Colt was almost completely silent on the way back down the mountain. She only spoke to give Elijah instructions on the trail, and not once did she look him in the eye. When they returned to the stables Louisa came out to get Barbie from Elijah and by the time he had turned around after dismounting Colt was no where to be seen, and neither was her horse.
She had quickly returned Solaris to his stable, and left him in the capable hands of Emma while she literally fled the scene home. Emma dutifully took over, worrying about her boss as she did since Colt never normally let anyone care for Solaris but herself. It was a testament to just how muddled up her head was at this point.
Closing and locking the door behind her, she ran up the stairs two at a time, desperate to get in the shower and try and remove Elijah's scent from her body. She compulsively scrubbed her whole body almost raw, but his scent lingered on, like it was emblazoned into her senses. It didn't help one bit that he had scent marked her neck, but she had hoped that at it would at least fade after a good shower. No luck there however.
Slowly she sunk down to her knees and then cried. She cried because she was confused, she cried because one minute she felt completely at home with Elijah, yet the next the brute had tried to put his mark on her without consent and ruined everything. But then it was a good thing he snapped her out of her trance with his behaviour, because as much as she physically wanted him, she did not want to be permanently tied to him. Or for Elijah to be stuck with her.
She decided she had to stay away from him. Avoid him at all costs. No to accidentally running into him. No to him showing up at her classes. No nothing. But then, he now knew where she lived - Shit! she thought, her mind still churning on what to do to make sure she avoided him fully.
Eventually Colt settled on at least half a plan, so she picked herself up off of the shower floor, and exited the bathroom. She quickly dressed in comfortable clothes and called Rebecca asking her to take over for the next week. Rebecca happily obliged, and Colt had at least ruled out bumping into him at work. She then fired off messages to all her PT clients, telling them she couldn't make the next fortnight and rearranging where necessary.
Next she had to show face at dinner with her cousin. She rolled her eyes because although she liked the thought of reconnecting with family, she was not pleased about having to spend time with Elijah's third in command. All the same she decided to go chat to her Mom downstairs.
"Hey Mom, do you want any help?" she asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"No thanks sweetie I'm good." Isla responded, pausing as she put the potatoes on to boil and turning to face her daughter. Her eyes were glued to Colt's red neck, but before she could comment she glanced up and recognised the tell tale sign that her daughter had been crying. "What did that asshole to to you?" she blurted out making a beeline for Colt.
Colt could feel herself instantly wobble at her Mom's concern, but she gulped down her anxiety and forced herself not to cry again. "Mom it wasn't like that, he didn't. Well he, no I guess we. But then he and I couldn't. But, Oh it's all such a mess and I just can't Mom." she staggered over her words just as her mind staggered over her thoughts.
"Okay honey, I'm going to need you to take a breath and start again because that made no sense what so ever. First tell me, did he harm you?" Isla asked slowly holding Colt at arms length while watching her every move with scrutiny.
"No." she said, followed by taking her Mom's instructions and inhaling deeply.
"Okay then, we dont have to organise an alibi for Mom and Dad, so that's a plus." said Isla while winking at Colt to lighten the mood slightly.
Colt gave in and smiled at her Mom's silly joke and went to sit at the counter island in the kitchen.
"So," her Mom said handing her daughter some wine, which in itself caused Colt to raise an eyebrow. "What happened exactly? But the Mom friendly version please."
Colt laughed at her Mom's awkwardness, she needed to know but apparently wasn't sure she wanted to.
"Well," she sighed. "We rode up to the cabin and he was flirting heavily I guess, but then he pissed me off with a stupid comment. So, long story short I kicked his ass - then got really upset, mostly at myself for getting upset and he came and apologised for being a dick. Then, he hugged me and kissed me when I decided to end the hug and it got carried away because I kissed him back. That is, up until the point he went to mark me without consent and I told him to stop. Which the did and then, I walked away and we rode home without really speaking to one another. So, I high tailed it home for a shower, because you know, I stink of bloody wolf now." Colt blurted it all out and the gulped down the wine her mother had handed her.
"Well now, that is a lot of information honey." her Mom smirked. Internally musing at how her stubborn daughter still believed she could hold off the mate bond. "Firstly, I think you need a proper drink. Do not get used to this. It costs a bloody fortune to export here and I refuse to drink that muck the Americans call whisky. Cant even spell it right, most of the time they add an 'e' before the 'y' for goodness sake. Anyway, two nights in a row, your brothers will accuse me of favouritism if they hear I'm sharing with you." she laughed giving Colt another glass of malt whisky from the bottle they opened last night. "So, now that's sorted, tell me how close did he come to marking you, actually no I want to see."
She stood and walked over to Colt pulling back her collar to reveal the slightest graze mark above her collar bone. Isla was not one to mess about, or take no as an answer from any of her children when she demanded to see a possible wound, as such Colt let her examine away to her hearts content.
"Mom, he didn't follow through. He stopped himself." Colt said, defending Elijah. She was now getting irritated at being poked and prodded as well.
Stepping back Isla frowned, "That may be so, but the bastard was bloody close. Who does he think he is? To try and claim you without consent! Its barbaric! Mate or not, if your father knew..."
"Don't you dare tell Dad, Mom. He will only wage a war that he may not come back from." Colt snapped.
"Oh, believe me I am well aware of that. I said if, young lady remember who you are talking to." Isla snapped back at her daughter pissed off at the tone she was taking at her. "Anyway, the bastard still managed to get you with a temporary mark, You stink of male wolf and likely will for at least a fortnight. So, you can stop scrubbing your neck raw when you shower." she said turning her back to Colt and heading back towards the stove.
"Oh goody." Colt mumbled sarcastically.
"Well you only have yourself to blame, agreeing to spend time with him. If you do intend on punishing yourself and him by fighting the bond, at least don't lead him on." her mother admonished her.
"Funny you should mention that," Colt said. "I have taken a week off work to reduce the chances of actually seeing him. So as long as he doesn't show up at the door I shouldn't see him again before he leaves."
"Yeah, good luck with that one. He is an Alpha right?"Colt's mother spoke with condescension. "Your Dad was a Beta, and he followed me across the world to claim me. Do you really expect to not see him just by taking a week off work?"
"Argh, okay so when you put it like that it sounds totally unrealistic" Colt moped.
"That's because it is really unrealistic." her Mom answered. "But, I will tell you what. Why dont you come home with me for the week? Your Dad would love to see you and Asher is planning a visit with Lucy at the weekend. You know your brother would be delighted to see you as well."
It took Colt all of thirty seconds to decide this was an excellent idea. Not only would she manage to avoid Elijah but it had been at least two years since she had seen her oldest brother. He was even mated now. Plus Lucy was expecting and it would be excellent to annoy her brother about becoming a Dad, and all the trouble he'd be in if he were to have a daughter.
"Mom that is the best idea I have heard all week" she agreed raising her glass and toasting with her Mom. Just as they finished their drinks however, the doorbell went signalling Marcus had arrived.
Colt went through to open the door and welcome her cousin, she was looking forward to getting to know him now the pressure was off about Elijah. By the time she were to come home, he would have left and she could instruct the booking staff to not accept any further bookings with his name attached. It wasn't full proof but it was as much as she could do till he got the message and gave up.
"Hey, come on in." she said as she swung the front door open to reveal three men instead of one. She cocked her head to the side raising an eyebrow and asked, "We only invited my cousin, why are you here Elijah, and other person whose name I'm not sure of yet?"
Marcus at least had the decency to look sheepish in comparison to the two others. But before anyone could answer Colt heard her Mom laughing from the kitchen getting louder, as she the appeared in the hallway.
"Oh, I should have put a bet on this for tomorrow night's dinner" she laughed. "Don't worry, you dont spend over thirty years mated to a wolf and not pick up a few tricks. There is plenty to go around. You boys do have a reputation for travelling in packs afterall." she nodded at Colt. "Come on let them in, I didn't raise you to leave guests standing out on a doorstep." Then her tone dropped dramatically as she finished her speech "Besides, I want a serious word with the man who tried to mark my only daughter without permission." she hissed, staring straight at Elijah.