Chapter Three

Wendy went through her morning routine as the world slowly began to light up outside of her window.

She styled her long brown hair into a french twist and smoothed a hand over her conservative black skirt and white blouse.

She glanced through herself in the mirror and was satisfied with what she see. She looked competent and boring. Wendy did everything in her power not to draw attention to herself.

Her phone chimed, signaling that it was time to leave for work. She grabbed her bag and gave the tiny house a quick glance before she walked out the door.

She had already sent Willow to her kindergarten. Waking up a little early to take care of her meals and dress her for her day. Right at 7am, Wendy walked few blocks to the bus stop just in time to see it pull up to the curb. She claimed the seat she always did and scanned the faces on the bus out of habit.

Wendy tried to shake off her unease as she entered the bank and greeted by her co-workers.

Just another day, she reassured herself.

Wendy put her things in the break room and began her daily routine of setting up her desk and documents.

It's just like any other day, she reassured herself.

Absence of Lenny despite it has onky been more than 10 hours made her felt restless and on edge, but a call from him later during her lunch break made her feel better.

She knew she had become attached to Lenny since they started dating 4 months ago. Lenny's easygoing personality was a balm to her introverted one and she couldn’t wait for him to come home.

Wendy left her office at the end of the day, walking briskly as the sun set. She reached the bus stop precisely on time and leapt up the steps with a nod to the driver.

Her normal seat was taken so she settled for an aisle seat in the back and tried to settle her nerves, which were taut now that night had fallen. Wendy should be home by now and she had already texted Layla she'll be there soon.

Wendy hopped off the bus and approached her fence. Standing at her porch, she glanced both ways.

Her area was unusually quiet and not even sounds of cricket fills the night. She begins to feel slightly nervouse and she didn’t know why.

As she unlocked her door and swiftly entered, she notice the house was dark. Slowly she set her keys and purse on the stand and immediatly switch on the living room light.

A sight on the single couch made her froze.

A huge figured man sat on it. His blue eyes stared at her with so much intensity. The scars on his cheek made him recognizable anywhere.

Her eyes lays at the hallway where a man was holding Layla's shoulder. Eyes widen and tears stained her cheek as she seem to be shivering with fear.

She raised her neck, trying to find out where Willow is and Layla lean her head to the left a little. Indicating Willow was inside the room.

She tried to take a step back but Jameson shook his head in warning. The small movement made the scream die in her throat. Wendy stared at the man in the brown shirt with an awful sense of doom clawing at her throat.

“Move and she dies, Charlotte."

Charlotte.

She hadn’t heard that name for six years. Panic grabbed her by the throat. Her past couldn’t be sitting in the apartment she had built for the past three years.

Jameson got up. His blue eyes glowing yellow and she can hear the subtle growl from his throat.

“ Leonard, was it? Hmm.. It’s a good thing your human boyfriend is away since I had orders to kill him,” he said calmly.

Her mouth opens in shock. Tears rolled down her cheek and she took an unsteady step forward. “Lenny has nothing to do with this.”

James grinned. " Lenny? How cute."

He cocked his head to the side. “You think not? Do you think I should leave alone the man who dares to get in between Gideon and his mate?"

“He is nothing to me,” she rasped. Anger tinged in her voice.

" You better be referring to that human, Luna. Hiding yourself, his daughter and made the human your lover is a very foolish decision."

Gideon withdrew a phone from his pocket. He swiped his finger over the screen and jerked his head at her. “We got her, Alpha. Your daughter is here too."

Nausea churned in her stomach as she watches James speak.

She felt defeated. All those years of thinking she was safe and untraceable, it was only a short lived dreams.

Her nightmare has caught up to her and that was it for her. Charlie watched with her heart in her throat.

" Please, James. Please don't do this." Teras once again escaping her eyelids.

" Don't take me to him. You were my friend, right?" Her voice was shaky. She couldn't help but shivering in her spot.

James keeps his gaze at her. " You know what he did to me? Do you know how he had forced himself on me? Every night without fail after killing my father? Please. Don't let me come back to him. I ... I can't... you'll kill me."

For a while, she thought she could find a way to make him feel for her. Be a little compassionate based on how they did have grown up together and very close to her and her brother. She wanted to believe there was still some love for her despite her being his cousin's mate.

Alas, it was only a dream.

He glare at her.

" Gideon wants to talk to you."

He held the phone towards her. Gideon looked back at her through the screen. Her heart beat so hard in her chest, she was afraid she might have a heart attack.

Gideon hadn’t changed.

He wore a deep V neck shirt that showed off his defined chest. He was otherworldly handsome with short length black hair and stunning green eyes. The same eyes she would see everytime she looks at her daughter. Gideon's intense gaze penetrates her soul.

" Finally... I found you."