Colt stood, the water cascading from her in one fluid movement, and began to make her way out of the hot tub. Elijah would have been hot on her heels however, when he first went to pull her back, he froze momentarily. Now that her body wasn't shielded from his view by the bubbles and froth from the hot tub's jets, Elijah could see that Colt was absolutely covered in a mottled array of purples, blues and blacks. There were bruises everwhere, covering her abdomen, and her thighs. There was even a particular nasty looking one on her ankle.
In that moment, all of his anger and annoyance at her had evaporated. He was now consumed with a driving need to protect his mate, and solely focused on ensuring she was safe and well. Inside his head, there was a barrage of unanswered questions as he tried to work out how this had happened, and which person, or persons he would have to kill in retaliation. But, when she left, she left with her Mom, her very very protective Mom, so her returning with bruises marking her skin with all the colours of the rainbow, just didn't make any sense. She was supposed to be at her parent's home. *Where did she go? How did it happen? Who caused this damage? Why did her parents leave her unprotected? How did he fail her this way? Why didn't he follow them to keep her safe? How could he have allowed her to become so badly hurt? Why didn't she tell him straight away? Why didn't she call him to ask for his help?
Elijah had more and more questions, none of which he had any answers for. His confusion, was only adding to his desperation to be close to her. It was that desperate need to go after her, which caused him to look like he could rival a newborn deer on an ice rink for the title of who was the clumsiest. As such, he narrowly avoided falling flat on his face as he clambered out of the water. Desperate to try and get some answers on what had happened.
Colt pressed the advantage of her head start, and quickly headed towards the luxury private changing room she had reserved. It had everything she needed, comprising of a changing area and a shower room, as well as towels, toiletries and of course her clothing from when she had arrived. The key to allow her entry was pinned to her bikini top though, and unpinning it cost her the precious seconds, which Elijah used to close the distance and catch up with her. So, as she turned around to close the door, she found Elijah standing there blocking the door, and refusing to get out of the way.
"What happened?" Elijah asked, his concern for her etched deep within his eyes, as they roved over all the different injuries he could see.
Colt tilted her head for a second examining him thoroughly while she tried to assess his motivation, before deemed to answer, "It was just a sparring practice, that I obviously needed. Now excuse me." She tried to close the door again, but Elijah didn't back off still blocking the way.
"No. I'm not leaving you alone like that." he answered gruffly, unwilling to do as she asked. "And what kind of sparring practice leaves you looking like you were caught in a fucking Elephant stampede?"
"Like what? Elijah they are just bruises. Get a grip and move out the way so I can shower." she complained, putting her hand into the centre of his chest to push him back. But, the searing heat from his skin made her pause, her wildcat genetics proving to be a weakness in this moment. Their inclination to look for suitable heat sources was one of the reasons Colt would always have long scoldingly hot showers, and right now they had zeroed in on the body heat emanating from her mate's body as the perfect spit to curl up against.
Elijah took full advantage of her momentary distraction and instead of leaving, he captured her hand against his chest, and stepped forward into Colt's space, forcing her back into the room, where he then kicked the door closed behind him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her close while saying "I can't leave little bird, not while you are hurt...."
But the wind was taken out of his sails when Colt winced at the sudden movement of his arm as it forced he against his body. Instantly he released her as he scanned her to try and understand what exactly had hurt her.
"You need a doctor. Is there one on site?" he asked, coming to this conclusion, when he failed to as ascertain what was wrong.
Taking a deep breath and gingerly holding her side, Colt looked at him, completely irritated now, and said, "No, I need you to leave so I can have a fucking shower."
"Damn it woman, let me help you!" he all but roared at her.
"Help me what do what exactly?" She scoffed. "So far all you have done is cause me more pain." she spoke with venom, the incident with the rabbit from earlier playing on her mind. "Elijah you aren't listening to me, yet again. No suprise there though." she added, groaning at him. "I am fine. I have already seen a doctor, and I have two badly bruised ribs and one with a hairline crack. But they will all heal. That is, so long as no lumbering alpha wolf keeps trying to manhandle me! Now get the fuck out and let me shower in peace."
With that she moved to the door to open it, and Elijah thankfully stepped through it, visibly struck by her words. He was only temporarily deflated though, and deciding he wasn't happy with the level of answers he had received, he realised he would have to intercept Colt again before she left, hopefully by then she would have cooled off.
--------
When Colt was showered and dressed, she stepped out of the dressing room, and headed towards the lobby to hand in the key back for the changing room, before going to get lunch. It was two-fifteen in the afternoon now and her stomach was loudly protesting against it's urgent need for nourishment being put lower on the priority list than the hot shower that had lasted for fifty-five minutes. When she rounded the corner though, sat on one of the couches in the lobby area she seen a frazzled looking Elijah waiting on her.
Elijah stood up from his seat immediately upon seeing Colt, he was trying to convince himself not to panic that she had slipped past him again, she was far too good at doing that. He still had to find out who the sparring partner was, that had left her so bruised and beaten. They had clearly taken it way too far, and seriously harmed her. He strode over to her, relief etched on his face, and a weight lifting naturally off of his shoulders from being near her. He couldn't help but admire how beautiful she was, her hair falling in waves about her face, even as she looked at him with an annoyed scowl.
Colt placed her hand on her hip looking up at him before saying, "Stalking someone is a crime you know, Elijah."
"True, but waiting on your beautiful soulmate is not." He responded, continuing his progress towards her. "Do you always take so long to shower, little bird?"
"Don't you dare presume to be so familiar with me, after your speech in the hot tub. Get out of my face Elijah. Now." she said, walking past him and handing the key into the lobby staff, before walking out of the building.
Elijah realised the futility of hoping she had cooled off.
Colt decided as she stepped outside into the cool October sunshine, that she would have lunch at home instead of the bar, like she originally had intended. Afterall, she was pretty sure she was going to have company. Company who in her opinion, needed a good telling off for being an asshole, and that was not something to do in public, let alone her place of work.
Elijah, who had at the time felt utterly justified in his tirade against Colt, suddenly felt sheepish and small. He had forgotten that this wasn't just a public place to her, but her place of work filled with her guests and employees. He scrubbed his face with his hand, muttering "Shit." to himself before running out the door after her.
Colt was just about to unlock her jeep, when Elijah slid up beside her. Putting his arms on either side of her and caging her between the vehicle and himself.
"I'm sorry Colt, I was out of line. I shouldn't have shouted out my frustrations in front of your employees and guests." he said honestly before she could react. "It's been a hard few days, actually it's been a hard fucking decade, and your comment struck a nerve. I reacted without thinking. Please, just, just let me help you. It's like a primal need, and I can't switch it off. You just drive me to extremes and I cant seem to think straight." he sighed, beseeching her to forgive him.
"Mr. Lupus, kindly get out of my way. I am tired and sore and could do without having to deal with your crap." Colt seethed at him. "Also, if you think, you can get away with a half assed apology, that for the record doesn't count, when you blame your actions on mine, then you are an idiot. You, Elijah are responsible for your own actions, nobody else." With that, she pushed his arm away, and went to open the door.
But, again found Elijah blocking her way.
"No. Let. Me. Help. You." Elijah growled out each word, fighting with the urge to scoop her into his arms and carry her off. But, that would likely hurt her more right now, especially as she would probably fight him, and then would end up more injured.
"Damn you Elijah. " Colt responded, with a flap of her arms, as she stepped back from the jeep and walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle.
Elijah sighed in relief and followed her to open the door for her, and collect her keys. Relief pumping in his veins at the simple victory of driving her home. But, Colt quickly locked the doors behind herself, without handing over her keys, before Elijah could make it back to the driver's side. He was then forced to watch on frowning, as she displayed her agile flexibility and climbed across into the driver's side, and put her belt on.
Opening her window, just a crack she said while still wincing from the manoeuvre, "I'd say next time just get out of my way, but hopefully there won't be a next time, where your chauvinistic ass tries to stop me from doing something as basic, as driving myself home."
"Colt, don't you dare drive away from me." he warned her, anger seeping into his system from all angles.
"Goodbye Elijah." she said, putting the jeep into first gear and driving past him.
Damn her. Elijah thought as he turned on his heel and started running towards the woods. He was pushing everything he had into going after her. He was fuelled by anger and frustration, not only at her disobedience, but by the fact that she was so desperate to out smart him, she could have hurt herself more. He was cutting through the centre of the resort, at his highest speed, heading in the direction of Colt's home, and he was determined he would make it to her cottage before she did.
He was not going to let her escape again.