For Bear Or For Worse (Pure Blood 1) by Meredith Clarke

pathetic human.”
                  I could hear the hatred Zoey had for me in her voice. It cut me right through to the heart and instilled a fear that I had never known before.  I knew what I had to do.  I had to step away, otherwise I would cause a war that I wanted no part in.  It broke my heart to say it because I was starting to fall madly in love with Cole, but I had to do whatever it took to keep him safe, just like he was trying to keep me safe.
                  “Look, Zoey, you can have Cole, okay? Like I said, it's not what you think. I never really liked him in the first place, not the way you do. It was nothing but a fling, it meant nothing to me. It was just a silly one-night stand, nothing more.”
                  Zoey snorted, “What kind of idiot do you think I am? Don't try to feed me any more of your bullshit, you are just trying to save your ass now that you know that you have a target on your back.  I saw the way you looked at him in the club and how you reacted when I told you that he was mine.  He is way more than a one-night stand to you.  The funny part is Avery you probably never meant anything to Cole. He could never possibly love someone like you. He is an Alpha and you are nothing.”
                  It was pointless trying to talk to her, I was right about that much. She wasn't going to listen to reason, and I doubted that it would be any different coming from Cole. She would never allow us to be together. She would fight to have me killed and then try to claim Cole for herself. I was about to hang up the phone when a pair of strong arms grabbed it from me.

Chapter Eighteen
    Cole
     
     
    I grabbed the phone from Avery’s hands.  With heightened senses I was able to hear the entire conversation they had.  .
                  “Zoey, I command you to return to me now. RETURN NOW ZOEY, those are your orders!” I demanded as much authority as I could through a phone call and hung up the phone.
                  Looking at Avery, I shook my head. “What were you thinking?”
                  “I don't know, I was just trying to stop it all.”
                  “Avery, this is so much bigger than you. We can't hide. The sleuth is everywhere, did you really think you could stop it all by yourself?”
                  She shrugged, “What makes you think that Zoey will return just because you yelled at her?”
                  I chuckled, “It's not about yelling or getting mad. I am still her Alpha, even if she is mad at me. She may not like it very much, but she cannot disobey the Alpha, not ever.”
     
                  Zoey did return begrudgingly. She looked beyond pissed when she walked through my door. She had to obey me though, no matter what. She did, however, come with a few of her friends to witness the transgressions I caused against the sleuth. Ten other members of the sleuth stood there with her, trying to understand what I had done.
                  Shit.  The secret was out.  As they walked into the living room I stood and grabbed Avery’s hand.  I felt her slightly shake next to me and I rubbed my thumb over her hand hoping to calm her.  I cleared my throat squared my shoulders and smiled when Michael, Trent and Ryan flanked behind me.  Everyone stood in silence to listen to their Alpha.   
                  “I know you all think that I have done something terrible, something unthinkable, and that I can not be forgiven. But that is not my stand here. I am not asking for forgiveness because I don't want you to forgive me.  Zoey and a few others let out a growl.
    “ I love this woman and nothing is going to stand in my way of being with her.  She is who I choose to be with.  What happened with Evan was wrong, and I know now that I should have stood up for him.  Times are changing.  We are not the same sleuth that