51

Colsin paced the floor, “Where the hell is she?” he murmured anxiously.

Reece and Ethan had been tailing Liam for half of the day when they saw him run into Nel. They couldn’t tell if it was intentional, but Colsin knew that it was. Liam’s whole lot in life was to get to Neliyah Larken.

“Colsin, I’m sure she’s fine,” said Reece.

“She’s nowhere to be found, Reece! We’ve searched everywhere!”

“Yes, and no body has been found,” said Ethan. “The girl probably went for a run. Lord knows she’s been stressed enough with Guin and Sara hounding her.”

“And you still sense that she’s okay. You haven’t sensed any betrayal of any kind.”

Both his Beta and his Delta was right. No, he hadn’t felt anything but that she was alright. It didn’t shake his concern for her, however.

“I know, I know but…” He sighed. Colsin just couldn’t seem to put his finger on his concern.

“You sure this concern isn’t rooted in something else?” Ethan asked.

“What?” Colsin sneered. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, the last time we saw her, she was heading into the forest with your worst enemy.”

“There are more ways to betray someone,” Reece voiced.

“Yeah,” Ethan agreed. “He may be trying to poison her against her. In fact, I’m sure that he’s making it a personal goal to turn Neli against you.”

Colsin grimaced but he couldn’t deny that his friends were right. And the fact that he and Nel didn’t necessarily end their conversation earlier that day on good terms.

Those two were his best and closest friends. Colsin trusted Ethan and Reece with more than his life; he trusted them with his secrets. There was one that he hadn’t told them yet, and it was a big one. One that he wasn’t even sure was his to tell, whether it affected him or not.

Apparently, Colsin wasn’t hiding his concern well as Ethan said something that mirrored what he was thinking.

“There’s something that you’re keeping from us…isn’t there?”

Colsin didn’t respond verbally, but his expression said it all. With a large expel of breath, he looked around-anywhere but at the two friends that were reading him like a book.

“We don’t need to know what it is. Especially, if it’s between you and her and she hasn’t agreed to talk about it.” Reece made sure to let Colsin know that they weren’t trying to press the issue.

“Yeah, I just wanted you to know…you really should work on that poker face of yours.” Ethan joked. “On a serious note, though,” Ethan’s snide expression turned into something more empathetic and less playful. “Nel isn’t so easily charmed by a good-looking face and a few nice words.” He laughed. “You’re prime example of that.” He punched his friend’s arm teasingly.

Colsin felt a tinge of guilt. “Well good looking yeah, but uh…nice words…well, I wasn’t exactly kind to her.”

“Ah, well, that’s one strike against you for sure,” said Ethan bluntly.

Colsin didn’t want to have this conversation anymore. “I’m going out to look for her again. You guys can come, or you can stay. I don’t care,” he said heading for the front door-a place he’d never been too far from since returning home in the first place.

“Oh, babe!” Sara cut in between him and the door. “Where are you headed?”

Sara was a conniving she-wolf, so Colsin wouldn’t be surprised if she’d heard the whole conversation between, he and his friends.

“Sara, I don’t have time for you right now. We’ll talk when I get back.”

“Colsin, don’t go! I’m sure that wretch can find her own way home!” she snapped. “And even if she can’t…cut your losses! Who cares?”

“Enough!” Reece growled angrily.

Sara sneered at her older brother. “I’m an alpha, Reece, I don’t have to listen to you-”

“I am your alpha,” Colsin interrupted before Reece could lose his temper. “Just because you have a gene does not make you a true alpha.”

“You think that hint of gene you possess will keep me from putting you on your back, little sister?” Reece asked with calm irritation.

“Your brother made of far more than you, Sara. Learn to stay in your place.”

Sara clammed up as she stood before three towering superiors. She backed away, and as she did, Colsin turned his back on Sara and headed toward the door. He opened just as someone else came stumbling into the foyer.

Colsin turned around and saw his father and Leana Larken rushed in just as the door opened.

“Nel!”

As soon as Leana Larken said the name it was almost as if her name summoned a shiver up his spine and a heat in his stomach. She was near. Very near. It was only when Ethan nudged Colsin to turn around that he did.

There she was, standing drenched; her usually pristinely wild curls were stretched long against her clinging shirt. It took every ounce him not to grab her and shake her and then wrap her in his arms because he was glad that she was okay.

“Where have you been?” He said to her before he could even think about the fact that now wasn’t the time to have this conversation.

Nel’s eyes were bewildered and wide. Almost as if she was surprised to see him. She parted her lips to speak when her mother came storming toward her again.

“Neliyah Larken!” she exclaimed and rushed past Colsin to wrap her arms around her daughter.

As Leana embraced her daughter, Nel and Colsin’s eyes stayed connected to one another.

“Later, Cols,” murmured Reece. “Now’s the time for this conversation.”

Colsin considered his friend’s words, but it was hard not to interrupt the conversation between Nel and her mother.

“Come on sweetie,” Leana. “Let’s get you home and…”

Hearing those words snapped Colsin out of his reverie immediately. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Excuse me?” Leana immediately became aggressive.

“I said, she is not going anywhere,” the young alpha repeated without hesitation.

Leana glanced Maven Stone, her lips twitched and then she looked at Colsin. “With all due respect, young alpha, she is Neliyah Larken is still my daughter.”

“With all due respect, Ms. Larken,” Colsin took a step forward. “Neliyah Larken, your…daughter is my mate. She will stay here in the packhouse.” He then shot his stare over to Neliyah.

“Colsin!” Neliyah exclaimed in a reprimanding tone.

“It’s alright, Neliyah,” said Leana, standing in front of her daughter. “Are we going to have a problem, young alpha?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, disperser,” he said. Since she wanted to use titles, he would.

“That is enough!” Maven growled and stood between Colsin and Leana.

Colsin noticed his father’s stance and realized that it was quite protective, but not toward him. In fact, his father’s stance was quite defensive. He watched his father’s hand subtly take Leana Larken’s for a moment long enough for him to catch. When he eyed Neliyah, it seemed that she caught this too.

“Colsin, you’ll have your time with Neliyah Larken but if her mother wants to see to her then-”

“Since I am her mate, should that not be my job?”

“Stop it!” Neliyah snapped. “Just st…stop it. I will stay.”

Leana growled. “Then I guess I will head home-”

“No, you won’t,” said Maven and Colsin simultaneously. Maven looked at his son, caught off guard by his agreement.

Colsin glanced at his father and then back at the disperser. “I am not trying to keep you from your daughter, Ms. Larken,” Colsin clarified, simmering his hostility. “It’s clear that something, and there have been…sightings…I’d feel better if she was under the roof of the pack. I also want her to be with those who comfort her most.”

Colsin glanced between Nel and then Manari, noticing as the young heretic vampire’s eyes were aglow with impatience. She was feeling overprotective.

“You’re both welcome to stay.”

After Colsin said this, Maven moved to the side. The girls looked up at him, and nodded in agreement. “Colsin is right. Some things happened today, and since you were missing, young Miss Larken, there may be a few things that you can assist me with.”

“Yes sir,” Nel nervously replied, her anxious stare glancing over to her mother before, her eyes fell to the floor.

“So, we’re just let anything with two legs walk in this door now?” Sara hissed angrily.

Manari noticed Sara sneering at her. She rolled her eyes. “I should go home,” said Manari. She faced Nel.

“We can talk later-”

“No!” Nel retorted and grabbed her friend’s hand. “I need you…and mom here, tonight.” She spoke. “Please,” Nel whispered her desperation as it mirrored in her eyes.

Manari looked up at the alpha and his son. They seemed to be fine with it. Sara Slate wouldn’t be found with anything concerning her as she was a vampire. Then her eyes lingered over to the Delta, and then the Beta, whose eyes were steadily settled on her.

“If…if you need me and…and if it’s alright with the pack.”

“Then it’s settled,” said Reece, his eyes lingering on Manari a little longer and then switching his gaze to his sister. “Do you understand?”

Sara frowned and rolled her eyes. “As long as you save me a conversation later.” Her eyes were pointed at Colsin who had completely forgotten about her. “Babe!” she snapped.

Nel rolled her eyes and kept her hand in Manari’s hand. “Come on.”

As they walked away, Leana’s steady gaze stayed on Colsin. Though her stare was dangerous and even slightly intimidating, he would not budge when it came to Nel. He knew that he’d have to have a conversation with her later about this. But until then, his main concern was Nel.

He quickly turned around and grabbed her wrist. “Red!”

She paused and looked at him. “Mom, Nari. Can you go on ahead?”

Everyone seemed to know that this was conversation best left between the two of them. “Alright, everyone disperse.” Maven commanded of everyone.

They started to leave. Sara hesitated. “Sara!” Reece hissed. She jumped and then begrudgingly, she stomped off.

After they were alone, Colsin immediately spoke. “Red, we need to talk.”

“We’ve talked enough, Col!” she hissed. “Nothing seems to get through-”

“Stop talking! Listen to me.”

She stopped, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “Fine, I’m listening.”

Colsin sighed. “I apologize.”

Where her head was turned away from him, she shot her eyes to his. “Oh.”

“For how I’ve treated you up until this point. I…I need to work on my temper.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

“We still need to talk.”

“Yea,” Nel replied. She exhaled. “Whatever you want. Is there anything else?”

“Yea.”

“What is it?”

“Are you alright?” he asked.

This caught Nel off guard. “I…I’m…okay.”

His hand tingled with a desire to touch hers, but he fought against it. He took a step back. “Goodnight, Red.”

With a reluctant step back, she nodded. “Goodnight, Col.” She turned around and headed to her mother.

When she got to her room, Nel immediately closed the door behind her as her mother and best friend settled in her room.

“Are you okay?” Manari asked.

“Sweetheart,” said Leana. “What happened out there?”

Nel sighed, locked the door and then faced them again. “I have to tell you something.”

“Is it about why you were gone for a whole day with no sign of life?” Leana asked.

“Yes,” Nel replied. “Mom…we have a lot to talk about.”