Page 3

Cole

I take a deep breath, forcing thoughts of Nadia from my mind as my eyes focus on my father at the front of the room.

He’s debriefing his generals and counselors on the assault we’re beginning on the Children of Solace – a separatist group turned cult that we’ve recently discovered has been harming our citizens.

And I know it’s important, but god damn am I distracted.

My wolf howls in my soul, urging me to go to her now. I pet a mental hand over his fur, urging him to calm.

“We’ll take any military volunteers we can get,” dad murmurs, leaning over a page full of data regarding the numbers we need, my sister Iris at his side, bending over to look as well.

“We need some to aid reconnaissance teams as they collect information on the Children of Solace, and a smaller party to protect aid workers as they provide their unique assistance.”

I keep my eyes focused on my dad as my brother elbows me in the side. “No doubts about which crew you’ll be volunteering for, right?” Jude murmurs, smirking. “Considering that’s what Nadia signed up for after you dragged her back from the ferry and her dad hauled her ass out of here?”

I turn my head just slightly to glare at him. “Shut up, Jude.”

“Nah,” Jude says with a happy sigh, grinning at me. “Everyone has way more fun when I talk.”

I snarl, thinking that that’s certainly not true, especially considering what happened when I declared that Nadia was my mate two weeks ago.

God, Jude can be…such a fucking ass. How can he be barely a year younger than me and know nothing about responsibility? Iris glances over at me from dad’s side, hearing my snarl, her face turning anxious.

I sigh, thinking that stressing out Iris isn’t worth it. She’s too sweet.

Dad glances at Iris – his favorite - and then raises his eyes to me. I step away from Jude, taking the opportunity as it presents itself. “I’d like to volunteer,” I say, nodding to him. “For the guard duty.”

Dad stands to his full formidable height, crossing his arms over his broad chest, looking every bit the Alpha King he is. “You realize that you’re wasted on guard duty, Cole,” he says, his voice grim and slightly displeased. “With your education and military experience –“

“I’m needed there,” I say, shaking my head slowly, letting him know with the steadiness of my gaze that I’m doing this no matter how hard he fights me on it.

Dad smirks and looks back down at his papers. “Fine. I’m making you Captain, though. It’s not going to be all fun and games as you chase after your…personal interests.”

My cheeks flush slightly as dad not only sees through my ruse but comes very close to making my personal information public to everyone in the room. I don’t even have to look at Jude beside me to know that he’s grinning wickedly, pleased to have his suspicions confirmed.

“So,” Jude whispers, leaning close. “Nadia will be under your command – where you can order her to do all sorts of –“

“Would you shut up?” I snarl, turning and cuffing him on the back of the head – not hard enough to fully hurt, but certainly enough to let him know that I’m serious.

Jude just grins at me, laughing his sunny laugh. “What, you’re going to tell me it’s not true?”

“I’m just helping my country,” I grumble. “Doing what I can to take down the Children of Solace.”

“So, this sudden concern for the safety of the humanitarian volunteers,” Jude says, his voice quizzical and thrilled, “is just…patriotism?”

I nod, solid and steady, lying my ass off and doing my damn best to pretend I’m not.

Jude just laughs, shaking his head and turning away. “Well, whatever, count me out.”

“No one ever counted you in .”

“Good. There’s no way I’m spending the next couple of months burning my ass off in the desert.”

Luckily, dad saves me from any more torture as the meeting breaks up, walking over to Jude and I with his hands in his pockets. “You know I think this is a mistake, Cole.”

I raise my chin, meeting his gaze, knowing where he’s going with this and determined to end it now. “She’s my mate , dad.”

“She’s a human ,” dad says as Iris moves to his side, her violet eyes moving rapidly between us. “It’s impossible. We’ll send you to a therapist, get your wolf straightened out –“

“There’s nothing wrong with my wolf!”

Dad grumbles, the sound resonating low in his chest. “Wolves and humans cannot mate. You will never be able to produce a child and an heir with this girl. What, will you leave your Kingdom to the hounds after your death?”

“Or just to Jude,” I say, my mouth twisting as I look over at my little brother, who just smirks at us.

Dad sighs. “Same thing.”

“Hey!” Jude snaps, standing straighter, his smile falling from his face.

“Cole,” dad says, turning back to me. “Go on this mission if you think it necessary, but I will expect you to dedicate yourself to the job and not just chase tail.”

I clench my teeth at his phrasing, displeased. Our country has come a long way in terms of integrating human and wolf culture – it’s one of the shining accomplishments of dad’s rule. In our capital, wolves and humans interact regularly and fully at peace, even forming friendships and dating.

But with the way dad is looking at me right now, it’s clear that he has different expectations for me.

“Figure your head out,” dad says, tapping his temple. “And then come back and marry a nice wolf girl. Give me some nice fat grand-pups, which is what you should be concentrating on.”

I sigh, glaring at my father’s back as he turns away, frustrated that he doesn’t believe me. Mom would believe me – she always does. But she and dad aren’t talking right now and she’s locked herself away on a religious retreat, making it very difficult to get in touch.

Inwardly, I determine to do all I can to both help our people who are being held in this insane cult and , at the same time, do as dad says and…figure my shit out. Because all of this stuff with Nadia is…such a mystery, even if my wolf and I are sure that she’s my mate.

“Come on,” I say, glancing at Jude and Iris, nodding toward the door. “Help me pack.”

“Gladly,” Jude says, giving an almost-bored yawn as he follows. “With you gone, I’ll be the most eligible bachelor in the capital. Can’t wait to get your ass out of here!”

“You’re such a pig, Jude,” Iris sighs, walking quickly to keep up with us. Jude and I are big like dad, but Iris inherited mom’s tiny frame and white-blonde hair.

“I believe you, Cole,” Iris whispers, grinning up at me as we move down the hall toward my rooms. “You go get your girl.”

I sigh, reaching out and pulling her to my side for a hug even as we continue to walk. “That’s not what it’s about, Iris.”

“Oh, whatever,” she says with a sigh, letting me go and smiling up at me. “You keep telling yourself whatever it is you need to. But if you don’t bring me home a sister-in-law by Midwinter, there will be hell to pay.”

I roll my eyes even as my wolf tilts his head back in my soul, letting out a long, slow, hopeful howl.

But I turn away from him, knowing it’s probably beyond hope, even if Iris has faith in it.

Nadia hates me, after all. And quite frankly, I’m not very fond of her right now either. But no matter how much she loathes me, I know on a very deep and primal level that…I’ve got to be near her and protect her. No matter what.