He hadn’t lied when he told her he loved her, but he had lied when he said they would be together forever. He had lied to himself, and to her. He couldn’t keep her.
His stomach rolled as he picked up his phone again and dialed the number for one of his connections.
“Ja,” Devon’s German accent rang through the phone, after the third ring.
“Devon, I need a favor,” Cole answered.
“When don’t you need a favor?” his old friend taunted him.
“Ha ha,” Cole rolled his eyes, but smiled a little at his friends sense of humor. “I need you to alter some papers for me. I am coming to your place now.”
He heard rustling in the background and what sounded like a woman’s voice.
“Uhh, what time will you be here?” Devon asked and Cole wanted to take a dig at him for having a lady friend, but didn’t.
Devon was a wolf shifter, and one of the only types of shifters to mate for life. Cole envied him now, and the thought the woman in the background might be his mate made Cole want to cry because of the pain he felt inside his chest for losing Elizabeth.
“I will be there in about two hours,” Cole stated, more briskly than he wanted to.
“Okay,” Devon replied. “I will see you then.”
Devon hung up before Cole could respond, but Cole heard the conversation between the two before the phone went dead. Whoever the woman was, wasn’t Devon’s mate, so Cole relaxed a bit, knowing Devon was still without the one meant for him either. He knew it was selfish of him to wish that on his friend, but he didn’t think he could deal with seeing his friend with his true mate at the moment.
*****
When Liz woke up, she turned in the bed to smile at her mate and found he was not lying next to her, as he should have been. She lied there for a moment staring at the empty space next to her, and then she turned to look at the bathroom door, which was wide open.
“Cole?” she called, hoping that he’d just gone into the living room or kitchen to make breakfast.
However, when she didn’t get a reply, she got worried. She sat up and threw the covers off her naked body, then stood up and went into the living room in search of him, only to find he was nowhere in the house. She went to the front door and tried the knob. Finding it unlocked, she threw the door open and walked outside, gloriously naked and not giving a damn. She went around the porch to the garage and saw the lock was off, so she pulled the garage door up and found that Cole’s Hummer was missing.
Angry that he would just take off like that without even saying a word after last night, she stormed back into the house, slamming the door behind her. As the door swung closed, it created a large gust of wind that blew through the house and a small white piece of paper flew off the kitchen counter and flittered to the floor.
Liz went to investigate, and as she bent over to pick up the paper, she noticed Cole’s handwriting.
Elizabeth,
I have gone to end the terror that is ruining your life. I am going to keep you safe, meine Leibe, at all costs, and know you will only be safe when this is over. I will be back by nightfall and you will be free from this threat.
I made you some breakfast. It is in the oven, keeping warm. Please don’t worry, Elizabeth, I will not be harmed, and soon you will be safe.
I love you and will love you forever.
Love Always,
Cole
Tears burned her eyes and dropped onto the paper as she read. She felt so much joy and peace knowing that her mate loved her so much he would go to any cost to keep her safe. She just hoped that whatever he did, he didn’t get himself hurt.
Liz couldn’t help but smile as she rounded the counter and looked inside the oven door at the large plate of bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast. She loved him so much and decided she needed to figure out a way of showing him just how much.
She pulled the food out and sat at the table to eat it with her fingers as she considered what she could do to show him. As she thought, she remembered her mother always making a big meal for the family, just because she wanted the entire family to sit and eat together. She looked around Cole’s kitchen and figured it couldn’t be too hard to light the stove without catching the house on fire.
After breakfast, she would get dressed and see what he had in his deep freeze for meat. She knew he had to store it there because there was no way he could have kept it in that junkie refrigerator of his.
Gods, she had so many things to update and upgrade about his place, starting with getting hot water to the bathroom so she could take a shower. She could really use one of those right about now.
She decided she’d take a bath while whatever meat she chose thawed. Then she would cook and clean, making everything nice. Then, to top it off she would wear some of the lingerie she snuck in her suitcase when Cole wasn’t paying attention, not because she thought she’d wear it, but because she was being defiant.
She had a little black lace teddy with ties on the side to hold it together and lace thong panties to match. She couldn’t wait for him to see her in them. She would cook and set up the table, and then change into the lingerie and wait at the table for him, wearing just that. Hopefully, he didn’t take too long after the food was done, otherwise she worried she might freeze to death before he got there. She pictured him walking in and her frozen like a Popsicle to the chair, wearing nothing but her teddy and panties, and she giggled to herself at the image it created.
After she was finished eating she went to get dressed and start on her mission for the day. Mission, seduce Cole.
*****
Devon was alone by the time Cole got to his house. He sat in his living room staring at him as if he had just grown three heads.
“So, let me get this straight,” Devon stated. “You want me to alter these IDs for some supermodel American woman, you’ve been fucking, so she can get back to America without having hired assassins kill her?”
“Yes,” Cole answered.
“What if they already know she is still alive?” Devon asked, incredulously. “Do you realize they could have a hit out for you now as well? They could even be after me for just talking to you.”
“No one will come near you, don’t worry,” Cole stated, flatly.
“How do you know?” Devon replied.
“I’m going to kill every one of them,” Cole told him, matter-of-factly.
Devon frowned at him, and then realization dawned on his face, “You’ve found your mate.”
Cole growled, “Lynx-shifters do not have lifelong mates. She is nothing more than a willing vessel for my kit.”
Devon smirked and looked at the picture of Elizabeth that Cole had handed him, “A pretty hot willing vessel. Maybe you wouldn’t mind me using her for some of my pups too.”
Cole snarled and jumped over the table, separating the two men, grabbing Devon by his collar and pulling him toward him until their faces were just inches apart, “You will not touch her.”
Devon just laughed, slapping Cole’s hands away as Cole looked at him, confused, “I knew it. She’s your mate.”
“I told you Lynx-shi-“
“Yeah, yeah, lynx-shifters don’t have lifelong mates. Tell that to your dad,” Devon retorted.
“My father was miserable when my mother died and his misery killed him. I do not want to feel the same when Elizabeth finds her true mate and leaves me.” Cole admitted, running his fingers through his hair.
“And you don’t think you’d feel it now, if she left you?” Devon asked, and Cole didn’t want to answer, knowing that he would feel it.
“I have to keep her safe and happy, and she won’t be either with me. She is better off at home, in America, where she can be protected and have a chance to find her true mate.” Cole huffed out, leaning his head against the back of his chair.
“What if you’re her true mate?” Devon countered.
Cole snapped his head back and glared at his friend, “I already told you that would be impossib
le. Lynx-shifters don’t mate for life and she is immortal, I am not. Fate would not be so cruel as to put an immortal with someone who would die on them in the end.”
“Maybe there’s a way for you to become immortal like her,” Devon answered. “They turn humans all the time. Why not shifters?”
Cole thought about it, a flicker of hope lighting in his heart, but then he squashed it, shaking his head no, “It’s impossible.”
His friend growled, “You are a stupid and stubborn man, Cole.”
“Ja, I know this,” Cole replied. “Now will you do what I ask or not? I have other things I need to do.”
“Fine,” Devon snapped. “Give me a couple of hours and I will have your identification altered for you. But don’t come crying to me when you start missing her and feel alone.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Cole snapped back, but he didn’t know if it were true or not.
He loved Elizabeth, and had already begun to feel the loss of her. All he wanted to do was run home, hold her in his arms, and make sure she never went away. However, he hardened himself to the feelings and just got up from the table.
“I will see you in two hours,” he stated, before he just walked out of his friend’s house and back onto the cold streets of Bayerisch Eisenstein.
He couldn’t let himself hope for an eternity with Elizabeth, it just wasn’t possible. There had never been a case where a shifter and a vampire were true mates and there would never be one. He would just be setting himself up for more heartache if he hoped for that.
He crossed the street, to a little pub, deciding there would be the best place to sit and wait for his friend to finish his work, while Cole drank his sorrows away.
Chapter Nine
Cole pulled up next to the cottage, noticing the smoke billowing out of the chimney and the flickering of candlelight in the window. He parked the Hummer and went to open the garage door, pausing for a second as uncertainty fell over him.
What was she planning inside? Could he resist her enough to push her away? Did he even want to?
He opened the garage door and parked the Hummer inside, then just sat there looking down at her passport. Devon had changed her name to Anne Jacobs, and altered her photo a bit for her to appear as if she had lost some weight and was now a blonde, when she was really a brunette. She still looked beautiful to Cole with the extra weight around her face.
He wondered what it would be like to see her that way, bloated with his kit inside her.
He shook his head to dispel the image and got out of the Hummer. He had to steel himself for what he was about to do. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to save his heart when this was over, but at least he would save her life.
*****
Liz saw the headlights of the Hummer pull up and dropped the robe she was wearing to keep herself warm, so she could position herself at the table, as seductively as possible.
She grew worried when he didn’t come in right away, but was relieved when she heard his footsteps on the porch.
He opened the door slowly and just stood there, looking around the cottage. Liz had spent the day dusting and cleaning it, and she had also managed to cook a meal of roasted venison, potatoes, and vegetables, along with some fresh baked bread.
His eyes scanned the room as he walked in and Liz noticed he seemed to be avoiding looking at her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, nervous now.
“No,” he replied, too quickly. “I was just looking at what a good job you did with the cottage.”
“Well, I cooked dinner as well,” she said, spreading out her arms as if to show case the food. “Why don’t you come and sit down?”
Cole looked at the table, and then looked at her. His eyes suddenly burned with desire, making her panties go wet, and he visibly swallowed.
“It looks delicious,” he stated, but Liz was pretty sure he wasn’t talking about the food.
He scanned her lace, see thru teddy, with ribbons on the side to untie and pull it off, from the tip of the bow on her shoulder to her swollen breasts and hard nipples, down to the ‘v’ of her thighs, where her thong covered up, but she sat with her legs wide open to let him see how wet she was.
He swallowed again, but didn’t move to come and get her, which made her insecure, so she closed her legs, crossing one over the other. His eyes darted up to hers and she could see the longing in them, but she also saw regret.
She suddenly wanted to cry, knowing that he regretted being with her.
“I’m sorry,” she said, standing up. “I’ll go put something else on, while you eat.”
She almost made it to the bedroom door before an arm wrapped around her waist pulling her toward his hard body.
“Don’t, Elizabeth,” he commanded. “It’s not that I don’t want you.”
She turned in his arms and pushed at his shoulders until he let go and she could take a few steps back.
“Then what is it?” she asked, tears already spilling out, in spite of her trying to keep them back.
“I can’t,” he stated, and she suddenly had to urge to punch him.
“Can’t what? Stand me? Look at me? Love me?” she shot out, her voice rising with each question.
“I will always love you, meine Leibe,” he stated, frowning at her. “But, I can’t keep you here.”
“You aren’t keeping me here,” she replied, reaching for him, only to have him step out of her reach. “I want to be here.”
He turned around, with his back toward her, “I don’t want you here.”
His words stabbed through her heart like a dagger, and all she could do was whisper, “Why?”
He turned to face her, his face a mask of anger now, “Because I know that one day you will leave me for your true mate, and take my heart with you.”
“T-That’s not true,” she spluttered.
“The hell it isn’t,” he yelled. “I know all about vampires and how they have one true mate. One day some asshole will come along and take you from me and I can’t do a thing about it.”
“B-But, you are my true mate,” she stated, angry with herself for not saying something sooner.
“I’m what?” he asked, stepping back and giving her a derisive look.
“You’re my true mate, my one and only,” she replied, stepping toward him to put her hand on his chest. “The one I’m meant to spend eternity with.”
He just stared down at her for a moment, the anger evaporated from his features. Then he stepped back again, and Liz noticed they were getting closer to the front door.
“That’s impossible,” he stated, matter-of-factly. “Lynx-shifters do not mate for life and even if we did, you would live for eternity, while I would die in a couple hundred years.”
“I know it sounds impossible, Cole, but it’s true,” she ground out through gritted teeth, frustrated with his stubbornness now. “I knew the moment I saw you, who you were.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” he asked, accusingly.
“Because you acted as if you couldn’t stand me,” she snapped back. “You told me you didn’t want me. What was I supposed to do, beg you to mate with me?”
“We are still not mated,” he shot out. “We just had sex. Vampires have to turn their mates in order for the mating bond to form.”
“I know that,” she stomped her foot, and pointed her finger at him. “I have no idea how this works with a shifter, but I know you are my mate, Cole.”
“It doesn’t work with a shifter,” he answered, then reached his arm out and for the first time she noticed he was holding something. “Here, take these, they’re yours.”
She recognized her passport and driver’s license, but the picture on her license made her look chubby and she had brown hair.
“What are you doing with those?” she asked.
“I did what I said I would. I ended the threat,” he replied. “I told my contact that you were dead and I had your identification altered, so you could get back to Ameri
ca safely and go home.”
“This is my home,” she whispered, tears falling freely now.
“This is my home, not yours,” Cole replied, harshly. “Now I have taken care of everything for you, so I suggest you go and get dressed, and then pack your things, so I can take you to the airport.”
“No, I won’t go,” she practically screamed.
“You will go, even if I have to drag you,” he responded, coming up to her to tower over her.
She glared up at him, “You don’t really mean this, Cole. You don’t really want me to go.”
She saw the sadness in his eyes at her words, but he masked his features quickly.
“Yes, I do,” he replied.
“If you really want me to go, then look me in the eyes, and tell me you don’t want me, tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll go,” she implored.
He looked into her eyes and for a split second, she thought he would change his mind, but then he spoke, “I don’t want you, and I don’t love you. Now go home. Maybe you can make amends with your sister and be a better person from now on.”
He turned away from her and raced out of the house. She caught a glimpse of him shifting into his lynx form and his clothes scattering in the wind, but then he was gone completely.
Liz closed the door, shivering from the cold draft, and then she leaned against it as she burst into tears and slid to the floor to wrap her arms around herself to cry.
*****
Cole wanted to cry. He wanted to howl, cry, and rip everything he saw apart. He ran through the woods in his lynx form trying to run away from the sweet and delicious scent of her skin, but it was no use because it clung to him.
Images of the sorrow and pain he saw on her face when he told her he didn’t love her passed through his mind, making him want to cry even more. Luckily, he was in his lynx form or he probably would have been like a balling baby on the forest floor.
Lizzy's Lessons (The Hunt Family Series) Page 11