“Well, you sure seem to have good luck, Colt.” Grayson said with a laugh.
Colten sighed as he leaned into the counters in the kitchen, “Something like that.”
Abigail was silent at the table, holding Ella and not seeming like she was about to give the child up.
Chloe didn't look too happy with the whole story that had just been told to her, “I'm so sorry, Abigail.”
Abigail now sighed, staying quiet.
“Well, what do you want to do about the alpha?” Grayson asked.
Colten hadn't thought too much about it, his thoughts seemed to be consumed by Abigail and her family. Mateo was a far thought.
“I'm not sure.” He rubbed his forehead, almost wanting to go to bed maybe.
“You should kill him.” Chloe interjected.
Grayson smiled at his mate's random need to speak.
Colten paused, “Yeah.” He looked to Abigail but she didn't give him a sign of whether or not he should proceed with that notion.
Mike had been sitting silently at the table and now spoke after almost half an hour, “Do you think he's running drugs with her father?”
Abigail's eyes widened as she stared at him, “What?”
Colten hesitated, hearing her abrupt hurt, even though he was almost convinced of the same.
“My father would never do that.”
Mike lifted an eyebrow, “Why was your father involved with a wolf like Mateo then?”
Abigail swallowed, looking to Colten now.
Colten walked forward, “It's okay, Mike.”
“Well, I dunno, it's just Justin and Tyler said you all think that pack must be doing something illegal to have a house like they do.”
Abigail's eye watered up, “No, my father wouldn't do that.”
“Never say never, sweetheart.” Mike stated.
Colten felt her hurt and he growled, “Alright, enough.”
Mike then backed off as the tension rose on the subject.
Colten's new presence could shut up a room and he was impressed by it. He knew the subject had been left hanging and he decided to at least end if for now, “I want to talk to Charlie directly about the involvement with Mateo, once I've done that I will decide how to involve Forenone.” He thought that was good enough explanation, “Ella needs to go to bed.” His eyes fell on the dozing baby.
“Yeah.” Abigail got up and walked to the counters where she started to make her a bottle with one hand.
He walked to her and took Ella from her, “I'll take her.”
“I need practice.” Abigail breathed and took the baby back once she'd made a bottle for her. Colten gave in for good reason and kissed her cheek before letting his mate walk from the kitchen.
“You honestly don't have a clue why Charlie had Mateo with him?” Mike pressed, “That whole thing screams illegal activity. Especially with her mother booting you out so quick.”
Colten looked to him, “I'm not going to judge it till I have the facts.”
“Yeah, Mike.” Chloe hissed.
“Hey, I'm just trying to prevent some obvious heart break.” Mike smirked, “Gonna be a hard pill for the blonde to swallow. That's all. Daddy's girl, hey?”
“Mike, shut up.” Grayson snapped.
Colten stayed quiet a moment before saying his last piece, “I'm not saying your wrong, Mike, I'm just trying to lessen the stress on my luna. So until I know further information, we're not going to discuss it further.”
“Sure.” Mike nodded with a grunt.
Chloe rolled her eyes at the beta, “We understand, Colten, Mike just likes to fight. Maybe if he mated, he'd calm the heck down.”
Mike sneered at her and looked away.
Grayson planted his hands to the table, “Well, that was all very interesting. You really need to get some better luck though, Colt.”
Colten sighed, “Yeah.”
Grayson stood, “You know, maybe the luna will change it for you.” He smiled at him, like it was supposed to make Colten feel better about the whole thing.
Colten nodded, “I think I'm going to go to bed. If anyone calls, I'll answer it upstairs.”
Chloe nodded, “Night, Colt.”
“Night.” He waved them off and headed upstairs, Abigail was exiting Ella's room and she paused once she saw him.
He almost expected a smile but she didn't give him one, “Baby, it's okay.”
She shut the door and walked to him, putting her face in his chest.
“I don't feel well.”
He put his arms around her and walked them towards the bedroom, “You just need to lay down.”
She nodded and let him guide her into his room and shut the door. She sat to his bed and waited.
He started to take off his shirt and once it was stripped, he noticed her blank stare, “Abi?”
“Do you think Daddy's really been doing that?”
Colten sighed, “I don't know. I'm hoping we at least get to hear it from him though, whatever was going on.”
She nodded, still staying quiet. Her eyes falling to her lap where he fingers were entwined.
He walked up to her and lifted her chin, her blue eyes looked up to him. He leaned over her, kissing her cheek softly, “Lie down, Abi.”
She curled into the bed and Colten took it upon himself to take her jeans off for her. His hands scraped her thighs as he pulled the tight jeans off her leanness. It was the first time she had stayed static to his touch and that really cemented in his head, she was upset.
He tossed the jeans to the floor and covered her in the loose blankets. When he got into bed on the other side she was silent and still.
He reached out to her and she moved to him right away.
“I don't feel the same.”
A lump in his throat grew, “It's because you're not.” The thought of her human life gone still was sore on him.
She whimpered, tucking herself right into his side, “And I'm not like you.”
“What?” He said, put off by her words.
“I can't turn into what you can.”
He sighed, “You just haven't had a fair chance yet.”
“I don't know, Colten. When Mateo pointed the gun at you I felt it all but nothing at the same time. What if they didn't completely change me?”
He shook his head, “No. That's not how it works, you just need time.” His words silenced her and they lied in the darkness till they were both well asleep.
***
The phone rang, waking Colten at seven thirty in the morning. He reached out without much thought and picked up the call from his nightstand. Answering it, he looked over to Abigail as she slept turned away from him.
“Hello?”
“Colten.” It was Darlene and he perked up right away.
“Mrs. Redding.”
Abigail shot up and turned him, “It's my mother!”
Colten swallowed as Darlene spoke.
“Charlie is being hospitalized, he's okay. There's been some damage to his nerves and he might not have full use of his left arm...” Darlene told him.
Abigail came up right against him and leaned in to listen to call.
Colten sighed, “I'm sorry.”
“If you would like to come.” Darlene trailed off but her voice came back, “Abigail might want to see him before he's-”
Colten swallowed and his mate started to spill some tears.
“We can come.” Colten said quickly before Darlene continued.
“Thank you.”
“See you soon.” Colten hung up the phone and turned back to his mate.
She wiped a tear as he pulled her in, slipping down to his back.
“Mike's right.” She said softly.
“Let's let your mother fill us in.” Colten rubbed her shoulders and she fell into his bare chest. Her cheek resting against him as her knee hooked along his thigh, rubbing against his bareness. She was still upset and for that he felt bad but his wolf wanting to mate her.
“We should go.” He suggested, not wanting to insult her with anything suggestive.
She sat up out of his arms, nodding.
Getting up, he walked away from her, he'd mate her later once they were back home. That was at least what he was telling his wolf.
They got dressed and were down stairs fairly quickly. There was the smell of pancakes and it hit them both once downstairs.
“That smells good.” Colten grunted, his stomach growling for the need of food if he couldn't have his luna.
Abigail took his arm and they walked to the kitchen where Alma was stacking pancakes.
“Morning!” Alma rang.
Colten stared at her, “Well, Alma, you didn't have to come.”
“Oh, I know you have a mate but I wanted to meet her now!” The older woman was heavily cheery that day.
Abigail looked over to the highchair where Ella was waiting for food.
Colten put his hand to her lower back, “Alma, meet the my official luna.”
Alma smiled, moving towards Abigail and clasping her cheeks, “Colten deserves a nice woman like you.”
“Thank you.” Abigail said softly as Alma let her go.
Colten couldn't help his smile and he walked forward, “Well, that all looks really good. I missed you, Alma.”
“You don't have to be so nice.” Alma laughed at him.
He shook his head and grabbed two plates, “How many, baby?”
Abigail walked over to Ella and kissed her forehead, she was still sedated but trying hard and he felt that, “One.”
Colten didn't like that answer though, he wanted her to eat well so once he got her pregnant, she'd be more than healthy enough to carry their baby. He brought her over three pancakes and put it down in front of her, “What do you want on top?”
“Plain is fine.” She breathed.
He paused, looking down at her. Seeing her worry was unnerving for him, he wanted her back to her bubbly little-self.
“I wont eat all this.” She told him softly.
He shrugged, “Try.” He walked back over to the stove and made up his own plate. Then set about eating it.
“We have to go see Abigail's father.” Colten told Alma, “Grayson and Chloe are upstairs, you don't have to stay.”
“Oh, I want to.” Alma nodded, “I want to get know our luna more.”
Abigail looked to her and smiled, but it was still only half the smile she was capable of.
Colten watched his mate and knew he had to get her to the hospital quick so she'd cheer up. He finished his six pancakes quickly and stood, putting his dish in the sink.
“We'll be back soon.” He told Alma.
“Mmhm.” Alma nodded.
Abigail had only ate half a pancake and he decided to let it slide, but he was hoping desperately her depression about her parents would not continue.
He got his white hat on his head and boots on and Abigail was waiting at the door. He opened it for her and she walked out to the big red diesel.
Boomer ran to the door and slipped out before he got it closed.
“Boomer, you're not coming.”
The dog barked at him and raced out beside Abigail, begging her.
She patted him, “Colten, let him come.”
He walked down the path and came up beside her, “If it will help you feel better?”
Her blue eyes caught his and she swallowed, “I'm okay.”
“Baby, you're pale and quiet.” He opened the back door and Boomer jumped in.
Abigail waited though as he turned back to her, “You can feel my moods?”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly, “I can feel your hurt.”
She swallowed as he helped her in the truck and then that was that. They were on their way to the hospital two towns over.
It was going to take over an hour and Colten drove, not prodding or poking at his mate in anyway, he didn't want to bother her or upset her more.
He did eventually crack and he reached out to hold her hand, taking her fingers gently.
She looked to him, staying quiet, then raising his hand to kiss his fingers.
He groaned, “I love your lips.”
She smiled, putting his hand in her lap and twisting both her hands in his fingers.
“Are you feeling a bit better?” He asked, knowing they were almost there.
“I will once I see them.” She assured him, “Thank you for being patient with me.”
He tightened his grip on her hands, “I should probably be saying that to you.”
She was staring at him, studying him perhaps. She dropped her head to the rest and still kept her blue eyes focused on him and his white cowboy hat, “You're a good man.”
He tried not to smile but his wolf liked the praise.
She smiled once he showed pride in her compliment, “You're also really sexy.”
The smile broke him, “Baby, stop, if you want to see your parents soon.”
She fell silent, “Sorry.”
“I'm just saying, my wolf doesn’t care too much about emotions. Mating the luna comes first.”
She budded a soft smile, “Your wolf is dirty.”
“More impatient.” He told her, “Alpha's tend to be a bit impatient when it comes to their women.”
She nodded, “You don't waste time.”
“I could say the same for you.” He pulled the truck into the hospital parking lot and found a spot.
“Are you ready?” He asked her softly.
She nodded, “Yes.”
He exited the vehicle, letting Boomer out and into the back of the cab, “Stay there, dog.” He walked back around the front and joined her side.
She took his arm and they walked towards the front doors. They swept open and led them towards the front desk.
Colten stayed right at her side, feeling like she needed the contact and support. Once they found the room, there was a police officer standing outside it.
Colten then knew Charlie Redding hadn't been making his money honestly.
Abigail brought her hand to her mouth and they walked forward.
The officer stopped them, “Are you family?”
“Yes, very much so.”
The officer opened the door, “Only one visitor at a time.” He told them. Colten then stepped back and let Abigail walk in. Darlene was at the bed and stood, turning towards her daughter.
“Sweetie.”
Abigail stared at the image of her father and Colten could just see past to do so as well.
Darlene hugged her, “Stay calm, Abi, it bugs him if you get too upset.”
Abigail wiped her streaming tears and nodded as she entered the room.
The officer then waited for Darlene to exit and then shut the door once more, leaving Colten and her mother out in the hall.
“Thank you for bringing her.”
Colten nodded, “Of course.”
Darlene nodded and sat.
“So, he's alright?” Colten asked.
Darlene nodded, “He'll recover.”
Colten was happy at least he had lived, it would help his mate in the long run. He waited then in silence. Darlene turned and spoke to him once more, “Did you get the bag in your truck?”
He looked to her and paused, “Oh.”
“Yes, it's just something for you and Abi.”
“Oh. I'll make sure to grab it.”
Darlene nodded as the door opened and Abigail stepped out.
She walked to her mate, “Colten, he wants to talk to you.”
Colten paused, “Uh.”
Abigail nodded.
“Okay.” Colten rubbed her forearm softly and walked to the door. The officer let him in and he removed his hat out of respect, though he shouldn't have had much respect for Charlie Redding.
Charlie looked over to him as the door shut.
Colten didn't move forward though, he felt the the tension between them grow tight and thick in that moment.
“Come in, boy.”
Colten stepped forward and walked to the bed, pausing at the side. He glanced over Charlie and then looked away.
“You saved my wife and daughter.” Charlie pointed out in a low voice.
Colten shifted, “If that's what I did.”
“Hm...” Charlie grunted, “I'm being investigated for drug trafficking. “
There it was and Colten's mouth grew sour with the information. How could a man knowingly endanger his family for years and continue to do it?
“You have nothing to say?” Charlie asked in a gruff voice.
Colten met his eyes, “You wouldn't like my comment much.”
“I see.” Charlie smirked, “The thing is, Colten... you can help Abigail and Darlene endure less pain.”
“I will try.” Colten told him, because he would.
“Good. It's nice you're willing to help. I need that alpha.”
Colten's heart stopped and he stared down at Charlie.
“If you bring Mateo Marquez to them, they will lessen my sentence...”
Colten didn't move, he didn't breathe but he was pretty sure that Charlie Redding was asking for his help!
“Can you do this?”
Colten's brow creased and he didn't answer him. He wasn't going to help him. He wasn't going to lessen his sentence because he'd made nice with his enemy and made a few million or more off running drugs across the border, then endangering his mate the whole time.
“Boy?”
“No.” Colten answered.
Charlie's face hardened, “You want Abigail to suffer?”
Colten's nostrils flared, “Abigail won't be suffering, I can assure you that. As for your request, I've never done anything to ward off your blessing of your daughter. I love her and now because you want less of jail time, that you accordingly deserve, you're willing to ask me to help you?”
Charlie stared at him in silence.
Colten smiled and looked away, “I couldn't help you if my life depended on it.”
“You won't get her. You're a broke.”
Colten cut him off, “You know what I'm going to do for you, Charlie?”
The man paused as Colten formed his next few thoughts.
“I'm going to ensure that your family, that you disrespected, put in danger and cared so idly about, is forever safe. I'm going to do that by killing Mateo Marquez and giving over my Beta to Oscuro to run it and your going to sit in jail. Not because I'm a broke cowboy, but because I'm decent and I love your daughter.” Colten then turned and left.
“Colten!” Charlie yelled after him.
Colten exited the room, fuming and radiating alpha hormones like no tomorrow. He walked to Abigail, “Say goodbye to your mother.” He said swiftly in her ear.
Abigail paused and looked up to him, then fumbled, “Everything alright?”
“Say goodbye. We need to go. I've had enough.” He repeated.
Darlene stood from the chair slowly and hugged Abigail, “Bye, dear.”
Colten then nodded to Darlene, “Forgive me.” He took his mate and left down the hall.
“Colten, what's going on?”
“Nothing.” He hissed.
She swallowed, “I wanted to stay with Momma.”
“Your mother can come visit us.” Colten grunted, walking into the open elevator and taking her right in with him.
She stumbled and he caught her but she still seemed confused and lost, “Colt... I wanted to stay.”
“You've seen your father and mother, you're fine.”
Abigail stared at him, “Don't be so rude.”
“I'm not being rude, I'm not going to be involved or around a man like that further and neither will you. Your loyalty is with me now.”
She stared at him as he kept his eyes focused on leaving the hospital. The doors opened and they walked into the hall.
“You're acting crazy.”
“I won't be a part of it.” Colten snapped, pulling out his truck keys as they stepped outside.
“But Colten, they're my parents.”
“You've seen them, Abigail!” He shouted.
She sucked up a breath and broke away from him.
He swallowed, realizing he'd let his alpha seep from every angle. He took another moment, “I'm sorry, Abi.”
She let out a tight breath and stayed quiet.
“Your father upset me is all.” He tried to explain.
“Was he mean to you?”
Colten smirked, “Worse.”
She stepped towards him and put her hands around his bicep, “I'm not used to you being so forward.”
“It's just my other side. If I get overwhelmed with an emotion, it takes over.” He told her, getting himself slowly back in check.
“Can we go home?” He asked her.
“Yes.” She nodded and they headed towards the truck.
He helped her inside like usual and then got in the driver's side, he left Boomer in the back of the truck because he was so distracted with wanting Mateo dead. Abigail didn't question him right away like he thought she might, in fact she'd brushed off his alpha overload quite quick.
“I'm sorry for how I acted.”
“Oh, no.” She smiled at him, “I know my father is rough with his words to you.”
Colten smirked, “Yeah, well.” He wanted to tell Abigail what Charlie had wanted him to do for him but he didn't feel it was the right time. He figured it would just upset her more.
“We don't need his blessing.” Abigail said, taking his hand, “Momma likes you and I love you.”
He let out a breath and looked to her, “I love you too.”
She smiled her warm little smile at him and it lessened his alpha need to rip Mateo Marquez's head off. She undid her seat belt and scooted across the leather to him, snuggling in his side, “I like you forward, Mr. Turner.”
He glanced down at her and kissed her forehead, “Only in bed though.”
She giggled and that was amazing for him to hear.
He let her enjoy the fact that she'd seen her parents and didn't speak further about them, but once they were back at the house and in the kitchen, he didn't hesitate in his plans promised to Charlie Redding.
Grayson looked him over, “What's up, man?”
“I'm killing Mateo. I'm done with this crap.”
Abigail was behind him and she swallowed, pausing her step. This information being all new to her too.
Mike jumped into the conversation before Grayson could, “Awe, man, this should be awesome!”
“Mike!” Chloe hit his shoulder, “Do you have any sort of life?”
“Yeah, my pack.” Mike retorted, “And fighting.”
Colten grabbed the phone, “You don't have to be involved.” He told Grayson as he dialled Peter's cell phone number.
Grayson paused thinking, then shrugged his shoulders, “No, man, that's cool. We'll help.”
“Hell yeah, we will!” Mike seemed overly spunky all of a sudden.
“Hello?” Peter's voice was groggy, like he'd been asleep.
Colten didn't care though about his beta's state, “I want all males in for six. We're dismantling Oscuro.”
“Whoa, what?” Peter chirped.
“You heard me.”
“Yeah, but...” The beta stuttered, “Tonight?”
“Yeah. Tonight.” Colten snapped.
“Okay.” Peter gave in, “See you soon.”
“Get on it.” Colten demanded and hung up the phone, he turned to Abigail, “Come.” He took her wrist and headed down the hall.
“Where are we?” She stumbled behind him, her words falling short.
He picked her up and took her up the stairs.
She smiled, burying her face in his neck, “You're not very shy.”
“I need my luna so I can get myself in check to kill Mateo and possibly anyone else that won't follow new lead.”
She nodded, going along with what he said but likely not really understanding much of it. He brought her into the room and shut the door with his foot.
“This is our room.”
She lifted her chin from his neck and looked up to him slowly, “Yes, Colt. If you want to share with me.”
He put her down on the bed, “You can have anything you want, Abigail.”
She smiled, blushing up, “What do you want?”
“You.” He felt his heart starting to beat in his chest as she ran the tips of her toes over his growing hardness. He smiled at her, “You're very sweet.”
She batted her eyes at him, “If you need a release, alpha, you can have me.”
He smiled at her and brought his hands to his belt as he undid it quickly, “Thank you, my luna.”
She waited as he stripped his clothing and then came atop her, full intentions on seeking out a release for the both of them.