Page 24 of Breathe Again

“I’m okay,” she said, smiling up at me.

I closed the gap between us and kissed her. It wasn’t the all-consuming kiss we’d shared the day before. It was a sweet kiss filled with promise and hope. “I won’t be gone long.”

She nodded, placing her palm against my cheek like she couldn’t believe this was really happening. I knew exactly how she felt. I couldn’t believe it either.

“So?” I asked. “Bedroom or couch?”

“Couch.”

I swooped her up as she giggled, grabbing her painkillers and water bottle off the nightstand, and carried her to the living room. She smacked my chest and giggled some more.

“I can walk, you know. You don’t have to carry me everywhere.”

I gently set her down like she was the most precious cargo in the world, and to me, if I were truly honest with myself, she was. “I know,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “Now behave, and don’t let Lily corrupt you too much while I’m gone.”

“Hey, I heard that,” Lily pouted, then shrugged. “He really does know me too well.”

“She can take another pill anytime she needs after nine. She already had breakfast, if you can even call it that, and there’s coffee brewed.” I turned to Elizabeth and added, “She brought a cup for herself, but don’t let it fool you. That pot will be empty before I return. She has a serious addiction.”

Lily laughed. “I do not, now get out of here. We’ll be fine.”

I hesitated again, but finally conceded and left.

Everything around me looked brighter and just better. I felt amazing and hadn’t even gone for a morning run. My stomach rumbled, but I headed straight for Zach’s, wanting to get through whatever he needed as quickly as possible and get back to my mate.

Walking into the Alpha house I smelled the delicious aroma of fresh eggs and bacon, and my stomach protested even louder.

“Cole, is that you?” Cora hollered from the kitchen.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’re in the kitchen,” she confirmed. When I walked in, she smiled, and Zach set his paper down to look me over. Seeming satisfied with whatever he saw, he nodded and went back to reading. “Have you had breakfast?”

“No. That woman eats out of cardboard boxes; there was nothing I would classify as actual food in that house.”

Cora laughed. “This is true. Sit down and I’ll fix you a plate.”

“Thanks,” I said, truly grateful as she set a heaping pile of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of me. It wasn’t my normal spinach egg white omelet and turkey bacon, but at least it was real food. I scarfed every bit of it down.

“More?” Cora asked.

“No, ma’am. That was plenty. Thank you. So Zach, Lily said you wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes, I do. Why don’t we head down to my office?” he suggested. I followed just behind him as he rose and headed in that direction.

Once settled in with the door closed and dampener on, he turned instantly from friendly host to father mode.

“Take a seat, son, and tell me exactly what your intentions are with my daughter.”

“I told you last night that I don’t know. That hasn’t changed in a few hours spent mostly sleeping.”

“Has she opened up to you yet?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

“About what, sir?”

“About what happened all those years ago. She always had such a light about her, then she went off to college and met that Santos. His family had a lot of money. She never came right out and said it, but I think she was trying to save Collier at the time. We were going through a really rough time, a bad season of crops nearly wiped us out. She seemed happy about this guy, but her light was gone. I don’t know how to explain it, but a parent remembers the joyful exuberance of their children, and someone so full of life in her early years should never have turned into the skeleton of a woman she’s become. Hearing her argue back at her mother last night nearly brought me to my knees in relief. You have no idea. To see her stand her ground and get so fired up about anything was a true blessing.”

“I really don’t know what happened with that Santos guy. I had always assumed she had mated him and despite everything had hoped she was happy. Honestly, I came back that one time, thirteen years ago. I was ready to claim her, but she told me she was in love with someone else and couldn’t possibly love me. She laughed in my face and told me she didn’t feel the mating bond between us at all. I left, swearing I’d never return here again. If Kyle hadn’t forced my hand, I wouldn’t be here now,” I told him honestly.

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