being in such close proximity of her mate.
“You’re staying for dinner, right, honey?” Carol turns her attention back to Cole, and Bree rolls her eyes.
Of course, her mother is enamored with him.
“I would love to,” he says, then turns to Bree. “As long as you’re sure I wouldn’t be imposing, sweetheart?”
There’s amusement in his eyes, as if he’s enjoying tormenting her.
“Of course not!” Carol says. “You’re part of the family now,” she adds. “You’re welcome over anytime.”
Bree looks at her mother in horror as Cole flashes her a brilliant smile. “Thank you so much, Carol,” he says. “I appreciate the sentiment. ”
Bree scowls, furious that he’s already on a first name basis with her mother.
“I’ll be back,” she says, jumping up before she has an emotional outburst. “I’m going to use the bathroom.”
“Hurry back,” Cole says.
She huffs and heads out of the living room and up the stairs.
She needs a moment to breathe. She hurries down the hall and into her old bedroom, which her mother never bothered to change. She shuts the door, presses her back to the wall, and takes a deep, slow breath.
Her mate is here, and part of her couldn’t be happier.
The other part of her is still heartbroken and scared.
He’s a murderer.
She breathes out, willing her racing heart to slow.
His scent permeates the house, delicious and tempting, and she’s so conflicted she could cry.
In the middle of her spiral, the door opens.
“I had a feeling I’d find you in here,” Cole murmurs, glancing around her old bedroom. “I like the color of the walls. A very calming light blue.”
She turns to him, furious. “What the hell are you doing here?” she whispers. “Why are you at my mother’s house? Don’t you have other people to kill?”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. I told you that part of my life is over. I’m here for dinner. I was invited, after all.”
She glares at him. “Well, I’m uninviting you. Go back to wherever you’re staying. Actually, go somewhere else entirely, like a new planet.”
He cocks his head. “You don’t mean that,” he says. “You missed me just as much as I missed you.”
She scowls. “I haven’t missed you,” she snaps, petulant.
“Liar. You look like you haven’t slept or eaten in days,” he accuses, taking a step closer to her. “The mating bond will do that, you know. When we’re too far away from each other, it makes us sick.”
“Well, you look fine,” she snaps.
“I’ve averaged maybe four hours of sleep a night. Well, part of that is from taking care of Ellie.”
She freezes. “Ellie?”
“Oscar’s offspring,” he clarifies. “Our cat, sweetheart.”
“We don’t have a cat together, Cole.”
He grins. “I just told you we did. Her name is Ellie.”
She huffs in frustration. “And why is her name Ellie?”
“Because without Ellie Winters, I wouldn’t have met you. She was the reason you came to Green Woods in the first place.” His eyes soften, and he reaches out to caress her cheek. It’s the first time he’s touched her in two weeks, and her eyes flutter closed at the contact.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he whispers. “I tried to stay away as long as I could. But I can’t anymore.”
Her body thrums with pleasure, and the connection between them intensifies as she melts at his touch.
“Cole,” she breathes as her head spins. His fingers trail up her cheek to move a strand of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs. “And all mine.”
Yes, her inner Omega agrees. We belong to him.
“You should leave,” she whispers, but makes no attempt to escape his touch. His other hand wraps around her waist slowly, and he brings his lips to her neck.
“Why?” His mouth gently brushes over her mating gland, causing her to jolt at his touch.
“Because…” she pants, her mind going blank. “Because…”
“How could I leave my mate?” he continues, flicking out his tongue. It pushes against the sensitive skin of the bite mark, and she holds back a groan. The hand at her waist moves down to her hip, and he tilts his face up to kiss her .
Her body ignites.
She thought she remembered how Cole kissed—but the memory is nothing compared to the reality of it. His tongue enters her mouth gently, tasting her and tracing the seam of her lips. Mint and citrus swirl around her, making her head dizzy and her cunt throb with need. She wraps her arms around his neck and deepens the kiss until he pushes her back against the wall.
She moans into his mouth, deep and unrestrained, when he suddenly pulls back, smirking. He steps away from her, lips wet and swollen from kissing.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” he tells her. “We wouldn’t want to keep Carol waiting; it would be rude.”
She stares at him in disbelief, her body overheated and flustered.
As if on cue, her mother calls from downstairs that the food is ready, and Cole takes her hand and leads her out of the bedroom.