The call

Cole's POV

The second I heard Nolan’s voice, every muscle in my body locked.

“Cole?”

Shit! I cursed.

Esme’s eyes went wide, panic flashing across her face. I let go of her wrist instantly, stepping back so fast I almost hit the counter. Her breathing was still uneven, her lips parted but her gaze darted to the doorway like a startled doe.

“Stay here,” I muttered under my breath. My tone came out sharper than I intended. “Don’t make a sound.”

She nodded, pressing herself against the counter as if she could melt into it.

By the time Nolan pushed the door open, I was already moving toward him, forcing my heartbeat to slow. “Hey,” I said, keeping my tone even, calm, casual.

He grinned. “Man, there you are. Been looking all over the house for you.”

“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “I was just getting water.”

He looked around, his gaze brushing past the corner where Esme hid. My pulse quickened but I kept my expression blank.

“You good?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I replied. “Come on, let’s head out.”

As I led him out of the kitchen, my mind was already racing. Once the hallway door shut behind us, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Fuck. That was close. Way too close.

If Nolan had walked in ten seconds earlier—no, I didn’t want to think about that.

Esme.

The sound of her name alone made something stir deep in my chest, a pull I’d spent two years trying to bury.

Two damn years.

We stepped outside, the night air thick with the smell of pine and damp earth. Nolan stretched his arms, oblivious to the storm in my head. “Man, you’ve changed,” he said, laughing. “You used to be all smiles back in the day. What happened to you?”

I gave a low chuckle. “Life, I guess.”

He nudged me. “Life or women?”

I shot him a look. “Drop it.”

He raised his hands in surrender, still grinning. “Alright, alright. I’m just saying—everyone’s been talking about your engagement. Alpha Lane’s daughter, huh? Didn’t think that was your type.”

His words hit like a punch but I masked it with a shrug. “It’s complicated.”

Nolan leaned against his car, eyes narrowing in curiosity. “Your dad’s really hell-bent on that match, isn’t he?”

I didn’t answer right away. My gaze drifted to the dark stretch of zone beyond the pack house, the moonlight slicing through the place. I could almost hear my father’s voice in my head, cold and commanding as always.

[*‘You’ll marry her, Cole. There’s no choice in this. If you don’t, I’ll tell the pack exactly who your mate is.’*]

The memory of that conversation still made my stomach twist.

I clenched my jaw. “Yeah,” I said finally. “He’s not taking no for an answer.”

Nolan frowned. “But why? What’s with the rush?”

“Politics,” I said shortly. “You know how it goes. Alpha Lane’s territory sits right at the border of ours. A union means peace. Trade and stronger alliances.”

“Yeah, but it’s not like we’re at war,” he said, shaking his head. “Still, it’s messed up if you don’t even want it.”

I forced a tight smile. “Who says I don’t?”

He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy it for a second. “I’ve known you my whole life, Cole. You don’t do things you don’t want to do. So, what’s really going on?”

I wanted to tell him. God, I wanted to. But some truths weren’t meant to be shared yet. Not ever, maybe.

If Nolan knew the truth—if anyone knew—that Esme was my mate…

No.

The pack would never forgive it. They already despised her for things beyond her control. A daughter who couldn’t shift. The Alpha’s child who bore no wolf. The girl they called cursed behind her back, blaming her for her mother’s death.

And I—her brother’s best friend, the Beta’s son, the future leader beside Nolan was tied to her by something as sacred as a mate bond.

If that ever got out, it wouldn’t just destroy her. It would destroy the pack.

That was why I’d left two years ago. I told everyone I was moving to a neighboring pack to train with their warriors, to learn hockey, to broaden our alliances. It was a convenient lie.

Because the truth was uglier.

The day I realized she was my mate, I nearly lost control. Every time she was near, I felt like my body wasn’t my own anymore. The urge to claim her, protect her, *touch* her—it was too much.

And she was eighteen. Still broken from her mother’s death, still being blamed, still fragile.

I had to get away before I ruined both our lives.

So I left. I didn’t even say goodbye.

Now, standing here again, two years later, pretending I didn’t feel a damn thing when she looked at me, it was torture, it always has been.

Nolan’s voice snapped me back. “You’re quiet again,” he said. “I hate when you do that. It’s like your brain goes somewhere else completely.”

I smirked faintly. “Well, I guess Old habit never dies easily.”

He laughed. “Yeah, well, better not zone out tomorrow. Big day. Engagement ceremony, speeches, your father’s gonna make it grand.”

I grimaced. “Don’t remind me.”

“Who’s the girl again?” Nolan asked. “Alpha Lane’s only daughter, right? What’s her name—Raven?”

“Raven,” I confirmed. “Yeah.”

“I’ve heard she’s…strong. Pretty, too,” he added with a teasing smile. “Bet your dad’s thrilled.”

“He is,” I said, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. “That’s all that matters.”

The silence that followed stretched heavy between us. Nolan shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing down the driveway. “You know,” he said after a moment, “sometimes I don’t get you, Cole. You do all the right things, say all the right words, but you look like a man barely holding himself together.”

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “You’re overthinking it.”

He gave me a sidelong glance. “Maybe. But if you ever need to talk—”

“I’ll let you know,” I cut in, trying to keep my tone light.

He sighed, pushing off the car. “Alright, alright. No heavy stuff tonight. I’m starving. Let’s grab a drink before I head out?”

“Sure,” I said. Anything to get him away from that kitchen.

We walked toward the edge of the property, passing through the dimly lit path that led to the pack bar. The place was quiet tonight, only a few members inside. Nolan waved to a couple of them but I stayed silent, lost in thought.

Every few seconds, my mind replayed that moment in the kitchen—the look in Esme’s eyes, the way she’d flinched when I touched her, the tremor in her voice when she told me *congratulations.*

It wasn’t supposed to go that far. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t lose control around her again, no matter what. But the second she looked at me with those eyes, all that restraint started to crumble.

“Hey,” Nolan said suddenly, snapping his fingers. “Earth to Cole. You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Just tired.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes positive.”

He eyed me for a second before shrugging. “Alright then. Drink’s on me.”

He walked ahead, leaving me a few steps behind. I exhaled slowly, looking up at the night sky. The moon was high, pale and cold, and for a moment, I felt the familiar ache in my chest again.

Two years. Two damn years, and the bond was still as strong as ever.

If only she didn't hate me, if only she knew but there was no way I was going to let her know..but it would be really hard staying few seconds away from her..

Esme. Esme was my undoing.

I was still lost in thought when Nolan came back with drinks and my phone rang.

I reached into my pocket, pulling it out. The screen lit up, it was my father’s personal guard. My stomach tightened. He never called me directly.

I answered. “Yeah?”

The voice on the other end was rushed, ragged. “Cole—Cole, it’s bad. There’s been an attack on both your Dad and Alpha Kane—they’ve been—”

Static ripped through the line and the call cut.. silence stretched inside me.

For a second, I couldn’t move. The words echoed in my skull, refusing to settle. My pulse slammed in my ears.

“What?” Nolan asked sharply, a bit agitated. “What happened?”

I stared at the phone like it might fix itself and replay what I’d just heard but it didn’t. My throat felt tight and the air too thin.

“They’ve been attacked,” I said finally, my voice low but shaking, colder. “Both of them. Your father and mine.”