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Charlotte's POV
Today is my eighteenth birthday, and I'm super excited to celebrate it with Michaelson Logan Argent, my mate and the Alpha of our pack. Our love story began in childhood, and now we have both grown into adults.
I remember those days when Michaelson first took an interest in me. He had quickly taken me to an oak tree by the fast flowing river, where he carved out our names, and sealed it in the shape of love.
He also did everything he could to outshine the other boys, who had also fallen for my charms. I accepted him at first because of his handsome looks, and the vigour he displayed during every training session.
However, as time passed, I realised that our love was more than what met the eye, and that we were destined to be mates.
Unlike every other girl in the pack, who wanted a grand birthday celebration, I wanted to spend mine alone with my lover in a romantic way. I decided to go to his place so we could spend some quality time together.
When I arrived, he wasn't home, so the only option I had was to wait for him.
Luckily, I had one of the spare keys to his mansion.
Otherwise, my feet would have grown sore from standing outside for so long. As soon as I walked inside, I found the house in a complete mess.
The couch cushions were scattered across the floor, while dirt and debris were spread throughout the living room.
“Boys will always be boys”, I muttered with a disappointed sigh.
Without hesitation, I dropped my bag, picked up an angled broom, and swept the floor.
Afterwards, I tidied everything that was out of place and arranged the room neatly. The whole house had to be comfortable enough for us to enjoy our time together in warm intimacy.
To celebrate a birthday, you need a cake, delicious food, and all the little extras, so it was up to me to get everything ready. I walked into the kitchen, put on an apron, and started baking a cake, while preparing dinner.
By the time I was done, dusk had already settled in, so I went to take a shower. I wanted to look my best for Michaelson, so I slipped into one of the skimpy dresses he had bought for me.
Standing in front of the vanity mirror, I admired the beautiful, alluring woman staring back at me. I didn't need anyone to tell me that I looked exceptionally gorgeous tonight.
"Now that's one hot girl," I murmured with a flirtatious smile, gently biting my lower lip after applying blush to my cheeks.
A moment later, I set the dining table. I carefully served dinner and placed the small birthday cake in the center of the table.
Outside, the full moon hung in the cloudless sky, bathing everything in its soft, ethereal glow. Too bad I couldn't shift because I didn't have a wolf. Most of the werewolves in the pack had probably shifted already, enjoying a run beneath the cool night sky.
Maybe Michael had gone hunting in the woods with his Beta, Corey, like he usually did. Still, I couldn't help but think it was inconsiderate of him.
Today was supposed to be one of the most special days of my life, yet he had chosen hunting over spending it with me. I guess I had no choice but to wait for him.
As the minutes turned into hours, Michael still didn't come home. The food was growing cold, and the cake was beginning to get dry and crumbly.
Every few minutes, I glanced at the clock, then looked out the window, shifting restlessly from one spot on the couch to another as I waited for his arrival.
Finally, as the clock struck nine, I heard laughter and giggles coming from outside. I quickly jumped off the couch and was about to look through the window, when Michael walked into the living room with a yellow-eyed woman by his side.
"Oh, thank goodness. We're finally home, darling," the woman sighed before shooting me a look of disgust. "And who might you be?" she asked with a scowl.
"And who are you to ask me that?" I shot back, jealousy creeping into my heart.
"Uh, that's Lydia," Michael answered before she could even speak. "She's my mate and the new Luna of the Winter Moon Pack."
Gosh. I hadn't even asked him the question, yet he spoke for her. Judging by the seriousness in his voice, I could tell he meant every word.
"Wait... wait a second. I must've heard you wrong. Did you just say she's your mate and the future Luna of this pack? What about us?" I asked, completely stunned.
Michael smirked.
"Charlotte, if you're done with the drama, go get your things and leave my house. While you're doing that, Lydia and I are going to spend some time together," he said coldly.
Frozen in shock, I watched as Michael swept Lydia into his arms and carried her upstairs. I sat in my room, overwhelmed with despair, while loud moans and the sound of furniture crashing echoed through the house. They've got to be having sex.
Every sound that drifted from the room pierced my heart. I pressed my palms against my ears as hot tears streamed down my burning cheeks. He was upstairs enjoying himself with that omega, while I was down here slowly dying of heartbreak.
No. I wasn't going to sit here and let them do this to me. I had to confront him.
Summoning every ounce of rage within me, I stormed out of my room and barged into theirs. Although it was what I least expected to see, the sight before me still made my stomach turn in disgust.
Charlotte's POV By the time we arrived at Johansson's estate, the sun had begun sinking into the dark horizon. The mansion stood behind enormous wrought-iron gates, surrounded by well-trimmed gardens and tall ornamental trees. The sprawling estate looked more like a private resort than an ordinary family home.The building itself combined classical architecture with modern luxury, featuring cream-colored stone walls, enormous windows, tall columns, and several balconies overlooking the gardens.The instant the car stopped, Melissa practically jumped out of the back seat. Beside their stunning house stood her parents, who were already waiting in open arms."Mom!" Melissa ran toward her mother.Rebecca immediately opened her arms."My little flower!" she purred, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace.Patrick Johansson stood beside them with a proud smile before pulling Melissa into another warm hug."Look at you," he said affectionately, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
Charlotte's POVThe moment I stepped into the arrivals terminal at Asheville Regional Airport, I was surrounded by the familiar mix of rolling suitcases, overhead announcements, and the low murmur of travelers coming and going through the hall.Cautiously, I scanned the crowded arrival hall until I spotted a familiar brunette, standing beside several large suitcases near the baggage claim area.Melissa.She held her phone in one hand, while impatiently glancing between the digital flight board and the passengers emerging from the arrivals corridor.The instant her eyes landed on me, her entire face lit up with elation."Charlotte!" she squealed, dropping her phone onto one of her suitcases before rushing toward me.I barely had time to open my arms before she wrapped them around me in a crushing bear hug."You're finally here!" she exclaimed, squeezing me so tightly that my ribs almost protested.A tired smile tugged at my lips."Easy, Mel."I hugged her back, though my energy was now
Charlotte's POV For a brief moment, I simply stared at Dalton, wondering where this conversation was going. He had dragged me all the way here claiming he needed to explain himself, yet every answer he gave seemed to raise even more nerve-racking questions.What exactly was he trying to tell me?I raised an eyebrow suspiciously."What does that mean?""It's a contract," he stated, his tone bearing a serious edge."Of course it is." I sneered, taking his words as a joke."I'm serious," he insisted firmly.Then he lowered his voice to a hushed tone."The marriage was arranged for business reasons. Her family needed something from mine, and my company needed access to their resources.""So you married her for money?" I exclaimed, shock written all over my face."Not exactly." Dalton shrugged casually."You just described exactly that," I argued.His jaw clenched, and his gaze hardened like cold marble stone."Things were complicated.""Everything seems complicated when you're trying to
Charlotte's POV Standing in the kitchen, I prepared to make chicken fajitas for lunch. I sliced the chicken breast into thin strips, seasoned it with chili powder, cumin, garlic, salt, and a squeeze of lime, then set it aside.Next, I turned on my ThermaSense Smart Induction Hob and placed a large skillet on its smooth black surface. Once the automatic display indicated that the pan had reached the right temperature, I drizzled in some olive oil and added the chicken.While it was cooking, I turned to the vegetables. I grabbed a red bell pepper, a green bell pepper, and some shallot onion and began slicing them into smaller pieces.Just then, my phone pinged.Again.It had been going off nonstop since morning, ever since I'd run into my ex-boyfriend, Dalton Hunter, at the grocery store.At first, I ignored it.Then I turned on Do Not Disturb.But curiosity eventually got the better of me. Why had Dalton been texting me so persistently?Deactivating the setting, I watched as my screen
Charlotte's POV The moment Melissa had mentioned throwing me a party, I almost choked at my breath. She seriously wanted to throw a party? For me?The idea felt strange. After everything that had happened recently, celebrating wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind. I had spent the past few days dealing with an illegal pharmaceutical company, an assassination attempt, and a six-year-old boy who had somehow managed to worm his way into my thoughts.I wasn't even sure I deserved a celebration.But knowing Melissa, she probably wouldn't take no for an answer. She had always been like that—stubborn, overly enthusiastic, and completely incapable of letting me wallow in my own thoughts.A small smile crept across my face.As ridiculous as her idea sounded, a part of me couldn't deny that it was nice having someone who cared enough to make a fuss over me. However, I still declined her offer."No Melissa. I don't need a party" I said, trying to dissuade her."What's wrong with spoiling my
Charlotte's POV Sunday mornings have always been my favorite day. The reasons were there: no deadlines, no frantic phone calls from editors, no rushing through breakfast while mentally preparing questions for an interrogation. Just me, the road, and several peaceful hours before the rest of the world became noisy.I stirred up dizzily from bed as the warmth of sunlight brushed past my face. For a minute, I remained beneath the sheets, staring lazily at the ceiling. Then I turned my head toward the window.The morning outside was beautiful.The sky was a clear, pale blue, which was gradually brightening as the last traces of dawn thinned beyond the horizon. Patches of white clouds sailed lazily across it, while the rising sun cast a warm golden glow over the surrounding landscape.Beyond my window, Asheville looked almost untouched by the chaos of everyday life.A thin layer of mist hovered over the distant Blue Ridge Mountains, making their green slopes appear softer and farther away







