Anne had just finished bathing in her bathroom when she heard a loud bang on the bathroom door. "Who's there?" she demanded from inside. "It's me, sister," Lora said, as Elena had gone out for her training where she was learning to sew clothes in their pack. "Hmm," Anne growled and pulled the bathroom door open. She knew her mother had gone to work, so what did her younger sister want? "Anne, two guards are standing outside and demanding to see you," Lora disclosed in her soft childish voice, and Anne froze. "Two guards?" she asked her sister, a subtle frown etched on her face as she realized Teddy was the one who sent them. "Yes, sister. They said I should call you out immediately," Lora said. She wore a short blue dress and noticed her elder sister frowning. "What did you do to Alpha Teddy, and why aren't you going to work today?" Lora asked. She was proud that her older sister was working beside Alpha Teddy, and she often bragged about it among her peers. But seeing Anne
In Ex Alpha Lucas's mansion, Jack Hudson had just woken up in his bedroom. It was a brand new day, yet he awoke with a light headache. He sat up in bed and carefully slid down. Jack groaned, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. He felt guilty knowing he hadn't gone to see Charlotte, despite hearing from Waylon the previous night that Charlotte was now awake. As much as Jack longed to visit Charlotte, he couldn't just go to the hospital to see her, as he had rejected her in the presence of their pack members and vowed never to see her again. He would keep his distance from her even though he was hurting. "Why am I feeling like this?" Jack growled, not understanding his wolf. He had rejected Charlotte, so why was his wolf feeling wounded? Jack finally went into his bathroom to bathe. He had work to do in his office, and he couldn't breach the agreement he had signed to satisfy his hurting wolf. His green eyes glowed red, feeling broken, and he wondered if Charlotte was alright
Charlotte had just awoken from her sleep after the pack's doctor on duty, Dr. Andrew, had injected her arm to make her sleep. As she sat up in her bed, she was shocked to see the black, wounded beast that entered her ward. She was shivering, thinking he was a rogue, but on a second look at him, she immediately recognized him as Jack. "Jack," Charlotte whispered his name just as Jack neared her bed and walked up to meet her. "Jack," Charlotte burst into tears in Jack's arms as he shapeshifted back to his human form. His injuries had healed despite repeatedly shot by the guards. The bullet fell out from his body like rubber, dropping to the ground. Jack neared Charlotte's bed, rubbing her head as he pulled her into a tight hug while she sobbed in his arms. "It's okay. I'm here now," Jack said, while Charlotte continued to sob. "My baby, Jack. Teddy removed it," Charlotte cried as Teddy entered the hospital ward, his eyes shooting daggers at Jack, but he dared not approach h
Lady Harper and her husband sadly looked at Charlotte. They pitied her broken state, but Charlotte still refused to acknowledge her mother's presence. She gazed at the wall, preferring to look at the white wall rather than at her parents' faces. "We're sorry, Charlotte," her father finally spoke, but Charlotte appeared indifferent, not caring to greet him either. "You should forgive your mother and me. We wanted the best for you, and then Luna Sabrina saw it in you to become the pack's next Luna despite your low ranking. We couldn't object to her choice then, please forgive us," Beta Paul said, but Charlotte shook her head and responded, "All that is in the past now, father. What you should be discussing now is how to reject Teddy and make him divorce me. I don't want to be his Luna anymore!" Charlotte burst into tears, covering her face with her palms, wishing her father could challenge Teddy, but her family couldn't. Her father remained silent while she repeated, "Just leave
Lady Harper looked from Teddy to her daughter. She didn't want to leave Charlotte's side, so she decided to ask Teddy, "Alpha, can you permit me to look after your wife? She would need me now more than she needs anyone else." Teddy looked from Charlotte, who sat on the bed eating her meal docilely as if she didn't care to look at him, to her mother who smiled. He frowned. "We have trusted maids at home, so you don't have to worry about that," Teddy replied, and Lady Harper frowned but didn't press further. "You can go home," Teddy dismissed her, and Lady Harper's fingers dug into her palm, but she didn't refute. She looked at her daughter on the hospital bed and told her, "Get well soon, Charlotte. I will see you later." "Okay, Mom," Charlotte smiled at her mother, wanting her to know that she was fine. She didn't look at Teddy, as she focused on eating her meal. Just as Lady Harper left the room, she bumped into Anne's mother, who was going to check up on Charlotte too.
"Hmm," Teddy frowned and let go of Charlotte's hand as he sensed something was wrong with her. First, she spoke to him boldly; where was she getting the nerve to challenge him? Secondly, her wounds were beginning to heal properly. "You're my wife, and I realize how bad I've been to you. I want to correct all that. But I need you to understand that I love you and didn't just agree to marry you as a truce to rule our pack." Charlotte's eyes shimmered in shock. "You loved me?" She pointed to her chest as she asked Teddy, looking at his brooding dark face. "Yes, I do. I truly do love you," Teddy confessed, and Charlotte burst out laughing beautifully. "Tell me it's all a joke, Alpha. Do you think I have some memory loss or I'm not alright? Get out of here as I don't need your stupid sympathetic sorry. You should rather be with Anne, as she would be hurting, knowing that you are here with me," Charlotte mocked, and Teddy sighed. "I know I have been a bad husband. The truth is,
The following morning in the Norfield pack, Charlotte awoke to the early morning sunlight that peeked into her room. Rising up on the hospital bed, she saw her mother beside her, smiling. Charlotte smiled back at her mother, feeling as if it were a dream—a life where she wouldn't get to see Teddy again. She wanted to ask her mother, "Where are we, Mom?" "Charlotte, you're awake. Come and change into your dress. You have been discharged, and we are going home," her mother told her, and Charlotte's brows drew into a thin line. Realization dawned on her that she was still in the pack’s hospital, and it wasn't a dream. "Mom, I don't want to go back to Alpha Teddy's mansion. You know that he doesn't like me, and I'm not his real mate," Charlotte complained as she rose from her bed and pouted. "I understand. But you're still the Luna, and it's only right that you assist our Alpha until he divorces you accordingly," Lady Harper replied. She wore a crimson gown and black slippers and
Charlotte stood there nervously as she watched the guards bundle Anne away. She was supposed to be happy, but remembering how she had suffered in the early years of her marriage to Teddy, she smiled and pretended not to be affected by the scene that had just played before her eyes. "Can I go inside, Alpha?" Charlotte inquired, breaking the silence between herself and Teddy. She saw him looking in the direction of the guards who had captured Anne and were taking her to the back of Teddy's mansion, where a cell room was located. It wasn't like Anne would be escorted to the pack's station, where Teddy's eyes wouldn't reach her. He decided to keep her locked around him so that no one in their pack would know that Anne was under his torture, similar to how Charlotte had endured being tortured daily by Teddy without anyone knowing. Charlotte didn't want to rejoice at Anne's suffering, as she knew that sooner or later, her baby bump would grow, and Teddy would definitely find out that
Charlotte looked at the house frontage and met Lady Sandra's gaze on her. She replied, "Nothing, Ma. I came to see Alpha Lucas, and Elijah offered to bring me here." Charlotte looked at Elijah Samuel with a smile curving on her face as she looked back at Jack's mother. "Okay," Lady Sandra replied and told Jack, "Jack, you shouldn't fight with him. That was so wrong of you just because you see Charlotte and him discussing. It's not like Charlotte is your wife or mate. So she can be with any man that she likes for now." Lady Sandra knew that she had spoken to Jack to go and marry Charlotte, but Jack didn't want to, insisting that it was only after Teddy had gotten his release from prison. Jack looked away from Charlotte and Elijah as he went back to his car. Without saying a word to his parents, he started his car, ordered the security men to open the gate, and then he drove out of the residence. Charlotte breathed out with relief and told Elijah, "If Jack makes any trouble for you,
Lady Harper entered the kitchen and prepared lunch for Charlotte. As soon as she was done preparing the delicious soup, she came out to the dining table and served the fish soup for Charlotte to eat.Charlotte stood up from the couch and walked to the table to take her seat. She sat down on a chair and said to her mother, "Mom, I want to go and see Alpha Lucas in his house. I need to speak with him to release Teddy."Lady Harper sighed as she set up Charlotte's meal in front of her on the dining table. She told her daughter, "Alpha Lucas cares more about Teddy than any of us in this pack, including you and Anne. I think he wants the best for his son, and that is for Teddy to change. Teddy is very stubborn, and if he isn't punished with an iron hand, he wouldn't change.""But Mom, Anne is suffering. Is it until Anne dies that Alpha Lucas will grant Teddy his freedom? Teddy has already learned his lesson. So I will have to go and see his father today, once I am done eating my meal," Cha
### The Following DayLady Harper left for the market to restock the house with food supplies, and Charlotte seized the opportunity to sneak out and visit Anne. She had been feeling restless and had decided to check up on Anne, even if it was just once.Charlotte donned a yellow maternity dress as she stepped out of her room and slipped on her brown slippers. She grabbed her purse, which contained her phone, and carefully left her father's house. She exited the house and made her way towards Anne's father's house.As Charlotte walked down the street, she came across Elijah, who was driving out of his father's house."Charlotte," Elijah called, rolling down his car window as he spotted her. He was dressed in black, and Charlotte smiled as she paused to greet him."Good morning.""Morning! Where are you headed? Can I drop you there?" he asked, but she shook her head and replied, "No, thank you. Where I'm going isn't far from here.""Okay, that's fine. I came to see my dad, as you know t
As Charlotte got back home, she didn't immediately discuss Anne Robert with her mother."Mom, I'm home," Charlotte said as she entered the living room and saw her mother busy in the kitchen.Her mother's favorite place was the kitchen."Welcome, Charlotte. How was the hospital visit today?" Lady Harper inquired as Charlotte entered the kitchen to join her."It was great, Mom. My baby is fine and will be arriving soon. I can't wait to meet him. What do you think I should name him? I need to start preparing for all the baby things," Charlotte said excitedly to her mother, who was busy pounding crayfish with a mortar and pestle while sitting on a wooden stool."That's wonderful news, Charlotte. Any name you choose will be perfect. You know he's a strong pup," Lady Harper smiled."I know, Mom," Charlotte replied, enjoying the conversation."Great. You can go inside and rest. I'll finish preparing our lunch and join you soon to help arrange everything you need for the baby.""Okay, Mom. I
Lady Linda looked sad and replied, "Anne wouldn't hurt you. Please, can you help me by coming to talk to her? We can get some warriors to accompany you if you're scared of visiting my home alone."Charlotte sighed and replied, "I will think about it. I cannot just come tomorrow or today. Give me time to think about it, and I will come and see her. You should tell Anne that I said Teddy cares more about her than anything else in this world.""Hmm. I want her to forget about Teddy and move on, if not to reject him too," Lady Linda said, and this time Charlotte laughed."Hahaha! It's not easy to forget your true mate, Ma. I think you don't know what Anne is going through. She loves my ex-husband, and he loves her too. I think if it wasn't for Alpha Lucas forcing Teddy to marry me, Teddy wouldn't have accepted me for one day. I think it's not his fault either. Anne has been through a lot, and I will try to come and see her. I promise, but not today," Charlotte said as she considered discu
Charlotte felt her stomach tug at her from within, as if her baby had eyes in the outside world to see Jack.She sensed the intense gaze of someone on her right. But as she looked ahead, she caught sight of a black car driving into the establishment. Only then did it occur to her that the powerful four-story building she was seeing ahead belonged to Jack.Charlotte swiftly looked away and back at Elijah Samuel as he insisted on dropping her off."Come on, Charlotte. As the former Luna of our pack, you shouldn't be trekking. Don't you have a car or haven't you learned to drive at least?" Annabelle struck up a conversation with Charlotte as she led her to her brother's car, and Charlotte couldn't protest at this point.Charlotte got into the back seat with Annabelle. She replied, "I don't know how to drive. Lawrence drives me whenever I want to go to the women's meetings.""Wow! Anyway, it's alright. I heard all that happened, but I didn't know if I could come and see you. I am so sorry
The following week, Charlotte woke up in her room and prepared to go for her medical check-up.She wore a green dress and stood in front of her mirror, admiring her reflection."Hmm, so Alpha Lucas came and apologized to me about Teddy. I hope that he will be given a second chance too." Charlotte picked up a black comb and combed her long brown hair, then she put it into a bun and smiled at her reflection.Her tummy had grown bigger, and she caressed her baby bump. "I cannot wait to meet you, baby."Charlotte smiled after she had rubbed her hand on her bump. Then she went back to her bed and picked up her phone, which she placed into her black handbag.It was a bright Monday morning, so she exited her room on the top floor and went downstairs to go to the hospital."Mom, I am going for my baby check-up," Charlotte said as she paused in the living room and saw her mother in the kitchen.Lady Harper stepped out of the kitchen and asked Charlotte, "Won't you wait to have breakfast first
Jack was annoyed after Elijah Samuel left him."Alpha, you shouldn't have gotten into an altercation with him," Waylon carefully cautioned Jack, but Jack glared at him."Why shouldn't I? Elijah keeps getting on my nerves, and now he thinks he can use my family against me. He knows Teddy and I didn’t get along, but I didn’t sleep with Charlotte just to get back at Teddy. It’s because she's my fated mate!" Jack growled, and Waylon bowed his head."Calm down, Alpha. I think that's what Elijah and a few of Teddy's supporters wouldn't understand. I heard that Teddy has let go of Charlotte; why not propose to her and marry her to reduce the gossip?" Waylon suggested, but Jack shook his head."No, that wouldn't reduce the gossip. Our pack members will still talk about me. I'm just not happy with all of this, and my father is the major cause of it all," Jack said, making his way to his car as he wanted to return home. Although a part of him wanted to see Charlotte, he thought against it."You
"Okay," Alpha Lucas smiled as he stood at the front of the balcony where Charlotte, her mother, Sofia, and her twins were gathered.Sofia's son walked up to Alpha Lucas and touched his legs.Alpha Lucas, who wasn't fond of babies—having not carried a little one in a long time—crouched to meet the little boy's height."How are you?" he asked and lifted the baby boy into his arms."I'm fine," the little boy, named Mathias, smiled, and Alpha Lucas smiled back.Charlotte couldn't believe that Mathias would smile at Alpha Lucas, yet he refused to be carried by her. She shook her head, and Alpha Lucas returned his gaze to Charlotte, saying, "I saw the divorce papers and knew that you have signed yours. Please find a place in your heart to forgive my family."Charlotte lowered her face upon hearing Alpha Lucas say that. "Okay, Alpha," she replied, not raising her head to meet his gaze."I will forward your shares from Teddy's funds to you. Although I lack the heart to release Teddy from the