She was absolutely right. Things were going to change, and he would make sure he was leading that change. Shifter life wasn’t easy. Their lives were far different than humans’, and it was definitely more dangerous. Always someone wanting to come into a pack and take over. Strangers needed to be watched closely, and he had thought they had a handle on that bastard, Foster Manning, but he had been wrong, very wrong.

Cole watched Leeza walk away and knew without a doubt, if he let her go, it would be over, and that sure as hell wasn’t going to happen. Hell, with everything that had happened, they had hardly been able to start anything and for it to be over was out of the question. Without thought, he marched up behind her, gently grabbed her arm and headed toward one trailer. She didn’t try to pull away, which was a good sign. Once at the trailer, he didn’t go inside, but instead, walked around the back where they would have some privacy.

Turning her, so she faced him, his large hands on her shoulders, he stared down at her. “I’ve apologized, and I will apologize every day for the rest of my life.” His hands tightened. “But I will not let you walk away from me.”

“There’s nothing left to say, Cole.” Leeza finally looked up at him. “I told you it was fine. I really want to stop reliving it all. He’s dead. You know the truth of what happened, and I’m going to make damn sure things change. My brother—” Her voice cracked as her chin trembled.

Staying silent, Cole knew she needed to finish. He could see how important it was in her eyes. But her brother’s death was still fresh. He understood her closeness with him because he had the same closeness with his brothers. He didn’t know what he would do if he lost either of them. His body vibrated with the need to protect her, taking away all her fears and make everything perfect for her, but he knew that wasn’t the answer.

“Riley not only entrusted this pack to your brother, but to me as well.” Leeza was finally able to say, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “I feel that I’ve let him down, let everyone down.”

“When your brother got sick, who was the one who kept the pack together?” When she didn’t answer, he answered for her. “You did. No one else. This pack knows how strong you are, Leeza. Have no doubt about that. You haven’t let anyone down. The only person who thinks that is you.”

Leeza took in a deep shuddering breath, then nodded. He knew she was trying to digest what he said and be strong at the same time. One thing he highly respected about this woman was her silent strength. It reminded him of her brother so much. He hadn’t known Riley all that well, but the little that he did know, he admired. It was rare for shifters to die of sickness; usually it was just their time, or they were killed by another shifter. Riley had been challenged for his pack and from what they had heard from pack members, as well as from Leeza, the fight had been fierce. Riley had won the fight but lost his life because of infection. He hadn’t shifted right away to heal his wounds. Infection for their kind was almost certain death since human medication did next to nothing for them.

His eyes went to the red scar exposed on Leeza’s cheek, and his stomach clinched painfully. She could have suffered the same fate of her brother after waiting so long to shift, but like her brother, her concern wasn’t for herself, but for others. She had waited until it was certain Sherry would be okay before she, without anyone knowing, left alone to shift and heal. He had been beside himself looking for her, but it wasn’t until she walked back into their pack that a small measure of relief had hit him. She had survived, and she had done it alone. Guilt about the whole situation ate him alive every minute of every day, and now more than ever. He’d definitely handled the situation wrong, but he was damn sure going to make it right.

“I want to bring Sherry back.” Leeza finally spoke without acknowledging anything he said, but he was okay with that because he knew she’d heard him. “She never should have left, and I know Sherry would love it here.”

“Then we’ll bring her back,” Cole assured her. He would walk through the fires of hell to bring her back if that was what Leeza wanted.

“First, I’m going to talk to the women to make sure they understand that she is to have nothing but respect when she comes back.” Leeza’s eyes hardened when she stared up at him. “And the men, if it needs to be said.”

“I’ll handle the men,” Cole replied, and was glad to see the relief on her face.

They stood in respective silence with only the noises of everyday activity reaching them. She was the first to look away.

“I guess I need to see if Gemma needs any help,” Leeza said, but before she could walk away, he reached out to her.

“Again, I’m sorry… for everything.” His words were low with sincerity. “If I could do it over again, I would.”

Leeza nodded, and again her chin trembled. He reached out, tilting her face to his, vowing to himself and to her with his honesty-filled eyes that he would make this right.

“I forgive you,” she whispered, her deep chocolate eyes filled with tears, spilling over like a waterfall. His eyes never left hers, even when the wetness landed on his fingers as he gently cupped her face.

Slowly, he leaned toward her, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms, but he kept it slow. Her lips were close to his, and he could feel her breath against him. For the first time, their lips met, confirming what he already knew. She was his.

* * *

All that was going through her mind at the moment was, Holy shit, Cole Jackson is kissing me. Once the kiss deepened and he pulled her to him, all thoughts escaped her as she got lost in the kiss.

Her body melted into his as if they were one. The feeling of being safe overwhelmed her, making her shiver. She was a pretty tough woman, but being wrapped in Cole’s muscular arms was something she wanted to keep experiencing over and over again.

She’d always felt safe, until that fateful moment in the woods; since then, not so much. The loneliness and fear almost overwhelmed her at times, but all of that was gone for now, and she savored the feeling.

“Hey!” Kile’s voice had them pulling apart. “Oh, damn. Sorry.”

When Cole broke the kiss, Leeza tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead, he glared over the top of her head at his brother.

“Go the fuck away, Kile,” Cole growled, his deep voice vibrating against her body.

“Eric needs to see you both,” he replied, and she could tell he was trying not to laugh. “But I can tell him you’re both busy playing behind the—”

“How about I have Leeza tell him I’m busy kicking your ass behind the—”

Kile snorted, cutting him off. “Yeah, like he’d believe that.”

Leeza reluctantly pulled herself away from Cole, then turned toward Kile, who had a huge grin on his face. “Why don’t you tell him we’ll be right there and leave it at that, hmmm?”

Kile’s smile widened as he stared at her. “Sounds like a plan.” But instead of walking away, he just stood staring at her.

“Kile.” Cole’s voice was full of warning.

“Leeza. Leeza. Leeza.” Kile shook his head, wearing a teasing grin. “You picked the wrong brother.”

“Kile!” Cole took a step toward his brother, who hurried around the corner.

“Hurry up, or the whole pack is going to know what was going on behind the trailer.” Kile’s voice faded, but they could still hear his laughter.

A grin slipped across Leeza’s lips. She wasn’t embarrassed, but Cole seemed to be, or his face was just red from anger. She couldn’t tell.

“One day I’m going to kill him,” he hissed with a shake of his head.

“It’s what brothers do.” Leeza’s grin faded as she remembered all the teasing she and Riley used to do.

“You miss him.” Cole picked up on her thoughts easily.

“Every single moment of the day,” Leeza said quickly, her words from the heart. She missed her brother so much.

Cole pulled her into his arms again. “Well, you can borrow my brothers any time you want, but honestly, I wouldn’t advise it. Eric is overbearing, and Kile is a dumbass, nothing like Riley.”

Leeza chuckled, then smiled up at him. “Thanks, Cole. In some weird way, that means a lot.”

Leaning down, he kissed her again quickly, pulled away, then stared so deeply into her eyes she could have sworn he saw her soul. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to taste you.”

Her body tingled as if electricity ran through her body, his words going straight to her heart. “Then why have you waited so long?” she whispered, really wanting to know the answer to the question.

“Because I’m a fool.” Cole’s small smile was sad. “And I was trying to be respectful of your brother, of you, and then that bastard, Fost—”

“Don’t ruin the moment.” She pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him. “I understand. My life was in turmoil, and things always got in our way.”

“True, but that stops.” Cole took her hand in his, removing her finger from his mouth. “Nothing will ever stop me from doing this again.”

His kiss was soft, yet hard at the same time. It was commanding yet giving, and she had never felt so possessed by someone in her life. She had been kissed by others, but nothing compared to this connection with Cole Jackson.

“Come on, we better go. I don’t trust Kile, and he likes to run his mouth,” Cole said against her lips.

“Would that bother you?” Leeza pulled away, glancing up at him as they rounded the trailer. He stopped, his eyes staring down into hers with a seriousness she had never seen before.

“I don’t care who knows, Leeza. I think it’s time everyone knows exactly who you belong to,” Cole replied as he took her hand in his. “I’m only thinking of you and your feelings.”

Before she could answer, Eric yelled for them to hurry it up. A deep sense of belonging filtered through her at his words, her heart pounding so hard she could only hear the thumping in her ears. Everything else was tuned out. She hoped that not pulling her hand out of his was answer enough of her feelings.