Page 29 of Breathe Again

“Hey man, I only have a sec, but wanted to go over the notes from the Council meeting you missed last night and remind you that Kelsey and the boys will be arriving with me in three days for the ceremony. It was decided that Dad would stay home and hold down the Pack, though a majority will be heading your way. Are the arrangements ready?”

I stared at the ceiling and closed my eyes, biting back frustration. “I don’t know, Kyle. I’ll have to get back to you.” There was silence on the line. “Hello? Kyle? Look, I’ll take care of it this afternoon,” I finally said.

“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding concerned.

“I’m fine,” I insisted.

“Cole, I’ve known you for a very long time, and you have never sounded less fine than you do right now.”

“I’m just dealing with some personal shit, Kyle. It’s fine.” I looked down to see Elizabeth staring back at me. She looked upset and I knew immediately she thought I was irritated because of her. I wasn’t, I was upset with myself because I’d let my Alpha down and slacked on my duties. That wasn’t who I was. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, trying to reassure her. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I said more to Elizabeth than Kyle. “Look, Kyle, I’m dealing with some mating stuff. Call Lily if you want the local gossip train on it. I’ll get things sorted for the celebration today and get back to you. I may need to pull Liam in to help some if that’s alright with you. And Kyle, we need to talk when you get here.” I paused to let that sink in. Elizabeth’s eyes grew huge with questions. “I may be taking some personal leave to figure out where I’m going from here.”

Kyle took a drink and then start choking on my last statement. “You’re serious?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

I heard the door to his office open, and then his mate was talking. “Elizabeth Collier,” I heard Kelsey clearly say and I knew Kyle had alerted her through their bond. Fully bonded mates could speak telepathically to each other. Watching Elizabeth, I hoped someday we’d be that close, too. I was positive Kelsey was already on the phone with Lily prying into the details of my love life.

“Lizzy?” Kyle’s voice boomed in shock. “Does Zach know about this?”

I wanted to roll my eyes. “Yes, Zach knows about this. I’m not looking to start a war with Collier the way you did with the Bulgarians when you mated Kelsey.”

“Low blow, dude. Low blow.”

I chuckled, knowing it had been a dick move. When Kyle had taken Kelsey as a mate, we’d thought she was just a lone wolf. No one knew she was a loner because she had been condemned to death as a child when she showed Alpha signs at such a young age. Alpha she-wolves were rare, mainly because they were feared for being unpredictable. I called it old folklore bullshit, because I knew Kelsey and knew the level of control she had over her powers. They called her a witch, but really she was just one badass Pack Mother no one wanted to cross.

She had come from the Bulgarian Pack, and their Alpha declared war on Westin seeking revenge on the little girl that had gotten away years previously. He’d lost, and the new alliance between the Packs was still shaky at best.

“I gotta go, Kyle. I’ll call you this evening with those details.”

“Wait. Don’t worry about it. Take the time you need with Lizzy. I’ll have Liam make the arrangements.”

My heart sunk. That was my job, and given the direction of conversation he’d interrupted, his quick haste to replace me disappointed me. Logically I knew that. He was trying to help as my friend, but it still made me question my importance to the Pack. Or was I just looking for excuses to stay in Collier if Elizabeth refused to move to San Marco with me? My head was spinning from the various scenarios, and I swallowed my pride and nodded.

“If that’s not too much trouble, that would be great.”

“It’s all good. Take care of your mate, and dude, congratulations!”

I hung up the phone and Elizabeth had tears in her eyes.

“You’d really take time off for me? You’re considering staying, aren’t you?” she asked. I felt cornered. We were still on shaky ground, and I didn’t want to do or say anything that would lead me down the path of another miserable decade without her. I already knew I’d do anything it took to have her, even if it meant giving up everything and switching packs.

“We still have a lot to work out, Elizabeth. I don’t know what the future holds for us yet,” I told her honestly, not quite able to meet her eyes.

“Look at me, Cole. Would you give up Westin Pack to stay with me?”

I couldn’t lie to her. “Yes. I would.”

A tear ran down her cheek, but she was smiling. She leaned in and kissed me. “I’m not going to ask you to do that. Okay, so I freaked out a little when reality started sinking in, but my family is my family. Plus, Maddie’s already in Westin and she makes it work. I will too. I’m self-employed and just because I work closely with Collier Pack on all legal matters doesn’t mean I can’t do that from San Marco.”

“The Westin Foundation could probably hire you to help there as well if you want to pick up more business,” I offered.

“That would be amazing. I’ll talk to Elise once we’re settled,” she said, and I saw the determination in her eyes. Elise Westin was the head of Human Resources for the Westin Foundation, a financial group conglomerate that supported Westin Pack and worked to secure assets for other Packs, including Collier.

I rested my forehead against hers, unable to believe it was all truly happening. “I love you,” I told her. “We don’t have to make a decision today. I’m going to take personal leave regardless because I want to spend time getting to know you again.” I ran my hand up her side, watching her shiver as I lightly brushed past her breast. “All of you,” I added, with a sexy smirk.

“Cole, I’m yours. Wherever and whenever,” she said, smiling and showing me her canines elongated.

My heart hitched, and my pulse beat erratically. “You’re sure?”

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