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Chapter 15 – To Work

Cole

Rose snarls, baring her teeth when I don’t take her bait. “Who is it that you’re dating, Cole? Is it that redhead I saw in all those pictures at Midwinter -”

I smirk, suddenly grateful that Iris invited some friend over for Midwinter. The girl had been perfectly nice, but certainly not someone I had anything real attraction to. Still, she was in all the tabloids as part of Midwinter celebrations, which is probably where Rose saw her. While I’m tempted to take the easy scapegoat, I don’t want to outright lieorput Rose on that girl’s tail. “No, not the redhead.”

“Then who thehell–“ Rose storms forward again. I just lean back, letting her come, knowing that I’ve got the trump card that can end it all.

“Rose, I met my mate.”

She freezes, the blood draining from her cheeks, her expression falling slack.

I clench my teeth, hating that this is hurting her. It has always been just…sointensewith Rose. And even though I’ve always known that there was a good chance for me to have a fated mate – I’m royalty, after all, and our Moon Goddess Selenelovesto mess with our lives - until I actuallymetNadia it was very difficult to imagine anything but Rose and I coming back to each other again and again, like…lodestones. Or compass needles always turning north, no matter how much they’re shaken up.

I mean, very intense, sexually adventurous and emotionally toxic compass needles. But sure. I guess the metaphor stands.

“No,” Rose whispers, shaking her head, taking a step away. “You’re – you’re fucking with me, Cole –“

“You know I wouldn’t do that, Rose.”

“But…” She shakes her head again like she’s trying to clear it, to find the mistake in what I said. “But you – and me –“

I sigh, reaching out a hand, not at all happy to see her this upset. “Rose, please –“

“No, Cole!” she snaps, suddenly livid despite her confusion. “I amnotletting this happen! You aremine!”

I sigh and let my hand drop between us, realizing that this all just got ten times more complicated than it was before. Because once Rose gets her teeth in something, she either gets her way or takes her pound of flesh with her when she goes.

“You aremineand I don’t know why you’re making up all thisbullshitabout a mate,” she snarls, stepping forward to glare up into my eyes. “Or if sheisreal, then I’m going to –“

I clench my jaw, glaring hard. “You will stand down, Rose,” I growl, Alpha command singing through my words, pushed to the edge by this bare hint of a threat to Nadia. Rose shrinks back, her body responding to my command on a visceral level, her eyes going wide. “If you evenlookat my mate the wrong way,” I whisper. “You will regret it. This is finished. I’m sorry that you brought it to such agracelessend.”

Rose bares her teeth at me, even if she doesn’t advance. “Who is she?”

I stay still, not giving anything.

Her head turns sharply to the side, very much like a bird of prey. “So, she hasn’t accepted the bond…”

My jaw clenches. Shit.Shit. Of course she figured that out – because if Ihada bonded mate ofcoursethe entire nation would know immediately – I’d shout it from the rooftops –

Rose smirks, seeing space for her to act. “Sorry I lost my temper,” she says, standing straighter, her eyes going wide and innocent again. I blink, shocked again at how fast she can shift into a different mood. But I’m onto her now, after five years of this. “I just…care about you a lot, Cole. It’s devastating to hear that I’ve lost you. At least, for now.”

I swallow, not sure how to play this. “I’m serious, Rose. We’re done. You need to –“

“Oh, we’ll see!” she says, giving me a pretty smile as she turns away. “After all, an unaccepted mate is just potential – not a bond.” She blows me a kiss and waves over her shoulder. “See you later, baby!”

I sigh, watching her go, and my wolf turns an anxious circle in my soul.

Is she right?My wolf asks.Is Nadia…not really our mate? Not yet?

I sigh, gripping his soft black fur in my fist before smoothing my palm down the length of his back.Don’t let Rose get into our head, I say, shaking my own.That’s what she wants.

But my wolf howls, worried.

What happens if Nadia never accepts us?

Will we just be…alone? Forever?