Chapter 9

Ralph’s POV

As I drove back home I thought of the audacity of those girls to enter this county at this time. Moonlight County has a lot of groves and even a forest reserve and it’s because almost everyone that lives here is a wolf, we built this place to suit our needs and lifestyle as wolves.

It’s not that werewolves are a dangerous species but we’re a rogue pack, some of us can shift just to attack humans and won’t be arrested because you can’t arrest an animal when they attack you. That’s one advantage werewolves have against humans.

I pondered over their reason for coming and that was even more silly, “came to look for rich men?” I giggled, the revenge made more sense but I found that reason questionable.

It was her mother’s heart that got broken why was she so worked up over it? All of this didn’t make sense. So I decided to get some rest and go see Cory in the morning.

I had barely hit my pillow when Anne linked me,

“I heard you left your date all alone and went chasing some little girls, and they were humans too.”

I gasped, Melody! I was supposed to be on a date! She could have been in my bed by now. My goodness, I was going to bed alone and I didn’t even notice it.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Anne linked again.

“Tell her I’m sorry, those human girls were in the wrong place at that time of the night, I didn’t want them to know that we’re shifters so I sent them home very quickly.” I linked back.

“Where do you know them from?” She linked again.

“Nowhere.” I groggily replied.

“Careful Ralph, remember what happened to the last human you were with.”

She subtly warned me but how could I forget? It was always on my mind. That’s the reason I stayed away from humans, and I make sure my rogue pack also does the same. It’s always on my mind and now that she mentioned it she made me upset.

“Good night Anne,” I said and blocked her out of my mind.

Early the next day I went to Cory’s place to find him in the kitchen fixing his sink.

“Dad! It’s good you’re here! Can you help me do some heavy lifting? I bought some new furniture.”

“You don’t need to ask,” I replied. Wolves are ten times stronger so he loves to ask me for help and I love to help.

As I lifted the couch from the backyard into the house, I casually asked,

“So how are things between you and Charlotte?”

His face turned gloomy all of a sudden, “we broke up.” He mumbled.

“You left her?”

“Why is everyone assuming that I left? She dumped me. She says it’s wrong and blah blah blah. I really loved this woman.” He replied.

“She left? Are you sure about that?” I said, placing the couch about 5 feet away from the TV.

“Even my own dad doesn’t believe me, wow! You know I really liked Charlotte.” He told me.

But that didn’t make sense, if Charlotte was the one who called it quits why was her daughter upset? I always knew that girl was lying.

“But why did she say it’s wrong? Is it because her daughter is the same age as you?” I asked.

Cory stared at me as if I had said the most absurd thing ever.

“How did you know she had a daughter?” He asked.

“Because… I gave her 100 bucks last Monday.”

“And she told you she was Charlotte’s daughter?” Cory asked again, I could see the discomfort. I could see the beads of sweat forming on his eyebrows. Something truly went on between this trio and it was more than anyone was willing to say.

“What did Alison tell you?” Cory asked.

“She says that you broke her mother’s heart.”

Cory was surprised so much he raised his eyebrows, “She’s the reason that happened in the first place!” He blurted out angrily.

“What?” This was getting interesting.

“Did you cheat on mother, with daughter?”

“No! You know, Alison became my friend because I buy from her mother’s shop. She’s usually there on weekends. She thought I was attracted to her but it was her mother I wanted. When she found out I was with her mother she couldn’t accept it. It’s her fault this happened!” He bitterly replied.

“Oh! So both mother and daughter were fighting over my son?”

“They didn’t fight, but Alison was exhibiting signs of jealousy and unhealthy competition between her and her mother. Her mother sensed it and broke up with me. She didn’t want to fight with her daughter.”

Cory explained.

“So you and Alison didn’t like each other at one point?” I asked again for clarity.

“No! She’s not my type of girl at all, I never liked her and will never like her.”

He said it with so much disgust that I felt bad for Alison, she seems like a nice girl, she’s beautiful too. Why does Cory disdain her that much? No wonder she looked so broken about the breakup. She must think that it’s her fault. And maybe that’s why she was trying to find her own man so she wouldn’t poke her nose in her mother’s love life.

“Do you want Charlotte back?”

“Yes, but she seems to have moved on.”

“I can talk to her.”

“What? No! No! Please stay out of this Dad and Alison, never allow her anywhere near you. She’s a liar and a vindictive woman, stay away from her.” He sternly cautioned me.

“You’re sure you never hit on her at any point?”

“No, I never have and never will.”

I didn’t trust Cory, he must have done something to both mother and daughter but both he and Alison were lying about what happened so it left me with one person to ask - Charlotte herself.