CharlotteIt’s weird being the only two people inside of a pack house. Every noise we make seems to echo through the house, but Maddox doesn’t seem phased by it. Meanwhile, it makes me feel tense and on edge. I’m not sure why, but it’s like I’m waiting for something to pop out yelling, boo!Maddox wraps his arms around my waist as he pulls my back against his chest and he asks, “What’s going on, angel? You seem tense.”I breathe out, “I don’t know. Something about being in a pack house so quiet and empty… it’s unsettling.”He takes my hand and says, “How about we take a full tour through the house? Look around every room, it might help you settle.”I give a small smile as I nod and he tugs on my hand for me to follow him. We walk through the bottom floor of the pack house, everything has now been furnished, something that I assume Alpha Ethan set up before his departure. There are a couple of guest rooms on this first floor, a laundry room, the kitchen, formal dining, and a flex space
MaddoxI get the feeling that Charlotte is hiding something from me. I have no reason to suspect that she would keep things from me, but I don’t know, it’s something about the way that she has been behaving and the way she is wording things.Like how she said it’s not how she remembers it… what does that even mean? She says that misspoke, but something about the way she was looking at me makes me think that she was lying to cover up her true thoughts.I know that trust takes time to build, but I hate that she doesn’t trust me right now.She went to bed quickly after we ate. I’ve noticed that she seems to fall asleep quickly, all I have to do is pull her to my chest and after a couple of minutes of her listening to my heart beat, she is out as well.Once I know she is in a deep sleep I slip out of the bed and walk around the pack house. I like everything that was done to it, I like knowing that it’s mine more than anything. It’s nice to know that I’m an Alpha and I don’t have to share
CassianThe door to my room opens and slams shut and I sit up startled, but then I hear her voice. She says, “I have a plan, but we do have a problem.”I groan as I rub my temples, “What do you want, Raven?”Her eyes narrow at me and she snaps, “I’m doing things to help you out, Cassian. I would mind your tone if I were you.”I sigh, “What plan are you talking about, Raven? And what’s the problem?”“Well, you want Charlotte to like you more than Maddox, right?”I nod my head and she gives me a wicked grin as she says, “We could perform a ritual in his pack house and curse him! He will grow needy, possessive, and temperamental! Charlotte will be begging to reject him.”My heart stops for a moment, I never entertained the thought of her rejecting my brother. But then again, ultimately, isn’t that what I want?Isn’t it what we both want? We want her to pick one of us over the other.“What’s the cost?” I question and she shakes her head no as she says, “Nothing, no cost, Cassian.”I frown
CharlotteAs Sebastian and I walk I ask him, “So, what’s going on with you, Seb?”He side eyes me and says, “You overheard me and Maddox.”I groan, “How did you know?!”He chuckles, “I know you, Char. That’s part of us, you know, being best friends for our whole life. But he doesn’t want me to tell you and I need to respect my Alpha.”I huff in response, “I thought your alliance was to me not to him.”Sebastian shakes his head, “My alliance is to all three of you, technically. You may be my best friend, Char, but I’m not stupid. I know that if Maddox and Cassian don’t want me around you then I won’t be around you. Maddox actually seems to like me and I would like to keep it that way.”I grumble, “Kiss ass.”He lets out a laugh and nudges me, “Don’t be like that, Charlotte. I’m sure Maddox would tell you if you talk to him about it.”I press my lips together, I know that he’s right, but I probably won’t get a chance to talk to Maddox about it till tomorrow and I want to know now. We ge
CharlotteI can’t help the nervous laugh that slips through my lips as I turn to face Cassian. He doesn’t even look phased by what he said and I question, “What are you talking about?”The corner of his mouth twitches and he crosses his arms as he stares at me. He then tells me, “You heard me, you didn’t act like this before.”“What do you mean? Before what?”“In our last life together. You never behaved this way. I don’t know what’s gotten into you but I want my real mate back.”My eyebrows scrunch together, the whole room feels like it stands still and I can’t breathe properly. Cautiously, I respond, “I am your mate.”“You’re not who you used to be.” He states.Tears flood my vision as I ask, “How can I be? My mates killed me in my past life, they murdered my best friend, they nonstop argued!”He squeezes his forehead as he says, “I understand you had apprehensions about accepting us again. I get it, I do. That’s why I didn’t get mad when you ran away immediately after you turned 18
CassianI didn’t mean to tell Charlotte that I knew. It was a mistake and I never should’ve spoken and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. Raven will ridicule me for my mistake, I know she will and she’ll encourage me to move forward with the plan she wants to do.I’m cautious to go through with her plan. I don’t know how I feel about owing her, even if I do have veto power. At the end of the day, Raven Moon can’t be trusted. It’s in her nature to deceive others.Charlotte is quiet throughout the day until it’s time for dinner with Maddox. I hate how she flocks towards him. I want to be the one she desires most, but I’m the furthest thing from that right now. She smiles as she takes a seat and looks between the two of us and visibly relaxes knowing that she is with both of her mates.We get our food and halfway through the appetizer Charlotte asks, “Where will I be tonight? Or am I allowed to be by myself?”Maddox’s eyebrows scrunch together and his lower lip pouts out at the th
CharlotteMaddox comes over to me with concern shining through his eyes. He puts his hands on my arms and rubs up and down as he asks, “What’s going on with you, angel?”I breathe out, “I’m going to sound crazy, Maddox. I know that I am, but I have to tell you this. So, please, take into consideration that I might not be completely insane.”His eyebrows furrow as he looks me over and he nods his head and says, “Okay, just tell me what’s going on.”“I don’t know how it happened. But I had a whole other life with you and Cassian. Then… one day… I died. Everything went black, I was insanely hot, and when I woke up I was back in my bed and I was about to be 18 again.”He looks confused, but he says, “Okay, I’m going to pretend that this doesn’t sound insane and take you seriously. So, how old were you in your previous life?”“Twenty, we had been together for 2 years.”“And what was it like?”I wince from his question, I’m concerned how he’ll react when I tell him everything. I say, “Hones
MaddoxI walk downstairs to see Roger and Sam standing around as they talk and joke with one another. Roger notices me first and bows his head down in respect as he says, “Alpha Stark.”My nose crinkles in distaste and I say, “Roger, when we’re alone you guys can call me Maddox or Alpha Maddox. But… goddess, Alpha Stark makes me sound like my dad.”I try not to shudder at the thought, he’s the last person I want to be like.Roger chuckles, “Sorry, sir.”I nod my head and ask, “What are you two doing here so early?”Sam raises an eyebrow at me and she says, “We normally go on a run at this time, Alpha, and you said you wanted to start having morning meetings. We assumed it would be at the same time.”I roll my eyes from her tone and say, “Yes, we do need to have morning meetings. I just wasn’t expecting you and you startled Charlotte.”Roger’s voice sounds surprised as he asks, “The Luna is here?”I nod my head in confirmation when I hear her voice, “Morning y’all!”My eyebrows crinkle
CharlotteMy entire day something just seems off. I don’t know how to explain it and I can’t exactly put my finger on it, but something about today is different.I feel like I’m going insane. I think that I died and have been rebirthed, but I’m doubting myself. Something about it… I don’t know. It just doesn’t sound like it could even be possible.All of my actions are normal, I do my chores, go to training, eat lunch, there’s nothing eventful going on. But… still.I’m so caught up in my thoughts that I don’t notice something sitting in the floor and I trip over it. Right before I hit the ground, a body comes in front of me and catches me. My eyes widen as I fall into the lap of Maddox Stark. The corner of his mouth twitches up into a smile as he asks, “Are you okay?”I slowly nod my head, staring into his eyes and suddenly, it all comes back.This isn’t my second chance at life… it’s my third.How is this possible?I push myself out of his arms as I remember the true monster that thi
CharlotteSebastian looks me up and down and his eyes shine with concern and he asks, “Are you okay, Char?”I can’t move my eyes from him, it’s like I’m seeing a ghost. The longer I don’t answer him the more concerned he looks and he asks, “Charlotte, what’s going on?”I shake my head slowly as I snap out of my thoughts and say, “No-nothing. I’m sorry, Seb, I just had a nightmare.”He nods his head, but looks at me skeptically and says, “Yeah, okay. How are you feeling? Your birthday is only two days away. How do you want to celebrate?”My birthday… my birthday is in two days.Something isn’t right. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be, but I don’t know how things should be. I had another life, I know I did. But it seems fuzzy and far away.But in my other life, I was already 18, I already found my mate… or well mates, I was mated to Alpha Cassian and Alpha Maddox Stark, the infamous Stark twins. We had been together for a couple of years, life was mostly miserable, they were the cause
CharlotteI want to scream, but I can’t. I want to call out through the mind link for Maddox to come save me, but it’s like I’m blocked from speaking to him.Raven pushes her arm in and grabs a fist full of my hair and yanks me out as she throws me to the ground. I cry out as she does this and then hear Cassian’s voice as he yells out, “What the hell is going on, Raven?”His footsteps hurry down the staircase and I turn to him and our eyes meet. He freezes upon seeing me and Raven says, “She knows, Cassian. She was spying on us.”I force words to come out of my mouth even though it feels like fear has a hold on me, “I didn’t hear anything, I swear.”Raven throws her hands up as she says, “Of course she’s going to tell you that! She doesn’t want you to know that she’s a little snoop. She’s going to tell Maddox and then what, Cassian?”His eyes move between the two of us, but he doesn’t come closer. He doesn’t try to help me off the floor and Raven spits out, “You know what we need to d
CassianI pace back and forth in my room. I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life… again! No one knows that Sebastian’s death was my fault in our past life. But in our last life, Maddox liked me and trusted me a bit more. He believed me when I told him that Sebastian had ill intentions, this time he is doubting me.I don’t know what I’m going to do. I want to hit a reset button.And, of course, she knew I would be feeling that way.Raven shows up out of nowhere and looks at me with a playful smirk on her lips as she says, “Hey there, how’d things go?”I roll my eyes and remark sarcastically, “Oh, it went fan freaking tastic! That’s why I’m in the same room as Charlotte right now and we’re finally consummating our relationship.”I sit on my bed with a huff and run my fingers through my hair before I ask, “Did it at least work?”Raven tilts her head to the side, her black her swaying as she does and says, “What do you think, Cassy?”The growl that rips from my chest sounds a lot harsh
CharlotteI don’t want to go anywhere with either of the twins. But I know I don’t have a choice.Maddox sat with me for awhile, he tried to give me an excuse a couple of times, but I shut him right up. I don’t want to hear his excuses. I want to know what happened and what he’s hiding from me.We sat for over an hour before Cassian joined us. His eyes flickered between us before he grumbled, “I have the office getting professional cleaned. You should both come back to the Lightning Pack and stay there.”I glare at him and he holds a hand out to help me up, but I refuse to take it. Once I’m on my feet I cross my arms and say, “I’m going back there because I have no other choice. Want to make this perfectly clear to both of you that I will not lie in the same bed as you.”Cassian huffs, “Understood.”Maddox tries to argue, “I don’t understand why I’m being punished when I wasn’t even apart of this. Charlotte, please, hear me out.”I snap, “I don’t want to hear you out! I told you about
CharlotteThis can’t be happening. Maddox promised me.But seeing him and Cassian both covered in blood with Sebastian’s dead body laying at their feet, I can’t help but scream in horror.Maddox stumbles over to me and reaches out as he says, “Charlotte, I can explain.”I step away from him as he gets closer. I shake my head, my jaw is dropped open, and my mouth is dry as I keep breathing in and out. I’m unable to calm down, this has to be a hallucination or something this can’t be real life!My eyes meet Maddox’s and I can see the concern in his look, but I feel no sympathy, I only feel anger. I growl out, “You did this. You promised me that you wouldn’t! You promised me that he would live!”He argues, “Charlotte, do you really think that if I was involved in this that I would risk you catching me in the act? I wasn’t apart of this! Please, trust me.”Tears blur my vision and my eyes flicker between both of the men and I notice how Cassian is alarmingly quiet. I shake my head as I sn
SebastianCassian’s eyes eventually turned back into their normal shade as realization seemed to overwhelm him and he knew who I was. He shakes his head and says, “Damn it, Sebastian! What the hell are you doing here?”I shouldn’t talk back to him, who in their right mind has an attitude when talking to a demon. I must not be in my right mind because I retort, “I could ask you the same question! Isn’t this your brother’s pack house? Your brother’s office?!”My eyes flicker down as I look at the demonic symbol in the center of the room. My eyebrows knit together as I look between Cassian and Raven. Raven looks to Cassian in a panic and states, “He knows too much, Cass.”His lips roll into his mouth as he nods and says, “I know, but what are we going to do?”She laughs, she really thinks he’s telling a joke. But suddenly, she sobers up and says, “Oh, you weren’t kidding. The answer is obvious, Cassian.”He crosses his arm and she looks at me with a wicked smile as she says, “We have to
RavenChaos, I thrive on it. I need it to live.Cassian finally approved the plan I had to set things right. He’s allowing is desperation to be the ‘favorite’ cloud his judgement for what’s really going on.He runs off with Charlotte and goodness, the girl really doesn’t seem to know what she’s doing. She’s like a lost little sheep that needs guidance.As I walk to the Thunderbolt Pack and make sure no one is there I can’t help put think, there’s no reason for you to worry little lamb, everything will go back to the way that it should be.I find Maddox’s office and lock the door behind me. This is one of the benefits to not having a true scent, no one will ever know that I was in here. I roll up his rug and look down at the floor. I can feel my power flourish through my fingertips and I close my eyes and smile as I relish in the feeling of power for just a moment.A slow breath escapes my lips and I smirk as I open my eyes.Time to get to work.CassianCharlotte’s busy with Clarissa
CharlotteThat was awkward. I feel like a complete failure from trying to meet and greet Roger and Sam. Hopefully things will get better as we move forward.As Sebastian and I walk to the Lightning Pack he looks at me and says, “So, I have to ask… what is with the get up?”I sigh as I look down at myself and question, “Does it really look that bad?”He lets out a hearty laugh then says, “I wouldn’t say that it looks bad, Char, but it doesn’t look like you. What’s going on?”“I was going to be introduced as Luna for the first time to Roger and Sam. I didn’t want them to think that I thought I was like better than them or something so I tried to dress down.”“And by ‘dressing down’ you thought you should act country? What was with your accent?”I throw my face into my hands out of embarrassment and I murmur, “I can’t believe I did that.”Sebastian chuckles, “You don’t need to worry about what anyone else thinks, Char. You’re perfect just the way you are and I’m sure that both of your ma