Page 12 of Breathe Again

Lily looked momentarily confused, but Elizabeth looked happy. I knew everyone called her Lizzy, always had except me. I’d even told her why one day when I was still a lovesick pup. I knew calling her by her nickname would hurt and infuriate her, yet I still couldn’t bring myself to do it. The fact that it pleased her when I used her full name brought me unwanted pleasure, too. Then she nodded and walked past me with her head held high and not a single word.

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered underneath my breath, then heard Lily snicker up ahead. I knew they were up to something. The two of them together definitely meant trouble for me.

As we walked into the dining room, I immediately felt like the outsider. All the Colliers were there, and then me. Lily was a Collier by default as Thomas’s mate, and even Liam when he mated Madelyn Collier. I knew right then that I should have excused myself, but it was too late for that. It was bad enough that I should have been family, too, but Cora and Zach went out of their way to always make me feel included and that was the hardest part of it all.

“Cole,” Zach said, hugging me even while shaking my hand. “So glad you could make it. Lizzy sweetie, scoot down one seat please, so Cole and I can catch up a bit more.”

She flashed me a happy smile as I realized I’d just been trapped between her and her father for the evening. It was going to be a major test of willpower to get through dinner.

“Cora, everything looks wonderful,” I complimented, causing her to blush.

“It’s nothing fancy. I’m just so happy to have all my babies together. Now eat up before it gets cold,” she insisted.

Trays of food were passed around as plates were piled high. I had been to a few family meals with the Westins, but where they were generally loud and boisterous. The Colliers were far more reserved and quiet, not in an uncomfortable way though. Having lived on my own for my entire adult life, the Westins often overwhelmed me. This was nice and much more to my liking.

“You’ll notice I’m still greatly outnumbered at this table,” Zach said, finally breaking the silence. “Though Liam and Oscar are certainly additions in the right direction. Some day there will be more males than she-wolves in this house.”

Lily laughed. “With Thomas’s luck, we’ll be having all girls. You can basically count on it.”

Thomas dropped his fork and pursed his lips at his mate. It was obviously meant to be an intimidating gesture, but it fell short on Lily who simply smiled and leaned over to kiss him quickly.

“Six sisters, handsome. I’m just saying.”

They teased him about it some more, all the sisters joining in, which meant lots of giggling. It was nice. I had never had that in my life, being an only child. Then I remembered where I was and who I was with and internally scolded myself. I couldn’t afford to get attached to the Colliers.

“What does Kyle have you doing these days?” Zach asked me.

“Huh?” I questioned, wanting to verify he was talking to me as I had been momentarily lost in my own thoughts.

“Kyle. What does he have you doing for him now?” Zach asked.

“Oh, right. I’m one of two Pack Betas. I know you met Patrick O’Connell when he escorted Liam and his family last fall. Patrick deals more with security than I do. I’m more administrative and projects. I also still reside on the Pack Council, and I run a rather successful tattoo shop in town.”

“Tattoos, huh? I can see you’re rather fond of them,” he added, noting the tats running up my arm.

I grinned. “Yes, sir, I am.”

“And what is so fascinating about tattoos? Don’t they hurt?”

I knew he was genuinely asking, but the answer to that was so personal and deeply private to me that I choked up and couldn’t give him my normal, practiced, everyday answer to such a simple question.

“I have my reasons, sir. And as to the question, do they hurt? Sure, but it’s not really that bad, though some places are more sensitive than others. Why? You thinking about getting one?” I asked in good humor.

“Yes, I am. Been trying to talk Cora into getting matching tattoos for years now,” he confessed as the room went quiet and everyone stared at him.

“Dad, you can’t be serious,” Elizabeth said with equal parts interest, humor, and disgust at the idea.

“He is, actually,” her mother confirmed.

“I’d be happy to draw you up some sample ideas if you’d like, sir. Lily says there’s a place here in town, and if they’re willing to loan me their equipment, I’d be happy to do it myself while I’m here.”

“What do you say, Cora?” Zach taunted his mate.

“Let’s see what you got,” she said, and I noticed it wasn’t a commitment or an all-out no, either.

Ruby piped in immediately. “If you guys are getting tattoos, I’m definitely getting one. I thought you wouldn’t approve, or I’d have a few by now. How about you, Clara?”

“No thanks. Just not my thing,” she said. “No offense, Cole.”

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