CharlotteMy back is pressed against the cool tiles in our shower and my mate, Cassian, stands before me with a primal look in his eyes. He brings his head down to my neck and lightly bites on my mark, causing me to release a breathy moan.I can feel him smirk against my skin, happy to be a part of my undoing. But his body tenses as the door to our room opens and then the door to our bathroom. Maddox, my other mate and Cassian’s twin brother, grumbles, “We need to talk.”Cassian’s face falls onto my chest and he nips at my nipple before responding, “Kind of busy at the moment.”Maddox’s voice is stern as he says, “Now, Cassian.”Cassian’s eyes darken, showing his wolf’s presence, and I breathe out as he steps out of the shower. I glance up at Maddox and he nods to me in acknowledgement. Even though my whole body is on display, he respects me and Cassian enough to not linger. It’s Cassian’s day with me and he’s trying his best to respect that.But he and I both know that tomorrow, when
CassianThree more days… three more days! I could not be more excited about my dad finally retiring and giving me the Lightning Pack.He is planning to split the pack in two so that Maddox and I can have our own claim as Alpha on our own land. Maddox and I... we have a complicated relationship and the less amount of time we have to be around each other, the better. I sit across from my dad as we drink coffee. Maddox will join us any minute now.Dad smiles up at me and remarks, “I’m going to miss you joining me in here for coffee before our morning meeting with your brother.”I nod, “I will too.”Maddox doesn’t realize that this has been a routine for me and dad ever since I was a teenager. I know it would bother him, so I try not to make it too obvious how much time I spend with dad. He doesn’t realize that dad and I have something that bonds us together that he doesn’t have…He walks in the room and immediately his eyes narrow at me. Dad smiles as he says, “Morning, Maddox, ready to
CharlotteMine and Sebastian’s argument plays in my head on repeat.I don’t know what I’m going to do.I only have two days left before I turn 18 and Maddox and Cassian discover that I’m their mate.Sebastian refuses to come with me. I don’t understand why, it’s not like our lives are perfect here. We’re both slaves to the Alpha and Luna.We used to live at the Southern River Pack. We were close in age and have been best friends all our lives. When our pack got attacked, we worked together to hide and survive.The Lightning Pack came in too late. Our attackers were long gone and they looked over the shambles of our pack to find survivors.Our parents didn’t survive so when the Alpha and Luna found us they took us in and put us to work. They treat us well. We have a roof over our heads, food to eat, a place to sleep, and we have never been mistreated.But I was meant for more than being their assistant, cook, maid, whatever thing they needed!Truly, I was meant to be Luna. I’m supposed
CharlotteMy heart is racing as I rush up to my room and create as much distance as I can between me and the training grounds. When I enter my room I slam the door shut and lock it behind me. I place a hand on my heart as I will for it to slow down but it doesn’t. Out of nervousness I begin to pace back and forth; I have to calm down, I can’t calm down!I should’ve known I would never be able to escape Maddox and Cassian.Maddox knows.He called me ‘angel’ he always called me angel. He knew, they must’ve somehow brought me back and are testing me to see if I’d stay loyal to them.I breathe out, the thought is crazy. This whole situation is making me crazy. If Maddox knew who I was there’s no way that he would’ve let me go.No, he wouldn’t have. Maddox is fiery and passionate, and he would’ve taken me aside and made out with me and demanded that I spend more time with him because he can’t stand to be away from me. But… he didn’t do any of that. He must not know.I finally sit on the be
SebastianOnce again Charlotte isn’t coming in to work. I know what she’s doing. She’s spending the day prepping for the trip that she wants us to take tomorrow. But deep in my heart I hope that the trip will never come to pass.Charlotte has been my closest friend for my entire life. She’s the only thing I have left from my life back at the Southern River Pack and if I’m being honest… I want her to be my mate.She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and we get along well. Life would be so much simpler if we were just meant to be together. If we were humans and not werewolves I would’ve made a move on her years ago. But we both have a destined mate out there waiting for us and just in case my destined mate isn’t her, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.I walk up to her room to bring her lunch and she smiles at me. I set the food down and she starts talking about our trip tomorrow. I watch her and feign my interest. Can she really not feel the connection that I have always sworn was between u
CharlotteRelief flooded through me when Sebastian lightly knocked on my door and walked inside. He has a small smile on his face as he asks, “How’s the day been, Char?”I smile, “It’s fine, and I’m all ready for our trip tomorrow!”He nods in acknowledgement, but I notice his lips are pressed together. He’s still cautious, but I recognize that this is just a part of who he is. He doesn’t jump headfirst into decisions, he likes to take his time and think everything through.I am pushing him outside of his normal limits and I have to respect the fact that we will butt heads during this journey. I look at him and say, “We’re going to leave first thing. As soon as the sun is up!”His eyebrows crinkle and he says, “I thought you liked sleep.”I nod, “I do, but I also like adventure.”“Okay, but adventure can wait for a decent hour.”I huff and walk over to Sebastian and tug on his arm and say, “Come on, Seb. It’s my birthday, shouldn’t we do what I want to do?”He looks at me annoyed and s
CharlotteI can’t sleep. It’s impossible.Mine and Sebastian’s argument plays in my head on repeat and anxiety fills my body as I’m nervous that Cassian and Maddox might find me while I sleep.When I finally fall asleep, my dreams are filled with the twins.I dreamed of the first time we met. As a slave, my birthday wasn’t a big deal. Although Luna Anna would acknowledge me on my birthday there wasn’t anything else that would happen. So, I went to the dining room to set up the food for the Alpha and Luna. I liked to do it before they would come into the room, but it was a different kind of day. The moment I walked in I could feel the thick tension and I looked up to see Maddox and Cassian staring at me like I was their possession. I looked at Maddox first and I knew… I was his. I heard Cassian’s growl and I stumbled back because when I looked at him I knew that I belonged to him too.When I had stumbled back they both thought I was trying to leave and they rushed towards me as they gr
SebastianI watch with a heavy heart as Charlotte climbs out the window and disappears. I couldn’t go after her… I mean, I guess I could have. But… it’s not the right move for me.By the end of three days, I’m sure Charlotte will be back here. She doesn’t remember much of our childhood, but I remember everything. As the Beta’s son, I learned all about the pack and specifically about rogues. Rogues are horrible and only the worst end up rogue.Rogues… those disgusting, vile wolves that were part of the cause that made us lose everything. The last thing I want is to end up like them.I huff as I leave her room and go to the kitchen to find something for an early breakfast. Once I eat I could go for a run while I wait for the training session to start. I don’t know what else I could do with my time.Training is tricky for me, I’m naturally talented and one of the best warriors that the Lightning Pack has, but I don’t want them to know who I am.Our parents were careful so that no one woul
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