Chapter 3

“Interesting.” Waylon said. We watched as they started making out. “I guess she is coming along after all.”

“Yeah, dont want to stand in the way of the mate bond” I said sarcastically. I sat towards the front so I didnt have to watch them suck face. I was excited for her but still a little bitter. 

“This is an interesting development.” My anger just kept growing.

“Yes, interesting.” I knew I couldn’t accept this. He would have to use my birth name and I couldn’t tell him

“What’s wrong?”

That caught my attention. “What’s wrong? You cant be serious.”

“I can feel your anxiety.”

“Why do you care? You obviously haven’t told Axel who I am.”

“To be fair, I dont know who you are.”

“Listen, I’m just here to do this project and then I’ll be gone.” I said as I looked out the window. We had just taken off and the ground was getting smaller and smaller.

“Is that what you want?”

It’s what has to be done. It’s what is requires to keep my identity a secret. “Y-yes.” The lie tasted so bitter on my tongue.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“Listen, you dont want me anymore than I need a mate. You have Jasmine. Just let me do my job and you will never see me again.”

Waylon leaned forward. His arm touched mine as he gripped the arm rest. The sparks thst flew across my body made my eyes roll back in my head. I had to cough to hide a moan. 

“Dont’t-”

“WHAT?” We heard Axel yell. Looking back, I saw the panic in Nova’s eyes. Axel was standing up looking pissed. 

Pushing Waylon away, I ran up to Nova. “What happened?”

“Stay out of it!” He rounded at me. Waylon came up behind me and let out a small growl. Axel backed away, allowing me to hug Nova.

“I started telling him” Nova told me.

“Oh.” I nodded in understanding. 

“Tell him what?” Waylon asked. Axel had his hands in his hair.

“You boys sit down and give her a chance to tell her story.” I said firmly.

“Don’t tell me what to do! Dont tell me to calm down!” Axel rounded on me.

“Axel.” Waylon said extremely sternly. “Sit.”

Axel did as he was told. He sat across from Nova and put his elbows on his knees. Waylon sat beside him, leaned back and put his chin on his hand. His elbow rested on the arm rest. 

I was sitting beside Nova. “It’s okay.” I encouraged her to get it out. It was hard for me to watch. She has fought against domestic violence for so long and is the strongest person I knew. To see her shaking like this, pissed me off.

“My real name is Carolyn Kennedy.”

The realization spread across both if their faces. I held up my hand to stop them from speaking and nodded her to continue. “When I turned 18, my dad gave me one year to find my mate. When that didn’t happen he arranged one for me. I-” she stopped for a second. The pain on her face was clear. “Anyway, my mother got me out the night before my mating ceremony. Dad killed her when he found out. They havent stopped looking for me.”

“Last night, they found us.” I filled in for her. “Our cando was trashed and she found...” I looked at her. She pulled out the picture from her pocket. Axel and Waylon looked at it as their face darkened. 

“So you were going to sneak her to my pack and hide out? Bring trouble to me? And the Broken Arrow Pack at that?” Waylon’s face was pure rage.

“I’ll take whatever punishment you wish to give out but I will not allow someone to be dragged back to their physically abusive ex!” I matched his anger. 

“Axel, are you going to reject me? I rather you do it now so I can move on. I need to tell my business and stay running.”

I looked at Axel. I was deathly afraid for my friend. So far, he hasnt been thr nicest but I haven’t exactly given him a reason to be nice. 

Once I knew she was safe, I got up and went back to my seat. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes. I slept like shit last night. Even if it wasnt the threat of Nova’s ex finding us, she kicks! As much as I didnt want to, I tried to see where Waylon went. I didn’t smell him so he must have gone to the back of the plane. My head said good but my heart hurt. Right now, my head needed to listen to my brain. Waylon was already pissed I brought trouble to his pack, he could never find out about me. 

I must have dosed off because next thing I knew was the plane jerking as it hit the runway. We were here, at Waylon’s pack and now Nova’s pack. For some reason, that made me feel lonely. 

Once we were stopped, the pilot opened the door for us and lowered the stairs. I was the first one out since I was sitting in the front. There was a limo waiting for us but two people were standing there. The first I knew was the driver, the second was a very pretty woman. I was 5’9” and she towered over me. She looked like a damb model with her two toned brown hair and pointed fingernails. Her skimpy outfit had me thinking it was Jasmine. 

I walked towards the limo, not ready for this conflict. Thankfully, she ignored me and ran right to Waylon’s arms. As soon as she planted a kiss on his lips, mine were on fire. I had to look away and hide the grimace on my face. 

Thankfully, he cut it short. The driver took our bags and we piled in. I got in first and sat on the other side as much as I could. Thankfully, Nova sat beside me and gave me a squeeze of comfort. Waylon didnt miss the gesture as he slipped in behind Axel. Finally, Jasmine got in. 

“Well, this is cozy. Who are you two?” Jasmine asked as she interlocked her fingers with Waylon’s. 

“This is Nova, my mate.” Axel said. His hand was resting on her thigh. I smiled at that.

“That is fantastic news! I am Jasmine, Waylon’s mate.” 

“Oh! Nice to meet you! Can I see your mark?” Nova asked, discreetly calling her out.

“Oh, we haven’t offically mated. We are waiting for my Luna Ceremony!”

“That’s so romantic. When is that? I’ll need to get a dress.” I loved Nova. Waylon was both amused and annoyed.

“We are still deciding a date.” She said as she kept rubbing his arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” She was looking right at me.

“Charlotte Peterson”

“Oh! The architect? I’ve heard so much about you! You graduated early and was the top of your class!”

I was caught off guard by this. “Ye-yes. How did you know that?”

“When we decided to build this building, I did alot of research into different architects. You were named in the top 5 in the U.S. but there wasnt a picture of you.” 

“Yes, I was out of the country on picture day.” Complete lie but whatever. 

“I’m sure you are highly sought after.” Actually no. Most of the people who needed an architect wanted men only. It was hard for a female to get her name out there. The only reason I was on that list was because of my projects in school. 

“Something like that.” I smiled nicely. I stared out the window,, hoping to avoid anymore conversations. It worked until we arrived at the pack house. 

It was massive. Looked like a mid-evil castle with the stone work. The iron gates almost gave it a spooky vibe. 

“I think we can give you the rest of the day to settle in. I’ll have a guard show you to a guest room. We will start fresh tomorrow morning. Dinner is served promptly at 6pm.” Jasmine instructed before walking away from me. I just sighed as I carried my suitcase.

“Can I help you with that, ma’am?” Looking up, there was a good looking guard standing in front of me. He looked like a body builder but with bleach blonde hair and brown eyes. He smelled like grapes and passion fruit. The sweetness of his scent almost made me gag.

“Thank you.” I said. Everyone else had already walked inside, leaving me to it.

“Name is Paul.”

“Hello, Paul. Thank you for your help.” We walking inside to the massive foyer. The halted ceiling had a massive antler chandelier. Mainly blacks with some white and greys. My heels clinked against the marble until we got to the carpeted stairs. 

“First floor is offices. Second is guest rooms. Third is gamma and beta’s rooms and their families. Fourth floor is the Alphas family and very specific guest. Fifth floor is the Alpha’s floor. Please don’t go up there unless you have a death wish.” 

“Thank you for telling me.” I was on the second floor. The very first room on the right. 

“Of course. However, that’s just the right side of the castle. The left is for pack members for different reasons. Pleasd, dont go over there either.”

“Noted.” I nodded my head in appreciation. 

“Let me know if you need help with anything. I will be somewhat of a body guard plus tour guide.”

“Thank you again Paul.” He sat my stuff down and walked out of the room. There was a king size bed on the right. It had possibly the fluffest blanket I’ve ever seen on it. The bed was cream colored. The carpet was a grayish-blue. Everything else was different shades of those colors. Very basic, very much a guest room. It said, be comfortable without making you want to stay too long. The bathroom was very basic in design and the closet was tiny. In all, it looked like a larger hotel room. 

After hanging up what little clothes I had, I checked my phone. It was 4:37pm. There was a message from the detective that said no fingerprints were found and they had basically nothing. They never will find anything. 

Pulling out the blueprints. I started adjusting what Waylon wanted. More of an outdoor area and bathrooms on either side of each convention space. When I looked up again, the clock read 5:59. 

Shit! Tossing my pencil down, I ran out of my room. However, I missed the mountain of a man and ran straight into Paul. My head hit the table in the hallway on my way down.

“Fuck! I’m so sorry, ma’am!” Paul said as he tried to catch me but I caught him off guard az much as he caught me. 

“My fault! I wasnt paying attention and I’m late to dinner.”

“Oh, your bleeding. Come on, let me grab you a bandage.” Paul helped me back inside. I sat on the little couch as he went to the bathroom and found the first aid kit. “This might sting.” Paul said right as he put something against my head. It stung like a bitch.

“What’s going on?” His pissed off voice was sexy as hell.

“My apologies Alpha. Ms. Peterson fell and hit her head. I am trying to stop the bleeding.” Waylon was both pissed off and worried.

“Are you okay?” He asked me.

“Yeah, doesn’t sting as bad as my lips.” I knee I crossed a line as I watch Waylon’s eyes narrow at me but I didn’t give a damn. 

“You can eat dinner in your room tonight.” Waylon didnt wait for an answer but he hesitated when he felt my overwhelming relief after he said that. However, he kept walking. 

“Alpha usually isnt that... Difficult.” Paul tried to reason with me.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll survive his temper tantrums.”

Pauled laughed. “I like you. Anyway, I’ll go get you your food.”

“Thank you.” My head was starting to throb. Laying back, I closed my eyes and before I knew it, I was asleep. 

 “Charlotte! Wake up!” Slap! 

“What the fuck?” I peaked my eye open and saw too many people in my room. Nova was sitting beside me on the couch. 

“You gave yourself a concussion. You need to stay awake.” 

“No.” I said rolling over.

“Dont make me do it!” Nova threatened.

I glared hard at her. Looking around, I saw, Waylon, Jasmine, Axel, Paul and some other guy it was wearing a white coat so I assumed he was the doctor. 

“Fine, I’m awake. You all can leave.” Sitting up, the room started to spin and I fell over. Thankfuly, Paul had excelled reflexes as he caught me this time.

“Cant let you fall a second time.” To everyone but Nova and me, Waylon let out a warning growl. Paul instantly retracted his arms.

“50% is still failing.” I joked. 

“Ma’am, I’d like to take a sample of your blood and run it for toxins.”