Chapter 44: Forty-four.

Calum ran as fast as his legs would carry him, he needed to get away, in part from Robert Campbell, but mostly from the hurt he had just caused his beautiful mate. He was overwhelmed with his own anger and shame, and right now he needed to clam down and clear his head. He could feel Colt's doubt and anger, rippling along through their bond, and it was eating away at him like a starved animal. He knew he would explain later, and take all the punishments he deserved to make it up to her. But, right now he needed to be on his own, blowing off steam, and not at home, possibly starting a scrap with Colt's uncle, and her cousin, in front of his future in laws.

He was about eight miles away before he stopped. His muscles were aching, and his throat burned as his lungs heaved in as much air as possible. The exertion had done his mind good though, and he would ache tomorrow, however, for now he was calm.

But, that's when it hit him a wave of pure anxiety and fear, fear that felt directly linked with Colt. It was nauseating, and Calum couldn't explain it further, he just knew he had to get to her. To protect her from whatever it was that was upsetting her. He realised, he should have never left her. The anxiety was growing, and Calum understood that something was seriously wrong, he had to get back to his mate as quickly as he possibly could.

He found himself wishing he had chosen at least a dozen different locations to run to, rather than the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere. He was utterly useless out here. At least if he had ran to Alasdair's for example, who lived about eight miles from Colt, and could have driven him back to the croft, quicker than he could ever run. But, he hadn't and he internally damned himself for his desire to be alone. His aloof nature, leaving his mate vulnerable to whatever it was that had her so afraid. He vowed it would never happen again, he would be better, for her, he had to be.

His first and most pressing thoughts were of Elijah Lupus. That the wolf had come to claim her, and force her to go back to the States with him. As remorseful as Calum believed him to be, he couldn't help but acknowledge, if the shoe were on the other foot, he would move heaven and earth to get Colt back, and it would kill him if she said no.

But, then he thought, surely her parents would intervene for her well being, especially knowing the damage that the wolf had caused to Colt's emotional state before; and then he found himself desperate to know, why was it Colt seemed so afraid? Elijah had hurt her yes, but she was strong in the face of him. This was more, there was an underlying panic, that for some unknown reason, he just couldn't bring himself to associate with Elijah.

Calum just couldn't understand it, and so he ran. As fast as his legs would carry him, fuelled by a desperate adrenaline, that didn't ease any when her fear shifted to rage. Every inch of his body was on fire, despite the chill rising in the night air, and not just with the desperate need to get to her, but with the physical pain of his exertion. He was pushing his body to a speed he didn't know he was capable of, and he just prayed to whoever would listen, that he could maintain it.

Colt's rage was like nothing he had ever felt before, blinding him in it's intensity. His chest felt like it was being seared with the heat of it, and when it suddenly burst within him he stumbled. Mid step Calum lost his footing and fell, his body following his buckling legs as he rolled over himself, his head colliding with a rock, and sending the world around him into a haze.

He stood, trying to shake off the pain, but the cloudiness between his ears only increased with every shake of his head. He was only a couple of miles away now though, but Colt's fluctuating emotions were still wreaking havoc with his system. Annoyed with himself now for his misstep, as much as anything else, he forged steadily forward on wobbly legs. Waiting for the pain in his head to subside, and allow him to orientate his focus again.

Then Calum heard it, Colt. A long mournful howl, and the answering howl of another equally distressed wolf.

The noise seemed to give his purpose more importance, and with his head slowly clearing he began picking up speed again, until he was on the croft, and approaching the house with slow deliberate steps, trying to assess what exactly had went on. He slowed on his final approach, his eyes daring in every direction as he took in the scene in front if him.

Isla was crying, being held in Kalvin's arms and being pulled the towards the house, and away from the beach she seemed to be attempting to travel towards. Felix seemed to have someone in a choke hold, as a wolf appeared from the beach, shifting to reveal Lewis, as he ran to help his Dad get his Mother inside.

Calum's vision skirted back to Felix as the scent of blood assaulted his nostrils. He had to keep reminding himself, he heard Colt. *'She howled, she is alive,'* all while he stealthily approached further. But, when Felix turned, and revealed it was Angus Bruce in his grasp, Calum simply saw red.

They had never gotten on, rivals for their entire lives; but knowing he was here, at Colt's home, when there was clearly trouble afoot. It was enough to send Calum's control spiralling into the abyss, and he all but flew the rest of the distance, leaping at Angus and shifting mid jump, the force knocking Angus from Felix's grasp, as the two men landed in a heap.

Before Angus could register what was going on, Calum was pummeling his fists into his face, as the temperature outside dropped further and their bodies began to be pelted with sleet.

The lambing storm had arrived.

Angus' nose crunched under the impact of Calum's fist, just before his cheek bone shattered as the right hook made its second blow. His skin began splitting everywhere Calum made contact with it, from the sheer force of his rival's rage.

Calum had Angus' collar in one hand, holding him in place beneath him, as his right hand just kept pummeling, showing no intentions of letting up.

On auto pilot Angus had initially tried to block Calum's punches, but it wasn't long before he had passed out, and he just lay there absorbing his punishment.

Felix just watched allowing Calum to inflict the pain he knew the low life deserved. As far as he was concerned, should the man die, he could occupy a similar space in hell to his uncle, for the trouble he had clearly brought to Colt's door.

It was Lewis who, upon hearing the commotion, ran outside and pulled Calum off his target, while Angus lay there unmoving, his breathing shallow and raspy.

Calum fought Lewis for every step, desperately wanting to finish what he had started and kill Angus once and for all. It was Isla's voice which echoed in the night, and ceased his struggles.

"ENOUGH! " She screamed out, "No more!" There was a finality to her voice, that gave everyone present pause, automatically offering her their attention.

Calum still hissed out in annoyance, but made no further attempt to shrug Lewis off, allowing the young wolf to restrain him.

"Where is Colt?" He demanded, finally turning to spot Arthur Bruce lying dead in the dirt. "What the hell happened here?"

"Where were you?!" Felix demanded, defiantly, annoyed at Calum's absence.

"I said, ENOUGH!" Isla shouted out again, this time directed at Felix, who lowered his head in submission, before stepping back, an apologetic frown marring his features. "A lot has happened since you left, Calum," Isla sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She was finding a hidden strength she didn't know she had, and despite wanting to crumble, she stood tall. "From what we can gather, the Bruce clan tried to kidnap Colt, she killed Arthur when he provoked her... beyond reason, and then ran," her eyes began to tear up. She still couldn't bring herself to say out loud, what she had endured.

"She headed west, into the dunes," Lewis added.

"Calum, you are her mate, she needs you right now. Please," Isla's voice wavered, as Kalvin wrapped his arms about her waist from behind, "Find our daughter, and bring her home."

Calum took another look at Angus' swollen face with a poorly concealed sneer, before his eyes swivelled to Lewis again, "West?" He double checked.

"West," Lewis affirmed with a nod.

Calum turned his body, and in one fluid movement, he landed on four paws and began to run west; his eyes honed for any sign of Colt's wake as he ran, trying fruitlessly to pick up her scent, in the assaulting weather of rain and snow.

There was no sign of Colt anywhere. He had no idea where to look next. After two hours he had to stop, the storm had worsened into a complete white out, and he couldn't see a foot in front of his face. He made his way to a cave he new was nearby. It was accessible only in animal form, along a narrow cliff edge above a steep waterfall; but it would offer protection from the weather, so deciding it would be the best place to shelter, Calum chose to wait there for the storm to pass. At least then, the scents around would be crisp and fresh enough, that he would be able to pick up Colt's trail a lot easier.

Frustrated at everything, Calum sat in the large cavern, staring angrily out at the world. Maybe if he wasn't so outwardly focused and worried about where Colt was and what she was going through, he would have possibly realised that he wasn't alone in the cave.

That realisation was thrust upon him when he heard angry snarls echoing out from inside the cave. He turned, back arched and claws extended, ready for a fight, when the scent of old blood hit his nose. But not just any old blood.

Colt's blood.

The self assured footsteps echoed closer, as the silhouette of a black she wolf became outlined in his vision.

Colt.

She stalked closer and closer, her intent unclear. Calum couldn't ge read on his mate's emotions whatsoever.

In a second, Calum had shifted to his human form, and was on his knees. Unshed tears in his eyes, as he looked upon his mate. Suddenly, like being hit by a tidal wave, he could sense how much she was hurting, like it was his own pain, and how much she needed it to stop.

Colt's snarling increased as she inched forward. She felt lost, she didn't know how to make it stop, her head hurt, her heart ached for her Mom, and it was all too much. So, she switched off her logic, and instead followed her animalistic instincts.

Before Calum knew it he was on his back, an angry she wolf growling on top of him.

Then Colt did the last thing Calum expected. She shifted, her naked body melding against his own. His body's reaction was instantaneous, the same as it always was with Colt. She tempted him more than anything else ever had, the feel of her skin, the smell of her that had captivated him in Ireland all that time ago, the sensations she elicited from him as she ground her bare core mercilessly against him.

*Wait, what?* Calum thought.

But when she fused her mouth to his, all thoughts evaporated from his mind. There was only here, only now, only Colt, his mate stealing his breath as she breathed a new life into him. Calum became undone with the need to claim, and claim he would.

*Author's Note: Sorry this took longer than expected. But I had to get that ending just right. ;-)*