Chapter 4

Charlotte…

I ran all the way back to my cabin without looking behind me even once. Branches scraped against my skin as I pushed through the forest and the rain kept pouring from the sky in heavy sheets, soaking me completely but I didn’t stop.

I could still feel him maybe because of the mate bond and the pull between us but it was weaker now than it had been when he stood in front of me near the waterfall but it hadn’t disappeared which meant only one thing he knew where I was.

My breathing came out uneven and shaky by the time I reached my cabin. I shoved the door open and slammed it shut behind me harder than necessary before leaning against it trying to catch my breath silence filled the small space.

The only sound was the rain beating against the roof overhead I looked down and immediately realized I was naked after shifting back and heat rushed into my face I quickly pulled on an old pair of shorts and a loose shirt before climbing onto my bed pulling my knees closer to my chest and then I waited because deep down somewhere beneath the fear and panic twisting inside me, I already knew he would come.

Mates always found each other and powerful Alphas especially weren’t known for letting things go my stomach tightened painfully I knew exactly why he was coming.

Rejection.

Why else would an Alpha seek out an Omega mate? Wrapping my arms around my knees I stared at the door while my thoughts spiraled further with every passing minute maybe he already hated me or maybe finding out I was an Omega embarrassed him or maybe he thought the Moon Goddess had made a mistake.

Aurora sighed softly inside my mind. "Charlotte, calm down."

A bitter laugh almost escaped me. "How?" I whispered my eyes burned with fresh tears and I hated myself for crying this much tonight. "I know what’s coming."

Aurora stayed quiet because maybe she knew too then suddenly my entire body froze.

His scent it wrapped around me before I even heard movement outside and Aurora immediately purred.

"He’s here."

Fear shot through me so fast it stole my breath my heartbeat became louder with every second that passed and then the cabin door opened. I snapped my head up immediately and there he was Alpha Damon filled the doorway completely his dark hair was damp from the rain strands falling across his forehead while his gray eyes glowed faintly as they locked onto mine.

I swallowed hard. Why did he have to look at me like that? Like he was trying to understand me or maybe destroy me and honestly I couldn’t tell.

“What…” My throat felt dry, forcing me to clear it nervously. “What are you doing here?”

My voice sounded smaller than I wanted almost weak and I hated that.

He didn’t answer he simply stood there staring at me the silence unsettled me more than shouting ever could and I looked away first because his eyes did strange things to me things I didn’t understand.

“I asked you a question, Alpha,” I tried again quietly.

His lips twitched slightly almost like a smirk then he started walking toward me and my body reacted before my mind had the chance and I stood up too quickly every instinct inside me screamed danger.

He kept coming and I stepped back. He took another step and I moved back again the cabin suddenly felt too small. “One thing you need to understand,” he finally said, his voice low and dangerous, “when I take you back with me…”

My brows furrowed immediately. Take me back? I didn’t even have time to process the words one second I stood near my bed and the next my back slammed against the wall a gasp escaped me and his hand wrapped tightly around my arm while his body boxed me in completely and fear exploded inside my chest.

“No one talks to me like that without a death wish,” he growled his eyes flashed.

Pressure built around my wrist and pain shot through me instantly a small whimper escaped before I could stop it I hated that sound and I hated sounding weak my breathing turned uneven as his earlier words finally registered.

Take me back. He didn't reject me. Take me back.

Confusion replaced fear for one brief moment and I looked up at him. “What do you mean take me back?” I asked softly.

His jaw tightened. “I know Omegas are supposed to be stupid but I didn’t realize they were deaf too.”

His grip tightened and pain rushed through my arm and I heard something crack softly as I bit the inside of my cheek.

No I wouldn’t cry because years of beatings had taught me one thing never let them enjoy your pain he must’ve expected begging with tears and fear but instead I forced myself to hold his gaze even though my entire body trembled. “Then why don’t you reject me?” I asked.

His expression shifted but only for a second and something unreadable crossed his face before disappearing again.

Silence settled between us his gray eyes searched mine in a way I couldn’t understand then slowly his lips curled into something almost cruel he released my arm only to place both hands against the wall beside my head trapping me completely between him and the wood.

I stopped breathing as his face moved closer I could feel the warmth of his breath near my ear. “Why would I reject you?” he whispered.

A shiver ran down my spine not because I liked it because something in his voice sounded dangerous and his next words made my stomach drop. “Does the Moon Goddess think giving me an Omega mate is some kind of joke?”

My chest tightened painfully there it is, I thought the disgust. I lowered my gaze to the floor and waited because rejection had to come next it always did but instead he laughed softly more cold and cruel. “Let’s see who the joke ends up being on.” Then he stepped away leaving me confused and terrified and somehow even more afraid than before.

Damon

I came to Moon Night Pack because of dreams for months I had been seeing flashes whenever I slept there were blood, red eyes, a woman crying and a voice repeating the same words over and over.

Find her.

At first I ignored it but then the dreams became worse and more frequent making it harder to dismiss and eventually I contacted Alpha Darwin.

I told myself this visit was business and nothing more but the moment I stepped inside this pack I knew something wasn’t right the Alpha lacked control and the Luna watched everything too carefully the pack members lowered their heads too much.

Fear lived here and you learned to recognize those things quickly when you led wolves. I was already irritated before meeting my mate I would’ve rather stayed home with Andrea warming my bed than sit through another fake dinner with weak leaders pretending to be strong but then I smelled her.

Vanilla.

It wasn't perfume it was natural and soft my wolf went completely silent first but then he growled a single word.

Mate.

I opened the door and there she stood soaked from the rain curly dark hair clinging to her face, blue eyes and flowers in her hands. She looked fragile not weak there was a difference. Her kind of fragile looked like something shaped by surviving too much.

My wolf immediately pushed forward wanting closer but I stayed still watching and then everything changed.

“My apologies, Alpha Damon,” Alpha Darwin said. “This Omega always causes trouble.”

Omega.

The word hit harder than expected I watched fear flood her eyes instantly it wasn't embarrassment but fear real fear the kind prey carried and then she ran and for some reason I followed at first I told myself it was because mates belonged with their Alpha but watching her later in the woods and watching her shift for what looked like the first time and seeing that red wolf I realized something.

Nothing about Charlotte made sense and I hated things I couldn’t understand especially when they belonged to me so when she ran again I followed her to that pathetic cabin hidden deep in the forest the place looked ready to collapse and unexpected anger stirred inside me not because she lived there because someone had allowed it then I saw her sitting on the bed looking terrified before I had even spoken and something twisted unpleasantly inside my chest.

A feeling I ignored immediately fear was normal for Omegas. Wasn’t it?

Then she questioned me and asked why I was there and my irritation returned instantly no one questioned me not in my pack and not anywhere and when I pinned her against the wall and heard her bones crack and something strange happened her expression barely changed.

She didn't beg or scream there was only silence like pain was familiar and that bothered me more than it should have but then she asked me: "Why don’t you reject me?" She sounded tired as though she had already accepted abandonment long before I arrived and for the first time in years I didn’t know what to say.

So I chose cruelty instead because cruelty was easier than confusion and confusion was exactly what Charlotte was becoming.