Chapter 393
Three hundred and ninety five
Charlie POV
The Alpha meeting ended, and two of the pack’s guards helped carry Wesley’s wedding gifts to my van. Several packages were stacked in their arms, some long and wide, others tucked beneath an elbow. The Young Alphas Club had put them together, its name scrawled across the card on top.
I followed them across the parking lot as one guard shifted the stack when it started to slip.
I had volunteered to deliver them while Wesley was away on his honeymoon. It gave me an excuse to make the trip, though I didn’t need much of one anymore.
My mother had been reminding me for weeks that I needed to talk to Emma properly, apologize, and stop pretending the apology after Barbara was convicted was enough.
She was right. Emma was a good woman, and I would be stupid to let my pride keep me from trying to repair what I had broken. What I had felt for Barbara wasn’t love. It was infatuation, and I was stupid and careless enough to let it become a disaster.
At the wedding, I wanted to ask Emma for another chance, but every time I looked at her, I remembered how badly I’d handled things and told myself she deserved better.
I drove toward Wild Fangs, thinking that perhaps this weekend would finally give me the chance to talk to her without a hundred people watching us.
At the Alpha House, Lisa saw me first and smiled, clearly glad to see me. She hugged me before I could speak, then stepped back to make sure I was really there.
The house is so empty. I hope you plan to stay for the weekend p>
I shrugged.
“If I do not end up upsetting anyone p>
She smiled and led me to the others. She was relieved, having worried about the distance between Wesley and me. At first, I told myself Wesley was just busy with Isabella and his wolf. That was easier than the truth. But whenever we spoke or met, I felt the change. Our brotherly bond was not the same anymore.
We talked before the wedding because Lisa made us face it. Wesley said he did not hate me or hold a grudge, but things could not go back to how they were. Actions had consequences, and we could not pretend nothing happened. I understood. I caused the distance, so I could not ask him to fix it just because I finally felt guilty.
The house was full when I walked in. Alpha Cameron was there with Emma’s parents, Nadia and Beta Franklin, my parents, and my brother James with his wife Cynthia.
Little Maverick moved among the adults, finally safe enough to just be a child. The weekend gathering went on without Wesley and Isabella. Their absence was noticeable, but no one expected newlyweds on their honeymoon to sit around with us.
I noticed two other absences right away.
Lisa, who sat closest to me, gave me an amused look.
“Looking for Emma already p>
I ignored the teasing. “And Anita p>
1/3
The hundred and ninety-five
“They went on vacation to Ruin Island. Anita talked Emma into it p>
+15 Bonus
ould picture Emma agreeing only after being dragged into it. She had always been more responsible than Anita, and knowing Anita, the trip probably involved more trouble than Emma had originally planned for.
“She’ll probably come back regretting every decision that led her there,” I said.
Lisa laughed. “Probably p>
I forced a smile. I had hoped she would be here. I wanted another chance to talk to her.
After dinner, we moved to the living room. Everyone talked about the wedding, repeating details about the ceremony. They also mentioned Isabella’s coronation as Luna, set for three months away. I mostly listened and ate, speaking only when asked directly.
Emma’s mom, Nadia, caught my attention.
“I’ve been trying to reach Emma. Her phone is off, and so is Anita’s. Emma calls every day, so this isn’t like her.” “She’s on Ruin Island with Anita,” Cameron said. “They are having too much fun to check their phones.” Everyone laughed when Alpha Cameron reminded Nadia that she did worse when she was younger.
I grabbed my phone. I could not call Emma directly anymore, but Anita would answer. I texted her: Do not hook Emma up with anyone. I had taken her love for granted once, and I plan not to do it again. 2
My phone stayed silent. I put it away and followed everyone outside when Cameron suggested opening Wesley’s gifts.
No one took risks after Meridian’s infiltration. Every item, even gifts from the Council of Alphas, went through inspection. They used a detection compound to check for Meridian traces. Meridian was broken, but remnants remained, and no one wanted another threat near the family.
The inspection took longer than opening the gifts. Cameron and Franklin joked about how paranoid everyone was, while my father shook his head.
“We are checking gifts now,” Franklin laughed. “At this rate, we will check the food before we eat it p>
Everyone laughed, and things felt normal again. The gifts were safe.
I stayed behind as the others headed inside. I did not feel like joking, so I walked to the fountain. I stood in the quiet until I heard footsteps behind me.
“Something bothering you p>
I turned and saw my father. “I thought you went inside p>
“I was about to p>
He stood beside me. I noticed his white hair and the deep lines around his eyes. He was aging, and it unsettled me.
One day, I would have to take his place as Regional Alpha. I was strong, but next to him, I felt like I had barely begun.
“I’m fine,” I said.
My father looked at me. “You seem to have a lot on your mind lately. Is it about Emma p>
I ignored him. A smile tugged at his mouth as he looked toward the house.
2/3
Then hundred and nonety live
+15 Bchus
“Do you want me to talk to her parents p>
Well no. That would make it worse,” I said. “I’m not six, Dad p>
He laughed. “Fair point p>
We watched the water in silence.
“Life has a way of settling things,” he said. “You might think something is over, but things change. You do not have to force it p>
I looked at him.
“No one sees you as a failure, Charlie. You made mistakes and faced the consequences. That does not define you”
He patted my shoulder.
“Everyone wants the old Charlie back. The one who made everyone laugh at dinner p>
“I don’t know if that Charlie is still here p>
“He is,” my father said, squeezing my shoulder before stepping away. “He is just thinking too much p>
He was near the door when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, expecting Anita.
It wasn’t her. The message came from the Alpha coordination group.
URGENT: Multiple Alpha family members missing from Ruin Island and surrounding areas.
Alpha Nicholas’s grandson is missing. Intelligence links this to rogue activity.
My stomach tightened. I scrolled down.
Alpha Cameron’s daughter, Anita, is also confirmed to be with them.
“What p>
My father, who was heading back inside, turned around.
I called the number attached to the report immediately.
The Alpha on the other end answered without wasting time. “We’ve received information from two separate sources. The rogues attacked targets around Ruin Island. They took several Alpha relatives. We believe they’re holding them somewhere within rogue territory. I hear they have your cousin Anita p>
My grip tightened around the phone.
My father had gone completely still.
Emma and Anita were in trouble.
P
Comments
Support
Share
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.