@GeraldJoy Well... Cole was still struggling with the whole 'male mate' thing and was only missing Riley because they grew up best friends. I never planned for Cole to accept being Riley's mate.
Jake is a lone wolf and he's sweet and everything Cole isn't. But he's just wasn't everything Riley needed. Riley loves Jake as a best friend and in the mix of all hell breaking loose he latched on to Jake.
Riley of course loves Cole as a mate and best friend and I don't think that will every change, but since he's now mated to Milo and really/truly happy I believe his love for Milo is stronger, even though their not true mates.