Chapter 39

"Where is my Erik and Colson?" Cobie asked as he made his way into Randall's room. It was an ensuite with a living room on one side. It was big with cream walls and large blown out pictures of Little Blue on the walls, a large fly screen, the third wall was covered by a large wooden wall and Cobie knew it was another walk in closet. 

"I saw them drive off after breakfast." Randall replied, a small smile on his face. 

Cobie fell into the loveseat and shook his head. "That is a wrong combo. I don't think Colson has fully warmed up to Erik."

"The man died protecting you."

"The way Colson sees things are slightly different." Cobie lets out a sigh. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and hit the speed dial for his brother. He was still getting used to calling Colson and Pa any time he wanted. It would take a little while for him to get used to, Colson on the other hand has been sending him cat memes ever since he got a new phone and number. 

"I'm a bit busy with your hubby." Colson immediately says when he picks up the call after two rings.

"Hubby?" Cobie asked, a light frown on his face.

"We're our looking for rings."

Cobie was stunned into silence. He was so shocked, he almost dropped his phone. He gets his bearing a few minutes later, refusing eye contact with Randall who looked just as shocked as he was. 

"Are you meant to be telling me this?"

"I don't give a shit. He didn't tell me to not tell you. It's for the event tomorrow." Colson said and Cobie was sure his brother shrugged. "I'll call you later okie. I just found the perfect one. YO! ALPHIE ERIK!" 

The call ends after that. 

Randall's room fell silent afterwards. Cobie was flabbergasted. He wasn't expecting this. He had been told to prepare a speech and vows. Oh shit. Was that what it was? Like a wedding?

"You're freaking out." Randall states.

"Stating the obvious, Randy."

"It's not a wedding. Tomorrow is just you both, swearing to lead the pack with their best interest at heart. That's all."

Cobie looks at Randall, a hand reaching up to rub his bottom lip. "So he wants to propose to me later then?"

"A surprise, maybe?" Randall asks rhetorically as he took a seat. "Maybe it would be grand. Flowers, music and a gorgeous ring." 

Colson says I found the perfect one, echoed in his head. 

"I don't think I want that."

"I'd kill for that." Randall said with a pout. 

Colson blurts out before he could stop himself. "Se Ju didn't propose?" Randall was quiet for a few seconds and Cobie felt the guilt slam into him. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

"It's fine. I just don't like tal- it's been a while since I talked about it."

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything."

Randall licked his lips and looks up at the ceiling. "When I first saw Se Ju, he was like a star. Completely out of my reach and I just fell for him. I knew it was possible for him to even notice me, I weight 200 pounds and has folds on my stomach." Randall let's out a wet laugh. "He did though. I remember how he looked at me. His eyes were wide and bright, he looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen." 

Cobie remained silent but his awe was expressed on his face.

"I hesitated at first because what make looks as gerogous as Se Ju and wants a fat ass like me?" 

Cobie tried to interject. "Rand-"

"That was then. I'm okay. But back then I had a lot of doubts, I was young. Se Ju persisted. He was a young doctor, that alone sparked my curiosity. I wanted to know all about him. I was also scared that he'd kiss me or hold and really he didn't want me. It was a bit scary so I kept telling him. This went on for a year until the day Se Ju had enough. He just grabbed me and kissed me after a pack meeting and it felt like my heart exploded."

Cobie fights the urge to pull Randall in for a long hug. 

"It took a while after that for us to date. I was trying to be stubborn but Gabriel talked to me." Randall looks down from the ceiling and turns to Cobie,  a sad smile on his face. "I fell in love with him. I love him with all my heart, my soul, my body. I love him so much despite what he put me through. When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy. I thought he would accept it and be happy too but it was the opposite. The son of a bitch told me he didn't want it and I should take care of it."

Cobie's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Se Ju could do and say something like that. 

"I cried so much. We fought about this for a week. Then one morning I woke up and he was gone. I broke down for who knows how long until Erik yelled at me. He literally screamed I should pull myself together. He took care of my cravings and moved me here to the pack house. He made sure everyone could get me whatever I needed. Any wolf who was near the store or any restaurant I needed brought my cravings right to the house." Randall lets out a wet laugh and rubbed his stomach. "I carried Kai and gave birth to him without complications. One year and couple months later, Se Ju returned. It took me a while before I could face him and it took him a while before he could hold Kai."

Cobie couldn't hold back any more. He made his way to Randall and pulled him in for a hug.

"You are so strong."

"I don't think so. I feel so stupid for still being in love with him. Every time I see him, I just feel... more. I want more." Randall confesses. "I love him."

"I know."

"I need him beside me."

Cobie sighed. "I know."

"He isn't my mate though. So someone out there might get the full package. Someone out there would carry his pups for him and he'd stay."

"I think you both are mates. Maybe the moon goddess is waiting for the right time."

"It's been years, Cobie. I can't keep waiting."

Cobie pulls back from the hug and looked Randall in the eye. "If he's worth it, you can wait."

"Cobie I-"

"Think about it. Take Blue into consideration as you think about it. From what I see, Se Ju loves you. You'll have your happy ending one day, with the wedding you dream of and many more."

"Thank you." Randall sniffs.

"You're welcome." Cobie squeezed Randall's shoulder before standing up. "Let's grab ice cream from the kitchen and join Aetos. He's watching a show, Deception, and he says it's off the hook."

Randall nods. Cobie walks ahead of he man, giving the pudgy man a chance to pull himself together. What Randall had said made Cobie think about his future and Erik. He was ready for everything but he doesn't think he'd be able to survive if Erik leaves him. Heck, he might shook him in the chest if he tries it. 

Nah. He doesn't know what he'll do.

All he knows is. He loves Erik and the Alpha loves him back. He knows he's ready to take their commitment to the next level. They were mates already. Cobie absentmindedly reaches for the moon marks on his neck, proudly sticking out. 

He'll be fine. He had his family and friends here.

Randall, Cobie and Aetos munch on the ice cream. Cobie had settled for a rocky road ice cream and a big spoon as well as a pack of cookies. The tv show, Deception, turned out to be really good. They binge watch it until Colson and Erik returned, both of them carrying bags of Chinese food.

"I love you!" Cobie cheered when Colson placed a bag on his lap. 

Colson smirks but Erik speaks up. "It was my idea."

"I love you too, Erik." 

The Alpha smiles. He leans over Cobie and pressed a kiss to his lips, earning a startled laugh from Cobie. They all eat and Colson asks about Pytor. Aetos doesn't respond so Erik does. Apparently Aetos had sent Pytor to take care of things at the den. 

While eating and before the next episode of Deception, Erik spoke up. 

"I am thinking about bringing more people to Astir."

"What?" Cobie asks. 

"Like welcoming in more. It's wolves that just live here and I want to extend that safety to other people." Erik said, looking all of them. "They don't necessarily have to join the pack, we're a large pack but there are people out there who need a place to stay and employment. We've got land, schools, businesses, hotels, hospitals and so much more. Let us be a safe place for people."

Cobie dropped his plastic fork into his open pack of fried rice.  When he thinks he knows everything and has seen everything about Erik, the man always seemed to surprise him. 

"That's a wonderful idea."

"I spoke to Michel about it but I wanted to know what you think before I make a final decision. You are the Luna and have rights to make and decline ideas and such." Erik said, a small smile on his face.

"I really think it's a good idea. It might be exactly what people need, what they've been searching for. A safe haven." Cobie rests his hand on Erik's and squeezed it a bit. 

"We can start with vampires. I can bring half of my coven, the non-trouble makers here. You've got a couple houses to let near Greenwood Avenue." Aetos said.

"And I'll talk to Queen Freya, she's been asking for this for a while now." Erik added. "Every creature is welcome here."

"Cool. Just like Hotel Transylvania." Colson said and Cobie snorts while Randall, Aetos and Erik laugh. They talk briefly about Erik's plan and then continued watching Deception. For now it was just an outline and it would take a while for it to become solid. 

A few minutes later Aetos stands. He mutters a quick excuse me and fled the room. Nothing must have seemed off to Randall and Colson who were arguing about the magic trick happening on screen but Cobie sees it bright as day. 

"I'll be back soon." Cobie whispers to Erik. He pressed a kiss to the Alpha's cheek before standing up. 

"I can go."

"I got this." Cobie winks at his mate. He searched the house for Aetos and finally found him in the library on the third floor. He's got a book in his hand and a far away look on his face but it snapped away immediately Cobie took one step closer to him.

"I'm fine."

"I wasn't going to ask how you were." Cobie stated as he stepped into the room. 

"It's what Erik has been asking as well as Pytor. The only difference is Erik snaps at me to tell Colson."

Cobie decides to play dumb. He made his way to the long shelves and looked at the row on his eye level and pulls out a copy of Jughead double digest.

"Tell my brother what?"

Aetos raised a brow. "You know."

"Use your words, Aetos."

"Your brother is my mate." Aetos finally says, his words out into the world now. "He is mine."

Cobie doesn't hesitate. "Tell him then."

"He doesn't feel the pull. I can't just walk up to him and say hi Colson, you're my mate. I want to so much but I can't say it."

Cobie pusher the comic back and walked closer to Aetos. "Is that why you want to move to Astir? To be closer to Colson?"

"I'll take whatever I can get."

"Aetos I-"

"I envy what you and Erik have and how long it took to get you where you both are. Now you're mates and marked and I want that. I didn't even know vampires had mates until I took one look at Colson and my heart began to go crazy." 

"It's going to be hard. When I unknowingly rejected Erik, we were bleeding and it was painful."

"The difference is Colson has no idea we are mates, so I can't be rejected. I'm not going to ask for a date or a kiss. I'm just going to just be there." 

"I don't think you should keep to yourself for this long. He is my brother and I do have a little right to tell him."

Aetos goes to interject and Cobie holds his hand up.  

"I won't tell him."

"He's been on the run for years and I can't spring this on him. He finally has his freedom and I don't want to taint it. I'm an old soul, I can't still wait a while."

"Being mate doesn't take away the others freedom."

"I know. I just want to give him more time." 

"Fine." Cobie nods. Then speaks up after a few seconds. "Just how old are you?"

"590." 

Cobie choked. He couldn't believe it but Aetos was staring him down, his eyes focused, no twitching. The man in front of him was five hundred years old and he looked not even a day older than 26 years old. This sparked Cobie's curiosity but it'd be rude to ask Aetos how he was turned. And more importantly, how he and Pytor could walk under the sun. 

"You're old." He blurts out and Aetos laughs so hard he snorts. 

"I know I am." Aetos replies.

"Did you ever date?" Cobie asked. "Before Colson?"

"I tried a couple of times but you get tired of watching your loved one die, so I stopped." 

"Aetos... I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Time actually does heal wounds. It's either that or I actually didn't like them or loved them as well as I did." Aetos shrugged.

Silence fell between them and Cobie could see when Aetos' shoulder began to drop. Something had to be done.

"Erik got me a ring today." Cobie blurts. Okay he should really think things through before he speaks. "Would you mind taking somewhere I can get rings? Or maybe watches? I read a book where this guy Donald or is it Dominic? I can't remember. He proposed with a watch and shit." Cobie rambles for a bit.

Aetos was watching in amusement, a smirk playing on his lips. 

"I think I know just the best place."

"Let's go then."

They go through three jewelry stores and find nothing. Cobie couldn't find the right piece.

"I don't know how Erik did it. This is hard." Cobie sighs when they get to the next jewelry store. 

"Just take a look at everything and whatever calls out to you is the one." Aetos said as he pushed his hand into his pockets. 

This jewelry store was small with white walls and glass displays everywhere. Cobie walked over to the glass, looking at the rings. 

"Is there anything you're looking for in particular?" The attendant asked.

"Just something... special." Cobie replied and Aetos snorts. Cobie spun around and flared at the vampire who just shrugged. He looked through the glass cases until his eyes fell on a ring. He knew it was the one when his fingers began to tingle. 

"Can I see that one?" He asked the attendant. 

The man nods and pulled out the ring, carefully placing it in the glass. "It's a 30 carat gold ring meant for the pointer finger." 

The ring was simple with an small oval shaped amber gem handwrapped in gold. Simple but perfect. 

"I'll take this. Thank you." Cobie said, pulling his wallet from his pocket. He hands the attendant one of his many cards. Aetos raised a brow in question and Cobie rolls his eyes. 

"I didn't know your name was Calvin Shaw." Aetos teased, alternating between looking at the card and Cobie.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

The attendant hands Cobie his bag and gives him a small smile. Cobie waves a bit shyly before walking out of the store with Aetos right behind him. When they got back into the car and the radio was on, Cobie spoke.

"I was on the run for a long time, I needed ways to save my money and if I had used my real name he would have found me or worse Colson." Cobie informs Aetos who nods.

"You both have been through a lot. You deserve happiness and so much more."

"We know."

How's it going? Erik's voice slid into Cobie's head. He was still getting used to this telepathy thing. 

We're on our way back. I want cuddles and a friends marathon, Cobie replied. He rests his head against the window and hummed along with the song. It was When I Dream at Night by Marc Anthony. 

When they get home, Cobie hands Aetos the bag and kindly asked him to hold onto it for him. The vampire had given him a salute and was gone in the blink of an eye.  Cobie grabs a bag of jelly beans from the kitchen before making his way up. He quickly checks Colson's room and smiles when he finds Colson as sleep.

Erik had friends paused on screen when Cobie walked into the room. The vet pulled off his shoes and sweatpants, leaving himself in just boxers, and crawled into Erik's arms. The Alpha pressed a kiss to Cobie's hair, forehead and a chaste kiss to the lips before pulling back a little.

"How was your shopping time with Aetos? Did you have fun?" Erik asked as dips his free hand into the bag of jelly beans.

"It was fun. I talked to him about the mates issue and he says he wants to give Colson time."

"You didn't think it was a good idea." Erik concludes. 

"I do not." 

"Let's give him a little time and if he hasn't sorted it out I'll break a few bones in his body." 

"That's all I ask for." Cobie snickered. He pressed a kiss to Erik's cheek and grabbed the remote. He hits play and the friends episode The One With Rachel's New Dress began to play.

"Ready for tomorrow?" Erik asks, his voice low and soft, like a whisper. 

Cobie places his hand on the one Erik had around his waist and squeezed it a little. "As long as you're by my side, I am."

"I love you."

"I love you, Precious."