Chapter 24

My legs gave out on me, Beta Lucas held onto me making sure I didn’t fall. My vomit covered the front of his shirt. My skin was hot and clammy, sweat rolled down my face.

“Her name was Beth.” He said quietly.

I felt completely bonded to him, I knew him as well as I knew myself, but I didn’t understand why he lied.

“You and Willow said you hadn’t found your mates.” I said trying to catch my breath.

“If Willow knew my mate was dead, she might give up her chance to find hers.” He paused for a long time while I regained my bearings. “I love Willow too much to take that away from her. I’ve always wanted her to be happy, even if that wasn’t with me. Promise you won’t tell her?”

I could feel his love for her, how deeply it ran. I had never felt that way about another person and begrudgingly agreed not to say anything to her.

We parted ways, returning to our rooms to shower once more.

I was startled by a soft knocking on the bathroom door, which I had left open, but I was sure the bedroom door was closed.

“Come in.” I said. Everyone here has seen me naked by now so who cares.

Alpha Colton came around the corner and walked into view. Seeing him and Qwen together, I had a whole new appreciation for how handsome he is. In Beta Lucas’s memories when he was smiling, I mean really smiling and happy, he’s a gorgeous man.

His white shirt cascading from his pecks down to his firm waistline, accented by a blank belt holding his slacks tightly. His tan slacks doing nothing to hide his blessings.

I chewed my lower lip recalling every inch of him standing before me earlier.

He cleared his throat loudly and I realized I had been staring at the bulge in his pants this whole time. Laila must be wearing off on me because I could not focus.

Walking in he set a small, stemmed whisky glass on the bathroom counter, similar to the one I had to drink out of on my arrival.

“Whenever you’re ready.” He said as though I should know what he was talking about.

It took me a second and when it hit me it instantly pissed me off.

“So, after what happened with Beta Lucas and I, now you want to be able to keep tabs on me.” The words tasted poisonous as I said them.

His jealousy pounded through my veins and after knowing that he felt nothing for me I decided to make him suffer more.

“Don’t worry I bit him back, so we are even now.”

The growl that came from him shook the glass shower walls.

His reaction gave me a sick sort of satisfaction. Getting out of the shower without drying off, getting close enough to him he had to look down at me. I walked my fingers up his chest, running my fingers across his lips. “You’re just mad because he tasted me first.”

“I can make you.” He said.

“But you won’t. I have to choose you because that’s what will hurt Blaine the most.” As his name left my lips, I suddenly realized why tormenting Colton was satisfying me. It wasn’t me at all, it was Blaine’s hatred of him pushing me to hurt him.

I swatted the glass off the counter and had pushed past him, grabbed my clothes and went out the door before I heard it hit the floor.

Realizing moments later that it was not my best idea as I tried pulling clothes on over my still wet skin. As I entered the kitchen my wet feet squeaked on the floor. I sat hard into one of the chairs lowering my head into my hands.

“What’s the matter dear?” Sarah’s voice startled me, as I was sure she wasn’t here when I arrived.

“How are you so sneaky?” I asked with a sigh.

“You can turn into a bear; I can turn into a fly.” She said. The expression on her face unwavering.

“Really?” I asked.

“No. I’m an old wolf, I’ve learned to tread softly. Keeps me out of trouble.” She said with a smile.

Alpha Colton and Beta Lucas walked in quietly, each one going to a different end of the kitchen. Sarah rolled her eyes at them, but it hurt to think I caused a divide between them.

“Well, I won’t keep you waiting then.” Sarah said as if answering a question no one had asked.

She leaned across the counter looking intently at me. “You my dear are not a werewolf.”

“We figured that much out on our own Sarah, the black bear that trashed the Beta’s room wasn’t exactly a subtle hint.” Alpha Colton said in a condescending tone.

Sarah stared at him, her gaze piercing. The look of disappointment and disapproval on her face worse than anything she could have said.

Alpha Colton’s will finally broke, he came over and wrapped his arm around her. “I’m sorry, it’s been a tough week. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.” He said before sitting down beside her.

“May I continue?” She asked, gesturing with her hand in my direction. She started to speak again without waiting for an answer.

“You are a Druid.” The ta-da in her voice was lost on me.

“One of those weird hippy tree creatures?” I asked.

All three of the exploded into laughter. Beta Lucas found his breath first.

“No, Druids are very powerful shapeshifters. A werewolf is a human and a wolf soul that are linked. Laila is a shifter soul, she can summon more than just a wolf, obviously a bear but who knows what else.” Beta Lucas told me.

Alpha Colton came and wrapped his arm around Beta Lucas’s shoulders. Sitting down next to him without a word. All at once the tension between them lifted.

“I thought Druids were extinct?” Beta Lucas said questioningly.

“No, they have just gotten better at hiding. I would bet that’s how she ended up in a human orphanage, because her parents kept her in the human world to keep her safe from us. I’ve come across a few in my time but not many.” Sarah said.

“Keep me safe from you?” I asked.

Sarah focused her eyes on the table in front of her, whereas Alpha Colton and Beta Lucas stared at their hands.

“Our kind has hunted yours as far back as our history goes. Your blood and your powers make you very valuable to werewolves.” She answered without looking up.