Chapter Five: The First Kiss

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*CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST KISS*

Day 5 of 30.

Charlotte was learning the rules of the penthouse fast.

*Rule 1:* Don’t go to the roof alone.

*Rule 2:* Eat with the twins.

*Rule 3:* If the bond flares, touch them.

She was breaking Rule 1.

The roof garden was her favorite spot. Plants, string lights, view of the whole city. No guards. Just quiet.

“Thought I’d find you here.”

Charlotte spun.

A girl. 25. Silver hair in a braid. Leather jacket. Smelled like wolves but... different.

“I’m *Maya*,” the girl said. “Beta. And Valentine’s cousin. Also his head of security.”

Charlotte relaxed. “Charlotte.”

“I know.” Maya sat next to her. “The ‘dead’ nurse. I was at St. Mercy when you donated. You saved his life.”

Charlotte nodded. “Are you going to turn me in?”

Maya laughed. “Gods no. The twins are idiots in love already. I’m here to help you survive them.”

Before Charlotte could answer, the door slammed.

Angelo. Pissed.

“What did I say about the roof?” he growled. Then he saw Maya. “And what are YOU doing here?”

“Checking on our new sister-in-law,” Maya said, unbothered. “You look tense, Angelo. Bond giving you headaches?”

Angelo ignored her and turned to Charlotte. “Inside. Now.”

Charlotte stood. “I was just—”

“I know what you were doing,” Angelo said softer. “Bond’s at 20%. I can feel you pulling away.”

Maya stood too. “I’ll leave you to it, lovebirds. Oh, and *Dorian* is coming by tonight. The pack doctor. He wants to ‘check the patient’.”

She winked at Charlotte and left.

Angelo pulled Charlotte inside.

Valentine was already in the living room. Pacing. Shirt off. Bandages gone. Healed.

Because of her.

“You can’t keep running to the roof,” Valentine said. “It hurts us.”

“I wasn’t running,” Charlotte said. “I just needed air.”

“The bond doesn’t care,” Angelo said. He was behind her now. Close. “It thinks you’re leaving.”

Charlotte turned. “Then what do you want me to do?”

“Stay,” Valentine said simply.

The word hit her.

The bond pulsed. Hard. Heat flooded her chest. Her knees buckled.

Both twins caught her.

“Too much,” Charlotte gasped. “It’s too much.”

“We know,” Angelo whispered in her ear. “Let us help.”

Valentine lifted her. Bridal style. And carried her to the couch.

Dorian arrived 10 minutes later.

*Dorian* - 40s, glasses, kind eyes. Pack doctor for 20 years. He took one look at Charlotte glowing faintly and raised a brow.

“Well,” he said. “This is interesting.”

He checked her pulse. Her blood pressure. Then he checked the twins.

“The bond is accelerating,” Dorian said. “At this rate you’ll hit 100% by day 20, not 30.”

“What does that mean?” Charlotte asked.

“It means,” Dorian said gently, “the need to claim will be unbearable. For all three of you.”

The room went silent.

Maya, who was leaning in the doorway, cleared her throat. “So... someone’s gonna kiss someone soon. Just saying.”

“Not helping, Maya,” Angelo snapped.

Dorian packed his bag. “I won’t report this. But be careful. If the Council finds out about the acceleration, they’ll come for her.”

After he left, it was just the four of them. Well, three. Maya was eating cereal on their couch like she lived there.

Charlotte couldn’t look at the twins. Her face was burning.

“Alone,” Valentine said to Maya.

“Fine,” Maya sighed. “I’m going to my room. Try not to burn the penthouse down.”

When the door closed, the air changed.

Charlotte sat between them. The bond was screaming. Pulling her to both of them.

“Charlotte,” Valentine said. His voice was rough. “Look at me.”

She did. Gold eyes. Desperate.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked. “Just to ease it. Just a little.”

Charlotte’s heart was in her throat.

She nodded once.

Valentine leaned in. Slow. Giving her time to pull back.

She didn’t.

His lips brushed hers. Soft. Careful.

And the bond exploded.

White light filled the room. Not from her hands this time. From her chest. From between them.

Angelo groaned. “Fuck. I can feel it too.”

Valentine pulled back, breathing hard. “Better?”

Charlotte nodded. Shaking. “Yeah.”

Angelo cupped her face. “My turn?”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Angelo—”

He kissed her too. Deeper. Hungrier. Like he’d been waiting 5 days.

The light pulsed again.

When he pulled back, all three of them were glowing.

Day 5 of 30.

And the bond was already at 35%.

*To be continued...*

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