[Dove]My eyes opened to a burst of sunshine in my chest. I couldn't stop thinking about last night. Staring at my reflection, visions of Cole kept replaying in my mind - his concerned face, passionate eyes and loving smile. My gaze trickled down to my lips. A finger reached up to feel those plump red lips and I recalled the warm pressure and roughness of his lips. A shiver of goosebumps came all over me. Somehow, knowing that Megan likes Jude, the air was fresh again and my chest felt lighter. The dread from the past few days seemed non-existent and I kept wanting to smile. For some reason, I also took longer than usual to get dressed. The final decision - my best white dress. It snuggled comfortably around my body, showcasing my nice shoulders and rosy knees and allowing sneak peaks of my womanly assets. After a few turns in front of the mirror and smiles of satisfaction, I made sure that my face glowed in the right places and then I strolled to the dining area, humming to a
[Dove]My mind went frantic. I wasn't ready to tell Cole. Make up something, Dove! I screamed internally. I said with a dismissive tone, "It was just a pot. I didn't notice it was hot and carried it." As I wiggled my fingers, the redness dissolved. My hand was normal again. I frowned - the healing took longer than usual. Could it be that strange smell from the candle fragment? I thought. More questions sprang. How did silver get on that candle? What happened in that cave? Someone shook my shoulders and the kitchen returned to my view. Two large hands were on my shoulders and I was looking into Cole's blue eyes. He was crouching in front of me, deeply rattled. "d*mn it, Dove, can you hear me? What the hell's wrong with you?" I blinked a few times, flashed an assuring smile and said, "Sorry. I was just thinking," He straightened with a frown then crossed his thick arms across his chest, and I suddenly recalled the feel of those arms around my waist, his hard warm chest ag
[Dove]So my husband left me in the middle of the dance floor. I know men are creatures of few words but this is too much. Moving away from the dance floor, I contemplated whether to throw Cole over a cliff or remove Beef Wellington from our meals. Megan came into my view. She was staring at something - or someone - and her face was clearly upset. Following her line of gaze, I saw Jude in a dark corner, hugging and kissing another woman. My eyes swung back to Megan and she turned and ran. I followed her. I found her outside the village, sobbing quietly. Despite her effortless threats, I stayed with her. We chatted for a long while on the scratchy grass in the comfort of the glowing round moon above the stretch of distant mountains as waves of the night cool breeze flooded through us. I thanked her suggestion of playing a fast song after two slow ones to keep the celebratory mood; she confessed that she was using Cole to get back at me because she thought that Jude liked me.
[Dove]"We need to talk, Cole."Slick hair glossed to the back, moist bronze skin, damp shirt - I could tell that Cole had gone to the waterfall. My eyes were drinking in the gorgeous sight of him until he said in a curt tone, "Stop staring."I glanced away from his muscled chest and then focused on his eyes instead, but the intense stare was as distracting. "So what is it?" He asked impatiently. The old tone was back. My shoulders heaved with a dreaded thought: maybe what happened between us so far was just a lie. Visions of smiling and caring Cole flooded into my mind. I inhaled sharply. I didn't want us to be strangers again. "I thought we should have dinner together. We haven't eaten together since the feast," I said in a cheery tone. He folded his arms, narrowed his gaze and said, "I have been busy.""I understand," I quickly nodded and said, "but you promised to have at least one meal a day together."He scoffed and let out a cold chuckle. I swallowed the bitter
[Dove]As a punishment for breaking the rule of stepping into forbidden grounds, I had to help with the harvesting and help out at Connie's B&B. Cole didn't tell me this - Megan did. She was my new 'escort' - Owin had left the village for his political duties and Jude needed to increase training for the young warriors. As for Cole, we were back to square one - he was missing in action again. I have not seen him for a week. "Okay, give me that." A toned bronze arm slithered into my blurry view and removed the beet from my stagnant hand. I blinked the mist away, looked up and smiled at a bemused face. "Cry or smile - choose one," Megan shook her head and threw the beet into my basket, "don't do both - you look scary." I returned to the record book and scribbled a note about the unusually small beet that just went into the basket. Megan sounded so much like Cole that it felt like he was next to me. The thought reddened my eyes again. I turned from her and lifted my chin to
[Cole]"It didn't feel right," Dove whispered, her temple against Cole's thick biceps. She wove her arm around his and drew herself closer to him and continued, "I was nobody to Her and She saved me. So She couldn't have been as cruel as you--."She straightened and checked Cole's expression.Cole gazed into her dark round eyes. He reached out to caress the swollen face and swallowed hard. What happened to her, he thought. Another hand went out to comfort her other eye. Then, they slid down to cup her tear-stained cheeks. His thumbs started soothing the soft skin underneath. Slowly, he pulled her forward and took her lips. She shuddered slightly under his sudden touch. He started nibbling on the familiar plumpness and she relaxed. He pressed closer to take in all of her giving and then tore his lips away with a loud smack. Seeing her dreamy expression, eyes half-closed, the familiar wave of pride washed over him. Cole pushed his hands together, compressing Dove's soft pale c
[Abe]"The world is unfair." Abe said to his audience in a low impassive voice, "so it's up to us to make it fair." He paused and an evil grin spread across his face. "We're going to take down the Whispering Moon Pack and divide their lands fairly between us." The Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack, a lanky lad with a messy undercut, revealed a condescending sneer and said, "You do know that Cole's mutt has been sniffing around." "I know." Abe was slightly irritated by the tone. The young Alpha creased his brows in contempt, "Cole's an idiot for letting that smiley thing attend all meetings for him. Are we a joke to him?" Liking what he saw, Abe raised his nose with the air of a king and smirked, "He has a wife now so he'll be busy." "That silver hair freak?" The young werewolf threw his head back and laughed. Wiping the tears in his eyes, he said, "Your plan is wicked, Abe. That'll teach him not to turn his back on the Goddess.""Shushed!" Abe glanced around warily for an
[Dove]I had been toying with the dilemma for days. How would Cole feel when he learned that the ones he loved had tried to harm the thing he protects? The pain would be unbearable. But Megan was insistent to tell Cole - the Alpha has to know everything about the pack. I relented. We will talk to Cole. But he was still away. CONNIE'S BED & BREAKFAST is Connie's private property; she lives and works there. It is far enough to escape the hustle and bustle of the village but still within a walkable distance for a casual visit.Situated near the highway, it serves as a place of solace for lost and tired humans. It has also been serving as a lookout to warn the village of unexpected danger or persistent intruders, thus keeping the pack invisible and safe. Interestingly, my time with Connie had been increasing since Cole left. There was always something she would needed help with. I felt like I was being kept busy on purpose. "Dove!" I looked up from the pot of steaming stew a