Chapter 13

Robert Montgomery

The look of shock and guilt on Charlotte's face confirms my suspicion.

Beruth Sanguinite may have erased Charlotte from his clan's history, but he couldn't erase her from the memories of the people who once knew her. Harry, as my assistant, was tasked with looking up Charlotte's past. He couldn't find anything at first, but talking to a few vampires with whom the pack is still on somewhat decent terms revealed a lot.

Charlotte Beaumont was once Charlotte Sanguinite, the oldest daughter of one of the most notorious vampire clan leaders. When Harry brought me that information this evening, I felt a variety of emotions: shock, betrayal, hurt, and anger.

It was hard to reconcile the gentle Charlotte with the greedy, ambitious, and cold-blooded man who was responsible for so much death and destruction of wolf shifters. When I arrived at the cafe to confront her, knowing she's usually closing up at that hour, I didn't expect to smell her blood or hear the death rattle in her gasps.

I didn't expect to see Beruth Sanguinite's youngest daughter, Arabella, on top of a limp Charlotte, strangling her, clawing her face.

And Charlotte, my Charlotte, was just letting her at that point. She wasn't fighting back, and my blood went cold.

And my wolf lost control.

I would have killed that female vampire in a heartbeat. I never expected Charlotte to ask me not to.

As I held the unconscious Charlotte in my arms, I knew she wouldn't tell me the whole truth. She would dance around it for whatever reason. So, I did the only thing I could think of.

I checked the security footage.

Not many places have audio security as well as video, but this cafe does, and it gave me an insight into Charlotte's relationship with her family. More than that, it showed me the desire of a sister to reconnect, only to be brutally shunned.

And as Charlotte looks at me now, humiliation in her eyes, it breaks my heart. She looks so small in this moment, so young and devastated.

"Why didn't you tell me?" My eyes take in the three deep scratches on her cheek, and my anger ignites again.

"I knew you'd never let me stay here in Portland," she whispers, pulling her face away from my touch.

My eyes narrow, and I grab her by her uninjured chin, forcing her to look at me. "You could have tried trusting me."

She holds my gaze, and there is an emptiness in her eyes that I hate. "I don't trust anyone, Robert. It takes one second for a trust to be broken. You wanted to kick me out, right? When you first met me? You wanted to take my home away from me. You wanted to rip away the life I had built for myself, simply because I was a vampire. The only reason you let me stay was because I was weak and useless, and somewhat amusing to you. I was a source of entertainment, someone to warm your bed."

The suppressed self-loathing in her voice as she laughs bitterly makes my heart twist in my chest.

"You don't have to pretend otherwise. I know what I am."

Useless. Worthless. Why haven't you killed yourself yet?

Arabella Sanguinite's words swim into my mind.

Does Charlotte believe them? Has she let her sister convince her of her lack of worth? Is that why she believes that my desire to be with her isn't real?

I know what I am.

"And what are you?" I find myself asking.

She tries to move her shoulder in a shrug and grimaces in pain. "I don't—What does it matter, Robert? You know the truth now, and Arabella knows where I am. She knows I'm alive. It won't be long till she finds out where I live and decides to finish the job. I'll…" She looks away from me. "You'll get what you want. I'll be out of your hair by tomorrow."

Out of my hair? Is she leaving?

"And just where do you plan to go?" I ask softly, touching a strand of her hair that is coated in her blood. My wolf is pacing furiously inside me.

She doesn't seem to hear the dangerous edge to my tone as she twists her fingers together. "I have savings. I'll find a job. I'll leave Portland. I have Mano, and we'll find another place to live. Homes are what you build yourself, right? Mano and I, as long as we're together…"

She's rambling now, not realizing that tears are streaming down her face. When I touch her hands, they're icy cold, and she's shivering.

"Charlotte," I cut her off abruptly. "Stop talking."

She shuts up immediately, but her shaking increases.

Taking off my jacket, I wrap it securely around her before saying firmly, "You're not going anywhere. I'm not kicking you out. And nor will you let the fear of your sister drive you away from your home. Do you understand me?"

She's staring at me blankly. "I have to go. You don't know Arabella."

"Arabella does not know me." I rub her hands in mine, trying to warm them. "You will be safe. I'll make sure of it. You and Mano will both be safe."

Her lower lip trembles. "When she was—When I couldn't breathe, I kept thinking about what would happen to Mano. Who would look after her? She's my baby, and she'd be all alone…"

"No, she wouldn't have been," I reassure her, watching new tears spill from her eyes. "I would have taken her in."

"Really?"

She's a little delirious now, most likely from the pain she's in, but I have no problem indulging Charlotte. She's had a terrifying experience, and she has a concussion, on top of that.

I kiss her hands. "Of course. I'm not going to let anything happen to your cat."

This time, Charlotte starts to sob, and I feel helpless watching her break, knowing she needs some outlet for the emotions pent up inside her. I wrap my arms around her, kissing the top of her head and holding her close.

She doesn't say a word, just breaks down in my arms.

The sight of her tears enrages me.

Seeing Charlotte collapse like this, believing the cruel words her own sister spewed at her, makes me wish I hadn't listened to her earlier. I should have torn that vindictive, bitter creature to shreds. How dare she touch what's mine?!

My grip on the woman in my arms tightens.

This is merely a breakdown. She's overwhelmed. She's had a horrifying experience.

I know Charlotte is strong. This is just a moment of weakness; I'll shield her from the world and let her gather herself till she feels whole again.

******

Healing is not an easy process. When your insides repair so quickly, it puts a ton of stress on the body and mind, so I'm not surprised to see Charlotte passed out again. I lay her down on the couch and study the wounds on her face. They will take a long time to heal, and given the fact that she doesn't have the same abilities as other vampires, I don't know if they will scar or not. Her palm still bears evidence of the knife wound she accidentally gave herself the day we met.

A knock on the door has me glancing up.

To my surprise, it's Adam Moore.

"Adam." I feel my protective instincts buzzing and immediately step in front of Charlotte.

My friend tucks his hands in his pockets. "Don't bother. I already know what she is. Could smell her a mile off."

He's exaggerating, but it does worry me. It is better for Charlotte to blend in with the humans completely, and the only way to do that is to hide her scent.

Adam steps forward. "So, this is the woman you've been pining over. Cynthia said you were upset, and I came by to check on you. A vampire, Robert? Are you serious?"

"It's not as simple as all that."

"It most likely isn't," my friend says calmly. "But surely you have an explanation as to why you're involving yourself with a bloodsucker when you know we're at war with them."

"Let's talk in the other room." I don't want him around Charlotte. He feels like a threat right now, and my wolf isn't responding well to that. It wants to attack.

Fortunately, Adam doesn't argue with me. I close the door behind us, and we head to the front of the cafe.

All the damage has been repaired. The team of experts I always have on call is wrapping up, and they nod at me as they leave. Once they're gone, I turn to face Adam. "Alright. What do you want to know?"

"I want to know what the hell you're doing with a bloodsucker." Adam doesn't lose his head, keeping his voice steady. That's one of his best qualities: his unyielding patience. It's what makes him such a good Alpha.

"She has no clan," I begin, but Adam shakes his head.

"Doesn't change what she is—"

"Adam…" I study my long-time friend and decide to tell him the truth. "My wolf wants her."

The Alpha before me goes very still. "What does that mean?"

"You have a mate. You tell me." I cross my arms over my chest.

Adam can't seem to get any words out for a few seconds.

"She's a vampire, Robert. Your wolf has no business being interested in something like her."

"But it is." I glance out the window at the dark night. "I slept with her. My wolf gave her the mating mark without my consent, but I can't feel the bond. It's desperately trying to claim her. I tried to stay away; I managed ten days before I cracked. I thought I would go insane."

Adam looks shocked at my admission. "From what you're describing, it sounds like a fated bond between wolf shifters. But that can't be possible."

"I know," I say grimly. "It doesn't make sense. But when I tried to move on, my wolf retaliated. I've never lost control of it before."

"I have," Adam says slowly. "When I met Cynthia. It was my wolf who forced me to give her the mating mark that same night. But my human side didn't exactly put up much of an argument. Your situation is vastly different, though. Charlotte is the enemy."

My wolf bristles.

"Her clan shunned her because she doesn't have the same abilities as a vampire. She's weak. Very weak, Adam. She's not a threat to anyone. But she's important to me. I won't walk away from her."

My friend watches me, his expression tense. "What do you know about her past, Robert? How do you know she's not a spy?"

"I've done sufficient background checks on her. She's not the enemy. I won't offer any more information on her past. I know which clan she belonged to; I'm aware of her relationship with those people. Her own family tried to kill her tonight. Suffice to say, she is not a danger to us. And one more thing," I say, holding Adam's gaze. "I will protect Charlotte with my life. She's mine. An attack on her will be considered an attack on me."

Adam narrows his eyes at me. "Should I take that as a warning?"

My lips curve humorlessly. "In our world, Charlotte is as weak as a human. Perhaps even weaker. I forced my way into her life. And I plan to stay. She's mine now."

My friend looks at me thoughtfully. "You've got it quite bad, don't you?"

When I don't bother answering him, he sighs. "I trust you, Robert. And I trust your judgment. Your girl has nothing to fear from me or my pack. Besides, Cynthia was pretty worried about you, so she's going to be relieved things have worked out. However, I would advise you not to let your guard down too quickly."

I nod. He's not wrong. I cannot let myself make every decision with my heart. I will still have to be vigilant.

"What about your pack?" Adam suddenly asks. "You know they're never going to accept a vampire as your mate."

"I haven't thought that far ahead," I admit, sighing. "But Charlotte is the first good thing to happen to me." I meet my friend's gaze. "When the time comes, I don't know what decision I'll make."

Adam puts his hand on my shoulder. "I have a feeling you do. But whatever it is, you have my unwavering support. You're my brother. If not in blood, then by our long friendship. I have your back, Robert. I just hope you know what you're doing."

As he leaves, just a bit later, I find my jaw hardening.

If I keep thinking and pondering, I won't get anywhere. I can't deny my wolf when it's treating Charlotte as its mate. And my human side is no less besotted with her. Around her, I feel young and alive. The apathy that has become second nature to me fades away when I see her.

All my life, I've played second fiddle. Even though I was born as the Alpha-heir, I was still unwanted, torn from my mother's arms and thrown into a viper's den where everyone wanted me dead. If it hadn't been for my grandfather, who protected me at my most vulnerable time, I might not be alive right now. But there was no love in his heart for me. He made sure I survived, but that was it.

Children react to trauma in different ways. I remember being confused as a boy about why my siblings were showered with affection while I was punished for so much as drawing a breath. I realized pretty quickly that I was not wanted, and then survival became a daily routine. I also learned that if I played the fool, my family would underestimate me. My desire to become Alpha stemmed from rage and was fueled by the idea of humiliating my father. I was always a thorn in his side, especially since I was the apparent heir to the Alpha seat. He did everything he could think of to discourage me, down to letting my siblings pour liquid wolfsbane on my face and then locking me in a room to prevent a healer from seeing me.

And yet here I am.

But my wolf was permanently scarred from the childhood I experienced, and it refused to trust anyone, to open its heart to anyone. I forged bonds of friendship with Morris and Adam, both of them fighting to claim their rightful places in their packs. I built a vast network of resources, knowing that, physically deformed as I was, I would need everything I could amass.

But becoming the Alpha didn't give me the satisfaction I thought it would. It was still a lonely existence; my wolf was antisocial, aware that it was lacking. I looked at my friends as they found their mates, as they lost them due to their foolishness and then managed to win them back. A small part of me found their actions ridiculous. They didn't realize how lucky they were that their mates accepted them and loved them.

Nobody could love the beast I was. People respect me. They like me. But I was so sure that no woman would be able to see past my hideous appearance. Not till I met Charlotte.

Charlotte, who stirred the desires of my wolf.

What would have happened if I hadn't walked in on her sister trying to kill her? What if Arabella hadn't revealed the ugly truth about Charlotte's relationship with her family? Would I have confronted her? Would I have forced Charlotte to leave this place, burying my heart in the process? Or would I have listened to her reasons for not telling me the truth?

My mind is reeling as all these possibilities swim through my head. My situation is unique. If she were a wolf shifter, or even a human, I might be able to navigate the waters better. But Charlotte is the daughter of the enemy, the person responsible for all the carnage the shifter packs have been experiencing over the past ten years. The depravities of Beruth Sanguinite know no limits. He's even gone as far as using our people as ingredients in his drugs.

For me to be chasing his daughter borders on insanity. Perhaps that's why I have been keeping her origin a secret. It's been close to a decade since Charlotte was kicked out of her clan, around the same time that her father launched his plan and started distributing drugs in Morris's territory, drugs that affected shifters and made them lose control of themselves. Many died as a result, their wolves unable to cope with the loss of connection between the human and the animal.

However, I don't believe Charlotte knows much about her father's activities. I will ask her, nonetheless. I need honesty from her. Now is not the time to try to deceive me. Besides, she needs protection. From her own family.

I met Arabella once, a couple years back. A beautiful creature, but a serpent under that exterior. I found her vapid and shallow; there was a cruelty in her eyes that I've often seen reflected in the eyes of my own half-sister, Eve, who is now in prison.

Listening to the audio of the footage of the fight in the cafe made my blood boil. It was worse when Charlotte didn't argue back, almost as if she believed her sister's claim about her worth. And then to stop me from killing her attacker?

My claws dig into my palm as I curl my hand into a fist. Charlotte's heart is too soft for her own good. She was right: she's not somebody who could take a life. Her survival instincts, as honed as they are, have a limit.

And if that's the case, then someone needs to become her shield. She needs somebody in her life who will protect her from her own gentle nature. I just have to convince Charlotte that I'm the person best suited for that position.

******

I should have expected Charlotte to bounce back quickly.

Still, there is no way I will leave her alone while she has a concussion. Also, the wounds on her face need to be looked at. I suggest taking her to a hospital, but she refuses.

"Ricky can do it."

I've heard her mention her veterinarian friend before, but I feel uncomfortable with the idea as I drive her back to her apartment. Another idea I'm very much against at the moment.

"A doctor for humans is a better option than one who treats animals," I point out. "And you should come stay with me until your concussion is better. I'll be able to keep an eye on you that way."

She's clutching her bag to her chest, her expression strained. "I don't need looking after. And Ricky's also an MD. He's patched me up before."

"Before?" I give her a sharp look. "When have you needed stitches before?"

She tries to shrug, wincing at the movement. "Long time back. It was how I began volunteering at the shelter."

"I would still like to know."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like minding my own business and because poking my nose into yours is so much fun," I respond, watching the road now.

She sighs, as if too tired to argue. "I got jumped by some kids from another vampire clan. My kind don't exactly throw their own people out. They can, but it's so rarely done that when I was expelled from the clan, obviously the news leaked to other clans. The kids went to a private school near where I was working at the time, and one of them recognized me. Anyway, they thought it would be a good idea to have some fun with me. Ricky was passing by and saw the whole thing. He came to my rescue. I had a few nasty cuts on my arms, and it's not like I have insurance, so he offered to patch me up."

I stare straight ahead, not very happy with her nonchalant tone as she narrates the incident.

"Tell me, how many times are you attacked in a year?" I try to keep my tone light, but my hands are flexing around the steering wheel.

I feel Charlotte's eyes boring holes in the side of my head, and her voice is tight. "I'm not a damsel in distress or an empty-headed fool who seeks out danger, Robert."

"I didn't mean to imply—" I immediately begin, realizing how I must have sounded.

"It's not an annual event or anything," she snaps, turning her head away from me to stare out the window. "There's a reason why I stay away from shifters and vampires."

I press my lips together.

I don't know why I keep saying the wrong thing. Ever since she woke up, she's been tense and exhausted. In a way, she has shut down, not wanting to talk about what happened. I don't know if it's a defense mechanism or if she doesn't trust me. However, we will be having a talk, whether it's tonight or tomorrow. I know what I want. It's time she understands that, too.

When we reach her building, there's a man waiting in the lobby. Charlotte is about to walk toward him when I grab her arm, stopping her.

I recognize him.

He's the man she went off with the other day.

"What're you doing?" Charlotte frowns. "That's Ricky."

I stare at the man, perplexed.

Does Charlotte know that the vet she works for is not human?