Page 25 of Breathe Again

“She cried for three days straight when you left that day, dried it up, and went back to school. She spent the entire next summer in South America with him, came back, and transferred to an East Coast school within a week of being back in the states. She let me know she was not going through with the mating, and then it was a few years before I saw her again. By then she’d changed so much. It was like she was there on the outside, always smiling and quick to help everyone when she could, but the light was gone from her eyes. She was too obedient and compliant. I don’t know how else to describe it. I never knew for sure if it was because of you or him, but I always suspected it was you.”

My guard was already down where Elizabeth was concerned, but I wasn’t prepared to hear her father’s side of our story.

“We were so young, and I was so angry and hurt from her rejection. I should never have let it go on for this long,” I admitted both to him and myself.

“You’re still in love with her,” he said, looking happy at the revelation.

I nodded slowly. “I’ve always been in love her, that will never change. It’s only ever been Elizabeth for me, but I don’t know how to get past everything that happened and everything I’ve endured all these years without her.”

“I can’t imagine the loneliness and heartbreak you’ve suffered being apart from a true mate where the bond was already formed, and for so long. A lesser man would have gone mad long before now.”

“Who’s to say I haven’t?” I joked.

He smiled. “Cole, you’re a good man. You always were, even as a young pup. You’ve endured so much, and I’m sorry for even the smallest part I may have played in that. I don’t know what the future holds for the two of you, but know that if you choose to pursue her, you have my full blessing. I know true mates don’t need that, but I’m a bit of an old-fashioned guy.”

“I’ll certainly keep that in mind. Thank you,” I said.

“The correct answer, Cole, would be “yes sir.’ I’ll let you know when to celebrate,” because, mark my words, you two have endured enough. I will petition the Grand Council personally to inform them that you will not be suffering through their stupid trials on the basis that your bond is, well, what? Fifteen years strong?”

I thought perhaps he was jumping ahead of himself, but it was nice to hear anyway. The Grand Council was the governing body of all the wolf Packs. There were only ever five Grand Councilman, and they had to pledge allegiance to wolves and abdicate any ties to one specific Pack. It wasn’t a perfect arrangement, but it had kept the Packs mostly at peace for hundreds of years.

The previous year I had been approached by the Council and asked if I would be willing to step up in preparation to take over as the next Grand Councilman. The fact that I had no family, I was a thirty-four-year-old bachelor, resided on my own Pack Council, and basically got along with everyone made me the perfect candidate. I turned them down flat. I hadn’t even hesitated. I knew it was because of her.

They thought I had no true ties beyond my Pack allegiance, but they were wrong. My heart was tied to hers, and I knew that if Santos ever petitioned the Grand Council for anything my bias would be an immediate no. I could never stay neutral in a decision regarding his Pack, or anything concerning Elizabeth Collier. Besides, my allegiance to Westin Pack was far greater than they had anticipated. Despite their vocalized disappointment in my decision, they had accepted it.

“Are we done here?” I asked him. “I really don’t want to be away from Elizabeth for long.”

He smiled, obviously happy with my disclosure. He rose, shook my hand, then walked me to the front door. “Keep me posted on any new developments that may arise,” he said.

“I will, sir,” I agreed.

Cora peeked her head around the corner looking very disappointed. “Oh, you were really just talking work,” she said, clearly disappointed. Zach winked at me as I left.

Elizabeth

Chapter 12

I was disappointed Cole left so soon, fearing he wouldn’t return. He had kissed me, not the earth shattering kiss we’d shared yesterday, but a sweeter one that gave me hope he’d come back.

Lily sat next to me on the couch. She was fumbling with the remote trying to find something to watch on TV. She casually leaned toward me and sniffed. At first, I wasn’t sure that’s what she did, but when she scooted a little closer and did it again I was certain.

“What are you doing?” I asked her.

“What? I’m just trying to find something on the TV. Any thoughts?” she asked, trying her best to look innocent.

“Lily, you sniffed me twice. What are you doing?”

Her shoulders sagged, and she gave an exaggerated breath of frustration. “I was trying to see if you’d closed the deal. You know, dove right it. Taken the first bite.’

“You think I bonded with Cole last night? Lily I was doped up on painkillers, remember?”

“Speaking of which, it’s time for another round.”

“No, thanks. I hate the way they make me feel, and the pain isn’t unbearable,” I told her.

“Yeah, but if you wait until it is to take them, then Cole will murder me for not taking care of you.”

“You seem to know him pretty well,” I assessed.

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