The Mountain prt 3

“There are children on the mountain who have no choice but to stay. Do they feel safe… are they safe? Or are they just pawns that Juan clings onto in a bid to feel he retains some control and would throw them to the vamps in a heartbeat to instill fear into those left?” I verbalize my frustration knowing fully that Juan never cared for his people. Colton exhales heavily, letting me go as he stretches his arms out behind his head and scrubs his scalp in frustration, letting his breath out loudly as he does so, and it’s not hard to tell he’s finding this stressful to talk out. Despite everything that has happened, Colton’s heart still sees his father inside the monster, leaving him conflicted anytime we talk about him.

“Tell me what to do…. I honestly have no fucking idea. We have a split pack. We have two vulnerable communities. Our priority should be here, but I get what you’re saying…they need us too. It’s just …….” He drops his arms and grabs my hand, shrugging as his words tail off, and I pick up on that familiar distress as his emotions war in on themselves.

“Maybe we could recon the mountain, see what’s going on. Figure out weakness, get a lay of the land, and if it’s as bad as Carmen said.” Remi stands up, frustrated with this talk, and stretches out before pacing to the edge of the room where the water coolers are and getting himself a drink. The whole sub pack is uneasy and on tenterhooks. Their emotions are filling my space like a dark, heavy invasion. Sometimes I curse this ability to feel people’s emotions, especially right now while I am drowning in overwhelm.

“You know we’re the fastest in the pack. We could scope it out and be back in under two hours before dawn.” Domi agrees with his twin, a brightening glance between the two, and Colton frowns as though thinking about this. His whole posture loosens slightly.

“You know that’s not a bad idea.” Cesar leans in, and I know without looking at Colton that he’ll agree. He listens to his pack, especially Cesar, the wise and influential brother he never had, and now with the others nodding, I can sense his caving. His sub pack has always held this power over him and, with some gentle coaxing, can influence him for good, no matter the topic.

“Okay, but only to scope it out and keep your distance. Watch, report via the link, and when we have enough of an idea of what’s going down, I want you back here. Fast. Watch your back, be home before dark and remember that the vamps have witches out there now. Be extra aware.” He commands.

“We won’t make decisions until we know how things are at the mountain, right?” Meadow confirms what I’m thinking, and Colton nods. Sighing again as though this whole thing has made him weary and listless. It feels like a bad dream that we cannot wake from sometimes.

“Right. We see what’s up. Then we figure out our next move. I need to patrol the village and see if we can squeeze more space out of the building works for those we’ve settled in the house today. We need to keep them moving out so we can accommodate the incoming, for now. There are still three times as many wolves on the mountain than we have here…. We need to think about this. We’re almost at capacity, and from what you said, Carmen thinks more will run soon.” Colton stands and makes it clear he’s dismissing the sub pack, ending this conversation for the time being. They get up to move as though they are all somehow agreeing to leave this as is. I linger, waiting for Colton as they nod their respect and leave in an almost single file until only Meadow trails behind.

“I know you don’t want to fight our people again. Or him. I know how much it hurt to have to do that…. But sometimes, Hermano, you must do horrible things for the greater good.” She pats him on the shoulder, rubbing his clavicle with her thumb for a second before kissing me on the cheek, feather-soft, and departs with a sad smile. We watch her go before Colton turns his attention to me fully.

“She’s right… I don’t want to fight my people again. It was hell to do it once, and I can’t even get my head around doing it again.” Colton breathes out when we are alone, and his despair washes over me, tainting the air I inhale. Always at the heart of his decisions are his pack, even those not technically ours. My heart bleeds for him, a tight, heavy pain that constricts my ribs because I understand. I don’t want to hurt our people any more than he does. Most of them never did anything to deserve this.

“You heard what they said…. the people are turning. The memory is being shared. I don’t think Juan has the command to make them fight as he did. Only his loyal would take up arms, and they’re a lost cause. When you take down the king, you have to take down his circle of trust, or you leave betrayal as an opportunity. Didn’t you learn anything from the history teachers?” I nudge him lightly with my shoulder against his, and he relaxes a little, that cute boy half-smile coming my way as my words amuse him.

“How did I get so lucky in finding a mate who’s beautiful and smart…. You make every day easier; you know that?” Colton leans in and brushes a kiss across my lips, warmly soft, and yet he still ignites butterflies, lingering a moment to rub his nose against mine, and my insides melt and combust all at the same time. It never ceases to amaze me how responsive I am to his touch, and I hope it never stops being this way. Six months on, and he still gives me fireworks.

“The fates knew you needed someone to keep you in hand!” I giggle, running my fingers over that squared, clean-shaven jawline, and melt a little when he smiles, all full-on dazzling dreamy.

“Really? Keep me in hand… I think that’s a little backward. I most definitely run dampener on your temper sometimes, baby. My feisty, headstrong Luna.” He kisses me again, and I can’t say I can argue with that, losing myself in his lips pressing as he lingers longer than the last one. Colton draws back without pushing it further and fixes a serious look on me.

“Are you really not okay with Carmen being here?” There’s a serious glimpse of unease in his eye, and I exhale breathily, making a show of sighing dramatically and shrugging. An inner war is cascading around, and green-eyed jealousy shows face as I try to rationalize my feelings.

“I don’t know. I know she can’t come between us; you don’t have feelings for her…. It’s just …. It was a time that sucked, and she was a major part of it. Maybe I need to get used to her being here. I know I have nothing to worry about at all, that she can’t do anything to hurt us, to separate us. She won’t be half the bitch now that I’m Luna, and she knows her place…. and the consequences for disrespecting me.” I growl lightly with the last six words, venom infused in the real threat I put out there, and Colton chuckles at my show of fierce.

“Baby, that temper, ouch.” He touches me and makes a mock sizzle noise before blowing his fingers dramatically. It does nothing to damper my fury.

“Well, she better take note because I will tear her a new one if she annoys me,” I smirk, simmering, and Colton holds up mock defensive palms. His eyes alight with sudden laughter, seeing as his everyday hobby is teasing and taunting me, and it always brings back his sunnier side.

“Scary! You’re cute when you’re a little feral. Wanna make out?” Colton disarms me with his humor and playfulness, a wink, and aims a grab on me that bursts the mood completely and gets me giggling. He pins me down on the podium, flipping me onto my back so he can lay on top of me, and starts nibbling on my neck and jawline, heading for my face as I squeal and fight him with futility. It’s hopeless as he’s stronger, faster, and completely relentless when he wants to be, plus he weighs twice what I do. I was never a match in human form for this heavy, solid Latino lover.

“Do you ever manage just one hour without needing to molest me?” I bat his face away as he goes in for a kiss and then give up completely and kiss him with a chaste peck to cool his jets. Pressing face to face and smiling as our lips collide. He grins despite being joined at the mouth and chuckles.

“Hour? I can’t manage ten minutes, baby.”