Texas (Wolfstate Chronicles)

Chapter 7

He waited outside the entrance of the dance, glancing down at his cell phone screen to see the time, which read close to six.

Peter and Tyler had ditched him two hours before and Abigail was at the truck and trailer with her two friends as they had their first real experience around a horse.

That left him alone, anxious and about to be with Sarah, who should have been walking up to him at any moment.

He'd dug a grave of some sort and now, he had to crawl out of it.

“Colten!”

He looked up, snapping shut his cell phone and putting it in his back pocket as she walked up.

She looked pretty. Her brunette hair in big waves that fell around her bare skin from the off-shoulder tight shirt, complimenting her equally tight jeans.

She came to his side and kissed his cheek, “How's it going, big boy?”

He blinked, “What did you call me?”

“I might have pre-drunk.” She laughed, pulling at his hand.

“Oh.”

“Did you see the Rodeo today?”

He followed her, “Yeah, I did.”

“Was it good?”

“Was alright.” He walked in the tented doors to the make-shift rodeo dance. The music blared, and he winced as his ears tried to adjust to the louder environment.

The hot smell of beer and sweat hit him next. He wasn't a huge fan of the magnified aromas, especially ones that involved body odour.

Sarah pulled him up to the bar and ordered drinks, all the while thinking he should just talk to her right there and then. However, he couldn't hear himself to save his life and he really didn't want to shout to her that he couldn't do weekends with her anymore and that he was about to be a total idiot to her either.

She handed him a beer and dragged him over to a table of people. Most of which were part of Fornone.

He got a few unsettled glances before he was welcomed by his pack. He hated how some of them got weird, like he was a cop or something.

He sat next to Sarah and sipped the beer in his hand.

“Colten, I heard you're having a meeting next Wednesday?”

He glanced up to one of the men in the group and nodded, “Yeah, I was going to. Has Peter told everyone then?”

“For the most part.” Another girl droned.

“It's just regarding Oscuro. No one really needs to be there.”

“Oh, yeah! I heard rumours that Mateo got alpha.”

Colten's eyes flashed up, “Where'd you hear that, Justin?” He couldn't figure out how he'd missed the memo, if everyone else had known around him.

“Around town.”

Colten sighed, either he was the dumbest Alpha ever or the most unsocial one, at that point in his life he was going to settle on both circumstances.

Sarah leaned into him and slipped her hand along his thigh, grazing the inseam of his jeans. That forwardness ripped him out of his thoughts of his problems and back into his reality.

He had lonely Sarah on one side and a nineteen year old, oblivious mate on the other. He was starting to believe his luck couldn't get much worse when it came to women.

He took her hand in his and held it, trying to stop her before she got between his legs or worse, his fly.

She pressed her mouth to his ear, “Come on, Colt.”

Turning, he almost kissed her, due to her lips being that close to his.

He drew back, “Not here, Sarah.”

She batted her eyes, “Then let's go dance.”

He grumbled as she tugged him up, shuffling towards the dance floor behind with her. He obliged the woman by pulling her into him and dancing with her but it was internally, he struggled to touch her.

When he tried real hard he could smell her, it was a clear indication he wasn't going to last the whole evening with Sarah like he'd been attempting to convince himself of.

She brushed up against him, “So, Alma has Ella?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, looking across the dance floor.

“My mother has the kids. So, we could just have the night to ourselves.”

His heart thumped, feeling like he was about to play with fire. Woman fire and he was about to get burnt.

He sighed, “Sarah...”

She interrupted him before he pulled back, “Colten, I've been thinking about what I asked you last week and I know it was stupid. I'm sorry, if I upset you.”

It was very unlike Sarah to apologize for anything, let alone her own normal pushy attitude. “Well... that's... it's fine.” He let out a heavy sigh and dropped his chin so the brim of his hat took over his sight making it easier for him to accept her busty apology.

The song ended and he stepped out of her grip, “Want another drink?” He asked, rubbing his nose, nervous. It wasn't very alpha or cowboy of him, but he was trying to think of how to let her down easy.

She looked him over and nodded, “Sure, Colt.”

“I'll meet you at the table.” He ducked away quick before she could answer and moved through the crowds and groups of people chatting.

Undoing a button on the collar of his plaid shirt, be became more nervous.

“Holy, pissed off alpha!” Peter jumped at his side and wrung his arm around his shoulders.

Colten grumbled as his hat tipped forward, “Where have you been?”

“I was checking out the fine ladies with Tyler.” His beta smirked, “Like really? What else would I be doing?”

Colten shrugged him off, “You need a mate.”

“I need that girl.” He pointed across from them.

“She's human.” Colten grumbled.

“You're so fragile, Colt and such a good boy.” Peter smacked his back.

Colten shoved him away, “Stop touching me.”

Peter followed him up to the bar, “Why are you grumpy? I saw with my eyes, Sarah grinding up against you. You should be happy.”

Colten wrinkled his nose as a girl smiled at him. He ignored it and moved on with the meaningless conversation with his beta, “Pete, I don't wanna hear it.”

Peter mimicked him, “So where'd Barbie head off too?”

Colten looked to him, “Her name is Abigail.”

Peter let out a laugh, “Take a chill pill, man.”

“I don't want a chill pill. I've got things to do.”

“Ya you do!” The beta smiled, “There's the spirit.”

“Meaning breaking up with Sarah, even though I never technically asked her out.”

Peter laughed, “You're hopeless. It's all in her head and why ruin a good thing? She puts out, don't she?”

Colten stared at him, “Peter, we talked about this the other day!”

Peter thought a moment, “Oh, right, so we're still on for the breaking up?”

Colten gave him a few moments to absorb his stupidity, “You are an idiot.”

“I know.” Peter laughed, “Man, you are awesome. I love you.”

Colten stepped up to the bar and ordered two beers, “I really hope you find a mate soon. It'll really get you off my back.”

Peter smiled, “No, that ain't ever happening, Colten! Never!”

Colten laughed and grabbed his beers from the bar top, “You just wait, then you'll be some blubbering sad school boy and I'll be the one laughing.”

“Like you know what it's like to have a mate anyway!” Peter followed him through the crowd and took a beer from him, sipping it back.

Colten stopped and stared, “That wasn't for you!”

“Oh.” Peter smiled, “Sorry, just assumed.”

Rolling his eyes, Colten continued on with the one beer for Sarah, “Go hit on the girls.”

“Right-O, Alpha! Good luck with the heart breaking.” He patted his shoulder and took another sip of the beer before disappearing into the crowds of people.

Colten made it back to the table and sat next to Sarah as quick as he could, “Here.”

“Thanks, Colt.” She purred, leaning in, slightly buzzed as she kissed his cheek, doing her general linger that meant she wanted more.

Swinging her arms around his shoulders, she pressed her lips to his ear and bit, “Wanna go to the washroom?”

He felt the panic set in, there was no way he was about to do that with her. He loosened her arms on him and leaned back, “Sarah, we need to talk.”

She wrinkled her nose, “What about? Now?”

He stood from the table, hoping she'd follow.

Smiling, she looked up at him like he'd lost it, “Colten, we're drinking.”

He sighed, knowing he was about to lose it, similar to being on ice and he had no idea how to skate.

She stood, rolling her eyes and tripping into him. Realizing just how possibly drunk she was, he couldn't cut her loose at that moment.

With her hands on her hips, she swayed, “What is so important, Colten Turner?”

He shook his head and removed his hat, brushing the sweat from his forehead, “Never mind now, Sarah. I'll go get you another drink.”

She made a face, “Okay. Get a couple shots of tequila!”

He nodded and took off to the bar as she returned to her seat at the table, drunk and starting to schmooze every male within close proximity.

Crossing his arms, he waited – for the third time that evening, like a waiter. All for a girl that meant nothing more to him, than a friend. There was no way he could call it off with her drunk, he was just too nice, he'd just have to take her home to his place and do it in the morning... or the afternoon... or...

His sight was abruptly covered with a pair of soft hands, followed by a sweet giggle to interrupt every single thought of Sarah Fuller and his issues with the widow.

He turned around and her hands dropped away.

“Boo.” Abigail shifted in front of him.

He smiled, “Should you be in here, Abi?”

She waved a hand in the air, “You're such an old man!”

His face lost it's amusement as her teasing actually got to him, “I'm not old.”

Grabbing his arm, she tugged at him, “Come dance, Grandpa.”

“That's not funny, Abi!” He shouted over the music, letting her drag him through people towards the dance floor.

She laughed and threw her hair over her shoulder to look back at him, “Then don't be such a good boy all the time!”

He sighed and looked through the people, making sure Sarah was still fully turned away and wouldn't catch him dancing with the nineteen year old human.

Abigail turned to him once on the dance floor, “I'm just joking, Colt.”

He looked down at her as she put her hands over her head and swayed her hips back and forth, smiling the entire time.

He wanted to die, or maybe he was dying or already dead.

Abigail put her hands on his shoulders and moved against him, biting her bottom lip with a little smirk.

He couldn't move as she touched him. Stunned, paranoid, stupid, dumb were all that was going through his head, and then the whole mate thing again rung loud and clear on top of it.

She put his hands on her hips and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, “What's up, Colten? You're not having fun?”

He glanced down at her, “Oh, I'm alright. It's a bit hot in here...”

She giggled, “How do you mean?”

Swallowing, he moved topics, “Where did your friends head off to?”

“They went home.” She blew it off, throwing her head back and he smelled.

“You're drinking?”

She dropped her chin, “Some boys over at the bar bought me some shots, for winning.”

That disturbed him more than Sarah possibly seeing perfect Abigail all over him.

His hands tightened on her, “Abi, you're nineteen.”

She wrinkled her nose, “Jeez, Colten. Chill out.”

He grumbled, it wasn't like he hadn't drank at nineteen but she was different.

She moved off him and spun, bumping into someone. He caught her before she tripped back, even if she hadn't been that close to falling.

She smiled and tilted her chin to look at him behind her, “Sorry.”

He steadied her, “Want to go sit?”

She turned to him and laughed, “No.”

He didn't want to leave her and though he had little interest in dancing, he had less interest in watching other men stare at her. Which left him with the dancing option.

She moved back into him, “I've seen you dance, Colten Turner. This is shameful right now.”

He broke a smile, “I can't dance, Abi.”

She grabbed his arm and twirled under his hand, “Come on, Colten!”

“Come on, Buddy!” Peter came up behind him, “By the way,” He leaned into his ear, “I think I know you're littlesecret.”

Colten turned to him and shoved him off, “Pete, I'm this close to punching you!”

This beta rolled his eyes at him, “You're so dramatic.”

“Pete!” Colten creased his brow, he wasn't messing around anymore.

“Look, if there wasn't already enough hormone stench going on, we don't need you on top of it. You need help if that human is your.”

Colten shoved him back, shutting him up, “Don't say anymore.”

Peter raised his hands in surrender, but the beta's buzzed side didn't help him and a smile broke his face.

Abigail came to Colten's side, putting her hand on his arm, “Everything okay?”

“Hold this.” He shoved his hat in Peter's hands and turned to Abigail, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the dance floor.

His precise direction and alpha overload of anger and hormones made it easy to lead her into any dance choice he wanted.

He kept his eyes off her for most of it but then he twirled her and then again, his eyes slowly moving down as he pulled her moved into him and she moved right into his chest. Fitting almost perfectly.

She smiled, tilting her head to the side, “Told you I knew you could dance, Mr. Turner.”

His eyes met hers as his mouth wandered a bit closer, “Abi, I-”

She pressed her fingers to his lips, moving on her tiptoes to his ear, “Can we leave? Go somewhere, quiet?”

He watched her step back, his words left him, though all he wanted to say was yes. Glancing over his shoulder to drunk Sarah, she giggled with the other girls, oblivious to him but he felt responsible for getting her home.

Peter came into his view and he snatched up Abigail's wrist.

She smiled, looking up at him.

“Wait here a moment?”

“Sure.” She nodded and he walked towards his Beta.

“Peter!”

Peter turned to him, “Hey, came back for your hat?”

Colten looked to Pete's hands, “Where is my hat?”

Peter pointed at the bar, “That hot girl over there took it.”

Colten huffed, noting which drunk girl had it, “How drunk are you?”

“Couple beer.” Peter shrugged.

“Good, don't drink anymore. You're taking Sarah home.”

“Whoa!” Peter held up his hands, panic plastering him, “Do I look like a girlfriend Taxi?”

“You look like someone that owes me.” Colten snapped.

The girl with his hat returned, beer in hand and giggling to go with it.

Colten reached out and took it off her head, “That's mine, thanks.”

She pouted, “Who's this?”

“My father.” Peter joked.

Colten rolled his eyes, “Take her home and shut up. And tell her I had leave because of Ella.”

“Now, I have to cover for you to!” Pete exclaimed.

Colten sighed, “Peter, just do something for me for once!”

“Geez, you act like such a baby.”

Colten sneered, “Peter.”

“Alright, alright... go. I'll lie. I mean, cover for you and take tipsy tah-tahs home.”

Colten stared at him, “What?”

Peter smiled, “Have a good night, cradle-robber!”

Colten groaned and walked away from him more than fed up with the situation. He came to Abigail's side as she waited, looking over her phone at the edge of the dance floor.

She looked up and smiled, “Good to go?”

He nodded, almost wishing he wasn't but he really was good to go.

She took his forearm and led him out of the bar, into the summer night. The warm air blew against their damp skin and Abigail shivered with a release of pheromones, that almost left him on his knees. Tripping on a pothole, somehow he saved himself.

Abigail laughed at him, “How much did you drink?”

“Nothing.” The half a beer he'd drank before Sarah had taken it from him didn't count.

“Good cause I had three shots of tequila.”

“I'm more than sober.”

They got to the truck and trailer where Abigail untied Mocha from the side and led her in the back. Leaving Colten to close the tack room and join her at the back of the rig.

The blonde popped out and smiled at him.

“Where did you want to go?” He asked as he closed the heavy doors.

She helped him but he did most of the work and once he finished pushing the bar in and locking it, she grabbed his shirt.

He tripped against her, pinning her to the trailer, “Abi.”

She smiled, “I don't want to go home.”

He stepped back from her, there were a lot of places he wanted to take her but would refrain.

She stepped towards him, licking her plump glossed lips.

“Abi, wait.” He gripped her shoulders.

She stopped, “Is something wrong?”

He sighed, pushing back the angsty wolf that would have loved to have a piece of her.

“Colten, I know this is going to sound stupid, but, I've kinda always had this thing for you.”

“Huh?” Unsure if he'd heard her right

She laughed and leaned into the trailer, “Yep. It's sort of embarrassing. When we first moved here, I used to watch you work from my window sill, all the time.”

“I met you when you were fourteen.” He cut her off.

She smiled, “I know okay, I'm sick. Obviously but you're...”

He lowered his chin and swallowed, “Yeah?”

“Hot.”

He stared at her and fell silent, even stopping his breathing.

She put her hands to her face, “Oh my gosh, I can't believe I said that.”

“I'm nine years older than you.” He breathed.

She dropped her hands, “I don't know, you're just sort of... Well,” She moved towards him and drew her finger tips along the brim of his hat, “You always wear this hat and your shirt's are always a bit...” He straightened his shoulders as her touch fell to his collar, whisking against his neck, “Dirty.”

He stiffened, fighting the urge to touch her back.

Her hands fell to his sides and looped playfully into his belt, “And you're jeans are always so worn.”

“They're old.” He grunted, watching her every inching move against him.

“I'm a big girl now, Colten.”

He swallowed with a nod, “Yeah.”

She pressed her mouth to his cheek, “I had a couple boyfriends at college, but all I kept thinking about was you and your dirty shirts.”

He swallowed, there was no longer human-control left in him. His mate was literally throwing herself at him and he'd let it get to that point, which he regretted.

“You wanted to leave right?” He asked, thinking he needed another place other than where they were to spill his feelings for her.

Abigail shuffled back and blinked, “That's it, Colten?”

He looked to her and felt the moment slipping, “No, I-”

“I just totally made an idiot of myself and all you say is that?” She huffed.

“Oh, Abi,” He took his hat off and held it between his nervous hands, “I-”

She shook her head, looking away, “Never mind. I get it.”

“No,” He stepped in front of her before she walked away, “I just don't want to make anyone upset.”

She wrinkled her perfect nose, “Who?”

“Your parents.”

“Are you joking?” She snapped, “Colten, can you just pretend for five minutes that you don't have to be this good-gentlemanly-cowboy?”

He sighed.

She stared at him as he avoided eye contact, “Wow, that's awesome, Colten.”

He stayed quiet, fighting his internal issues, or more so his other side.

“That was the stupidest thing I've ever done. Forget it.” She walked around him and headed towards the truck.

“Abi!” He chased after her.

“Just take me home, Colten.” She grabbed the door.

He nodded, giving up and feeling the consequences of his stupidity regarding his mate. His lack of being able to speak was killing him. She'd more than caught him off guard, it felt like she'd shot him a few times in the heart.

His mate liked him.

His human mate... liked him.

She got in the truck and he stayed there a moment longer, thinking about how could he fix things or lessen her anger with him.

Walking around the vehicle, still in thought, he stopped once her smell smacked him in the face.

“Colten, where are you going!”

He turned away from the cab of his truck. Abigail's confused look was the last he saw and the rest involved Sarah Fuller, stalking towards him, drunk with Peter lagging behind.

“Hey, tah-tahs!” The beta snapped, “Get over here!”

Colten groaned and walked towards the brunette, “Sarah.”

She lashed out, “Where are you going!”

“I need to go home.” He kept his voice low, “For Ella.”

She looked around him, seeing Abigail, “The Redding's daughter! Are you serious, Colten! This is disgusting!”

He creased his brow and looked to Peter as Sarah tried to move around him.

“No, Sarah, come on.” He grabbed her and stopped her, “Peter's going to take you home, you're drunk.”

She snapped out his arms and smacked him across the face.

Colten dropped his chin, “Sarah.”

She pointed at him, “What's her precious little family going to say when they all find out. Her parent's basically employ this damn town! They employ you!”

“Sarah, stop. You're making a fool of yourself!” Colten snapped, “I'm taking Abigail home, I brought her to the Rodeo as a favour.”

She laughed at him, “You've been acting weird, Colt, I bet it has everything to do with that little tramp.”

Colten grabbed her shoulder and turned her to Peter, “Take her home, Pete.”

“On it.” Peter nodded, “Come on, Fuller.”

She threw her arms up, “To hell with y'all!” She stumbled away and Colten caught her.

“Sarah.”

She shoved him off, “Why didn't you just break up with me, if you don't want to be with me?”

He felt the tiny bit of anger in him growing, “Dammit, Sarah, I told you before, I couldn't do this!”

She shrilled, “You're never going to be as good of an Alpha as your father was, so why don't you just stop trying!”

Colten stared at her, “Sarah, stop.”

She smiled and rolled her eyes, “Jerk.”

Colten growled, “Take her home, Pete. Now.”

Peter took the drunk female's arm, “Let's go.”

She flung herself from him, “Screw off, Daniels!” And made her way towards the bar, turning towards them one last time, “If the Alpha says so, right, Colten?”

Watching her as she stumbled away, he turned to his Beta, “Thanks a lot, Pete!”

“Dude, I tried! She knew you had left almost right away!”

Colten waved a hand and walked back to his truck, more than embarrassed and annoyed all at the same time.

“Do I still have to take her home!” Peter called.

Ignoring him, Colten got in the truck and as he settled in his seat, he felt Abigail's mood. His mate's unhappy linger suffocated him, making him cringe.

He turned the truck over, “Abi?”

She stared at him, “You told me, you weren't with her.”

He swallowed and ran a hand over his brow, feeling he was about to get slapped again.

“Colten, is she your girlfriend?”

He didn't like the direct application of the question but he knew he was going to have to somehow explain it to her, one way or another.

Still waiting for him to speak, her anger grew the longer he stayed silent, “Colten!”