Chapter 11：10.

We had just pulled into the little clearing when Eric stopped the truck and Colton came darting out of the cabin, scooping me up in his arms the moment my feet hit the grass. I giggled as he buried his face in my hair, inhaling my scent to keep his wolf at bay.

"I missed you too." I smiled as he pecked my lips quickly. 

"Eric found his mate." I smirked and Colton laughed.

"So the infamous Mr. 'I don't want a mate' accepted her right off the bat then huh?" he smirked and I nodded.

Mikayla hopped from the cab then and inclined her head towards Colt as Eric came to stand beside her.

"I'll need your permission to let her into the pack later tonight." Eric asked and Colton nodded brightly.

"Of course. Welcome to the pack Mikayla." He smiled at her.

"Thank you alpha." she replied.

I turned and followed Colton inside then, laying across the couch as he sat, picking up my head and depositing it in his lap. I smiled up at him and he returned it.

"I felt your emotions today. What happened?" he asked after a moment and I sighed.

"Ty. He's taken this a lot harder than I expected. He won't let go. He's found his mate and he won't accept her because of me. I feel like it's all my fault. Granted, at one point, there were feelings there, but now, I realize it was insignificant compared to what I have with you. I tried to make him see reason, but he won't. I don't know what else to do Colt." I frowned.

He pushed the frown lines between my brows away, smoothing them out. "Darling, it isn't your place to worry about those things." He said softly and I nodded.

"I know it isn't, but I've been looking out for him for 20 years Colt, that impulse doesn't just vanish overnight."

"I know it doesn't, and I know that you care about Ty a great deal, but if he isn't willing to help himself, there is little you can do until he gets himself through this. You said he hasn't rejected the she wolf or accepted her, to me that means he isn't too far gone. He could have rejected her right off the bat, but he didn't, a small part of him is still holding onto his mating bond, a small part of him is still fighting to claim that bond. It is a good sign darling." 

I sighed, looking up at him through moist lashes. "I know that, I know that he isn't too far gone, it's just seeing the toll that being in limbo has taken on his body makes me worry. If he doesn't make a choice soon, I'm scared the results will be detrimental. The bonds weren't made to be in limbo for this long. You have 3 days to accept or reject, and then your body starts to weaken until you've made your choice." 

He lit up then, seeming to remember something. "I think I know something that could help."

I looked at him questioningly and he smiled down at me.

"I helped out a witch and her coven a few years ago. She owes me a favor that I can cash in at anytime. We could ask her to do a spell, one that would erase you from Ty's memory. Not altogether, just the romantic ones. He would think of you as his best friend, nothing more, and he could be able to let you go." He stated.

"I don't know Colt, couldn't there be complications with that?"

"Of course there's a risk with anything, but it's an option. If he doesn't let you go soon, it might be the only one we have. If he's beyond reason, this could be the only way to help him India."

I nodded and sighed, sinking into his lap and enjoying the warmth and safety he radiated.

"Thank you Colton." I whispered.

"For what?"

"Everything." I smiled and he rolled his eyes and ran his fingers lazily through my hair, lulling me to sleep.