37: Sunshine, Lollipops

**Coal**

My blood was fucking boiling.

Serena was a leech, and she was manipulating my mate into getting off easily. I wasn't going to stand for it, but before I handled that, I needed to blow off steam before I lost it and ended up hurting someone.

Arsen had taken over for a shift just as we left the front palace doors and bolted into the woods. The crisp Autumn air was relieving the pressure in me, and both Arsen and I reveled in it. He sprinted through the forest that we knew like the back of our hand and weaved through the thick trees and brush.

*Go back to Canada,* Arsen scoffed angrily.

I huffed my agreement. *She doesn't deserve to be part of a pack at all for what she's done.*

*I bet she told mate lies.*

I was positive she had. Serena was excellent at a lot of things, but lying (as it were) was the thing she was best at.

But Raegan looked rather sure of herself. I never knew my mate to make decisions lightly, especially not when it came to people she loathed.

Arsen growled lowly, *I don't like this.*

*I don't either.*

*Kill Serena.* He suggested.

*Yeah-fucking-right. If we killed her, Raegan would never forgive us. It's one thing to disagree about where Serena ends up, it's another entirely to kill the woman.*

*How?*

*Arsen, you're joking, right?*

He paused. I groaned.

*Dude, killing people is something humans take very seriously.*

*Mate killed Kai, and that wasn't so bad.*

*That's different. Kai committed crimes that were... beyond vile. Serena just attempted to commit such crimes. She didn't succeed, and our lives won't be permanently scarred by her actions.*

Arsen was quiet, but I could feel his sadness clearly. We were hurting for the things Kai had done to our mate. After marking one another I saw it all, and I had wanted to scream and rage and lash out at anything and everything. After getting her into the doctor to check the damage on her organs, that feeling was amplified a hundredfold. The look on her face broke my fucking heart, and if Kai weren't already dead I would have tortured him for years for that look alone.

So, with those words, Arsen understood why Kai's death was taken the way it was and why Serena's wouldn't be. Blood for blood, and Serena had not drawn blood. I was aware of my bias in her judgment, and for that, I knew it was best if Raegan decided what happened to Serena, I just really didn't want it to be sending her back to the pack I was raised in.

It felt wrong, and I didn't like it. Just the thought of her roaming the town again, or running into BriAnne and Finn, or even Nat had me getting unreasonably angry again.

Arsen pushed our legs harder in an attempt to work off that anger.

Eventually, it worked, and we headed back to the palace.

Raegan was standing on the porch, lit by the bright lights that shone down the front of the building. She was holding a pair of sweats and a hoodie and was wrapped in a blanket.

Arsen hung his head low as he approached.

"Better?" Raegan asked quietly, stretching her hand out towards us.

He nodded then rubbed his head against her hand to encourage her to pet him.

She obliged his silent request, and heaved out a sigh, "I spoke to Hannah, and I'm so--"

Arsen nipped at her wrist and shook his head before letting me shift back.

Raegan handed me the sweats and hoodie and I dressed quickly. She then took my hand and led me over to a bench that sat on the side of the front portion of the palace.

We sat side by side in silence, the only contact between us being our intertwined hands and the touching of our thighs from how close we sat. She wrapped the blanket that was around her around us both and scooted closer to me. I sighed contentedly at the affection and tried to put together a proper sentence to express my thoughts to her.

"I'm s--"

We started at the same time.

We both chuckled and then I sighed, "I'll go first, 'kay?"

She nodded and faced me.

"I... I-- okay, Serena makes me very *angry.* I don't like the idea of her being near the things I love. Now, I know I handled my upset wrong, but I stand by not wanting her anywhere near my childhood pack. But I am sorry for shouting and snarling at you." I pursed my lips, looking into her eyes.

A soft smile split across her face, "I understand, Coal. And I'm sorry for being insensitive. Hannah and I discussed it, and I won't call Cassian. I'm going to send Serena to Stone Moon instead. Shawn is a tough cookie, and I know that Serena won't be able to pull any tricks or stunts there. And that way she's not anywhere near things you lo--"

I growled lowly, "oh please," I rolled my eyes, "like I don't love my in-laws."

She grinned.

"Mostly Johnny," I smirked.

"Don't tell Morgan that," she giggled, leaning against my shoulder, "he'll think you're picking favorites."

"Oh, I most definitely am picking favorites."

We were both silent for a moment before I realized I hadn't acknowledged her plan properly.

"I don't like that she's going to be around our family, but I think Stone Moon is a better, *safer,* option for her to serve her 'rehab' sentence," I said, laying my cheek on top of Raegan's head.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I think it's a good idea too."

I sighed and wrapped my arms around her, "I don't like when we fight."

She giggled, "I don't think this would qualify as a fight, wolfman."

"It sure felt like one," I complained.

She snuggled into my chest and placed a kiss above my heart.

"Well we're not fighting anymore, so shh," she murmured.

"Are you tired?" I asked her, remembering that we hadn't actually gotten the chance to go to bed before all this.

She nodded, "carry me to bed?" She looked up at me.

I smiled and scooped her into my arms as I stood.

She wrapped her legs and arms around me and nuzzled the crook of my neck.

We made our way back inside and up to our room.

Despite both of our exhaustion, we made love before finally going to sleep in each other's arms.