Chapter 8：7.

INDIA POV

I had said my good nights to Callie and the group of rogues, more than ready to get back upstairs into the comfy bed and get some rest. Colt's arm was resting on my back, his large hand gripping my hip firmly as we headed back to the house.

"So are you ever going to tell me how you managed to slip my delta?" Colton chuckled in amusement. He wasn't mad, that was good. I had heard stories of Alpha mates being overbearing, uptight and positively insane when it came to the safety of their mates. I knew Colton wanted me safe, and would go to any length to make sure that I was, but he was not angry, and for that I was thankful.

"I told him I was scared all alone in the house so he'd come inside. Then I slipped out the bathroom window when he was occupied." I smiled up at him brightly, proud of myself for ditching Kurt.

"I'll let it slide this time, but the next time you slip my guard, there will be disastrous consequences." he growled huskily in my ear and I giggled.

"Whatever you say Alpha." I laughed lightly and he growled again, sending chills across my skin.

I felt the vibration from my cell phone and pulled it out of my pocket, unlocking the screen to see I had dozens of unread messages. 

The first was from Mikayla, letting me know how much she missed me and that she felt empty without my mind link. I missed her desperately, she was my best friend. It was weird not being able to mind link her every time something interesting happened, or just when I felt lonely and needed to hear her voice. 

The second was from Skye, telling me Ty had found his mate in a neighboring pack after he went running when Colton had taken me away and that she'd moved in the pack house with the other unmated wolves because he hadn't accepted her yet. I found myself frowning at that, never taking Ty for the kind of man who would put his mate in a house with other unmated wolves. 

There were a few from my mother, telling me she loved and missed me. There were a few from my friends and family members wishing me luck in my new pack. There was even one from my former Alpha, telling me how proud he was of me, and how Luna Shelton missed my pack famous apple pie's. She requested the recipe, and I knew I'd have to send it to her in the coming days. 

The last 12 however, were from Ty, begging me to come back, telling me he'd found his mate but couldn't accept her yet, telling me he felt my link fade, and that he'd tried his hardest to hold onto it. Those were the hardest to read, knowing that because of me, Ty wasn't willing to move forward with his life, with his mate. I knew our time in the woods after the bonfire was a mistake. He was drunk, I was in love with him, but feeling the way the mate bond affected me, feeling the safety and security, and other-worldy happiness that radiated off of me in waves whenever I was around Colton, showed me just how much I'd be missing if I would have rejected my bond. 

My heart clenched and I hadn't noticed I was crying until Colton pulled me into a tight hug.

"Shhh, I know it's hard being away from them, but this is your pack now. This is your family now." He soothed. 

I nodded against his chest, knowing he was right, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to see them. I needed more time to say goodbye. I wasn't ready to let them go. As much as I wanted to move forward with Colton, this was holding me back.

"I need to see them again Colt. I need to really let them go." I whispered and he sighed pulling me towards the house with him.

He pulled me inside and down onto the couch with him, curling me up against his chest like I was a tiny little ball.

"Please Colton. Please." I sobbed into his chest as I felt his wolf pacing, trying to figure out how to comfort me. If I hadn't been so heartbroken, the situation might have been comical, the powerful Alpha helpless as his mate cried. 

"Okay, okay. Please just stop crying darling. I'll let you go see them just stop leaking please." He cooed towards me while he ran his hand against my back soothingly.

I sniffled, looking up at him through moist lashes. "Did you just tell me to stop leaking?"

He smirked and I hid my face in his chest to hide the smile that formed there. 

"I thought I was gonna have to put mini sand bags under those things for a second." he laughed and I punched his arm playfully.

"Damn, the mosquitos sure are getting bad this time of year." He joked as I kept punching him. He didn't even bother to pretend it hurt as he burst out laughing as I pouted.

I put my legs against him and pushed them, sending him sprawling towards the floor. He grabbed my waist on the way down, pulling me along with him.

I giggled as I collapsed against his firm chest, catching my breath as he shook underneath me with laughter.

"I haven't been this happy in years." he breathed, running a hand through my hair to brush it out of my face. "Thank you."

I smiled down at him, "for what?"

"Accepting me. Coming into my life at all. You could've rejected me and stayed with Ty. I saw the way he looked at you when he walked in knowing you were hurt. He looked like he'd just lost his whole world." Colton frowned.

"You and I both know the mate bond is the trump card. We're made for each other Colton." I pulled his hand into mine, interlacing our fingers together as I held them up in his line of sight.

"See the way our hands fit together perfectly? The way our bodies mold together perfectly like this with me on your chest. I can feel a current buzzing between us constantly, and it makes me feel safe, it makes me feel like I'm at home. Anywhere you are, that's where my home is." I breathed, pulling his face easily to mine and brushing my lips across his delicately.

"These lips, they were made for mine." I whispered against his mouth and before I could process it he had gripped my waist and flipped us over, hovering above me and supporting his weight on one hand.

"You are mine." He growled in my ear as he nuzzled my hair, inhaling my scent. I knew it drove his wolf wild, just like his scent sent mine into a frenzy.

"And you're mine." I growled back, wrapping my legs around his back as I pulled him back down towards me and brought his mouth down onto mine.

He responded eagerly, his lips moving in sync with mine as if they were dancing in a role they'd been born to star in. There was no denying it. Colton Lithe was made for me. He was my mate. The goddess definitely hadn't screwed this up. He ran his hand along my hips and underneath my shirt, gripping my hip with one hand, causing me to gasp. He took to opportunity to deepen our kiss, capturing my mouth and easily asserting his dominance. Colton Lithe was all man, and this man was all mine.

He pulled away too soon, resting his forehead against mine, both of us sucking in air our lungs desperately needed. I couldn't hide the smile that spread across my lips and I watched as one spread across his, mirroring my own.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm sure as hell glad I did it." he laughed, rolling over so I was splayed across his chest.

"Let's get you to bed sleepy head." he whispered as he scooped me up bridal style and carried me upstairs and into the bedroom. I wrapped my arms around his neck, refusing to let go the entire time.

He sank down into the sheets, pulling them around us as I curled up against my Colton pillow and began dozing off again.

"Goodnight India." he whispered as he planted a gentle kiss across my temple.

I would have replied, but sleep pulled me under her wing at that moment.