Page 77 of Broken

Cole introduced her to Hawk and Ariana, and then Ariana said they had to go. She turned to Ireland and said with a pretty Spanish accent, “Would it be too much of an imposition for me to speak to you before we do?”

There was no graceful way to refuse. They all walked out to the porch and the men continued down the steps and out under the trees, talking, leaving Ireland and Ariana together.

Ariana began, “I just want to tell you how happy I am for you and Cole.” She gave a little laugh. “I cannot get used to him using his name. You know he just used to be Boomer’s Brother?”

Ireland nodded. “He told me. I like Cole better.”

“So do I,” Ariana said. “When I met him, I was newly mated with Hawk, who helped me escape from my brother’s drug cartel. Cole and Boomer were standing watch over me, to keep my brother and his men from harming me. I felt wrong just calling him Boomer’s Brother, so I named him El Vigilante.”

Ireland had to smile at that, even as she wondered where this was going. “It fits him.”

“Better than you know,” Ariana said seriously. “He explained to me that in English it is someone who fights, taking the law into his own hands. As the two of you are doing, with this mission. But in Spanish, it means… Watcher. Guardian.” She paused. “Protector.”

A little chill went down Ireland’s spine.

Ariana said, “That is his nature, to protect. And our mates… they wish to be our protectors. It is important to them.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Ireland said.

“As your mate, this—” she touched Ireland’s bracelet— “is not a burden to him. Being bound to you is not a burden, but a joy. It gives him a sense of purpose.”

Tears filled Ireland’s eyes. Ariana smiled. “He loves you very much. I’m very happy for you both.”

“I love him too.”

“Yes. I can see. And like Hawk and me, I believe that Fate would not bring you together as mates, just to tear you apart. If you fight hard, if you believe in each other and the love you share, your mission will prevail. I feel that here.” She touched her heart.

Impulsively, Ireland hugged her. “Thank you. Thank you for coming here to say that.”

Ariana hugged her back. “All will be well. You will see.”

After everyone left, Cole could feel Ireland retreating back into herself. She was scared, about the mission, and feeling guilty that so many people were putting themselves on the line for her.

He hadn’t convinced her that she was one of them, that this was what they did—as Outlaw Ridge operatives, and as a pack.

She was too used to not belonging. It was a hole in her that it would take time to fill.

Finally, she fell asleep, but Cole was still awake. He needed a task to fill the dark night hours, the time before a mission when he calmed everything inside him, stilled his mind, made peace with himself.

Usually he cleaned his weapons and checked his gear, but he’d already done that. Tonight he wanted to do something else.

He took Wilbur the Wolf from Ireland’s bedside table, went out to the living room, and got out the sewing kit he used to sew on buttons and make small repairs on his fatigues. Carefully, painstakingly, he stitched up the rips and holes in Wilbur’s hide, adding bits of stuffing where needed. Then he got out the little army jacket he’d found in the thrift store, almost forgotten after the battle. He embroidered it with a tiny replica of the Outlaw Ridge patch they all wore on their uniforms, and put it on Wilbur. It fit perfectly.

When he was done, he felt at one with himself. This mission—protecting Ireland, freeing her to truly be his mate—that’s what he was meant to do.

However it turned out, they would be together. And if this was his last mission, at least it would be the one he was most proud of.

That’s what she’d given him, what he might never be able to articulate to her. She’d given him back himself—the good, the bad and the ugly—and made him whole.

Given him something to live for.

No matter what happened, he’d always be grateful for that gift.