"I don't think your Mom likes me very much Kitten." Elijah said as he approached Colt.
She was watching the ceramic, Belfast style sink she loved fill up with hot bubbly water, all while both internally cursing and thanking her Mom for ensuring she would be alone with Elijah. It was easier for Colt to hide from the effect Elijah had on her when she had other people readily available as a distraction. But now she would have to really hold herself back from the compulsion to rub up against him.
When the sink was full she turned the hot tap off and turned to Elijah.
"Mom is just, she is protective that's all." Then she gave him a smirk and said, "And you did ask some really, astoundingly insensitive questions. Bit of a dick move to be honest."
Elijah smirked to himself hearing her defend her Mom in one breath and jokingly scold him in the next. He loved her attitude and her sarcasm, which wasn't something he ever thought he would find attractive. But he adored how she could verbally put him in his place with just a few words.
He watched her turn back to the sink, she slipped her hands into the hot water to clean the dishes within.
He was amazed at how such a simple action could hold him transfixed. But again he could watch her happily all day long she was his mate.
After Colt had placed a third plate onto the drying rack she spoke again. "If you go into the top drawer to the left of the fridge, you will find the towels. Then, you can make yourself useful rather than just standing there staring at me, Mr. Creepo."
"Fair enough," he laughed out, "But you surely can't blame someone for being content while watching his mate." he justified while retrieving the towel as he was told to. As he started drying the plates he asked, "So, you said your Mom is just protective, but there is more to it than that, I can tell. It is like she is waiting on me to screw up. Like it's some sort of foregone conclusion that I will. I don't understand what did I do to cause it?" he asked, finding it odd that he wanted Isla's approval at all, never mind how badly he wanted it.
"Believe me, she has her reasons." Colt began, hesitantly " And you almost marking me earlier did not help. But further than that, they are her reasons, and I am not the person to tell them."
"Really? Not even a clue?" he prodded further.
"Nope, and I think in the future when the roles are reversed and you're the parent with someone sniffing around your child, you will likely be the same." Colt responded while cleaning the last of the cutlery and moving to collect the empty pots and pans, loading them into the sink.
Elijah paused and without thinking corrected Colt, "You mean our children, and I can't wait to see you in the protective mother's role by the way" then he laughed and getting carried away added, "Or if all else fails, we could always set grandma on any potential suitors."
Colt hesitated, frozen on the spot, because this was it, the moment she was dreading. The moment where she revealed the truth. The last moment he would stand happily in her company. She thought briefly about lying to him, about just telling him she can't have children rather than she won't have them, then he couldn't hate her too much. But she couldn't do that, it was wrong and cowardly. It had to be the truth, and so she turned to him and spoke.
"No, Elijah. I meant you, not we. I will not be having children with you, that is not an option I am willing to pursue." she said, as she turned to look at the confusion on his face.
"But, you're a shifter." Elijah started "It is one of our founding drives to reproduce. Do you mean you can't, because there will be help we can get for that." But his confusion shifted to anger,as he processed all that had been said, and then his line of questioning changed. "What makes you think then that I will be a parent if it isnt with you? You are mine! I will not accept anyone else in your place. Do you understand me Colt?" he growled.
The use of her name, said so harshly from his lips startled Colt, more than his growling at her ever could. She knew he would be angry at her for popping his happy little bubble. She turned back to the sink and busied her hands by washing the first pan. "I am just being honest Elijah, I won't give you what you need, an heir. You will need someone else to do that. Also, I am not exactly a true shifter now, am I?" she said feeling exasperated by the low growls still vibrating off of him, as he stood too close watching her. "I can't actually shift! Do you even realise what kind of pain that causes a person? To always have part of you, or in my case two parts of me missing? So no, much to your horror as well as my mother's for that matter, I am choosing not to inflict that pain on anyone else. It is in my genetics Elijah! It could repeat, and I just, I will not do that to my children." she stressed at him, willing him to understand. "But hey, at least you now have something in common with my Mom."
Elijah's anger at her had faded somewhat, but he still growled at the thought of her expecting him to move on like it was nothing, like she was nothing. "Kitten, I can understand your reasoning. I can even respect it on your behalf though, it makes no logical sense to me, that your kindness to our offspring is to save them pain but refuse them life in the first place. But, I have searched for you, for so fucking long, I have been dedicated to you, moved fucking mountains to get to you. I will not simply move on to another because you are a bit confused."
"Confused?" Colt bit out at him with resentment. "You think, I am confused? That what? This is some fanciful whim, that has only presented itself since you appeared in my life. Get a grip Elijah. I am not confused. I will not be having children. You need heirs. Ergo we don't work, no matter how many fucking mountains you move! Unlike you, I was never looking for a mate. I didn't want to be found. I built my life up the way I want it. I am good at what I do, I.."
"Of course you are, you fucking built yourself a pack without even realizing it! You are already in a Luna's role. It as clear as fucking day with how you look after everyone here. Do not bullshit me, by pretending you are someone else." he interrupted her. "And, why can't we adopt then? Like your Mom said every child is precious, so there's a solution there too. Drop the excuses and tell me Colt why? Why are you hell bent on refusing us any real chance?" he roared.
Colt gave up on the dishes altogether at this point and turned to Elijah, her own emotions raging unchecked under her skin. "Because, I don't know who I am yet!" she screamed at him. "Damn you Elijah. You of all people can go to hell if you think you can bend me to your will. I do not want a mate. End of fucking discussion! I am sorry you wasted so much time and effort over the years to locate me. More than you know with the pain your search caused thousands. But, I am not responsible for your actions, and your decisions! And yes I built up my life, I surrounded myself with good people, and good friends who are as close as family, so how fucking dare you expect me to give them up! Not exactly a supportive mately attitude now is it?, And, it's exactly another reason why I will not be mating you!" By the time she had finished her breathing was ragged and her head was thumping.
Elijah was desperately trying to follow what she was saying, to listen and take in all her reasoning but it flew out of the window when her last comment fialtered through and he growled bellowing at her "YOU ARE MINE!" He had more he wanted to say but he was cut short. Tbe argument in itself on top of his own frustration and anger at what was being said caused his levels of adrenalin and cortisol to soar. As such his body undertook the only physiological response it could, to what it presumedwas a threat, and forced him to shift. He was now standing on all fours with an even more pissed off Colt, in his wolf form surrounded by the tattered remains of his clothes.
"Just go to hell Elijah." she said distainfully, walking away to the front door, "and get the hell out of my house before you moult!"
He slowly padded after her towards the door, whimpering as he reached her. He couldn't help himself from leaning his big head into her hand. He wasn't sure entirely how this had happened, how it had all gotten so out of hand. But, he was still loathed to leave her. There was a part of him that was scared, if he walked out that door he wouldn't ever see her again. So he paused, and he could feel her slender fingers as they sank into his fur. It gave him a brief spark of hope.
But then, she spoke quietly, "Just go. Please."