The challenge two alphas one girl novel Chapter 55

Elizabeth’s POV

Cody took my hands in his. His h.uge hands enveloped mine. I could feel the callouses on his palms from labour. I traced them with my fingertips.

“I’m sorry for not fighting harder for you, Lizzie, and for staying away all these years. I was so stupid and I was heartbroken when I saw you in your wedding dress knowing you wouldn’t be coming down the aisle towards me,” said Cody, leaning towards me.

I bit my l!p.

“Oh, Cody,” I said, brushing my nose against his as I leant in. He withdrew a little and my face faltered. My heart stung at this simple little motion from him. I was very fragile right now.

“When you got in touch with me after all these years, I made up my mind to be fully honest with you. You deserve that,” he said, looking down at our entwined fingers.

I took a deep breath feeling a panic rising within me.

“The day of your wedding I was waiting for you like we’d said outside my cottage watching the main house in the distance, scared you weren’t coming. Malachi’s Dad came to me,” Cody began.

I gasped and anger welled up inside of me. That old creep.

“He offered me a h.uge sum of money to get lost essentially and I refused. No amount of money was worth more to me than being with you. He told me I was a fool, that you didn’t feel the same, that you wouldn’t miss out on your inheritance for the likes of me,” Cody explained, meeting my eyes.

I felt a pang of guilt. I kept silent, listening intently. Cody sighed.

“Malachi’s Dad, he said you weren’t coming and I should go see for myself how you were all dolled up for your wedding to his son, the Alpha. He said to go look before I turned him down. I told him to ‘fvck off’ and he just laughed,” I said.

I was shocked Cody had told a former alpha that and over me.

“But I did go look. I had to. It was getting late and you weren’t there yet. I climbed into your bedroom window and I saw you, the most beautiful bride ever, only not my bride,” Cody said.

I fought back tears listening to him.

“I could see it in your eyes you had no real intention of leaving with me,” said Cody sadly, shrugging.

“I let you go. I should have flung you over my shoulder,” Cody said with a laugh.

I giggled and Cody stroked my cheek causing chills to creep through me. I found myself thinking about inviting Cody back to the pack house.

“I climbed back down and went to my cottage. I wrecked the place in a fit of frustration and rage, which was dumb. I heard laughter. It was that prick again,” he said.

I stifled a chuckle at how b.razenly Cody spoke about the former alpha.

“He offered me the money again in exchange for leaving town. He said I could stay here, poor and lonely and watch you everyday with someone else or I could go heal somewhere with money to start making something of myself,” Cody said, sighing.

“I’m ashamed to say I took it and I left. I didn’t go for. I moved to Berryndale and worked and saved even though I had the money from that prick. I invested it. I did make something of myself but it really never made me happy. It’s probably pathetic to admit it but my happiest days were chopping wood, anticipating you coming by to show me how pretty you looked that day in another one of your gowns,” Cody said, chuckling and smiling sadly.

“I know you might feel differently knowing I took the money and I understand if…”

I silenced him with a k!ss. He immediately k!ssed back drawing me to him, putting his arms around my wa!st as I flung mine around his neck. His l!ps found my jaw and then my neck. He seemed pleased that there was no mark there. Malachi had never marked me. I wondered if he had marked Felicity yet. Should I let Cody mark me? Was I rushing things? I had a son old enough to be Alpha and to court his own mate but I felt like a school girl when it came to these things. I had never been permitted to have many experiences with boys. I had never dated before Malachi courted me and all I could do with Cody back then was walk by in different outfits so he would admire me from afar or pay me a compliment. I had only ever been with Maze’s Dad.

Cody gr0aned a little against my skin. I hoped Mazey was preoccupied with the Friday lookalike or something and not witnessing this. I buried my face in Cody’s neck. His scent was glorious. If sunlight had a smell that would be Cody’s scent. He smelled bright somehow, fresh, new and yet familiar. He had an earthiness to his smell too like being out in a kitchen garden, surrounded by fresh produce, bathed in sunlight after rain. I sighed. I felt like I had finally come home after being away for years and years.

Updated by Jobnib.com
“You better be serious this time, Lizzie, because you’re never getting away from me again,” mumbled Cody in my hair.

I smiled against his shoulder. Loud cheering made me look up. Cody did too. True and Timbre were dancing up a storm. I grinned.

“Some wild friends you got there,” Cody said.

I frowned. Did he disapprove of them? Would he ask me to hang out with them less? I really liked them though? They had found Cody for me in the first place pulling a few strings as he lived in Berryndale and getting his contact information. Malachi had always been so strict. Cody grasped my chin and made me look at him.

“I like them,” Cody said. “They’re great!”

I smiled.

“Cody,” I said hesitantly.

“Yeah, Lizzie,” he said.

I was nervous. I had never asked someone out before. Ugh. I needed to pull myself together. If Maze got that Friday pregnant, I’d be a grandmother. Why was I acting like a teenager?

“Um, would you like to go to the Berryndale’s Ladies’ Luncheon tomorrow as my…date?” I said, mumbling the last word.

Cody k!ssed me again. “What time and what should I wear? How about we match?”

“Who’s the best kitty in the world?” I told him.

Ugh, stop moping. Just order the servants to handle it and keep the two couples from interacting too much! The Berryndale pack house staff will know what to do. There are probably important pack members that hate each other all the time, said my wolf.

I nodded, smiling and his l!ps claimed my mouth.