Page 85 of Bite Me Alpha Cole

Rose holds up her hand, the keyring looped around her pinkie finger, ready to go.

Her smile is nothing short of victorious as I stride up to the driver’s side and take the key from her hand. “Hop in,” I murmur. “Let’s get this done.”

Rose laughs, delighted, and dashes around to the other side of the car.

The Children of Solace ghost town is quiet under the night sky, as it was the last time we were here. I frown, wondering if it would honestly be better if we came in the daylight. Surely Rose would get better pictures, and it would be less…intimate.

I sigh briefly through my nose as I climb out of the car, not looking at Rose as I head around to the back. We didn’t talk to each other the whole way here, but Rose made sure my attention was on her. Two minutes into the trip, she had her phone hooked up to the car’s stereo and playedallof the songs I once gave to her on a very private playlist.

Songs that…bring back memories. Thatmeantsomething to us.

At first, I thought it was just chance, but…eventually it became clear what she was doing. And then I just tried to ignore it, not wanting to give her any power by acknowledging that she was bothering me just by puttingmusicon.

But clearly, she got to me.

I grit my teeth as I pull open the trunk and flick open the case that holds emergency supplies, grabbing two flashlights. I shove one at Rose when she comes around the car.

“Cole…” she says quietly, shaking her head at me, folding her hands around the light. “Don’t be like this –“

“Can we just get thisdone, Rose?”

She sighs, stepping closer to me. “I’m sorry,” she says, shaking her head. “All those songs bring back really happy memories for me – I wanted to remind you of when we used to be close –“

“Rose, our relationship isdone–“

“Oh,come on–“ she rolls her eyes.

“Ihavea mate!”

“I told you that I met my mate, like, twice when we dated, Cole!” she snaps, turning back to me, her hands going to her hips. “You’re just repaying the favor, torturing me!” She shakes her hair back. “This is just like – our thing!”

My mouth drops open as I stare at her, remembering that those kinds of insane mind games were alwaysherthing, not mine. I know exactly what she’s talking about, too. I remember precisely how devastated I had been when Rose told me she’d met her mate as well as the intense relief when she told me it was a stupid trick. The makeup sex had been insane when we got back together –

But god, now? Looking back?

She was just so…manipulative. And I was just toogoneon her to see it.

“I need you to pay attention, Rose,” I say, stepping closer and glowering over her. She doesn’t back up, letting me loom, tilting her head back and looking up at me with her clear blue eyes. “Ihavemet my mate. I amveryserious when I say that I am pursuing her and that you and I aredone.”

“Okay, Cole,” Rose says, the words pleased and playful.

I sputter, realizing shestilldoesn’t believe me.

Rose laughs as I turn away, a snarl sounding in my chest. “You seriously expect me to believe this, Cole?”

“Yes!” I shout as I spin back to her.

“Cole Kincaid, ifyouhad a mate, you would dropeverythingin your life to be at her side,” Rose says, grinning knowingly at me. “Especiallybefore she accepted the bond and you marked her. Your entirelifewould be ensuring that she’s both safeandfalling in love with you. You wouldn’t have it any other way!”

I stare at Rose, kind of…surprised at her level of intuition. And at the irony of the fact that what she says ispreciselycorrect – and that she still doesn’t see it.

I swallow, realizing that I may be walking a thinner line than I thought here. Clearly, the only thing keeping Rose from putting all the pieces together at this point is the fact that Nadia is human, and Rose doesn’t think a human mate is possible.

I have to be very careful about how I proceed. Nadia, I know, doesnotwant this information to be public.

“I wish you would justgive it up, Cole,” Rose says with a sigh, walking over to me. “I don’t want to play games with you this time. Let’s just…give it another shot.”

“Drop it, Rose,” I growl, turning and striding off to the big house, wanting thisover. “This is the last time I’m going to tell you. I am notinterestedin anything with you. So, let’s just get this done.”

---