Chapter 113: Thirty-five.

"So, Kitten?" Felix began, "When exactly is it, that I will be seeing your beautiful mother today?" He asked, his eyes lighting up with mischief as he stared at Colt over his coffee cup.

Colt looked up from her cereal with a smirk of her own, plastered to her face, "And you wonder why my Dad doesn't like you," she stated, shaking her head, at her friend's arrogance.

"I personally presumed, that was because I completely excelled at rocking his only daughter's world," Felix responded, before draining his cup.

"Jeeze, you're an ass at times, Pussy Cat," Colt responded with an eye roll, silently thanking her lucky stars that Calum wasn't here for that comment.

It had been late when she returned home the previous night, and according to Felix, Calum had spent the day helping him work on repointing the byre, before heading off to pull up his creels. Colt's bed had felt more empty than it had for a long time last night, and her mind kept jumping to think of him.

In the end she got up, frustrated with herself, and made a hot water bottle. Not that she needed it, she was just longing for the heat that always came hand in hand with Calum, and this was the best substitute she could think of. She had eventually dozed off to sleep, cradling the hot water bottle against her stomach, while burying her face into the pillow Calum had used the night before, and allowing his scent to fill her nostrils and engulf her imagination. Both of which, were a poor substitute overall, but all that she had access to.

Somehow, morning still seemed to take forever to arrive, like it would, given she was looking forward to the day. Not only were her parents arriving today, but this new day presented her with another opportunity to see Calum again. Which she was ridiculously excited about, considering it wasn't something she could really allow herself to fully enjoy.

But, all the same after her breakfast she jumped into the shower, like a woman possessed, and then took her time getting ready. She even went as far as putting a soft curl into her hair with her hot iron, rather than leaving it loose and wild like she normally would. Before styling it up into a high pony tail, and applying make up.

On the one hand, she felt like she was probably going overboard, but on the other, it still took her a further half an hour to pick what she wanted to wear. All of which was silly, even to her because, Colt didn't even have any confirmation that Calum would show up today.

She hoped he would though, and that hope burned so brightly in her chest, it almost made her nervous enough to throw up. Picking out a pair of figure hugging, high waisted jeans and an off the shoulder, long sleeved silk top, Colt finally got dressed and made it downstairs, just in time to hear Felix laughing.

"I don't believe it, he has only went and pulled it off!" Felix exclaimed, turning to Colt with glee.

Colt looked perplexed, wondering if she had missed something, "Who has pulled what off?" She asked, approaching where he was standing by the lounge window.

Felix's eyes lit up, "Holy shit, Kitten! I forgot how good you can look," He stated, with a devilish smile, and completely forgetting about what was going on outside. "How is a poor lion meant to resist?"

"No." Colt deadpanned back at his advancing form, she was not up for Felix's ridiculous games, she went to this effort for Calum, and didn't want it messed up. The realisation of which only made her blush slightly and groan at her own needy behaviour.

"What do you mean, no?" Felix asked with a smirk, reaching forward and trying to grab Colt's waist.

Colt growled, "I mean, whatever you are after, the answer is no," she stated batting his hands away sharply, while a hiss threatened to work it's way from her throat.

Felix kept approaching her, stalking forward slowly, forcing Colt to step backwards to keep their distance established. All while, he feigned left and right just in the slightest, as he tried to judge which way she would move, to ensure he could grab her.

"Felix, enough!" Colt warned, her voice laced with a growl.

"How's that self control thing going, Kitten?" He asked, playfully trying to distract her.

"What?" Colt responded, as she batted away yet another of Felix's attempts to grab her. His antics causing neither of them to hear the main house door opening.

"I'm trying to work out, how likely my balls are to remain on my body when I catch you, Kitten," Felix's voice had dropped, coming out in a low seductive grumble.

"It's not your balls you should worry about, Lion." Came the deep voice from the doorway, "Fucking touch her, and I will rip your bloody head off!"

Colt felt a shiver run down her back at the sound of Calum's annoyed voice, and it flooded her with relief in the warmest way. He had to be about a metre behind her, and she deliberately kept walking backwards till she physically felt the heat radiating from his body seep into her own.

"Morning, Love," Calum whispered beside her ear, sending another delightful shiver all the way down her spine, as he spoke.

Felix had paused, in his advances, "I was only going to tickle her, you guys are no fun!" He huffed, "I'm off to pack," he pouted.

"Pack?" Colt asked confused. While the news Felix had some type of torture in mind for her was unsurprising, the news he was possibly leaving left her feeling very confused, and slightly anxious.

"Yeah, your mate found me a new crib. Well sort of, anyway, we figured, you'd want your Mom and Dad close," Felix shrugged, as if it were nothing.

Colt looked up over her shoulder to Calum for an explanation, as Felix moved by them to go upstairs. She didn't know what was going on and though her first instincts told her to be irritated, the mentioning of her parents had her softening somewhat. But, overall she just felt utterly out of the loop.

"You look stunning," Was Calum's unexpected reply, and despite herself, Colt felt her cheeks heat slightly at the compliment, as she softened further.

Colt briefly wondered what the hell was going on with her hormones, she was never normally this soppy.

"Thank you," she gulped turning towards him, and slipping her hands around his waist till she was securely attached to him, she found her face pulling into a smile when Calum's own hands came up, engulfing her within the warmth she sought. "I missed you," she sighed dreamily.

"I missed you too, Love," he sighed, "It hasn't even been a week and I am completely under your thumb. Do you realise what you do to me?" He asked lightheartedly.

"Hmmmm," was Colt's only reply, as she buried her head into his chest and breathed in his scent, enjoying the sensations it evoked inside her, "Thank you for helping Felix on the byre," she spoke softly, happily listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat.

Calum smiled against Colt's hair, lightly tugging on her ponytail to make her look up at him, "Anytime," he spoke softly, hesitating as he looked at her lips, before forcing himself apart from her.

Colt felt confused as Calum stepped away, taking her hand and leading her outside without a word. She didn't understand why he pulled away, when she was sure he wanted to kiss her. Somehow, the relief she knew she should have felt at not needing to fend off his attempted kiss was completely absent. Leaving in its wake, the sinking feeling that she had been rejected, and that Calum no longer wanted her. She found herself questioning, why he didn't lean in? It was a perfect opportunity, yet he pulled away, and the whole experience made her feel hollow.

The sensation ripped through her like a tidal wave. Colt wasn't sure she would survive losing her mate a second time. She was still lost in thought, and struggling to maintain a calm facade, when Calum spoke, pulling her from her thoughts and back into reality.

"What do you think?" Calum asked with, optimistic hope, unaware of Colt's inner torment.

Colt stood, with a small crease between her brows, looking at an old and slightly battered looking camper caravan on the back of an even more battered land rover.

"It was Felix's idea really," Calum explained scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "He said, you hadn't seen your folks properly in so long, you'd likely want them close? A wolf pack thing, he said it was. He was talking about getting a hotel, but wanting to be close enough to keep helping on the croft. I suggested the caravan. It's, Alasdair's, Aunt's. But, she hasn't used it in years. There is an electric hookup that connects to the mains by a regular plug socket as well, and tanks for fresh water to be filled up and connected. So, it's still in working order, I know it's no the prettiest of things, but..."

Calum was nervously ranting out all the dilapidated caravan's positives when Colt put her finger across his lips silencing him.

"It's wonderful. Thank you," she said, throwing her arms about his neck, wanting to thank him for his generosity, but mostly looking for the reassurance that he wasn't abandoning her.

Calum drew Colt close and held her tight. Relief washing through him that he had got it right. Now he just had to tackle the proverbial elephant in the room, or rather, the proverbial wolf in the garden. Giving himself a moment just to hold her, and enjoy how she melded against him, like she had always belonged there, he put off the conversation he needed to have for another moment. Until he knew he couldn't hold off any longer.

"Love," he began, "Are you warm enough?" He asked, managing to rustle up at least one more delay tactic at the last minute.

"I'm always warm enough with you," Colt sighed contentedly in his arms, earning a smirk from her mate.

"Let's go for a walk then," Calum stated, unbinding himself from Colt's arms, and asked, "When are your folks due?"

Calum felt somewhat cheated, that the first time Colt was actively seeking him out for affection, was the same day he would have to share her with her other loved ones. It was Sod's law, and what made it worse was that he knew for her sake, he would take that needed step back - not that he would be happy about it. First it was a lion he was jealous of, then a horse, and now her family, he briefly wondered what would be next. Who knew how he would cope, if they ever got a puppy?

"After lunch." Colt answered, gladly placing her hand in Calum's, as he led her off towards the beach.

"We have some time together then," He spoke calmly, soothing her unknowingly.

"We do." she agreed, a shy smile forming on her face, despite her mind still going over the events of the morning.

They walked on in silence, until Colt couldn't take it any longer and stopped to remove her shoes and socks, forcing a laugh from Calum.

"It's not that warm you know?" He laughed out loud, enjoying her quirks.

"I know," Colt shrugged, "But I like the feeling, and what's the point of walking on a beach, if you don't get sand between your toes?" she smiled back at him.

"Well, that's one form of logic I guess," Calum laughed, clearly at Colt's expense, "But, I prefer walking on the beach with dry toes and good company."

Colt left her footwear where it was, and continued to walk along in companionable silence with Calum, taking comfort in his small compliment. But then, she felt the need to speak, "Calum?" She began.

"Yes, Love?" He answered, his mind occupied trying to work out how to broach the subject of Felix's revelations, from the day before.

"I'm sorry," Colt stated sincerely, causing a frown of confusion to appear on Calum's face. "About yesterday morning, kneeing you in the balls," Colt clarified, with a wince at the memory.

"It's fine," Calum acknowledged, unfortunately aware that this would be the best opening into their conversation that he would be able to get, and realising he was out of time.

"No, it's not. I panicked and I lashed out. I do that it seems, and I'm sorry." Colt reiterated her point.

"Love, I know why you did it," Calum began, sensing Colt tense through their joined hands, and stopping to face her, "I mean to say, I know exactly why you panicked, what was at stake, and how you are a better person than either myself, or the wolf deserves." He explained, stroking his free hand down her cheek.

Colt froze, she had never felt more like a deer trapped in the headlights than at this moment. Calum knew, he knew it all it seemed. Colt felt her body physically tremble as she resisted the urge to shift and run. She looked up into Calum's eyes, with tears brimming against her own, and simply asked, "How?" With an evident tremble to her voice.

"Felix." Calum responded, "Let's just say he gave me a few, well deserved home truths, and explained a few other things as well."

"Oh," was all that felt from Colt's lips, as she scrambled for something to say in response.

But, Calum beat her to it, "There's one more thing I should tell you."

Colt looked up at Calum, nervous energy firing through her body, as she waited for his next words.

"I need to be honest with you. I know the wolf lied a lot, and there's something I have kept from you. I don't want you to think you can't trust me, okay?" Calum explained nervously.

Colt pulled her hand out of his grasp, and wrapped her arms around herself, waiting for whatever he was going to say. She needed the space to steady herself, in case whatever he said pulled the rug from under her feet, and she needed to be able to catch herself before she fell.

"What is it?" She asked, a mask of unfeeling plastered across her face, despite heart thundering beneath her chest.

Calum gulped, he could physically see her pulling away and building a wall up around herself again. It was like a punch to his gut to watch, and it forced him to rip the metaphorical band aid off altogether in one fell swoop.

"I met Elijah, in Ireland,"