18

Charlie

Last night was the worst I had slept in a very long time. I maybe got two hours of sleep. Mostly because I was crying, or restless. I woke up more tired than I was when I went to sleep. I guess it's the stupid mate pull, now that I have slept with Damon in the same bed it gets harder and harder to be away from each other. Well at least on my end.

I thought maybe we were getting somewhere. I got out of bed and threw on some comfy clothes. I didn't put my hair up before I went to bed and I regret it so badly. It was insane. I sighed in frustration and grabbed some water to spray it down and then put it up in a bun.

I headed toward the kitchen to make myself some breakfast since I hadn't eaten last night. Damon sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee slouched over the counter. He heard me and he sat up his eyes immediately locking with mine, he had bags under his eyes, I guess he didn't sleep either.

"Hey. Can we talk?" I just walked into the kitchen pouring my cup of coffee and facing it in front of him. At first, I didn't want to talk with him at all, I was hurt by him.

"I'm sorry about last night. I should have told you what was going on. I tried to come and tell you. But I couldn't leave. I got caught up in some issues with the pack. And I should have told you about what was going on. Would you just hear me out?" I stay silent and waited in response as I stirred the coffee.

"I found my sister."

"Sister? I didn't know you had a sister." What the hell is happening?

"Yeah. When I was younger we used to be a happy family. Or so I thought. My parents, Tyler, me, and Layla. Layla is a Lycan like me and before any of us knew what Lycans were. Tyler could tell he was different from us and he was jealous. He always had some evil about him, something dark."

"He hid my sister away from my family and got me sent away with Stephen. And yesterday we were in the hospital talking with her, and we found some very interesting information about what my brother has been platting. We were planning our next move and I just let the time get ahead of us. I'm sorry I just lost track of time, and I should have just let you know what was happening. I'm sorry. Please forgive me, I will make it up to you Charlotte I swear."

I could see how serious he was and how he meant every word. I put down my mug and ran up to him and hugged him.

"You should have told me. I thought that you ditched me and you were second-guessing being my mate." I started to feel the tears roll down my cheeks. He ran to me and picked me up and picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

"No, I would never do that! Look at me. I am not Tyler, I'm not like anyone at your old pack. You're my love, my life, my heart, my world, my everything. I will make it up to you and be the best mate you deserve."

We stayed like that for I don't know how long. Just in each other's embrace. I loved being with him.

"I want you to meet her today. Layla. I want her to meet someone close to her age. And of course my mate. And she wants to meet you. Talk to you about something she won't tell me about." I looked up at him and his beautiful smile, his eyes were beaming with hope waiting for my answer.

"Yeah, I would like that."

I got up from his lap and he stood up and headed toward the fridge.

"But first breakfast. Toast and orange juice? We should go into town later and go grocery shopping." I turned around and smirked at him. He walked over and kissed me on the head and wrapped his

"I'm going to go shower real quick." I walked to the bathroom in her room.

After a couple of minutes, I got out and put my hair up in a messy bun and a pair of stud earrings. One of Damon's black T-shirts and a pair of holey light wash skinny jeans and black vans. Damon must have showered in the guest bathroom because I walked out and he was in a black T and a pair of light-wash skinny jeans. We were matching.

"Eww, we are that couple?" I said as a joke but he turned around confused.

"What do you mean?" He asked me as he continued to brush his teeth and look at me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that we were a couple or anything." I immediately felt embarrassed at what I said. Looking down at my feet messing with my thumbs. Damn it Charlotte, you messed up yet again.

"You mean like girlfriend-boyfriend?" He started walking toward me after he spit his toothpaste out and rinsed his mouth.

"Because I would love for you to be my girlfriend. But I can't be your boyfriend until I take you out on a date. Which will be very soon." I looked up at him and smiled.

"Now, before we go there's something you should know about Layla. She's intense." He grabbed me and I could feel the intensity flowing through him.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, and so many thoughts went across his face.

"You know what, no. We will go another day. Today is about me and you."

"Wait, what? Are you okay?" I was confused why the sudden change in the plan for the day.

"No. I'm okay. I just want to make sure that you know last night was a one-time mistake. We'll go tomorrow. Let's go get lunch and spend the day together." I was concerned about why his attitude changed so quickly about me meeting his sister. But I didn't want to pry. This could have nothing to do with me.

"Come on, let's go."

•••••

We had just finished our movie and lunch and we were on our way to the grocery store in his car. I knew he didn't have a plan, and we were just going with the flow but it felt like he had it all planned. We rode in the car in silence but it was comfortable. He was holding my hand so tight and had it in his lap as he drove. Part of me couldn't stop looking at him. Was this real? He didn't seem real. To good to be true.

"Can I tell you something?" I said as I turned to look back out the window.

"Yes, of course." Damon turned and looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"You know, I thought all hope was lost when Tyler didn't accept me as his mate, I thought maybe that was it for me. I didn't even expect to have a mate in the first place. Then Kenny came along and I thought that maybe just maybe, this time could be better. And it was, so much so that before you came along, and before the drama began between Tyler, Kenny, and I. I wanted to spend my life with him. I thought about marking him. Looking back, I could see that it wasn't because I didn't think I had another choice."

I could tell he was trying to stay calm but of course who wants to hear about their mate with another man? I would hate to hear about him and another woman...if there was another woman. Was there another woman? Could there have been?

"So you and Kenny, mated?" He asked through gritted teeth. I could tell he hated this conversation just as much as I was beginning to.

"No, we didn't. We never- I mean I've never-" I found myself stuttering and trying to explain in the best way possible that I am a virgin without blurting it out like a maniac. Damon just nodded and silence fell upon us. But this time it was weird and awkward.

"Have you?" I whispered and asked him, but did I want to know the answer to that question?

I waited for an answer and then I saw his knuckles turn from gripping the wheel.

"So no?" I felt a jealous rage come over me and I wanted to know who she was, who I was going to be compared to. I tried to stay calm and remain level-headed but the thought of him with someone else hurt me in ways I could never imagine.

"Who was she? Do I know her?" His face fell and guilt covered it. I was more confused as to why he wasn't saying anything.

"Charlotte let's not talk about this anymore okay?" Damon was irritating me now. Why didn't he want to talk about it? If she was in the past he shouldn't be making it as big of a deal as he is right?

"Who is she, Damon?"

I don't know where this sternness came from but I wasn't expecting it and I don't think he was either.

"If I tell you this then you need to stay calm okay? And please remember this was before I met you and if I had known how beautiful you were going to be I wouldn't have I promise." I rolled my eyes, why was there a need for this big speech?

"Just say it, Damon." He took a deep breath and looked over at me.

"Christina."

My heart broke into two, this is worse than when Tyler said he didn't want to be my mate. My best friend and my mate. I felt frozen in place. What could I do? I hadn't realized I had started crying until I felt the tears hit my leg.

"Charlie listen, we were both in a hard place and of course, there's no excuse but you have to understand where I'm coming from." Where he was coming from? What the hell does that mean? "When did this happen?" I asked him and waited. I was expecting him to say something like 4 years ago, or something like 'a long long time ago'.

"It was 4 months ago." He looked so guilty, so hurt. But I didn't care how he was feeling.

"Four months. Four months. That's around the time we met." I questioned him. At this point, he stopped dring and pulled the car over.

"No, it was before. Okay? There was no crossover between us. I promise."

There was nothing left for me to say. My heart was broken into a million pieces and I don't know if there's a way for them to come back together.

"Trey and Christian were going through a rough time and I was going through a rough time too. I thought I was going to be alone forever and at the time I had feelings for her. And I was jealous at the fact that she was Trey's mate and not mine."

"I just want to be honest with you Charlotte. And I know me saying this is hurting you but I need to tell you the truth so you're not hearing it from someone else." He took a deep breath and continued his story.

"One night she came to me crying about something that happened between her and Trey. He was having doubts about the two of them together and she couldn't handle it. So she came to me for comfort, and one thing led to another."

"Look, if I had known that I would have met you just days later I would have stopped, I wouldn't have done what I did. I can't go back in time and change the past but I'm going to try to be better and make it better. And I should have told you."

"Does Trey know?" It was the only thing that I could say. I could barely keep my sobs in, and I just felt like the world was ending.

"No." I let out a dry laugh and rolled my eyes at him. How in the hell could he not know after all this time?

"Not only are you a lair, but you're also a cheater too." I swung open the car door and got out. Damon got out and started to follow me as I walked into the woods.

"Don't follow me. I need space."

"Okay, okay. Just take the car and I will walk. I don't want you here by yourself okay?" He handed me the car keys and I relectuntantly took them and walked to the driver's side of the car.

"Fine." I got in and slammed the car door shut and immediately drove off as fast as I could. Just when I thought I was going to have a good day.

•

•

•

•

•