Chapter 61: Sixty-one.

The rest of the night was a blur of champagne, laughter and happiness, as Colt and Calum celebrated their engagement on top of the hill, that would be forever etched in each of their memories, as their own. By the time morning came around, their sleep deprivation was only evidenced by Colt's matted bird's nest, that was once known as her hair. Also, there was Calum's neck, mottled with blackened hickeys, that were so severe they would take at least a day to heal; a fact Colt was immensely proud of.

But, it was their time, and their moment, so they gladly let the rest of the world fade away, and got completely lost in one another. It was only when their stomachs refused to be ignored any longer the next morning, that they ventured outwards from their hide away; dismantling the tent and packing everything into the Argocat, before making their way home.

The couple was thankful when they managed to avoid any further run ins with the Macgregor clan chief, as they swapped vehicles for Colt's pick up truck and headed home. Then their entire journey was spent with both of them ignoring the agonising cramps in their stomachs, and the dull aches in their cheeks from smiling; both too absorbed in their own happiness as they sat, with their fingers entwined and only separating when Colt needed to change gears.

When Colt pulled into the road to their cottage, and approached the house, she smirked to see four eager faces standing outside the front door waiting on them.

"I was the only one in the dark wasn't I?" Colt laughed, while questioning her mate.

"Aye, your Mum was so sure you would say yes, she invited mine over for a big family breakfast. I'm guessing we're late," Calum laughed back at her, enjoying the look of pure happiness that radiated from her hazel eyes.

"Well that explains Lewis' absence then, he will be finishing off our plates, as well as any other leftovers going spare,' Colt stated, rolling her eyes at her younger brother's predictable behaviour.

Calum grumbled under his breath about wasting away, before getting out of the truck, brushing his hands over his crumpled shirt, as he waited hand outstretched for Colt. She walked towards him, failing miserably at flattening her hair, suddenly self conscious about how they must look and smell around the others.

"Congratulations!" Isla squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement, as they approached.

Kalvin laughed at his over excited wife, "Would you let them tell us first," he playfully admonished her. "What if she had said no?"

"Like she would have said no," Isla sarcastically retorted closing the distance to quickly hug Colt, and holding her breath while she did. "We could see the lights from down here, it must have been phenomenal on the hill?" She asked, as Colt began to nod.

"I think it's pretty obvious from her hair, what her response was," Felix pointed out, interrupting Isla and Colt. "Isn't that right, Kitten?" He smirked.

"For the love of all that is holy. Please be quiet, Pussy Cat," Colt stated embarrassed, as she hid her reddening face in her hands.

Calum had to resist his instincts to take over from Isla. He wanted to touch his fiancée again, to hold her close and breathe her in. But their scent alone was already evidence enough of why they were late, and with both their parents present, bringing more attention to their sex life was not necessarily something he wanted to do. Despite this, he couldn't help the smug grin forming on his face at Felix's words. He loved how well Colt's appearance showed their activities, it was like a personal compliment, only he could pay himself. The messier she looked, the more he had done his job right; and at this moment in time, Colt looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards before being stuck in a tumble drier for good measure.

"Like we weren't all thinking it," Felix snorted back, making everyone uncomfortable, and pulling Calum away from stroking his own ego any further.

"I certainly wasn't," Kalvin growled out, glaring angrily at the lion, who was getting way too assured of his safety around the place in Kalvin's opinion.

"Okay," Maria clapped out, swiftly taking control of the situation. "Colt, Calum Sweetie, after a night on the hill, I bet a warm shower is in order. Then why dont we all go get lunch. You two must be famished."

"I'll say," Felix smirked, shrinking back when Isla glared at him this time. "Sorry Mrs. Merrier," he gulped out, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting.

Kalvin rolled his eyes at the display. Typical male lion, only answers to a female, and inadvertently challenges every other male he meets.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Isla answered in Maria's direction, "Besides, Lewis ate your breakfasts, so you'll starve if we stay here."

Colt laughed at being proven right, and looking at Calum said, "Told you so," while grinnning smugly.

Calum shook his head in disappointment, before reaching for Colt's hand, "Aye you certainly did that," he sighed. "Mum that definitely sounds like a plan, I'm famished."

"Good," Maria nodded, "Then, I am dying to see this ring I've heard so much about." She smiled at Colt lovingly.

"I promise," Colt smiled back, as she and Calum slipped into the house and quickly headed upstairs.

-----

When they came back down, everyone was quickly herded out the door to head to lunch, despite Colt's desire to pound on Felix for loudly stating the newly engaged couple obviously had sex in the shower.

They had. But that wasn't point, her best friend had a mouth that just didn't seem to know when to close.

Maria and Felix climbed into the back of Colt's hilux, while Lewis was ushered into his parent's hire car. It was almost like Kalvin wanted to split the two up, when he suggested Felix keep Maria company, and it resulted in a furious scowl from Calum. The last thing he wanted was the overly gregarious lion anywhere near his widowed mother.

It took Colt striking his arm and whispering, "Calm down, he didn't mean it like that," before Calum could fully stifle the hiss that was trying to escape his throat.

Of course, it didn't help when Felix, sensing Calum's discomfort decided to shamelessly flirt with Maria for the entire journey into town. Although, when they arrived at the cafe in town and he ran around to open her door, even Maria had had enough.

"Aye, you've made your point now, Felix," she smiled dripping of condescension. "Both Calum, and myself have endured your attempts at flirting with me for forty minutes now. Know when to stop, son." She stated patting his cheek and walking away without taking the arm he had proffered.

Calum felt incredibly proud of his mother in that moment as he chased after her to tell her how amazing she was, and Colt was buckled over unashamedly laughing at Felix's bewildered and evidently embarrassed face, that was clearly struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

"Oh, Pussy Cat, you never learn. Do you?" She guffawed, walking towards him to give him a pat on the back.

"I'm losing my touch, Kitten," Felix stated back, slowly starting to laugh at himself, while fighting his sudden inappropriate bout of serious attraction to the widow, Maria Macgregor; he always did have a thing for a woman who would put him in his place.

"Don't worry, I brought you this, incase you got bored," she stated, reaching into her bag, "I think you should have it now, to cope with your devastation." She added, before pulling out and handing him a small laser pen.

Felix's shoulders sagged as he laughed, "Oh, fuck off, Kitten, I swear you're more obsessed with these things than I am." He stated trying to shrug off her sass, as his hand closed around the pen.

"Really? Then why do you never give them back, huh?" She challenged him, making Felix blush, as she turned to walk into the cafe to join everyone else.

Colt walked in to the cosy cafe, all cream coloured walls with pink accents. The lunchtime rush was just starting to pick up, and it didn't take her long to find where she was going. The party she was with was the loudest in the building. Heading through the tables towards the padded bench at the back wall, she seen the group had pushed three tables together, to make one long eating area in front of the bench with chairs on the opposite side. She also spotted with a smile, that Iona and her Uncle Robert had also joined them for their meal. She waved politely to them before heading to sit on the bench side with Calum. Suddenly there seemed to be a lot of people around.

"Where's Felix?" Lewis asked, when she approached the table alone.

"Licking his wounds, I would imagine," Calum retorted, as Colt sat on the bench beside him, snuggling into his side.

"Be nice," she warned her mate, not wanting to sully there happy news with conflict.

"What happened?" Isla asked, satisfying everyone's budding curiosity.

Calum smirked, "Nothing serious, don't worry. He has just finally met a woman immune to his charms. Isn't that right, Mum."

"Listen to to your mate, Calum. Your father and I didn't raise you to poke fun behind someone's back," Maria chided, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear, and picking up a menu.

"Mum, don't worry yourself. It's nothing I wouldn't say to his face," Calum tried to justify himself.

Maria put down her menu, and looked her son square in the eye, "Then, you wait, and you say it to his face like man. Not sniggering around like a school lass, at someone else's expense when they aren't even here to either join in, or defend themselves." She scolded her son, making everyone feel very awkward, until a pleased voice from behind her started speaking.

"Aw, and here I thought you didn't like me, Mrs Macgregor. I knew I couldn't really be losing my touch," Felix laughed, lightening the mood instantly.

"You, can go sit down over there, please," Maria stated, pointing at the other end of the table, and feeling annoyed at Felix's constant flirting.

"Can I not sit next to you? I think you like me really." Felix responded playfully. "I love a woman who plays hard to get." He added with a wink in Calum's direction.

"No you bloody well cannot. Piss off." Maria chided, completely frustrated at Felix's annoying persistence.

Felix smirked, "Aw, are you worried you won't be able to keep your hands off of me?" He asked teasing her.

"Aye, my claws from your throat. Now go sit down." She threatened him, making everyone, including the lion laugh. As Felix made his way to sit beside Iona and Lewis, Maria spoke again looking at Calum, "That, Son, is how you do it."

"Felix, you're an arrogant dick," Calum called out, making his mother's jaw tense as she began to hiss. "That better, Mum?" He asked smugly as Colt whacked him in the gut.

"Can we not?" She asked annoyed at Calum's display.

Calum shrunk slightly as his Mum pursed her lips, looking at him with a scathing disappointment.

"We are celebrating our engagement, can it not become a pissing contest between you and my best friend?" Colt hissed out, suddenly feeling very emotional.

"Colt I.." Calum began, feeling guilty and sensing her upset.

"Don't," Colt sighed, "Just, just don't. Excuse me, I'm just going to use the ladies room," she stated, with a tense smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Then before Calum could object, she rose and began walking towards the corridor that led to the toilets at the back of the cafe. Stepping into the small bathroom, Colt felt her knees wobble slightly as soon as she locked the door. The room was a pale green colour, with dried flowers in a vase on the unit beside the sink, and a small box of femine toiletries, which thankfully contained a pocket sized packet of tissues. Colt quickly took one out before dabbling at her wet cheeks. She had no idea why she was crying, but she couldn't seem to get it to stop. She watched her face in the mirror, willing the tears to stop coming. But they wouldn't, and while she watched herself she realised, this was the first moment alone she had had, in what felt like weeks. Between her parents, Lewis, Felix and her fiancé she was constantly surrounded by people. Even at work she was around people, she couldn't remember properly when she was last alone, before yesterday morning.

It didn't help that she was left emotionally reeling after snapping at Calum. Felix wound people up at the best of times, but he had a heart of gold and he wore it on his sleeve. He had always been there for Colt, since they had met and she hated feeling pulled apart between them. Except Calum never really did that. So, she began asking herself, *why was she so upset.*

Elijah's face flitted to the forefront her mind. That pained expression he wore when she first met him, and punched him. Colt bit her lip so hard it began to bleed, and her breathing started to escalate, with the stinging realisation that she had plans to move on and be happy, and he couldn't. Colt was suddenly swamped with guilt.

She was still trying to understand her motives, when she became overcome by the urge to ride; Solaris was her escape and Colt needed to be on her own to process everything. But this only frustrated her more because she couldn't, not during a lunch to celebrate her and Calum's engagement.

Her and Calum's engagement.

Now she was flooded with more guilt. Calum was her rock, he had healed her in so many ways, and here she was feeling guilty about marrying him. She loved him, how could she ask him for alone time? Time away from him, when all he ever did was try to make her happy. Another wave of guilt hit her as she became completely on edge and overwhelmed. Her thoughts started to become jumbled in her head as she struggled to comprehend everything she felt.

Usually Calum would join Colt stretching his legs in cat form and following along while she rode. But, this meant Colt's only alone time was, well never. How could she work through this if she was never alone. When she worked Calum would fish, able to schedule most of his trips, to get as much time with her as he could. Even if he was away when she wasnt working, her Mom and Dad and brother were always there.

She was always surrounded by people and it was stifling. Maybe she did need some me time, she fleetingly thought, still dabbling at tears as they fell in a vain attempt to save her make up. She would have to broach the subject later. She couldn't suppress this anymore she decided, feeling more claustrophobic by the second; and the more claustrophobic she began to feel, the more her breathing escalated. Her fur began pressing under her skin, pushing to break through, her claws elongating onto the sink and tearing at the smooth enamel, as her eyes only became swollen with more tears. She was struggling to breathe, fighting her shift, as her body's natural reaction to her stressors took over. She began to panic, feeling both animal forms surging forward, trying to take over, when suddenly the door hit the back wall; and standing in front of her was a very stunned and confused looking mate.

*Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. Chapter is a bit longer though, so hopefully that will make up for it. B x.*