Epilogue.

Epilogue.
"Are you sure you're up to this, Love?" Calum asked Colt, while placing his hand gently on the small of her back in concern.

"Of course I'm bloody sure." Colt sighed, "It's my little brother's wedding day, I'm not missing any of it." Colt snapped back with determination, before stepping closer into the embrace of the man she couldn't resist.

"Aye, I understand that, but your hips have been killing you for weeks, and you're going to be expected to dance with everyone else now too," Calum pointed out, while gently wrapping his arms around his wife, "Plus, we both know those chairs are going to be bloody murder for you when you do rest." He sighed softly, against her head.

Colt smiled widely against his chest, his concern touching her heart, "I will cope, Casanova, I have you after all. What's little pelvic girdle pain in comparison?"

Calum sighed, "Are you sure, because no one will mind if we leave early. You were at the meal, you heard the speeches, they have had their first dance, it wouldn't be the end of the world, if we went upstairs to rest you know?"

"Except that now, I intend to dance with my husband, and then my little brother as well, as it is his wedding day," Colt stated, pulling Calum back into the ballroom, from the door which led to the reception area of the hotel.

"Fine, Love, fine." Calum finally relented, though not without frustration. "Just please, promise you'll say, if your pelvic pain gets too uncomfortable?" Calum stated, side stepping a waiter who was passing with a tray of champagne.

"Alright, I promise." Colt conceded, "Now let's go get a drink, I'm so thirsty."

"I will meet you at the bar, Love," Calum nodded with a light laugh, "First I'm going to hand this ridiculous key back to reception, since we won't be needing it." He stated, holding up their room key, on what can only be described as a small log disguised as a key chain. "It's like they are worried we might lose it or something," he smirked.

The room keys went with the overall theme of the luxury rustic hotel, in which Scott and Jasmine had chosen to get married in. It was located in a pine forest in front of a large lake, which was very handsome all frozen over, it made the place look completely magical. The hotel itself looked like a giant log cabin, full of rustic charm and an earthy scent. But, all that charm aside, the key chains were ridiculously cumbersome to carry around.

Colt smiled warmly, kissing her mate softly on the lips, before watching him stride through the mahogany double doors and out of the ballroom. His kilt was swaying with every step he took, and although here he stuck out like somewhat of a sore thumb, amongst the suits and the military uniforms; Colt couldn't help but think he was the most handsome man here, and had unconsciously bit through her lip twice while watching him. Of course she blamed that on her crazy pregnancy hormones.

Unfortunately though, some of the bridal party seemed to share her appreciation for her husband, and there had been more than one occasion where she had to restrain herself from knocking out a drunk bridesmaid with wandering hands, and a determination to find out if Calum was indeed a true Scotsman. Instead she found herself settling for warning snarls and hisses, making her husband and brothers chuckle loudly, whenever they were within earshot.

A few minutes later, Colt was sat chatting to Mark and Paul, sipping slowly on her orange juice, when Calum joined them again. He sat down at the table, placing a small bunch of flowers in front of Colt as he did so. A bunch of flowers which made her whole body go stiff, as a sense of dread filled her from head to toe.

"So, someone handed these in at reception for 'the groom's sister.' Do you have a secret admirer I should know about, Love?" Calum asked with a tense smile trying to play off his own jealousy with humour, as the tables were turned on him for the night.

Colt swallowed hard, and Mark let out a small curse, as they stared at the table.

"Love? What's wrong?" Calum asked, becoming concerned, and placing his hand on Colt's shoulder.

Colt reached out with a shaking hand and plucked the small card from the giant daisies in front of her, pulling it close with hesitation. She already knew who they were from but she couldn't quite bring herself to speak just yet. Not until she had confirmed it, and then she opened the small pink card.

Please Colt, I only want to talk. E.

She flicked the card back and forth at his message, for a few silent moments, before a final flick sent it onto the table top, and way from her grasp.

"They're from Elijah. He's here." Colt stated in a monotone voice, void off all emotion.

Calum could internally feel his back arch and his hair stand on end, as his he began to meticulously scan the room. He had committed Elijah's face to his memory, when he realised in Ireland, that the wolf also had a claim on his mate; but thankfully there was no sign of said wolf inside the room. Still, his hand gently came down on Colt's shoulder, partly from his need to bring her comfort, and partly for his own need for contact, before he finally swung his gaze to her, his focus changing as he tried to assess how she felt in this moment.

"What do yo want to do, Love?" He asked, as he struggled to decipher all her mixed emotions.

Her pregnancy hormones always made it harder for him to get to the truth of her thoughts.

Colt took a deep breath, inhaling Calum's scent and allowing herself to enjoy the soothing comfort that his warmth always brought, as she leaned her head onto his hand.

After a moment of centering herself, she spoke, "First, I want to let Dad know. I'm not having Scott's wedding ruined, by whatever Elijah is planning. Besides, knowing Dad there will be men stationed here discreetly already." She laughed at her father's protective instincts. "Then, I want to dance with my husband, so if you could take these back to reception, and tell them we will collect them later, Casanova, that would be great. It's a bit too tacky to have them out here; they clash with the peach roses."

"Are you sure that's all you want to do?" Mark asked her, feeling mentally like there was more barricades to put in place to protect his little sister.

"Yes." Colt sighed, standing up suddenly, and placing a kiss on Calum's mouth before walking towards where her Father was dancing with her Mother, without another word on the matter.

Calum took this as his cue and roughly grabbed the flowers from the table, and while fisting them tightly in one hand, he then took a long swig of the whisky Colt had got him at the bar in the other. He finished the drink in one, before swiftly heading back to reception, while Mark and Paul looked on with a grimace.

When he stepped into the open area meant for checking in to the hotel, firstly he found himself resisting the urge to throw the bouquet into the lit fireplace, and secondly he couldn't stop himself from meticulously scanning this area as well. But again, there was nothing of note. The fireplace was roaring sending flickering lights onto the multiple animal trophies that were dotted around, and he briefly wondered how offended everyone would be if a certain wolf's head was also mounted on the wall. Of course it was a fleeting thought, despite his feelings towards him, Elijah's death would hurt Colt, and his satisfaction on the Alpha's demise was in no way worth her pain or distress. Even if a wolf rug would suit the decor in the reception.

He was still scanning the area when he noticed a flash of movement through the window outside the main entrance, and it caught his full attention. Calum could see Asher and Harris were stood there, shoulder to shoulder blocking a path to the front door. Briefly he looked back at the ballroom, contemplating what to do, before he began striding purposefully outside, to confirm his own suspicions, and protect his wife.

Exiting the main doors, Calum looked over to his left where he had spied the commotion, and right enough, there in front of Harris and Asher, was Elijah. Calum's keen eyes scanned the man who hurt his mate, looking at him from head to toe, and he couldn't help but think of how much he wanted to break the wolf's neck. Internally he was still debating how likely Colt was to forgive him, when a hiss was rose in his throat, and his claws began to desperately protrude through his skin.

Taking a steadying breath, he swallowed hard and went to stand beside his brothers in law, every muscle in his body rigid as he worked to hold himself under control.

"You need to leave," Calum stated through gritted teeth, interrupting the stand off that was happening between the three wolves. "You dinna belong here, Wolf."

Elijah squinted in recognition as he took in Calum's appearance, before he finally placed his face.

"You? But, what are you doing here?" Elijah asked, confused at the wildcat's sudden appearance.

"You don't have to answer him," Harris supplied, wanting to keep Elijah in the dark as much as possible.

"I have nothing to hide," Calum shrugged back at his brother in law, "I'm here in general terms, for my mate, and I'm outside to make sure you don't get the chance to fuck anything else up."

"You found her? Here?" Elijah asked dumbfounded, while ignoring Calum's insults, causing both Harris and Asher to snort.

"He is definitely the better choice, don't you think Asher?" Harris pointed out, pushing to wind up Elijah further.

"Shut up, Harris. Elijah you need to leave. You aren't seeing her. End of discussion," Asher answered, "If she wanted to see you, she would have made the effort. She hasn't. Now, fuck off."

"I'm not going anywhere, until I have spoken to Colt." Elijah fired back, "Wait, what exactly does that mean, the better choice? What the hell is going on?" Elijah asked, a feeling of dread pooling in the pit of his stomach.

"None of your business...." Asher began, cringing as a familiar voice called out, and silenced them all.

"Calum? What are you doing outside..." Colt froze mid sentence, stepping outside while wrapped up in a long woolen coat designed to ward off the chill, only to find both her mates, and two of her brothers squaring off against each other in front of the hotel.

"Colt," came a reverant whisper from Elijah, his eyes drinking her presence in, memorizing how the light from inside was highlighting the side of her face.

"Get back inside, Love," Calum stated calmly.

Elijah ripped his eyes from Colt, "Love?" He growled out towards Calum, his earlier feelings of dread coiling towards anger.

"Aye," Calum hissed back, as both men stepped aggressively towards one another.

"Stop!" Colt's voice suddenly reverberated around them all, rooting both men to the spot.

She was beside them all in a second, ignoring Elijah's growls as she placed her hand on Calum's cheek, "Go inside, Calum, please."

"Not a chance, Colt," Calum spat, annoyed at being sent away. How she could ever expect him to leave her in the presence of this monster, was beyond him. It was a completely unreasonable request.

"Calum, I owe him an explanation, at the very least," Colt explained, "And your presence isn't helping anyone. Please," she asked him honestly. "Let me do this."

Calum's head came to rest on Colt's, before he kissed her forehead, "I'm not happy about this, Love," he stated, as Elijah growled from witnessing their intimacy.

"I know," Colt answered softly, inhaling her husband's scent. "And, you can shut up right now, Elijah," she called without sparing him a glance.

The growling ceased instantly.

Calum sighed, his hands lightly grazing Colt's waist, "Fine, but if you're no back in fifteen minutes, I'm going to kill him." He promised her.

"No, you aren't. Now go." Colt stated, leaning forward and kissing her husband's cheek.

Calum reluctantly turned and walked away silently.

"Elijah, come with me," Colt stated, after she had watched Calum go inside, never once allowing her eyes to look at the wolf's who broke her heart.

"What?" Came the united voices of the three wolves still outside. Elijah is his pit of rejection feeling just as shocked as Colt's brothers.

"It's January," Colt sighed out, "And it's below freezing. I'm not standing out here, and developing hypothermia, to talk. The hotel has a small library room off to the right of the main stairs. We can talk in there." Colt explained.

Elijah nodded in understanding, while Harris and Asher shifted in their suits uncomfortably.

"Dad's not going to like this, Colt" came Asher's gruff response.

"Tough luck for him then. Now let him past." Colt replied, before leading the way back to the front door, stealing herself for what was about to come.

As she went inside, she briefly smiled to Calum, who was standing at the reception desk; his whole body rigid with his discomfort at the situation. Colt smiled what she hoped was a smile of reassurance, but her husband could barely nod in reply he was so tense.

Despite wanting desperately to go to him, she continued walking to the library room. It was more of a lounge area for guests, but it was lined with a plethora of different books, on shelves that bordered the room from waist to ceiling, and there was a fireplace in the centre with two Chesterfield brown leather sofas facing one another in front. Thankfully as the hotel was booked out by the wedding guests who were all busy partying, and Colt was pretty confident they wouldn't be disturbed.

The heat of the room hit her as she heard Elijah gently click the door closed behind them. Her thick wool jacket was a necessity for following Calum outside, but now she was positively melting in it, while standing beside the fireplace.

"Colt, what's going on?" Elijah asked shakily, watching as she slipped the jacket off of her shoulders.

Colt sighed draping her jacket over the back couch closest to her, and she began rubbing her temples to calm herself. After a moment she finally turned to face him.

It took Elijah a moment to take in the sight before him. Colt was in a gold and silver wrap dress, it made her pale skin look somewhat ethereal and he found himself longing to hold her close as he scanned over her body. Then, suddenly he frowned. How could this be? He asked himself in disbelief.

"You're pregnant!" He stated more than asked, his entire being filing with betrayal as the love of his life stood in front of him, swollen with another man's child. "But, you said you never wanted kids," he snarled out, his temper finally fraying.


To be continued in, Devoted.