14. Charlie

14

Charlie

The morning light streams through the eastern windows, illuminating the microscopic speckles of dust that dance in the air. They remind me of the bond that took place not two nights ago. I feel the growing light deep in my chest in his safety. This is a feeling I didn’t realize I’d missed.

My brother often made me feel safe, though this is different.

It’s more .

It’s like Jackson is a part of me, keeping me here safely tucked into his large frame. I wiggle my booty into his growing erection at my back.

“Shhh, little mate. Back to sleep,” his voice is groggy and makes me smile.

“Maybe someone shouldn’t stay up late, mmm,” I respond cheekily, remembering how he worked my body over last night after our little chat.

“I have no regrets. Now, sleep. I don’t want the day to start yet.”

I breathe deeply, and my mind starts thinking about what to do. “I think I’m going to the bakery today.”

He doesn’t miss a beat as he says, “Killian will be with you.”

I roll in his arms and sweep my fingertips through his shaggy brown hair, pushing it off his forehead.

“I don’t know Killian.”

He kisses my nose and says, “Don’t worry; you will. He is the pack Delta or will be when I announce it at the Pack dinner tonight.”

“Delta, huh?”

“Yes, I need a head of security, and with his military training and background, he is the perfect person to put in charge.”

“Sounds like he would be too busy to babysit me.”

“Mmm,” Jackson moans as my nails sweep through his hair. “No, he’s not, he has nothing to do since we don’t have an enforcer team setup.”

I shake my head and push to get out of bed. Jackson’s thick arm snakes around my soft belly and pulls me tighter to his chest. “Not so fast, little mate. I need a taste of you.”

“Jackson,” I squeal as I push into his pecs.

“Fine, I’ll settle for a kiss.”

Our lips meet, and I let out a soft moan; I could kiss him every day, and it would never be enough. My hand drags up his bearded jawline and into his hair. “Mate,” I whisper against his mouth.

“Say it again.”

“Mine. My mate.” I purr.

“Fuck Charlie, I thought you had to get out of bed.” He quickly flips our bodies, leaning heavily on his forearms as his erection pushes at my entrance. “Jackson, we need to go?—”

My words are cut off as he slides into me so deep that my head tilts back, and my chest pushes up. He doesn’t miss the opportunity to suck my nipple into his mouth.

“Charlie, my mate, my beautiful girl. I will never have enough of you. I want you to walk around today filled with me. Every male will know who you belong to.” Each word is punctuated by a deep thrust that has my sensitive body trembling.

My release is quick, and he follows right after. His body falls to the bed next to mine, and he sweeps my head up onto his chest. At the same time, his hand sweeps through my hair. “Thank you for making me feel safe,”I mumble.

For the first time in years, I finally feel like I might have a home. I have a future that is not haunted by my past and the security of a strong man to stand behind me. The shift in emotion has tears welling in my lashes.

I stumble on my following words as Jackson kisses my forehead, “I haven’t had a home in a long time and…” I suck in the trembling breath, “you’re starting to feel like home.”

‘Keep him,’ is a soft thought my wolf adds to the moment.

“There is no place I would rather be, Charlie” his warm breath ghosts my forehead with small kisses as he pulls my lips up to meet his. This kiss is soft and passionate—his thumb sweeps the tears away, which seem to be falling by themselves.

“Do you want to talk to me about what we talked about yesterday in the office?” He asks.

My body stiffens, I thought maybe I’d escaped this question. My fingers slip to my cuticles, quickly working at the abused skin. The need to escape pulses through me as I try to think of anything else to say.

“Or maybe you want to share about the dream you had?”

Once again, I’m feeling too exposed, naked in his arms. At the same time, he told me about his past, and his friends and I haven’t shared anything about mine. Steeling myself with a deep breath, I say, “The dream was about my brother, Ryan,” I swallow past the lump forming in my throat. “He and I were running through the woods,” I smile at that part of the memory, feeling free enough to run. “He had pulled me into the cold river and then told me I had to be careful and not let my guard down.” I pause again.

“A good brother always wants his sister to be safe.”

“He’s the best brother,” I say through a choked sob.

“So why did it turn into a nightmare?” He pushes.

I shake my head.

‘This is where we tell our mate the truth. How destroyed we are.’ My wolf says as if I’m not already drowning in sorrow.

‘I can’t,’ I cry out to her, ‘I can’t.’ I’m begging for the pain to stop the reality that is my life.

‘At least tell him about Ax,’ my wolf relents.

“Ax showed up…”

Jackson’s growl is unmistakable, and his claws extend as he hauls me tighter to his body.

I put my hand to his, “He, he, forced me to stand with him while two of his guys beat my brother. The closer I got to coming of age, the more those scenarios happened. Ax always sought me out. My brother stayed close to me, but he wasn’t always there. I should’ve guessed my dad had made some kind of arrangement with how attentive Ax was to my whereabouts.”

“That fucker has another thing coming,” Jackson says with a frustrated growl, “Where’s your brother now?” The question is so quiet and innocent that I don’t even realize the false truth I let slip out.

“He’s still in Umbra,” I say.

Jacksons hand sweeps over my brow, “Charlie?”

My tongue wets my lips as my throat closes. The feeling of breaking is under my skin as my brows pull together. I shake my head, the tears unleashing themselves down my cheeks. “Please, I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” I choke out.

Jackson pulls me closer to his chest, making soothing shushing sounds as his hand runs through my hair. The tears don’t stop as I think of how much I needed this—to feel safe and at home. I fall apart for all the memories I’ve lost with my brother and the memories I’ll never make with the first person to ever love me.

As my tears subside, Jackson’s soothing voice asks, “Now, mate, what’re you doing today? He taps his phone to see the time; it’s early. You can go to the bakery with Killian or stay here and prepare for the Pack run with Holly. She has an entire dinner she was working on with my mother. Or I thought maybe you wanted to shop for furniture for our room. Make it a little more us,” he pauses, and I join him in glancing around the room at the exposed deep oak-colored furniture that seems too heavy for this dark space.

Sniffling back the rest of my emotions, I’m grateful for the change in discussion. “You want me to look at furniture, for us?”

“Yes, Charlie. You’re my mate, my everything. You’ll make this Lodge your home as much as mine.”

“And your parents?” My voice is timid. They still stay in the master suite, where the Alpha should be.

“Let me handle them,” anger laces his voice.

“Okay, I’ll see what Holly has to do today! After I stop at the bakery.” I feel his knot slip free, followed by his cum that slides out onto my thighs. His hand lazily slips between us and pushes it back in.

“Mmmm, I love knowing you’re full of me.” He languidly pumps his fingers two more times, “Come, let’s get ready in the shower!”

“Jackson!” I squeal as he lifts me off the bed and carries me to his overly large shower.

As we walk into the kitchen, I’m tucked tightly into Jackson’s body. His soft kisses on my forehead have me smiling up at the man who’s stolen my heart. I’m so caught up in the adoration that I don’t realize we have an audience until I turn towards the room.

Everyone falls silent. Holly closes the fridge slowly, watching Jackson and me like a spooked deer. A man as tall and burly as Jackson stands against the counter on the opposite side, and I assume it must be Killian. He takes a bite of his apple; a mischievous grin fills his handsome face as he takes everyone in.

Holly makes an angry sound as she runs through the door on the far side of the kitchen.

“Holly, wait,” I shout. Jackson lets my hand go as I chase my best friend into the dining room. “Holly, wait,” I say more urgently as I catch her. Holly’s been my best friend for the last four years, and she shouldn’t have found out Jackson and I like this.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I mean, I kind of knew, but why?” Her anger seems to only make her look more tired.

“Well, it just happened when we went for that run together, and he chased us. That’s when we found out. I haven’t really left his room since.” I take my friend’s hands and pull her to sit at the table; she looks exhausted. “I wanted to tell you, but it’s so new, and we were figuring it out. I just brought a bag here yesterday.” My tone is gentle, and I tip my head to try to catch her eyes. “Do you want to have a girl’s night? We can eat ice cream and watch a show?”

Holly finally peeks up at me, “You’re really mates?”

I nod, probably too excitedly. “Yeah, we are.”

“Well, this is just fan-fucking-tastic,” her tone turning sour.

“What?”

“Everyone has a mate, and I’m still here, single, ready to mingle, Holly.”

“Killian was not bad on the eyes.”

“True, but he’s my brother’s best friend, and well…” She looks out the large French windows facing the backyard. The storm outside has made the sky a deep gray, and the rain is lightly falling.

“Well, what?”

“He’s not Will,” she whispers.

“Holly,” I try to contain my laughter. “You say you can’t date Killian because he is your brother’s best friend, but you would rather date your brother.”

“He’s adopted,” she pouts while pushing into my shoulder. “And stop laughing at me.”

“Okay, Okay. I’m sorry.” I hold up my hands, “But Holly, now that I’m mated to your brother, do you know what that means?”

She shakes her head, still watching the rain fall outside.

“We’re sisters!” Saying the words out loud feels like everything is coming together. I have a place. I have a purpose. These are my people, my family. They’re the ones I want, and I think they want me too.

“I always wanted a sister,” she smiles brightly while wrapping me in a big hug. The moment is long, and I love this new feeling of home. “Let’s do it, the girl’s night! Vampire Diaries?” She squeals.

“You know, it’s a little weird that you’re a werewolf obsessed with Vampires.”

She shrugs as she stands, “Damon has a vibe I like.”

I laugh, “It wouldn’t be because he’s a biker bad boy who wears a leather jacket and acts like another man I know, would it?”

“Shut up,” she pushes me playfully as we head back into the kitchen.

Holly and I are tucked into her large sofa in her room, watching Vampire Diaries. The entire Pack is out on a run.

My mind wanders back to the oath ceremony, I held my breath the entire time. It’s customary for the new Alpha to be presented to the Pack; anyone can challenge his seat at that time. If someone had asked to challenge Jackson, my wolf would’ve forced us to stand by our mate, the move would’ve told the Pack of our bond, and despite the security I’ve been feeling, I’m not ready to be Luna.

‘I’m not good enough.’

‘ Yet,’ my wolf adds .

The credits start to roll on the episode we’d been watching, and Holly turns to me, “So tell me, what’s it like? And keep it PG. It is my brother,” she cringes

“It was unreal. My brother told me a mate bond was like finding your home, your safe place, or your center.” I pause briefly, trying to control the emotions and tears that want to overtake me. “It’s so much more—he became my partner, friend, lover,” my wolf purrs at the last words.

“PG,” Holly squeals.

“Right. Well, it’s like I found a wolf that sees me. That is something I haven’t felt…” My words fall as a sense of nostalgia overtakes me. “Well, since my brother?—”

Holly shifts her body to look towards the large windows. A few of the wolves are already coming back. “That must be nice to be seen.”

“Holly?” My voice softens as I grab my friend’s hand. I can feel her sadness, like it calls to my own, though the shift of sadness to strength is welcoming. “You want to tell me about it?”

Her head shakes, “No, it’s fine. I think this sickness is getting to me. I seriously have struggled to eat this week. It’s getting worse, and I think that is just making me more emotional.”

“Hangry, is what you mean?” I purse my lips and hold in my chuckle. I hadn’t noticed, but her already petite frame looks more frail. “I can run down to the kitchen and get you something, ice cream?” I smile and tap my shoulder to hers.

“That does sound good. I think Keelie just ordered that chocolate flavor I love.”

I giggle and push out of our cozy nest of blankets and pillows, “You got it, I’ll be right back.”

Racing down the stairs and straight into the walk-in freezer. I feel like a secret agent as I slide back out with the giant tub in hand. The drawers seem all messed up as I search for the spoons. Finding the serving spoons first, I grab two and turn to head back up the stairs.

Keelie chooses that moment to walk into the kitchen and raises a brow at me. I shrug, “I’m taking this upstairs,” shifting the large tub in my arms the cold burning through my skin. ‘I should’ve wrapped it in a towel.’

“Charlie, that’s a three-gallon tub, you can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am.” I salute her with my serving spoons, trying to contain my giggle. This new feeling filling my chest has to be love; it feels right. Keelie laughs behind me as I run back upstairs.