I Won't Give In (Completed)

Chapter 23 - The Girl I Broke

"The funeral for the fallen is this morning," I call to her.

"How should I dress?" She asks. 

I sit up and stretch before answering. "A simple black dress or skirt and blouse should suffice."

"What time does it start?"

"Eleven am," I respond. I get up and enter the bathroom to relieve myself. I feel her eyes on me, but she doesn't say anything. 

"I will need to get ready quickly then, it's already nine." She states, turning on the shower. 

I turn to her and gently kiss her forehead. "Want some company?" I say, attempting to joke, but it's lost on her. She just nods her head. "It's okay, I was just joking. You get ready, I will come to get you fifteen minutes beforehand. Okay?"

She gives me a forced smile and nods her head. I leave her to get ready and walk off to my office. 

"Theo, Lars. Meet me in my office." I send out a mind-link.

Both of the men are at the door of my office before I am. I unlock it and head inside. They follow behind me, sitting in the two leather seats in front of my desk. 

I let out a long sigh as I sit in my chair, a thousand thoughts running through my head at once. "I don't know where to begin," I state. 

"Well, the funeral is planned and prepared for. The bodies are ready and Elder Jonathan has the ceremony written." Theo starts. 

"Norman Collens is in the cells. He is locked with silver chains like you asked. Are we to feed him?" Larson asks. 

I nod my head, barely listening to what the two of them say. "Yes, yes. Are the enemy bodies dealt with?"

"Yes. Jerry and his team burned them as you asked." Larson responds. "The Moon Prayer was recited."

"Good." 

I watch the two men share a look before their gaze lands on me again. "Is everything okay, brother?" Theo questions. 

"Yes, it's just this mate bond is getting to me. The walls I build aren't strong enough to block Skylar's emotions. My head is pounding." I confide. "Plus, she's different."

"Different?" The two men ask simultaneously. 

"Yes."

"Care to elaborate?" Larson says. 

"No, I don't care to elaborate." I snap. Larson lifts his hands in surrender. I let out another sigh, wiping my face with my hands as I lean back into my chair. 

"You know you can talk to us, Colton." Theo offers. I look over at him and see the concern in his eyes. He was always one to show his emotions on his face. 

"I don't know!" I huff. "She's different! She isn't fighting against me. She's submissive. I should like it, but I don't. I don't know what the fuck's wrong with me." I slam my fist on my desk, cracking it in the process. 

"You've broken her," Larson states easily.

"What did you expect to happen?" Theo adds. 

"Did you think she would be the same person after everything?" Larson continues.

"Yes - no. I don't fucken know." I answer. "I don't care either."

"You do care, Colton. Or else this wouldn't bother you." Theo countered. "Come on. She's your mate. You have to have some kind of care for her. It's what the bond does." 

"No it doesn't and no I don't." I stand up from my seat. "I have to get ready." 

I leave the two of them in my office, rushing past them and up the stairs to my room. When I enter, Skylar is sitting on the bed in a simple, black dress with a black blazer. She looks at me, that same emptiness in her eyes.