41

I woke up the next morning beyond too hot, my body felt damp from the stifling heat as I slowly came out of my sleep.
In a sluggish daze, I kicked the blankets that were entwined around my legs and stretched out on the soft mattress.
A few seconds later, I sat bolt upright and took in my surroundings with blurred vision. I breathed a sigh of relief when the caravan room came into view and I remembered where I was.
I moved my head to the right to see Colton no longer occupied the bed next to me.
Frowning at his absence, I glanced at the digital clock that was sitting on the bedside table to find that it was ten in the morning. I yawned hugely, wondering who in their right mind got up before ten and wondering why I was even awake.
But the curiosity of where Colton was got the better of me and I got up out of bed.
I bent and picked up Colton’s baseball t-shirt that was lying in a heap on the floor and put it back on.
Quietly, I made my way over towards the door. When I opened it, I strained my ears to hear for any sound of Colton. I relaxed when I could hear him talking in the living room, it sounded like he was on the phone.
In need of a drink, I headed down the corridor, coming into the kitchen first. When I looked up, I could see Colton sitting on the couch with his mobile to his ear.
I won’t be back until Monday. No, tell Andy to keep an eye on him. I want to know as soon as he steps foot on my territory.
I frowned at his conversation, wondering who he was talking to. As if sensing my presence, Colton looked up and smiled when our eyes met.
He looked good as always, more so wearing causal clothes, which was a white t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. It strangely made him look his age.
I swallowed nervously and waved lamely at him, feeling quite shy after last night.
His smile widened as he stood up and started making his way over towards me, still on his phone.
Double up the security, and tell nobody where I am. He laughed down the phone a second later as he moved into the kitchen to where I was standing. Yeah, very secretive, just do as you’re told.
He hung up the phone just as I grabbed the carton of orange juice from the fridge and started filling up a glass I got out of one of the cupboards. I brought it to my lips, knocking back the cooling, bittersweet taste.
All the while Colton was still observing me, casually leaning against the counter, his eyes majestic and dark.
Once again I found myself lost in his tentative gaze once I lifted my eyes to him.
I turned and put the glass in the sink, attempting to wash it, but before I could, the heat of his body behind me stunned me into stillness. My heart began thumping against me as one his arms snaked around my waist from behind.
I bit my lip from groaning as the fingers of his free hand moved my hair from my neck and his warm lips placed a chaste kiss on the back of my neck.
Good morning, he murmured into my ear.
You too, I said breathlessly and turned to face him.
Colton took a step back, leaving my body cold. His expression became semi-serious.
We should talk.
I nodded once, pushing my hair behind my ear. I knew he wanted to talk about Jenny’s father.
Reluctantly, I followed him into the living room and sat next to him on the couch. But, just as we sat his mobile started to ring again. Rolling his eyes he answered.
What ?
I raised my eyebrow at his curt tone on the phone as he carried on the conversation with a very business-like demeanour.
No, I don’t care, tell nobody where I am. I widened my eyes at the seriousness of his tone. Whatever the other person was saying made Colton’s jaw clench. Do not involve Toby… Yes, I’m aware, but my family are not to be involved in this…okay.
What’s going on ? I asked after he hung up.
Nothing, just work. He looked at me, his eyes softening, but his facial expression still remained impassive. You didn’t say much about Jenny’s father last night ?
Maybe that was because I didn’t know what to say. I was left speechless after his little revelation last night. But in truth I was fighting to care. Why should I care when I want us out in the open ? I want people to know that I was seeing Colton.
But, saying that, it wasn’t as if there was anything going on between us anyway. Okay sure, we kiss a lot and he whisks me off to secluded little caravans in the middle of nowhere, but it wasn’t as if we were doing anything else.
You said you think he knows ?
He nodded. Remember Katy, Jenny’s sister ?
Yeah ? I nodded.
Well, she told Andrew to come and sniff you out. Apparently she was very suspicious of you being with me the other night, even though I told her you’re my assistant. However, now Jenny’s father knows and has been sending more of his wolves into my territory to watch you, that’s why I’ve been keeping my distance. Anyway, he’s very curious about you. You were mentioned in the meeting.
My eyes widened as I envisioned a bunch of manicured men in expensive suits sitting around a mahogany, circled table in a dark, candle lit room. They all had a glass of whiskey perched their hands and were laughing about my hair.
I shook my head mentally, knowing a bunch of rich men wouldn’t be discussing my hair, but still, it made me shiver knowing that I was being talked about.
Why ?
It was clever that Toby managed to eliminate my scent from you and mask it with his, but not very clever of him to lie and say that you were his mate. You were brought into the conversation because Andrew made a point of bringing it up in the meeting that Toby mated. Only problem is when a pureblooded wolf mates these days, other alpha’s from different packs are able to feel when a mating bond happens.
How is that possible ? If that was the case, then would they have felt a mating bond happen weeks ago when Colton chomped on me, in turn marking me as his ?
It’s a spiritual connection between purebloods, I don’t know how it works really. But I do know mates make packs stronger. I guess other alphas could become threatened by this, that’s why they can feel it when one happens. But like I said, it’s very rare it happens nowadays. All alphas in a five thousand mile radius felt our mating bond, though they do not know it was me.