31. Charlie

31

Charlie

The sweet, spicy smell of cinnamon fills the large kitchen, and I breathe it in deeply. The scent was one of the hardest things to get used to working in the bakery. For so long, I couldn’t stand it without thinking of the night of the Auction. The memories are easy to bring up. It’s like the trauma somehow found a loop in my brain where the lights and the sounds could be a soundtrack of my life over the last few years. I don’t feel that sense of dread in this kitchen surrounded by my Pack. I feel like I can breathe and know it’s okay.

“Hey, Charlie!” Reacher excitedly says while walking into the kitchen; I don’t flinch as his large body crowds behind me, headed to the fridge.The most significant change over the last few days is that I don’t seem afraid of everyone. I feel safe here.

One thing that has really helped is that Holly and I have been training with the guys. “Hey, Reach, can we go over a few more self-defense things later?” I ask. It’s been a few days since we worked out, and I want to get back at it.

“Sure, just check with Jackson.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s not in charge of what I do,” I grumble. Quickly, I pull supplies out to make the frosting for the sticky buns.

The deep, rolling laughter has me looking up at Reacher with a sneer. He pulls a few eggs from the fridge. “That may be true, but Jackson is the Alpha, and he’s your mate. I don’t feel like fighting him today.”

“Men,” I sigh. Just as Kyler comes sprinting into the kitchen with Clover hot on his heels, their high-pitched squeals cause nausea to roll through my body. My hands clench around the countertop as I lean over.

“Hey, hey, little wolves,” Reacher whispers. Both of them freeze and file over towards his large body as he crouches down. Then he says, “Go gather the other pups and meet me at the backdoor while I cook these eggs. We can all go out in ten minutes!”

Their squeals fill the kitchen once more, and it’s as if every sound is bouncing off every wall as I try to breathe through the urge to throw up.

“You good?” Reacher’s voice is quiet as he comes up next to me. I appreciate that he knows we’re expecting, and I’ve had the weirdest side effects.

“Yeah,” I rasp as I run my hands down my dress. I’m gonna make the frosting, and we can have these rolls outside in just a few minutes.”

“Sounds good.” I feel his eyes on me as he cracks an egg into the skillet.

“I’m really good,” I say quietly, filling my lungs with air as I put the ingredients in the mixer.

Reacher huffs, “You know I lost my family too,” he says quietly. “If you ever want to talk about it…” He lets his words fall off as he cracks another egg into his pan.

“Thanks,” I mumble, letting the mixer’s sound fill the kitchen.

My finger swipes at the fluffy frosting filling my large mixer, and I moan at the soft, slightly sour flavor. Just as the timer goes off, I pull the rolls out. I check out the back window, and Reacher and Wyatt are shuttling the pups down the back steps. I laugh because they look way out of their element.I call for all my friends who I know are just out in the dining room. Jackson follows them in, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Ready, mate?” He kisses my neck tenderly, and I nod happily.

Jackson, Holly, Will, and I press out of the Lodge. The back garden is filled with pups and parents. The sight of the Pack like this solidifies how much I needed this, needed them. I’ve never felt like I belonged until now, until him.

Jackson’s wolf growls through the bond, ‘ Perfect, little Luna.’

I roll my eyes at him and watch his eyes shift from the deep auburn of his wolf to his usual dark blue. The smirk that plays on his mouth has me stopping to steal a kiss.

Holly hides a big smile as she hurries beside me, linking her arm with mine. “I love you like this; hell, I love this big grumpy ass like this.” Her eyes flash back to her brother.

I smile,“I love him like this, too. I’m so happy I found him, or he found me. I’m happy to be here.” I mumble off the last bit.

Holly waves off my awkwardness, “How’s my niece or nephew? Have you shifted since you found out? We need to find out more about pregnancies. I should ask my mom what it was like.” Holly rambles on, and Jackson seems to tense behind me.

‘What’s the matter?’ I ask.

‘I’ll tell you later, little mate .’ He says just as Kyler runs up to me.

“Mrs. Charlie, you brought the Alpha,” Kyler waves timidly to Jackson.

“Should we get the bears to shift?” Jackson playfully responds, and Kyler’s eyes widen. “Do you mean we’re all going to shift? Like a Pack run?”

Jackson laughs, “Yeah, come on, little pup. Let’s go get Wyatt. I’ll show you how to take him down.”

Kyler bounces with excitement as he follows Jackson to the center of the garden. By this point, nearly all the puppies have surrounded Jackson, and the thought flashes through my mind: ‘ I want so many children.’ I rub a gentle hand over my belly, enjoying that we are already starting our family.

‘Tonight ,’ is Jackson’s response as he winks at me from across the yard.

“Charlie, darling, you look amazing,” Nan walks up to Holly and me just as I slide the rolls onto the table.I never attend any event like this, let alone organize them, so I’m sure her comment is coming out of a place of surprise that this was my idea. Granted, when I proposed this impromptu garden party, I thought it’d just be me and the pups, not the entire Pack. Yet I don’t feel the overwhelming sense to run.

“Hey Mama,” Holly greets Nan warmly.

“Darling,” Nan says, giving Holly a quick side hug while watching me with a motherly smile.

“Hey, Nan,” I feel the butterflies take flight in my stomach as I take the woman in. She wanted so desperately to help me when I first came here, and with how everything went with my mom—I just couldn’t let her in. I couldn’t trust her motherly advances; she was the main reason I moved out of the Lodge. Now, though, I want to tell her. I want to let her in. My eyes flash to Holly’s, and her brows fly to her forehead. She smiles in a supportive ‘tell her’ look.

“Nan, I should tell you, we’re expecting.” My tone is hushed to keep the old bitties from hearing across the yard.My hand instinctively pulls to my womb over the little life I’m growing.

Her hands fly up to her mouth in surprise, and tears fill her lashes. Then she does something I never expected. She pulls me into her body, and her hand wraps around the back of my head as she holds me close. Her voice is hushed and just next to my ear. “You’re becoming a beautiful Phoenix of a woman, Charlie. I’m so happy for you and Jackson. I love you with everything I have.”

Now, the tears are filling my eyes; I’ve never had a mom who felt this deeply and loved me this way. Every word she says destroys the last bit of pain of my past, holding me back.

“I love you too, Nan. I love this Pack. I love your son with all that I am.” I whisper back, my arms wrapping tightly around her.

A massive roar breaks our moment. I watch in awe as Wyatt shifts into a gigantic Kodiak bear with beautiful auburn brown fur. He stands on his back legs and lets out a low, menacing growl like I’ve never heard before. Then, he falls flat to the ground like a giant bear rug. A small, brave group of pups tentatively approach him, Jackson’s massive wolf behind them.

‘Shift,’ my wolf chants for the first time ever. I don’t hesitate to listen to her demands and let her take over.I’m not afraid that she’ll be violent or skittish. I trust her. I trust us.

My thick fur shakes out as I look back to Jackson, who has stopped to watch me. Without hesitation, I saunter up to my mate with more confidence than I ever thought possible and rub affectionately against his side.

‘I’ll never get over how gorgeous you are,’ his wolf purrs to us.

I feel everyone in the garden stop to take us both in. The afternoon sun is heating my fur as I realize this is the first time I’ve shifted with the Pack—with other shifters. I feel safe here.

Jackson lifts his massive head and lets out a deep howl. The tiny pups, unable to resist his call, howl too, and I allow myself this moment to howl along with my mate.

‘This is perfect,’ I say to Jackson.

‘You’re perfect. Let me show you how to take down a bear shifter.’ His eyes flit to Wyatt, and I swear I see the large bear smile.

The pain of losing Ryan doesn’t feel so overwhelming.For the first time in four years, I might survive a future without my brother.

“Good Charlie, now try the jab cross with a kick,” Reacher shouts as we work out in the yard. It’s been a few days since the Pack garden party turned brawl. I laugh because it seriously turned into a bear crawl with Reacher and Wyatt being attacked by tiny, vicious pups for what felt like hours.

“Focus, Mate.” I hear Jackson say from behind me.

I shake my head at the happy memory and try my combo again. We’ve been at this for hours, and I think my arms are about to fall off. “I can’t,” I finally say as my arms fall and my body collapses to the ground.

Jackson is next to me in a blink. A worried expression crosses his face. “Did you push too hard? Are you okay? The baby?”

I push at him, “I’m fine, you overprotective alpha.”

He lets out a growl. ‘I’ll be more than overprotective,’ he says in my mind as his arms sweep me off the ground.

“Jackson, we’ve talked about this,” I push at his chest through my laughter, and he pulls me tighter into his arms.

“Let me have this, Charlie; let’s get cleaned up,” he says.

I shake my head as he carries me up the Veranda, but he stops suddenly when we walk in the back doors, which have remained open with the nice weather.

“Jackson?” Our bond has a thrum of anxiety and anger as he slips me down his body and pushes me behind him.

“Jackson, what’s—” My words are cut off by a deep rumble from his chest.

“Alpha,” he growls.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise at his tone and posture. I try to peek around his large body, but he shifts so I’m entirely hidden behind him.

“Alpha, Jackson, she’s safe. I assure you,” the strange man says from the other side of the room.

“Jackson, what is happening? Let me around you, big oof.”

His hand snakes around my body and squeezes me tight against him. ‘ Little mate, please stay behind me. I need a minute. ’

I stopped fighting his actions, not understanding why he was acting like this. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust him. Trying to ease his anxiety I kiss his arm tenderly and wrap my arms around him. Allowing him to know I’m safe and protected.

“Charlie, Jackson, good you’re here. We need to sit down.” Nan’s voice is firm as she enters the dining room from the kitchen.

Jackson squeezes my body and slides to take my hand, allowing me to see the stranger across the room. He’s large, like a Viking; his hair hangs to his shoulders, and his beard is trimmed neatly. Doing little to cover his firm jaw. His ice-blue eyes catch mine as I trace a scar lacing the side of his face. He’s wearing basic leathers and furs and gives me a proud nod as a woman walks up next to him.

She’s beautiful. Her hair is a similar shade of dirty blonde wrapped in a long, thick braid. She’s wearing an oversized shirt that doesn’t match the man’s clothes. But as he wraps his arms around her and nuzzles into the top of her head, I realize she’s his. I give her a small wave as Jackson shifts forward, gesturing they go ahead of him toward his office.

My pointer nail begins to tear through the skin around my thumbnail as we all file into Jackson’s office. Nan holds the door open for us as we make our way in.Jackson sits in his oversized chair and pulls me into his lap. I quickly shift so I’m just resting on the arm of his chair and don’t look incompetent sitting in his lap.

The stranger breaks the silence, “I’m Bjorn. This is Kiara.” His eyes spark with a love that radiates through them as she looks up at him. He pulls her closer. “We are Alpha and Luna of the Glacier Falls pack. I need to thank you for saving her.”

Jackson gives a slight bow but holds his hand up. “The thanks go to my brother and his mate, who we’ll honor tomorrow night. We’re glad you could make this journey. We have rooms for you if you wish to stay in the house.”

“Thank you, but my men have already set up a camp in the front yard; Kiara will move out with me tonight now that I’m here,” he replies in a clipped tone.

“Good, wherever you are comfortable, you’re welcome.”

‘Jackson, please explain what is going on?’ I ask through our link as a large piece of skin pulls free from the stab of pain, somehow grounding me.

“This is my mate and future Luna, Charlie,” Jackson says, ignoring me as I wave timidly at the two strangers.Bjorn gives me a nod, and Kiara smiles at me.

“Okay,” Nan claps her hands. “Bjorn and Kiara, we’re preparing a feast for tomorrow night and hope you can join us. Your men are welcome as well. I know we are not gathering under the best circumstances. Still, we’re happy that you both could be reunited…after all that has happened.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Bjorn says, “Alpha, Luna.” He bows slightly and then leaves with Kiara.

The door shuts, and I leap from Jackson’s arms. “Talk, now. Alpha.”

Nan excuses herself, too, as I watch her leave. A fire courses through me as I take Jackson in. His body relaxes back into his chair, and he gestures for me to come back to his strong embrace.