The Blazing Betas (Book 2 of the Garnetmoon series)

Chapter 3: Babyshower time

Domonique P.O.V

As Cole wrapped his arms around me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. It had been months since we last saw each other, and the distance had only made our hearts grow fonder. I hated that my brothers had to whisk him away every time they had to go to a different pack, leaving me feeling empty and alone. It was as if they didn't understand how much Cole meant to me. But now, as he held me tightly against him, I felt like nothing else mattered. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his familiar scent and reveling in the warmth of his embrace. It was as if time had stood still, and we were back to where we had left off. However, our reunion was short-lived as Cole suddenly set me down, his ears perking up at the sound of my mother's voice.

"Cole?" I gasped, my voice trembling as my mother's footsteps grew closer. "Please, you have to hide me!" I pleaded, desperation creeping into my tone. Without a second thought, I ran towards him, seeking refuge behind his broad, muscular back. I could feel his warmth seeping into me, calming my nerves and giving me a sense of security. However, my hopes were quickly dashed as I heard him chuckle softly. I peeked over his shoulder, my eyes meeting my mother's stern gaze as she walked into the dining room.

As my mother greeted Cole with her usual friendly voice, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in my stomach. Her sweet demeanor was just a facade, and I knew that all too well. I watched as Cole laughed, seemingly oblivious to the danger that lurked beneath her pleasant exterior. He snaked one of his hands behind his back, his fingers lacing with mine as he pulled me closer to him. "Hi, Mrs. Marshal," he said, his voice oozing with charm. "Yes, we did have success at the Bloodstone pack. I'm sure the Alphas will tell you all about it later on." I could feel my mother's eyes on us, her gaze scrutinizing our every move. I held my breath, waiting for her to pounce. Did you change your hair? Looks amazing!" Cole said, trying to charm her away.

My mother let out a hearty laugh at Cole's charms, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, you," she said, shaking her head in amusement. "But I did change it a bit. I need to look my best for the baby shower." She paused for a moment, her gaze flickering to me. "By the way, if you have some spare time, could you please tell my daughter that's hiding behind your back to finish her breakfast and coffee and meet me outside? I'll give her 30 minutes." Her tone was condescending, and I could feel my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. I knew that I had been caught, and there was no escaping my mother's wrath now. "Domonique," she called out, s**t ... busted!

I slowly crawled out behind Cole's back and gave my mother a smile and wave, while she just stared at me with a stern look. "Thirty minutes!" she repeated, her voice echoing in my ears as she turned on her heels and disappeared out of the dining hall. I slouched, feeling defeated and embarrassed as Cole looked down at me with an amused smile on his face. I pouted a bit, hoping to elicit some sympathy from him, but instead, he roared with laughter. He snaked an arm around my shoulder, leading me over to the coffee corner we had in the packhouse. As we waited for our coffee to brew.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as Cole handed me a steaming cup of coffee.

I clutched it gratefully, savoring the warmth that seeped into my fingers. I knew that these last few minutes with him were precious, and I was determined to enjoy them before my mother whisked me away for the day. "Thanks," I said, my voice laced with gratitude. "This is just what I needed." I took a long, joyous sip of my coffee, relishing the rich, bold flavor. As I set my cup down, I turned to Cole, eager to hear about his latest mission. "So, how was the trip to the Bloodstone pack?" I asked, my eyes sparkling with curiosity. I leaned in, eager to hear every detail of his adventure. Cole's face lit up as he launched into his story, his words painting a vivid picture of the pack and its inhabitants. I listened intently, lost in the magic of his words, savoring every moment that I had with him.

"It's been good, there was a lot to discuss, especially with the whole Vampire situation we had going on last year." My heart quickened at the mention of the Vampires, my mind racing with questions. “What had happened?” I listened intently as Cole continued. "A lot of the council members are weary of the pack and especially of Jennifer," he said, his tone serious. "But Jason, being the smart one he is, managed to convince everyone that there was no possible way that Jennifer could pose a danger to the werewolf community, seeing as she had werewolf blood flowing in her veins." I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The council's mistrust of Jennifer could have serious consequences for the pack, and I was relieved to hear that Jason had been able to assuage their fears. Cole's words echoed in my mind as I took another sip of my coffee, lost in thought.

I shook my head in disbelief, my mind whirling with frustration. After all the rough s**t that had happened in the last year to this pack, I couldn't believe that the council would still want to investigate our actions. They simply couldn't handle the fact that we had managed to take down one of the oldest vampires in existence and that Jennifer had killed a former pack member without all the necessary actions being taken beforehand. I knew that Jennifer had broken a big werewolf law, but Tamaryn was a traitor. She had attempted to murder Jennifer, more than once, and she had gotten what she deserved. It was frustrating to see the council second-guessing our every move when we had acted in the best interest of the pack. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. It was moments like these that made me grateful for Cole's presence. He had a way of making everything seem less daunting, less overwhelming. I turned to him, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips. "Thanks for being here," I said, my voice soft. "It means a lot."

"Domn?" Cole said his voice making my heart skip a beat the way he said my name. It was like music to my ears, a sweet melody that made me feel safe and loved. He was my home, my sanctuary, the one person who had always been there for me no matter what. "Yeah? Sorry?" I said, my voice soft as I tried to hide the crimson blush that made its way to my cheeks. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, like a teenager with a crush. But Cole just gave a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek in a gentle caress. "You're blushing," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Don't be embarrassed, Domn. You know I love it when you blush." I felt my cheeks grow even hotter at his words, but I couldn't help but smile.

I rolled my eyes as Cole teased me, his words laced with gentle mockery. "Honestly," he said, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You are totally different than your brothers. Your head is always stuck in the clouds above. I just hope that I am involved in some of those thoughts?" I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his words, a mix of embarrassment and pleasure. It was true that I often got lost in my own thoughts, lost in the magic of my imagination. But Cole had a way of grounding me, of bringing me back to reality. I glared up at him, but I couldn't help the small smile that played at the corners of my lips. "You wish," I said, my voice laced with playful defiance. Cole just chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"I...I need to get going," I stammered, my voice shaking slightly. "My mother is most probably starting a whole search party to find me. But...good luck with the whole Jennifer and werewolf law thing! See you!" I gave Cole a quick peck on the cheek before scurrying out of the room, my heart still racing. I ran through the packhouse, searching for where the most chaos was. I knew that where there was chaos, there was my mother, without a doubt. As I turned the corner, I could hear her voice echoing through the halls.