Fourth Hope by Clare Atling

still upset.
    ‘ Oh honey, what’s happened? Maggie said you and Colt had a fight?’ Callie rubbed her back to comfort her.
    ‘ Alex came round to watch a film. I didn’t really think about it, but looking back I would have been pissed if I’d found Colt on the sofa with one of his ex-girlfriends.’ Hope sniffed again and swiped her tears away with her hand.
    ‘ But you and Alex never dated?’ Sarah looked confused.
    ‘ No, but we were kind of friends with benefits before Colt came on the island.’ Sarah smiled, but shook her head. ‘Please don’t tell my brothers,’ continued Hope. ‘They’ll kill him. We’re friends, nothing more.’
    ‘ Right. That man is H.O.T.’ Callie fanned her face as she spelt the word out.
    ‘ And you’re supposed to be mated to my brother!’ Hope rolled her eyes as the others laughed.
    ‘ Doesn’t mean I can’t look,’ said Callie. ‘So, you and he were hot and heavy before Colt, and he caught you two watching TV. Well, I can see how he would have put two and two together and come up with ten. What happened next?’ Callie dug into the ice cream tub and watched Hope, waiting for an answer.
    ‘ I basically accused him of raping other girls.’ They all st ared at her for a moment before she spoke again. ‘I know he didn’t, but now I feel like a bitch. He said he didn’t want me near him again and that he only fucked me, his words not mine, for revenge against my brothers...’ Her tears were falling again.
    ‘ Oh baby girl.’ Callie reached around her and the others followed suit to wrap her in a warm hug. Hope was so glad her brothers hadn’t messed up with their mates and that Maggie, Callie and Sarah were in her life. ‘It’s just words,’ continued Callie. ‘He must have been pissed with the thought of another male being near you. Logan still hates it when me and Brandon are together, but on the reverse I guess I don’t like it when I see the other unmated females looking at Logan. It just means he likes you enough to be jealous.’ They all let go and sat back down, tucking in, once again, to the ice cream.
    ‘ I guess I’ve known him the longest, but I don’t really know him,’ said Maggie. ‘His father was the meanest person I’ve ever met and, although Colt will always terrify me, he never once hurt me. That has to mean something.’ Hope knew Maggie would always carry the scars of her past with Marcus for all those years, but Brandon loved her and she was rebuilding her life here on the island.
    ‘ What if he really doesn’t ever want to see me again?’ said Hope. ‘My wolf isn’t talking to me. She thinks I’m a bitch for pushing our mate away. I’m not submissive by nature and he just pissed me off.’
    ‘ Girl, you will never be submissive,’ replied Sarah, ‘and I think Colt needs someone like you to keep him in line. Whatever you choose, we will always be behind you. Your brothers will come around to the idea of you and him as mates.’ Sarah was mated to Seth, who was the alpha of the pack. His word was pretty much law amongst them, but she knew he wouldn’t ever get in the way of his mate.
    ‘ Thanks guys,’ said Hope. ‘My brothers don’t know how lucky they are to have you.’ The thought of her brothers and their mates made her start crying again.
    ‘ Oh, Hope,’ said Sarah, putting her arm around her. ‘Let the dust settle and go speak to him. He can’t leave the island, so he will be here somewhere. I’ve even asked Seth if Colt can go to the mainland and help with the construction side of the spa. I mean, the sooner they are finished the sooner we get our spa weekend. Up there for thinking, down there for dancing.’ Sarah pointed to her head and feet as she spoke, making the other girls laugh. ‘Now, I happen to know the owner of this bakery has fresh cream and killer Death by Chocolate cake left over. I think this calls for a chocolate emergency.’ She got up and walked to the refrigerator.
    ‘ I love you