by Clare Atling
‘And why the hell are all the lights on out back?’ Sarah held Maggie’s arm as she approached the doors. ‘Wait. We should call the guys in case someone has broken in.’ Maggie just laughed.
‘Oh, someone’s broken in all right and they have probably eaten their way through tomorrow’s offerings, as well. I’ve reason to believe Hope and Colt had a huge fight. When me and Brandon tried to help, she ran off. I thought she might be here.’
‘It’s so unfair. I bet she doesn’t gain a pound.’ Callie laughed as she rubbed her hands over her stomach. ‘Come on, then. Let’s go find out what happened and see if we can fix this.’
Sarah opened the door and called out to Hope. She didn’t want to startle her and make her run again.
‘It’s us, Hope. You better leave me something so I can open shop tomorrow.’ They walked in to find Hope sitting at the counter with raspberry ripple ice cream and a spoon. Beside her were three more spoons just waiting to be picked up. ‘Expecting someone?’ Sarah smiled and picked the spoons up and handed one to Maggie and Callie.
‘I knew you bitches would find me,’ she sniffed. ‘And I really didn’t want to eat all this ice cream by myself.’ She smiled at them, but the girls could see she was clearly still upset.
‘Oh honey, what’s happened? Maggie said you and Colt had a fight?’ Callie rubbed her back to comfort her.
‘Alex came round to watch a film. I didn’t really think about it, but looking back I would have been pissed if I’d found Colt on the sofa with one of his ex-girlfriends.’ Hope sniffed again and swiped her tears away with her hand.
‘But you and Alex never dated?’ Sarah looked confused.
‘No, but we were kind of friends with benefits before Colt came on the island.’ Sarah smiled, but shook her head. ‘Please don’t tell my brothers,’ continued Hope. ‘They’ll kill him. We’re friends, nothing more.’
‘Right. That man is H.O.T.’ Callie fanned her face as she spelt the word out.
‘And you’re supposed to be mated to my brother!’ Hope rolled her eyes as the others laughed.
‘Doesn’t mean I can’t look,’ said Callie. ‘So, you and he were hot and heavy before Colt, and he caught you two watching TV. Well, I can see how he would have put two and two together and come up with ten. What happened next?’ Callie dug into the ice cream tub and watched Hope, waiting for an answer.
‘I basically accused him of raping other girls.’ They all stared at her for a moment before she spoke again. ‘I know he didn’t, but now I feel like a bitch. He said he didn’t want me near him again and that he only fucked me, his words not mine, for revenge against my brothers...’ Her tears were falling again.
‘Oh baby girl.’ Callie reached around her and the others followed suit to wrap her in a warm hug. Hope was so glad her brothers hadn’t messed up with their mates and that Maggie, Callie and Sarah were in her life. ‘It’s just words,’ continued Callie. ‘He must have been pissed with the thought of another male being near you. Logan still hates it when me and Brandon are together, but on the reverse I guess I don’t like it when I see the other unmated females looking at Logan. It just means he likes you enough to be jealous.’ They all let go and sat back down, tucking in, once again, to the ice cream.
‘I guess I’ve known him the longest, but I don’t really know him,’ said Maggie. ‘His father was the meanest person I’ve ever met and, although Colt will always terrify me, he never once hurt me. That has to mean something.’ Hope knew Maggie would always carry the scars of her past with Marcus for all those years, but Brandon loved her and she was rebuilding her life here on the island.
‘What if he really doesn’t ever want to see me again?’ said Hope. ‘My wolf isn’t talking to me. She thinks I’m a bitch for pushing our mate away. I’m not submissive by nature and he just pissed me off.’
‘Girl, you will never be submissive,’ replied Sarah, ‘and I think Colt needs someone like you to keep him in line. Whatever you choose, we will always be behind you. Your brothers will come around to the idea of you and him as mates.’ Sarah was mated to Seth, who was the alpha of the pack. His word was pretty much law amongst them, but she knew he wouldn’t ever get in the way of his mate.
‘Thanks guys,’ said Hope. ‘My brothers don’t know how lucky they are to have you.’ The thought of her brothers and their mates made her start crying again.
‘Oh, Hope,’ said Sarah, putting her arm around her. ‘Let the dust settle and go speak to him. He can’t leave the island, so he will be here somewhere. I’ve even asked Seth if Colt can go to the mainland and help with the construction side of the spa. I mean, the sooner they are finished the sooner we get our spa weekend. Up there for thinking, down there for dancing.’ Sarah pointed to her head and feet as she spoke, making the other girls laugh. ‘Now, I happen to know the owner of this bakery has fresh cream and killer Death by Chocolate cake left over. I think this calls for a chocolate emergency.’ She got up and walked to the refrigerator.
‘I love you guys so much.’ Hope reached over and squeezed Maggie’s hand. ‘I mean, what if you never came to the island and opened a bakery? I wouldn’t have anywhere to go when I needed my sweet fix.’ She smiled at Callie.
‘We are always here for you, Hope,’ replied Callie. ‘Never doubt that. Plus, baking cakes is just a bonus for times like these.’ She tucked into the slice Sarah had just put in front of her. There was no more talking as the girls sat eating the delicious chocolate treat.
Chapter Eight
‘Another shot, please.’ Colt slammed the glass down on the counter. He was more pissed than he could ever remember and, since getting off the island was a no go at the moment, he was resigned to drowning his sorrows. As a wolf, he burnt off the alcohol quicker than humans did, which was fine with him because it meant he could drink all the more.
‘I don’t know, man. I think you’ve had enough.’ The young wolf behind the counter was looking at him as if he wanted to make a run for it.
‘I said another one, god damn it! You fucking people have such high standards. Just give me the bottle and fuck off.’ Colt slammed his fist down on the counter, but the boy was looking behind him now. Colt caught the scent of the alpha wolf, his hands already turning into claws, ready to fight.
‘It’s okay, Rafe,’ said Seth calmly. ‘Give him another and pour one for us as well.’ He took the seat next to Colt at the bar. Brandon sat the other side, while Logan sat beside Seth. They were all looking at him.
‘What the fuck do you all want?’ hissed Colt.
‘Well, for starters, how the hell did you get out of your cell?’ Seth didn’t look too concerned. But then, Colt realised that, on an island full of wolves that would jump to the alpha’s protection, he would never win a fight against him here. ‘Plus, I want to know why the fuck you sent my sister off in tears.’ Colt felt his heart squeeze at the thought of Hope crying.
‘None of your fucking business.’ He didn’t want to sit here discussing how he had fucked up with Hope.
‘Wrong.’ Logan stood, scraping the chair behind him. Even for a wolf, Colt was big, but Logan towered over him. ‘My mate, your sister, left me to go and find Hope after she ran off. That makes it my business. Plus, if Dad’s right and you’re her mate, then you need to get used to all the family interference because we will never, ever let you hurt Hope.’ Logan was still standing, making it perfectly clear that any wrong turn and he would come after Colt.
‘Right, because it’s all my fault. Your sister fucks your best friend, but that’s okay. But find out her mate’s related to a homicidal maniac and it’s all my fucking fault.’ Colt snorted and downed his next drink.
‘Firstly, don’t talk about Hope like that. She is still our baby sister. Secondly, who are you talking about?’ Logan looked confused.
‘Ask your friend Alex. Seems those two have an agreement between them when she’s not spreading her legs for me…’ Colt felt the hands on his shoulders as Logan dragged him from his chai
r and threw him across the room. He smashed against the wall and slumped to the floor. Shit, he must be more drunk than he thought. He saw Logan coming for him with a pissed look on his face. Well, it was his fucking family that had started all this.
‘Don’t you ever talk about Hope like that,’ hissed Logan. ‘I’m going to let that one slide – and, believe me, we will be speaking to Alex about what you said. But Hope would never cheat on you, ever. You don’t think we see the way she’s changed since you’ve been on the island? She’s like Brandon all the fucking time. Smiling like a lovesick puppy.’ Brandon walked up next to Logan.
‘Fuck off, Logan. Like you’re any better.’ Brandon shoved Logan out of the way and reached a hand to help Colt up. Colt looked at the proffered hand with distrust, but then reached out and took it.
‘Colt,’ began Brandon, ‘I know we don’t know you very well, and I know we as a family have done nothing to try and fix that, but if you are truly Hope’s mate then we at least have to try and like you. Don’t get me wrong, it will take a lot to trust you and we will always be watching you, but Logan's right. Hope has changed since you’ve been here. She seems, well, happy.’ Colt had never heard Brandon say so much. He was usually so quiet whenever he was on watch duty. He was Maggie’s mate from what he gathered, and she seemed happy here, as well.
‘I fucked up tonight with Hope,’ he replied. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to sit around and talk girl talk with you. But it means a lot that you didn’t just come down here and beat the shit out of me.’ Logan snorted and still looked pissed. Seth moved Logan out of the way and stepped in front of Colt.
‘Well, that was our first plan,’ he said, ‘but when we saw you looking like shit at the bar we kind of reached the conclusion that you had put yourself through enough. Like Brandon says, trust has to be earned and it will take a long time before we trust you. Hope is our sister and we will protect what is ours with our lives. We understand it was your father and not you that started all this, and the fact you helped our mates get away from that sick fuck helps your case. That said, if you put one foot out of place we will be your judge, jury and executioners. You understand?’ Seth let his alpha power swirl around him. He was on edge because Colt was himself an alpha, but he didn’t sense any challenge coming from him.
Colt looked at him. ‘You know, as much as I hate you all, you’re so damn nice. Shit, I want to hate you all, but you’re right. Since meeting Hope, something’s calmed inside of me, but that thought runs both ways and I don’t trust you pricks, either.’ Colt smiled at Logan, knowing it would piss him off and, by the look on Logan’s face, it was working.
Colt ran his hands through his hair. He knew he needed to speak to Hope, but not yet. He couldn’t face her after what he had said to her. As if sensing his problem, Brandon put his hand on Colt’s shoulder.
‘She’s fine,’ he said. ‘The girls are all at the bakery drowning their sorrows in Sarah and Callie's cakes. I suspect they will be so high from all the sugar that we’ll be lucky if they get any sleep tonight.’ He slapped Colt’s back and walked back to the bar. Colt heard him order four coffees and he grimaced, realising that they still wanted to speak to him. He had nothing to say but, if he wanted to make this work with Hope, he had to at least try. He forced himself to follow them back to the bar.
Seth sat next to him at the counter. ‘We wanted to talk to you about a job. It wasn’t my idea, but Callie’s. She suspected you would need something to do if you were to fit in here – and, of course, we could use the help.’ Seth didn’t look at him as he spoke. Colt knew it took a lot for him to be offering the job, but he wanted to build that bridge with Callie as well and, if she thought he could do it, he would try.
‘Doing what? I’m not good at much, and never had the chance to learn a skill except things I won’t ever go into. Oh, and I’m sure as shit not picking up trash around the island, if that’s what you’re thinking.’ Colt was done being someone’s lackey.
‘No, nothing like that – although, Logan suggested it.’ Seth shared a look with Logan that showed he wasn’t joking. Shit, he hated that huge wolf, even if he was his sister’s mate. ‘But we could use some help at the spa,’ continued Seth. ‘We’re just a few weeks over the deadline, but it has to open on time. Plus, we promised the ladies a weekend there, and I know for one I’ll be in deep shit if we’re late on that promise. Brandon and I will do the bulk of the work, but we need you to work with Logan on the finishing touches – electrical and plumbing, if you’re up to it.’
Colt was silent for a while before answering. ‘Well, it beats sitting here staring into space,’ he replied. ‘Whatever. When do I start?’ He felt a rush of something he hadn’t felt in nearly four hundred years. It was the feeling of being needed.
‘Tomorrow. Alex runs the boat out at seven in the morning and we won’t be back on the island till late. Remember, we will be watching you. Any signs of you working with your father and you won’t like the consequences.’ Seth meant business. Even though Colt was older than him by a few hundred years, he still felt the alpha’s strong power.
‘The next time I see my father will be when I tear his throat out,’ he replied. ‘I get you don’t trust me, but don’t presume to piss me off by ordering me around. I get you’re in charge and I have no desire to take over your pack, but I’ll help you out for Callie’s sake and also because I’m shit bored sitting here. But that’s it.’ Colt didn’t mean to be so gruff, but he was unsure how to deal with these new feelings.
‘Fine. That’s all we ask.’ With that, Seth finished the coffee Brandon had put down moments earlier and stood. ‘I’m off to drag my mate away from that bakery before she can’t fit through the door. Colt.’ He nodded to Colt and made to leave. Brandon and Logan stayed to finish their drinks, then left soon after, leaving Colt alone to think through what had just happened.
Did that mean he no longer had to stay in that damn cell? But then again, he had nowhere else to go. If he hadn’t pissed Hope off he could be with her now, but he needed time to think about what was said and he also needed time to calm down. He was still pissed that she and Alex were cuddling on the sofa when she should have been with him. He shook his head to dislodge his thoughts. This family was so closely knitted together he could see why his father had never defeated them. They looked after each other with love and care, just how a family should, not being used and abused like he had been. Fuck, he really didn’t want to like this family, but they were growing on him.
He pushed away from the counter and made his way back to the hard cot in his cell. At least tonight the door would remain open and he had a job to do in the morning that didn’t involve his father.
Chapter Nine
A whole week had passed without any word from Colt and Hope suspected it was over. She knew from Callie that he was helping her brothers finish the spa and she was pleased for him that he felt he could help out with the job. Seth and Brandon said he worked hard and finished the job they had given him on time, but didn’t ask or say anything about her.
She knew it was over. He didn’t want her because she hadn’t been a virgin before he met her and that she’d practically shoved his past in his face when she promised she wouldn’t. She physically couldn’t eat any more cake or ice cream because, even though she had a fast metabolism, she knew she would have to take extra runs to burn it off; instead, she switched to episodes of CSI on the TV to get her through the next few hundred years without her mate.
Tears burnt her eyes again, even though she had already promised herself she wouldn’t cry for him again. Nope, pity party was over and Nick Stokes was calling. She would drawl over him instead. This weekend, the girls were going to the spa for the opening and her brothers had promised them a full weekend of luxury. Of course, she knew that meant her brothers and their mates would be in bed most of the weekend, but she was taking full advantage of the hot tub and sauna. Her weekend was going to be an official ‘no thinking about Colt’ weekend. Wel
l, that was the plan.
Hope thought that three hours of the crime drama was enough, so she turned off the TV and headed towards her room. The constant crying and moping around was taking its toll on her and she was tired. As she entered her room, she saw Colt sitting on the bed, startling her.
‘Don’t you have a fucking bell or something?’ she shouted. ‘You’re always scaring the shit out of me.’
Colt didn’t say anything; instead, he just looked down at his hands that were clenched on his thighs. As much as she wanted to say something, she couldn’t think what, so she walked over to him slowly in case he was still cross with her. She ran her fingers through his hair and gasped as he grabbed her hips and pulled her tight against him so his head was resting on her stomach. There she went again with the tears. She could feel his emotions running through her, the sadness and fear. She didn’t know what he had to be frightened of, though.
‘Colt, I’m sorry for what I said. I shouldn’t have said those things. I just…’ She didn’t get to finish, as he stood and smashed his mouth down onto hers. Every thought and all the pain of the last week vanished from her mind at the taste of her mate. Colt’s lips were firm and hard, pressed against hers, letting her know he was in charge. But she wasn’t one to argue. She had missed him and, judging by his reaction to her, he had missed her too. His deep growl vibrated all the way to the soles of her feet and she relished the feeling of his hot body pressed against hers.
Hope kissed Colt back, letting him feel everything she was feeling pour into that kiss. She loved him and she didn’t care if he knew. As if he felt what she was thinking, he ended the kiss but kept her in his arms, just looking down at her.
‘Hope, I know I fucked up and it probably won’t be the last time. But…’ He shook his head as if he needed to clear his thoughts. ‘But when I smelt that other wolf in here with you I couldn’t help but get pissed off. You’re mine, Princess. I don’t ever want to share you with anyone, but I also don’t want to keep you locked away. My wolf is snapping at me for not seeing you this last week.’ Hope pressed a finger to his lips.