12

Charlie

The smell of wood and cinnamon apple hit my nose as I started to move around in bed. At first, I was confused about why it smelled so good in my room. But then I opened my eyes to see that I wasn't in my bed or my room. I was in Damon's bed, in his room, in his clothes.

What happened last night? I slowly sat up and my head started throbbing, I was in so much pain that I couldn't think straight. I looked around Damon's room, it was beautiful, and his style fits him. His bed was a King, with white sheets and a gray comforter. His walls were cream and the carpet was the purest with I'd ever seen.

I need to keep a mental note to never eat in here. He had mahogany doors and dressers that contrasted with the lightness of the room. A light gray couch in the corner next to the patio doors leads to a fantastic view of the entire property. And let's not forget the huge TV in front of his bed.

I heard one of the doors start to open and turned to see who was coming in. I realized it was to the bathroom because of all the steam that came out as soon as the door opened. And just like that, my head stopped throbbing and was filled with completely different thoughts. He walked out in a gray towel hanging dangerously low on his hips, showing his very prominent v-line. His 8-pack was out on display for me to see with water dripping down his chest. His hair wet and sloppy on his head made him look even better than before if that's possible.

He hadn't noticed I was awake yet, he had put a towel over his head to dry it and started talking towards the closet.

"Good afternoon." He spoke from the closet. I thought he didn't even see me.

"Afternoon?" I whispered to myself and looked over to the nightstand and saw that it was 2:00 in the afternoon.

What the hell happened? And why can't I remember anything? Damon walked back out and he was wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt and he came and sat near me on the bed, staring deep into my eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts...what happened last night?" I asked him. He looked just as confused as me when I said that.

"You don't remember?" He lifted his hand and pushed one of my thick curls out of my face and put it behind my ear.

"I remember my mom and her mate, and I remember us sitting down for dinner, and then I remember us taking. But then that's it."

I could tell he was contemplating whether he should tell me or not. Must have been pretty bad then.

"We were attacked last night, by a shit ton of rogues led by my brother. And ordered to kill me and take you so that Tyler could be king." My jaw dropped, there's no way.

"Tyler? He wouldn't do that? Why would he do that to you? You're his family."

"Family means nothing to him." He seemed to say that more to himself than to me. I wanted to know why he would say that but I didn't want to push it.

"A rogue got a hold of you and thankfully I got there in time but that's why your head hurts. I couldn't stop him from hurting you, and for that, I am so sorry." He looked deep into my eyes when he said that. He looked so defeated that he couldn't protect me. I grabbed his hands in mine and pulled him closer.

"Thank you." I felt like that was all that I needed to say, and I saw his entire attitude change.

"But how did I get here?" I asked him.

"I brought you here to make sure that you would be okay. There is no way I am letting you out of my sight again. Or at least until I figure out this whole thing and I know that the world is safe for you."

That one statement made my heart warm. He wants to make the world safe for me...I guess it's a perk of being mated to the king.

"Well, I have a lot I have to get done today, and unfortunately I won't be back until later. I do have some people moving your things to our room and they'll put it in the closet for you. The bathroom is right there, and we have the entire floor to ourselves. Feel free to fix, or change anything you want. This is your place now too." He stood up and smiled at me and I just watched him in awe. I was moving in with Damon. No freaking way.

"I'll see you later."

He left the room and my headache was gone. I had completely forgotten about it. I got up and went to the bathroom and when I looked in the mirror I wanted to throw up. My hair was sticking out all over my head.

My curls were frizzy, my eyes had crust in the corners of them, and my breath probably stank too. How embarrassing. I can't believe he saw me like this. I immediately jumped in the shower, and this one was going to be the longest one I've ever taken in my life.

•••••

Damon

Today was the day. I was going to get all the answers. I was going to fix a problem that was born 20 years ago.

I walked down the dark and dingy hallway with Trey to my left and Robert to my right. All three of us knew the severity of the situation and we needed to rectify it fast, for my sake. And for Charlotte's sake.

"Have you told her anything?" Trey asked me.

"No, I'll tell her once I handle it. I don't need her getting worried over something that isn't her problem."

We made it to the giant iron door that lead to the cells that were deep underneath the castle. Only a few people know we even had cells. I walked in and almost every cell was full of the rogues from last night. I can't believe they thought they were going to get away so easily.

I passed the cell that held the rogue that attacked Charlotte. He was laying down and covered in blood and bruises, he wasn't dead. Just very unconscious. I wonder who did that? We continued down the hall and went down one more staircase to the depths of the cell. The only prisoners we put down here are the ones that deserve it the most. And he did.

"Finally, took you long enough." He laughed dryly as I walked up to his cell. There was so much blood dripping down his face, he was almost unrecognizable. But his voice was something that would haunt me forever.

"You look like shit," I responded to his comment and leaned against the cell.

"Thanks to thing one, and thing two over here." He pointed referring to Trey and Robert.

"You know why you're here right?" I asked him and he just rolled his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

"I'm not telling you where she's at." He smirked when he said that, filling me with unexplainable rage.

"Well, then I guess thing one and thing two will be paying you a visit every day until you do."

"What happened to the family having each other's back?" He stuck his bottom lip out and I looked deep into his eyes, there was no emotion. But that's how it's always been. He was soulless even from a young age.

"Ironic how you ask that question when you are the cause of everything that's been happening."

"Oh, here you go again blaming your problems on me. I wouldn't have done what I did if you would have just given me what you had. You're selfish, a liar, and a manipulator. If your pack, if Charlie knew who you are, you'd be in here. Not me."

I wanted to lie and say that he was wrong. But he wasn't. There was truth to his words. If anyone else found out what I had done in my past life I would be in a cell.

"At least some people are capable of change. Unlike you, who stays the same. Enjoy your 'vacation' Tyler. This is the last time you will be seeing me for a very long time."

"You think I care? You were gone for 16 years, I can go without you for a few months." He scoffed at me. I wasn't getting through to him and it was frustrating the hell out of me.

"I don't need you! I can find her myself. You're a psycho motherfucker you know that!" I slammed my fist in the cell and he just laughed at me. He wanted me riled up and angry, and I gave it to him on a silver platter.

"Good luck."

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