Charlotte’s pov
I felt bad for not realizing how badly dad was really doing. I thought he was hanging in there, but Alpha Osiris was only here for thirty minutes before he realized dad needed more help. “You are not his parent. You were taking care of Eddie and Amelia, while handling most of your dad’s job. You can’t blame yourself,” Erica said comforting me. The coffee date with Chris was weird and uncomfortable. It wasn’t like he was doing anything wrong, it was me. I felt awkward and out of place. When Chris went in for a hug when we said goodbye I felt nothing. I didn’t expect fireworks, but I thought I would feel something. Chris was handsome, he was nice and smart. He complimented me on my new hair and he was interested in my life. “I don’t know if I would call it a compliment. He said you looked nice with short hair, but that luckily it would grow back.” Erica said annoyed. Clearly Erica wasn’t feeling Chris either. After lunchHope you still like Charlotte and Eros story. I'll go back to Osiris' pov soon.
Eros’ pov I’ve been keeping Charlotte away by being extra mean. I know it’s not fair to her, but when I spotted her on my first night here something happened to me. Something that made me want to avoid Charlotte. I wanted to explore the forest, I haven’t ran here since I was eighteen. So when the kids were asleep I shifted and ran. I smelled a familiar scent and Angelo followed it. It wasn’t until we were close to a lake that I realized the scent belonged to Charlotte. She smelled like magnolia flowers. I wasn’t trying to spy on her, but when I saw her swimming in the moonlight I couldn’t look away. She looked like an angel and I felt something I didn’t feel for years. I tried to move closer, but she heard me and I ran away. Ever since then I did everything I could to push those feelings down. To feel something, even the tiniest amount of affection or desire, felt like I was betraying Suyin. It was better if Charlotte thought I hated her. We bot
Osiris’ pov “I think Beta Eros likes Charlotte,” Lily said as we went to bed. “Isn’t that what young boys used to do? Tease girls they like?” I replied. Lily laughed “yeah, although it doesn’t work at all and teaches girls the wrong message. But I don’t think he is treating Charlotte this way to get her in bed. I think the opposite. He probably feels bad for liking her and is trying to push her away.” Lily is probably right. I hope for Charlotte’s sake it isn’t true or that Eros fixes his attitude. Charlotte deserves someone who treats her right. Someone who values what she says instead of ignoring her or fighting with her. I was tired. The drive to and back from the facility was long. Alpha Edward didn’t say much in the car, he took a nap half way through the car ride. Before coming to the Moon Stone pack I had researched some places. I knew Alpha Edward couldn’t just take a break from his tasks or family at his pack. He would need t
Charlotte’s pov After telling Eros about killing Gabriel I was so angry. His behavior during dinner confused me even more. He stuck up for me. He complimented me. At night I couldn’t sleep, replaying the night I killed Gabriel in my mind. I tried so hard to forget about that night. Hearing Gabriel say those things about Amelia, ripping his heart out. I didn’t regret it, but it wasn’t a pleasant memory. I always wondered what else Gabriel said before I lost my cool. “I heard him. I didn’t want to tell you before, you were trying so hard to forget.” Erica said sounding ashamed keeping things from me. As soon as Erica told me, I knew I had to tell Alpha Osiris and Lily. I would want to know if it was my child. The next day I had a meeting with Eros and Alpha Osiris and it was weird. Eros was so nice to me and I didn’t know what to do. I was so used to shouting at him, used to him getting annoyed with me. His behavior confused me, how cou
Eros’ pov Charlotte was right, no words would be enough for treating her badly. I would have to show her. This wasn’t because I liked Charlotte, “but you though” Angelo said. I ignored him. This wasn’t because I did or didn’t like Charlotte, this was because I was an ass to someone that was only trying to help. She was struggling with losing her mom, her mate and being a single mom, yet she stepped up and did most of Alpha Edward’s job for the last few months. And she had to do it while I was angry and shouting at her. “You really were an ass.” Angelo said. From now on I am going to try and make her life easier instead of harder. I started by having another talk with Mei. Instead of getting angry with her, I decided to tell her the truth. “I have been feeling really guilty since your mom died. Like it was my fault she died and I haven’t been doing enough to raise you kids. Instead of two parents you got half a dad. You helped me
Charlotte’s pov Eros had feelings for someone. Hearing that was painful, even though I had no right to feel this way. I had been on three dates with Chris now, so who was I to tell Eros anything about his life. Plus he just told me he wanted to be friends with me. Yesterday was the second, or third if you count getting coffee, date with Chris. He was nice, he said the right things, but yet I felt nothing. It’s not like I have that many options, but that shouldn’t mean I should settle for the first guy that is nice to me right? “No it doesn’t.” Erica chimed in. Besides, he might not like me anymore if he knew the truth about Gabriel. Or that I was lying and actually doing my dad’s job, not my mom’s. Ugh, it didn’t matter anyway. I had no feelings for Chris and yesterday proved that. We had dinner together and when he walked me home, he kissed me. It was a nice kiss, but I felt nothing. It felt like
Eros’ pov I was finished with work earlier than I expected, so I decided to pick Mei and Tao up from shopping. Maybe I could take all of them for dinner, continue the fun they hopefully were having. When I looked for them I spotted Mei and Tao first near the dressing room, but when Charlotte stepped out my mouth dropped. What a bombshell. I couldn’t imagine anyone looking better than she did at that moment. It was a good thing the kids were around, because I might have said something inappropriate otherwise. Instead I decided to mindlink her and let her know how good she looked. I don’t know if the kids did it on purpose, but Charlotte and I were seated together during dinner. When I grabbed the salt I purposefully touched Charlotte, wanting to know if the sparks were still there. She didn’t move back and we stayed like that for the entire dinner, until she was mindlinked by Chris. I just hoped she was meeting him to tell him
Charlotte’s pov After they all left I drove my car close to Chris’ house. He lived close to the forest on the other side of the pack. The restaurant we ate at was closer to his house anyway and I felt bad for forgetting the time. This way he wouldn’t have to drive back after I told him how I felt. I wasn’t used to that area. I was eighteen when I left to live with Gabriel, so the only times that I had explored the woods was when I came back here. I liked going to the lake and being close to the packhouse. It felt familiar and safe. I parked my car near Chris’ house and rang the doorbell. Chris come running to the door, with a big smile on his face and gave me a hug. “I am so happy you asked me to meet up after all. When I came to your office I was worried something was wrong.” I smiled back, not saying anything. Not wanting to tell him the truth immediately. We walked together to the forest and I apologized. “I
Lily’s pov Eros called Osiris, telling us Charlotte had been hurt. Emma had wanted to go out there anyway, to see how Eddie and Charlotte were doing without dad. She left right away, Jara would come a few days later, she needed to finish some work here. “Charlotte can’t seem to catch a break,” I told Osiris. “At least she is safe. It could have been much worse if they didn’t find her in time. I really hope Eros gives that Chris guy a beating for leaving her alone this close to the border.” Osiris sounded really angry. He and Charlotte had gotten closer on our trip there. I knew she meant a lot to him. I was upset too, but I mostly worried instead of angry. I just needed Charlotte to be okay. We had lost too much. She had lost too much. “Did Eros say anything else?” I asked. “No, but he sounded really concerned. Maybe you were right about him liking her. She is still sleeping, but healing well according to the doctor.”