“Why?” Peter asked.
Cole sighed. “Because Dina is my fated.”
Giro gasped while I could only smile. Dina deserved to find her one true love, and after all of this drama with Joel, she needed it even more.
“Does she know?” Sev questioned, his tone kind.
“No,” Cole admitted. “I don’t want her to feel like she owes me something while she’s dealing with Joel’s betrayal. I knew from the moment I scented her. I was just biding my time and figuring out how to approach this.”
“So, you would not end up like Liam and Samantha,” Sev finished for him.
“Exactly,” Cole smiled. “I had to hear them bitch and bicker for too long. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially not myself.”
“Does Samantha know?” Peter asked, hesitantly.
“Oh, yes,” Cole grinned. “I told her as soon as I could. She already knew that meant I would likely leave the pack, but she only wants me to be happy.”
Peter looked relieved knowing that. “I feared she would get possessive if she knew.”
Cole’s grin widened. “Pack leaders are known to be protective over their pack, but when a fated comes into the picture, everyone knows a wolf must follow. I doubted Dina would leave you behind. I saw how much you care for her, and her for you. Luckily, I find myself feeling at home here, so it wasn’t a hard decision to make.”
“We just need Dina to know about it, too,” Sev reminded him.
“When she’s ready,” Cole agreed. “I don’t want her to feel forced into accepting me. Besides, waiting for her won’t be a hardship. As long as she accepts my presence, I’m happy.”
A sob came from the kitchen doorway.
Chapter 38
Severin
I had heard Dina approaching the kitchen, her feet moving so softly against the floor, that I was sure she was trying to eavesdrop. I was not one to snitch, so I pretended she was not there. As did Peter. We had shared one look between us, but that was enough to know we wereon the same page.
Now, Dina stood there, her eyes wet, her eyes hopeful. And Cole was frozen in his seat.
“Dina,” he said, swallowing his nerves. His hands were twisting in front of him, like he was at war with himself on what to do.
“Is it true?” she asked. Even I had trouble figuring out how she felt about it.
Cole sighed, then stood up to face her properly. He stopped right in front of her, his eyes not leaving hers. “Yes. You are my fated, but please know I would never rush you—”
Dina’s lips were on his, a whimper escaping Cole’s lips as he wrapped his arms around her. Giro whooped and cheered while the rest of us simply smiled.
Sniffles came from beside me, and I found Felix crying softly. My sweet Felix. “She deserves to be happy,” he whispered, wiping his eyes with his shirt sleeve. “I’m just so happy for her.”
I pulled him closer, kissing his temple, unable to stop myself when he was so utterly adorable.
We left the kitchen, leaving Dina and Cole alone to talk about everything. Felix and Giro had taken their plates with them, knowing they still needed to eat. The garden was the perfect place to sit, so we did, grabbing two blankets on the way out. Peter had the foresight tograb a bottle of lemonade and two glasses for them, and now we sat, enjoying the view over our property.
“I love it here,” Giro breathed, resting back on the blanket with his eyes closed.
Peter smirked before leaning over him, kissing his fated with way more passion than I wanted to see. I scowled at them, annoyed to witness my brother kissing someone, but also happy that he was happy. He deserved to finally find his person. Looking to my right wheremyperson was, I was hit with his blinding smile. I had not seen it often since the fight, but I was grateful whenever I did. He was just so radiant when he smiled, his whole face lighting up and brightening our surroundings.
Unable to help myself, I leaned over his body, kissing him, ignoring how Peter and Giro were doing the same beside us, just reveling in the fact we were all here, safe, alive, and mostimportantly, happy.
“You should just ask,” I told Felix as he paced our bedroom.
He glared at me, but kept walking back and forth. “I want to!” he argued. “I feel like I’m missing something, you know? Why are they keeping to themselves so much? Is it like Giro said, that they might need more time together after being apart? Or do they not want to see me?”
