Chapter 42 Let Me Be the One

Cole's POV

“I do want to be with you Jean, my mind, my wolf and my body wants to be with you.”

“But your heart is calling out for Tasha.” She says. “I get it Cole, she was the one who was there when you had no one. She understood you when no one did. But did you ever think that maybe the reason the fates chose us to be together so we would learn to trust others? Learn to accept that we aren’t so great that we can go through this life alone.”

I watch her break hear heart with every word she spoke, and all I wanted was to shut her up.

“I was like you, I never believed in mates, until I saw Eric. How he hoped and fought to be with Serenity again, I learned that there will always be things in life that will hurt us, that doesn’t go as we planned. But it doesn’t mean that we should give up. That we should take those pain and disappointments to hope that tomorrow will be better, that we can’t get any lower than we already are.” At that moment I admired her more, seeing her speak with so much courage despite the pain she was probably in. And with ever spoken word I wanted to apologize and make everything right.

“That there are things that are worth the risk.”

Those were the words that I needed to make me act, but she pulled away from me. But I won’t let her, I don’t want to fight anymore.

“That would bruise for maybe a couple of days,” she begins as I make my way to her, “but if you-“

I grabbed her by the waist and twisted her to face me.

Nothing more was stopping me, she was mine.

And I sealed that thought with a kiss.

I stirred out of the best sleep I had since I could remember. I slowly moved over the bed, scared to wake up the girl beside me.

But to my surprise, the bed beside me was empty.

I sat up and looked around, the once bag filled room from last night was empty. As if no one was there the night before.

I shrugged, raised my knees up to my chest and rested my elbow as I ran my hands through my hair.

“Arrrgh!” I grabbed a pillow and tossed it across the room.

I dropped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

“This can’t be happening,” I said to myself, I run through my mind last night’s events.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I felt her tighten her hold of me after I marked her.

I breathed in her scent before I moved on top of her and stared at her.

“You marked me…”she said, surprised.

I smiled, “I had to, you’re my mate.”

She smiled and pulled me down and gave me a light kiss.

I lied down beside her and pulled her close to me, not wanting to let go.

“I promise never to hurt you again.” He whispered.

“I know.” She said moving nearer to me before she fell asleep.

After that I stared at her sleeping form for hours, memorizing every inch of her.

Running my hand over her cheek, her arms and taking her hands into mine and I held unto her before falling asleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

So now I really don’t know how she was able to escape me.

Why now? I thought.

Then I heard a car drive up in the front of the house, I sat up and listened a bit more. Then I rushed to put on my clothes on and ran to the front of the house.

When I reached the front steps I saw Siam and Jake about to enter the car.

“Cole, you’re up early.” Jake says.

“So are you.” I said, “Where are you going?”

“To the new City.” Siam says, “I’m thinking of moving there so that Crescent can go back to their old peaceful town.

“But Serenity-“

“Is safe with Eric.” Siam says, “After everything that she and Eric had been through, they deserve this.”

“So you’re just gonna pick up and leave?” I asked.

“Well, we’ve done what we’re meant to do.” Jake says, “Eric and Serenity are together now… somewhere, its time we give back to this town and this pack their peace and lives back.”

“But Anna would be alone in that place, isn’t it better that she has Cam and Gelya with her?”

Siam and Jake exchanged look before they faced me.

“What’s going on?” Jake asked.

“Nothing.” I said, “I’m just thinking about my sister.”

“No.” Siam says, “There’s something different-“ he stopped and I caught him sniff and then smiled, “You took her.”

“What?” I asked.

Jake stepped nearer and took a sniff as well. “You indeed took her.”

I groaned, “Fine, so I did.”

“Can’t stop yourself huh?” Jake teased.

“Apparently I can’t stop her either.” I said as I sat at the front steps of the house.

“You mean she still left?” Siam asked.

I nodded.

“Oh man,” Jake chuckled and sat beside me, “I guess she was serious about proving her worth.”

“I don’t understand it.” I said. “I thought this was what she wanted.”

“But I guess it wasn’t what she needed.” Siam says making me sigh again, then he sat beside me as well, “Listen Cole, I know this wouldn’t be fair to you, but… you deserved this.”

I gave him a look of disbelief, which he returned with a I know you know what I’m saying look. I shrugged and quietly agreed.

“And I hate to see what Aaron would do to you.” Jake says.

I chuckled, “I think he’d be pretty proud of me really.” I said.

“Really?”

“Really.” I repeated. “After last night, I don’t know, what will happen if I didn’t make the decision.”

“And what decision is that?”

“To stop fighting.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I stared at Jean as she run after Aaron.

She was suppose to be with me, checking on me. Not running after that jerk.

“Cole, are you ok?” Tasha knelt beside me and reached for my face.

I let her check it, but unlike before I felt nothing. There was no excitement of her touching me and checking on my bruise.

“Yeah…” I said, moving away from her.

“Better put ice on that,” Uncle Luke says, “I know what Aaron’s punch can do, I’ve seen it, and trust me you don’t want to leave that bruising.”

I nodded and sat down.

“Here.” Anna and Tasha passed me a wet cloth.

I glanced at Tasha and took Anna’s wet cloth, “Thank you.”

I covered my bruised with the cloth and stole a glance at Tasha who looked down at the cloth in her hands before setting it back on the table.

“Serenity did what she needed to do.” Anna says as she sat beside me.

“They would have never left if they didn’t think it was necessary.” Siam says.

“Still, they could have at least said something.” Anna says before she broke into tears, Siam sighed and took her in his arms.

“Baby, listen.” He says. “They need this. They need normality and a little peace. They need this so they can grow stronger.”

“But do they have to leave?” Anna sobbed.

“I guess it’s the only way that they can know each other as mates.” Liam adds. “At least one of us are actually doing what needs to be done.”

With that said he stood up and left.

“Let’s go baby,” Siam says as he picked up, “lets check on Ximm.”

Anna tucked her face deeper in his neck, continuing to cry.

“I think you should lie down too Cam.” Jake says pulling her up to her feet.

“I’m ok…”

“Baby, I know you’ll be taking this to the extreme thinking, and I don’t want you alone.” He says pulling her to his arms and leading her out of the room.

“I better check on the area.” Gelya says, “I wouldn’t be surprise if father has spies all over us.”

“I’ll come with.” Ken says.

“Me too.” Kendra says.

“I should check on Liam.” Uncle Luke says, “I’m pretty sure he isn’t at all happy about this.”

I watch them leave one by one.

I shrugged and tossed the wet cloth at the table.

“Cole?” I turned to Dana who gave me a smile and reached for my hand. “Sweety, I know it’s been hard for you, but its been hard for everyone else. Maybe you should start making it easier.”

She gave me a kiss on the forehead before heading to the kitchen. She always did have that cooking addiction when she was stressed.

At that moment it was just me and Tasha. She was sitting across me.

“Cole…”

“Please don’t.” I said tossing my head back.

“Cole listen to me first.” She says, “Aaron is right. We are hurting too many people already-“

“No-”

“Will you stop being stubborn?” she snapped.

“Will you just let me talk?” I snapped back, she sat back surprised. I shrugged and leaned forward, “Look, I know I haven’t been that nice or fair, not even civil with Jean, and I regret that now. I don’t even know why I even fought this.”

“Cause you don’t want change,” Tasha said, “you never did”

“And the one change that I want- that I needed- slipped out of my hands.”

“It’s not too late.” Tasha says. “You can make this right.”

I sat there thinking.

“You can make this right now.” Tasha says.

I chuckled, “Never seen you want to get rid of me.”

“I don’t.” she said, “But I just want to know what we’re doing now.”

“The right thing.” I said, “Liam’s a good guy, I knew there was something odd when he was looking for you right after he woke up.”

“Yeah, well it was odd when I first saw him too.” She sighed.

“You deserve a guy like Liam.” I said, “He’ll take care of you, more than I could, cause you’re his mate.”

“But you’ll always be there?”

I grinned, “I don’t think you can get rid of me that fast.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Wow.” Jake says after telling them the story.

“I know.” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

“What do you plan to do?”

“Follow her?” I said, “I mean, I obviously can’t live here knowing she’s somewhere out there alone and-“

“You do know she probably didn’t and wouldn’t give you her whereabouts right?” Siam asks.

“Why not?”

“You heard her, she’s doing this for herself.” Jake says.

“But I can’t just-“

“Just let her do her thing.”

“She’s studying to be a doctor, that would take her a decade or so-“

“And you’ll wait that long if you have to and if you can.” Siam says. “You’ve marked her, and she’s loyal, trust me, she’ll come home when she sees she should.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just trust her Cole.” Siam says, “Trust your mate.”

With that said they both stood up and walked toward the car.

“Hey Siam?” they turn to face me, “You think you have space in there?”

He grinned, “I think we have room to spare.”

“Good.” I stood up, “Cause I want to see where my sister is moving before you take her away.”

“I’m not taking her away Cole, you are coming-“

“No.” I said, “I’m gon’na go look for my mate after I have my baby sister and my nephew settled.”

Jake raised a brow, “You sure about that?”

I took a deep breath, clearing my mind. Siam and Jake had a point of just letting Jean do her thing, but I don’t want her away. Not anymore.

“Yes.” I said.

Jake and Siam exchanged look, “Cool.” Siam says, “Let me know when you’re leaving so I can hook you up and set it up.”

“What? No, I think I can-“

Siam chuckled, “No brother of mine is gonna run around all over the country and maybe even the globe in bare feet. Now get your ass up inside and shower, we’re leaving in half an hour.”

I smiled and did as the king, my brother in law, told me.

I ran upstairs to my room to change and pack. I then grabbed some cash from my savings and stashed the rest in my bag and some in my pocket.

That’s when I felt it.

I pulled out a paper from my pocket, a paper I’ve never seen before. I flipped it open and instantly knew what it was.

I slowly sat at the edge of my bed and read the letter.

Dearest Cole,

I know you’re probably furious that I still left. I don’t know what tonight meant, but I no longer have the strength to find out.

Last night was more than amazing, but I beg you please just let me be alone and think through this, at least for a while.

I need to do this for myself and my sanity. I should have never said that it was ok for you to love someone else, cause it shattered me into pieces. I shouldn’t have said I can manage without you, cause I obviously can’t. I shouldn’t have let go when I never even had the chance to hold on.

You will always have my heart Cole, always. For I don’t think I can even find someone else who I can love as much as I love you.

I know it would be too much to ask from you the same thing, so I guess I’ll just hold unto the memory of last night to get me through.

I love you Cole, you and only you.

Still hoping, Jean.

I dropped my arms on the side now back at square one.

She needed space from me. I broke her that much, no matter how much she doesn’t admit it, I was still one of the reason why she left.

“You are still going after her, right?”

I looked up and saw Tasha by the door.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to read your mind, I was just…”

I shook my head, “It’s cool… I just want to be left alone right now, please…”

“Cole, no.” Tasha walked toward me, “You are in the right track, you should go after her. You’ve made this mistake before and so did she, you both have to stop thinking of what’s best for the other one, think what’s best for both of you.”

“But she asked-“

“She’s hurting right now Cole, and I couldn’t be more sorry for being the reason for that, she thinks this is the only solution, but its not.” Tasha says, “She deserves to be happy Cole, and that’s with you.”

“I don’t even know where to begin looking for her.” I said frustrated.

She smiled and reached for my chest, over my heart.

“Just listen to this and let your wolf lead.” She says, “You’ve marked her, she’ll be easier to find.”

I sighed and nodded. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do.” She says.

“Will you be fine?” I asked, worried.

“Cole, I was kidnapped by hunters and vampires and got home without any bruise or wounds except from the chains they put on me and maybe a little hungry and dehydrated… I think I can manage.” I chuckled and so did she, “Besides, it looks like the fates are smiling down on us.”

I sighed and looked back at the letter, “Not all of us.”