Chapter 74: Seventy-four.

Colt and Felix were sat at a lavishly set table, beside Asher and Lucy. There were crisp linen table clothes in varying shades of lavender and lilacs, topped with pristine white napkins and centre pieces, which Colt was particularly fond of. Rather than the usual flower arrangements, Marcus and Marissa (more likely Marissa) had gone for small sections of a pine logs, cut at varying heights with a spot drilled in the top for a small candle. The contrast of the rough bark and the impeccable tables worked well together, and reminded Colt somewhat of the dual nature shifters have as a species. The mixture of the wildness of their beasts and the calmness of their human counterparts. It also represented the room well, as Marissa was of course human and thus, so were most of her half of the guests.

The meal itself, had been beautifully done as well, and she could tell exactly who was making the dessert when her portion alone, arrived with an exquisite salted caramel sauce. She had laughed with delight, and she watched her Dad's nose wrinkle as his eyes tracked the dish with a curious gaze overtaking his face when he seen it's destination. She made a mental note to introduce him to Cathy Lawrence, as soon as she got a chance to, all while sticking out her tongue at him, in the most immature fashion she could muster.

Colt had smiled and laughed genuinely throughout Zachary's best man's speech, as he openly ridiculed Marcus, while remarking heart warningly on his an Marissa's connection, how it shouldn't be taken lightly, and how lucky these two were to have one another. Finishing off, by asking the room to join him in saying how happy they were for the couple, and how much they wished them well. Colt's eyes welled up with a genuine happiness for the pair, they were so obviously in love and well suited to one another. Her cousin who only came back into the family's life a year ago, was one she had only fond childhood memories of, and she was made up with happiness to see him so delighted with his wife, and to have both sides of the family joined back together again.

Now all except two of the formalities were over, the throwing of the bouquet, and the midnight mates dance - where all mated or married couples would take to the dance floor, in honour off the newlyweds. It was thought to bring good luck to the union, to have it supported by so many other couples, Colt did not intend to be present for this, under any circumstances.

But, thankfully the atmosphere was relaxed for the most part, and Colt and Felix were chatting amongst themselves contentedly, trying to ignore the multiple pairs of eyes watching them. To be fair, it was mainly a harmless curiosity being aimed at them. Colt figured that out the first time two random wolf shifters accosted her on her way to the ladies room. The couple wanted her to know, how ashamed they were of their former Alpha, and how she would always respectfully maintain their Luna figure head, even if it was in thought alone.

Colt had been at quite a loss over what to say, but thankfully her brother was just exiting the men's room and came to her rescue. Harris had thanked the couple sincerely, and assured them that Colt was well looked after, as a valuable member of their own familial pack. When the couple left, he waited a few seconds before leaving her to it, throwing in a mock bow and calling her 'Luna' as he went.

When she was ambushed for a second time on her return journey, she managed to handle it well enough, accepting their sympathy and understanding and showing a certain level of remorse, she wouldn't get the chance to get to know them properly. This seemed to placate most of her well wishers, and although the situation was incredibly strange, Colt couldn't help but feel somewhat humbled by their overall kindness towards her.

The word had spread about how lovely she was, and she could hear the slanderous comments against her mate, as they were whispered about the room. Colt would've been lying if she had tried to claim they made her feel nothing, the truth was she hated them. Elijah had been a crap mate to her, there was no doubt about that. But, he had been a good Alpha to his pack, and the degradation of his name was beginning to really wind her up.

She could still smell his scent, hovering throughout the room, and knew he was close, but she hadn't managed to lock her eyes on him again.

So, for now she and Felix were sipping their drinks, a single malt scotch for Colt (mostly, as it made her Mom smile), and a beer for her friend, who claimed, he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders, just incase.

"So, Pussy Cat." Colt began, changing the subject they were discussing, and reaching for her purse. "I have a gift for you."

Taken aback, Felix said, "Kitten, you know it's the person who is leaving that gets the leaving gifts, right? Not the other way around." He laughed awkwardly, sitting up straighter all the same.

"Yes, I know that." She laughed, looking into her bag. "But, outside my family, for so many years now, you and Becs have been the closest people in my life. So, I wanted to give you a little something to remember me by."

Felix coughed uncomfortably, not enjoying the sentiment as it forced him to face the reality, that the woman of his dreams was leaving. He took the small wrapped rectangular box from Colt and slowly began to unwrap it. He couldn't look at her in the eye as he pulled out a small velvet box. "Colt, I.. I.."

"Just open it." She said, the laughter evident in her voice.

Felix took a deep breath and opened the box, his face morphing into one with a smile.

"And, look it even has a key chain, so you can always have it handy." She laughed, picking up the small silver laser pen.

Felix's face reddened, slightly. "You're such a bitch." He laughed, taking the pen off of her.

"You love me." Colt shrugged, unaffected.

"It doesn't even work!" He complained, suddenly looking at her like he had been cheated, when the pen didn't light up.

"Yeah, I gave Becs the batteries as her gift, to keep you in check." Colt winked at him, laughing her head off.

"I.. I... I don't have fucking words, Kitten." He stated blankly.

"Felix, turn it around." Colt guided him, suddenly going serious.

Turning it over, Felix caught sight of the small inscription along the side.

I'll miss you, Pussy Cat. Love, K.

Felix froze. He could feel his eyes welling up. Colt was really leaving. The weight of it suddenly dawned him. She was probably his closest friend, since it wasn't in his nature to have close guy friends, and he jumped from woman to woman without a second glance. But, Colt Merrier had accidentally carved out a place in his heart without even trying, and now she was going to leave. He was completely choked up, and his head was hanging as if his own neck had just given up supporting it. What would he do without her sass hanging around anymore?

The next thing he knew, Colt had lifted his head up, in the process of sliding onto his lap and cradled it into her body. She was just sat there calmly holding him, and stroking his back in comfort as anyone in the room could see. Felix buried his head on her shoulder and took as much comfort as he could from her, because he knew this was probably the last pure moment he would ever have, of just holding her in his arms.

All too soon, Colt pulled away from her very own lion man. She held his hand and slid off of his lap back onto her own chair. Looking up at his big amber eyes, she asked him to dance. The song playing was lively, and Felix just couldn't muster up the energy at this moment in time.

"Maybe later?" He offered, "I just, I just need a minute."

Colt smiled, ruffling his hair. "Alright, Pussy Cat, then I'm off to get you a real drink." She laughed, and made her way over to the bar, wanting to give Felix the space he had asked for, even if he still couldn't take his eyes off her, and watched her weave her way through the tables towards the bar.

-----

Elijah had watched Colt from the back of the room, throughout the ceremony. It had hurt him in a way he had never known possible, that she had felt the need to hide from him. The lion from the resort was with her, the one who admitted to being in love with her. He was the one shielding her from his view, and he could see how hard her delicate hand gripped onto him, in need of his support. Isla Merrier's hiss hadn't phased him, only alerted him to her daughter's presence, at the exact same moment Colt's scent had hit his nose. But, she didn't want to be seen, not by him and it felt like a blow to his gut.

He made the decision on the spot to get up and leave, through one of the side doors that led onto the hotel's terrace. He would re-enter the room from the back, and from that spot he spent the entirety of the wedding ceremony staring at his mate with longing, before slipping out again quietly to make sure he wasn't noticed.

Elijah had left his suit jacket on his seat in the reception hall, before anyone arrived, and then he took himself off for a run. He felt so worked up, but even running in his wolf form didn't offer him relief, and without thinking his feet turned him around and led him straight back to the place his heart felt it belonged. To Colt.

He had been such a damn fool. No, he had been an utter asshole. For months he spent his time drowning his pain in whatever alcohol, or whichever woman he could. His daughter was gone, and his beautiful mate had left him. He was cast adrift in a sea of nothing but pain and nausea, desperately looking for anything that would bring him relief, anything that would make him feel something other than gut wrenching despair.

Until one day, the smell of the prostitute's perfume made him sick, and the sight of her looking for something of value to steal, in Nora's bedroom made him realise, just how far he had sank. He kicked her out in a blind rage and it was a miracle he hadn't ripped the woman's head off. Then, when he looked at himself in the mirror, he failed to recognise the man he had become. He took his first sober shower in as long as he could remember, and was ashamed to admit he had to hack his beard off with scissors, before he could in any way tackle it with a razor. Next, he started dialling numbers on his cell.

First he booked a cleaning company to come and sort out his mess of a house. He was feling more ashamed than words could say at the disgusting state it was in, he had been living like an animal. Thankfully, they also knew of a decent building company, and they came out and repaired the windows, and the walls his grief and rage had totalled.

Zachary's number however, had been disconnected. His Mom and Dad kept sending him to voicemail, and even his Aunt Cathy wouldn't receive his calls.

He called Marcus next. Knowing his former Gamma would answer on the pretence of their shared forestry businesses alone. It was an illuminating conversation, and what was most shocking, was when Elijah had learned that Colt had returned to the United States. But, other than that, Marcus wouldn't elaborate further out of respect for his family.

So, now he was here, watching his mate from the shadows of the room, clutching a bouquet of giant daisies and just desperately trying to find an opportunity to speak to her alone. But, it seemed the few chances he got, someone else was always taking advantage of. There were countless whispers of his name, in the most disrespectful manner, but her's was only mentioned with adulation and admiration, of all she had managed to endure. He knew he deserved the comments about himself, but he wished he could know what had happened to his beautiful mate, what it was she had gone through. There were certainly a fair share of his former pack members paying their respects to her, not that he blamed them. But damn it, if he could just get some time alone with her!

It took every bit of his will power, to swallow the growl that manifested in his throat when she sat on the lion's knee and held him close. Yes, he looked upset, but still, how Elijah had managed to stifle that snarl was beyond him. But, he was glad he had, because it had led to a moment of providence.

Colt was alone, standing at the edge of the bar, beside an open double door leading onto the terrace.

He decided she would have to thump him later for what he was about to do, because she definitely wouldn't like this. But, no one was watching her, and he might not get another opportunity. Swiftly, Elijah discreetly covered the distance between them, and before Colt could object, he had lifted her and spirited her outside into the cold fresh air of the Autumn night.

He finally had her, alone.

Author's Note; Can I get a "dun dun dun..."