Taken by my mate; Second Chance
Chapter 20 - Cold

Covyn

I recognized the slump as Evadiene passed out. In the first few weeks after my second chance I tried everything to change the overall path. I thought if I canceled the project I wouldn’t have a reason to send anyone to meet her, but on the call to do that I passed out. It was the same sending an email or trying to tell Ellion to. I never would have canceled this lucrative deal for my pack before.

Spencer tried to wake her as her head fell back and her arm rested beside her hip/ in the grass. Sequoia was in her lap purring but as I watched her circle and lay down it looked more methodical than emotional. She didn’t brush up against her like usual, instead looking more like she was doing it because she was supposed to while still calling Evadiene stupid for pushing it.

I laughed lightly. “Not quite the crazy night you were thinking, eh Spencer?”

He chuckled too. “Every moment with her is a wild ride. I can’t explain it with everything I felt before I feel like I don’t deserve this…” he cradled her in his lap and kissed her head. “… and I don’t give a fuck. She is mine, and just this once I want to be selfish.”

I nodded in understanding. “Take her to bed, and don’t forget your shift in the morning. I need the new arrivals assessed for placement.”

He nodded. “Yes Alpha.” Spencer stood with her in his arms and set off to head back inside. “Goodnight all.”

Ellion and Daley didn’t move, just waving briefly. They had never been so cold and formal with Spencer as they had been tonight, but I waited until he couldn’t hear me before I spoke to them.

“Do not act rashly,” I growled towards them. “She is Spencer’s mate and you know he would kill for her.”

Ellion’s eyes snapped to mine. “Really Covyn, you think I’d….”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what I think, but I know that look in your eyes. There’s something you aren’t telling me…”

“I would never…”

“Enough. I’m not asking you to defend yourself, and as far as I’m concerned there’s currently no reason for you to. But from the moment you asked what she is, and she couldn’t tell you, you’ve been on edge.” I tried to soften my expression as I spoke, to make him open up.

Ellion squared himself towards me. “Wolven are strong, now, but if she’s as old as Daley thinks… our species were barely puppies. Definitely not the strongest things out there and regularly under threat. She could easily be of any of those that kept wolven as slaves, or pets…”

“Do you really think she acts around us the way she would if she thought we should be subservient?” I laughed. “She could have gone anywhere in this house, no one saw her leave.. any supply closet or weapons room, but she went to the emptiest room with the highest ceilings to look at the stars.”

Ellion laughed ironically. “When that foot slid..I thought we were losing her for sure.”

“Try to remember the mating bond goes both ways. She doesn’t want to upset Spencer any more than either of you would want to upset the other, regardless of what she is. You know he cares about the pack, so Evadiene doesn’t want to hurt the pack. Are you going to treat her differently in knowing what she is, or isn’t?”

Daley looked down but I caught her distraught expression. “Out of maybe three dozen girls in a pack with so many males…and the only non-wolven,-“ her hands moved to her face, “- she must feel so surrounded.”

I smirked to myself, thinking about how great it would be if her and Evadiene could become the friends they were. She seemed genuinely remorseful, and I wondered if earlier she had underestimated Evadiene’s warning and knowingly stopped watching her. Suddenly Daley’s head picked up and shelooked to Ellion, panic spreading over her face.

“What do I do about the book?” She asked softly.

“What book?” I demanded before remembering the day in the library.

She will find it, is what Evadiene had said.

Her fingers tangled together. “I remembered where I found the book with all the old species in it, it was at my old pack. I called my brother and he smuggled it out for me. He’s mailed it to me here,” she said softly, not looking at me.

“And you think it’ll be that easy?” I questioned, wondering how prevalent phoenix were depicted in regular books.

She nodded. “It is very old and was very descriptive. It’s one of a kind and my brother took a big risk stealing it, but I was desperate to find out…”

“And what if she is?”

“Pardon?” Daley stared at me so I rephrased my question.

“And what if she is one of those very old very dangerous races you’re scared of?” I could see she hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Sometimes knowing is a bigger burden than wondering.”

I got up and left, heading for my patio entrance outside. My bed would feel even more empty tonight than these last months, but she was safe. At least now she was on my land and I could see her. Here, I could have an affect on her well being so, in that regard alone, I would at least sleep better.

—

I did wake up feeling more rested, and fell easily into my routine. I was surprised to not see Spencer and Evadiene at breakfast, knowing how seriously he takes his jobs, but when I went for my run around to check on everything they were already outside. Evadiene didn’t hear me approach them but Spencer did and when he turned around so did she. Her smile was bright and full of energy and I couldn’t help but return it.

“Covyn!” She cheered. “Good morning.”

She shivered lightly and took a sip from a very large to go cup that steamed up in her face.

“Are you one of those rare morning people I’ve heard about?” I smirked.

She continued her smile over her cup. “Hard not to be a morning person with an entire pot of coffee in my cup.”

Spencer wrapped his arm around her to pull her in for a head kiss. “It also doesn’t hurt that I let her wake and bake before dragging her outside in the cold.”

She giggled and nuzzled against him. “I don’t mind waiting in the cold for you.”

He rubbed his chin over the top of her head, the hair looking more auburn under his touch for a second, like his touch alone relaxed even her natural defences.

“I’m so glad you waited for me in the cold, “ he breathed, taking her in scent.

She looked at me and I saw her smile waver. “Covyn? Could you show me where the closest bathroom is?” She giggled and sloshed her nearly empty tumbler of coffee. “Whole pot.”

“Sure, but couldn’t you…” I began to ask if she could seek it herself but looked around at the surrounding ears and just nodded. “Of course.”

She left a peck on Spencer’s cheek. “Maybe you’ll get some real work done while I’m gone.”

He smacked her butt as she started to leave. “Maybe, but with my biggest distraction not by my side, how will I focus?”

She laughed and skipped to catch up to me, but I saw her face fall again the farther we got away. Inside the door I meant to direct her toward the bathrooms but she pulled me the other way. We moved down the hall, me following by her side all the way to my office.

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