Chapter 407
Four hundred and nine
Emma POV
I sat on a stone bench in my mom’s garden, watching two small gray sparrows fly between the green hedges.
The sound of gravel behind me made me turn. Charlie walked toward me with his hands in his pockets.
My heart kicked against my ribs.
I knew why he was here. It wasn’t just about the rescue mission. I’d loved Charlie for years, and those feelings didn’t disappear in one night. The mate bond with Alexander had turned my life upside down, tying me to a rogue Alpha I could never be with, but my history with Charlie was still real.
Charlie sat beside me on the bench. “Still sitting out here, staring into the sky p>
I smiled. “It helps me clear my head p>
He looked at me. “I know everything at the rogue camp was a lot to take in, but you’re going to be fine. If you need anything, tell me. I’m at your service p>
His serious tone made me chuckle. He sounded like a butler waiting for orders. “Thank you, Charlie. I really mean it.” I looked at him. “I still don’t know how you and Wesley pulled off that trade. You kidnapped that old woman right out of their territory. Anita even bet that it was you or Wesley who came up with the idea p>
Charlie grinned. “I’m just glad it worked out p>
He kept looking at me, making me look down at the grass.
“What?” I asked, glancing back at him.
“Can I finally be forgiven?” Charlie asked. “For being an asshole to you all these years p>
I chuckled. “Yes. You saved our lives. That earns you a lot of points p>
He smiled. “When you were gone, I couldn’t sleep. Every night, I thought about what would happen if I lost you. I promised myself that if you came home safe, I wouldn’t stay quiet anymore p>
I stayed silent, my stomach tightening. I knew what was coming.
“All my life, I thought I was looking for some magical, mind-blowing spark,” Charlie said. “I thought love was something that hit you out of nowhere. I kept chasing that idea while you were right in front of me p>
He paused. “We grew up together, and for a long time, I told myself you were like a sister p>
“Please don’t,” I interrupted, groaning. “Not the sibling line again. We’re not related by blood, Charlie. Do you want us to take a DNA test p>
Charlie raised his hands and laughed. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. I was young and stupid. I used it as an excuse because I was scared to cross the line and ruin our friendship p>
He looked at me and smiled. “Remember your tenth birthday party? When you wished to be a fashionista Luna with lots of dresses and jewelry p>
I shook my head, laughing. “How can I forget p>
“The point I’m trying to make is that you don’t fit into one box,” Charlie said. “You can be my best friend, my sister, and my lover. Everything I ever wanted was right here. I want to know if there’s a chance for us p>
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My chest felt heavy. I couldn’t tell him the truth. I couldn’t tell him I’d found my mate in a rogue Alpha, or that being away from Alexander was tearing me apart. But how could I say yes? If I severed my bond with Alexander, would it be fair to start a relationship with Charlie when part of me would always be broken?
Yet Charlie was everything I’d wanted: safety, comfort, and a future in my home pack.
Instead of answering, I frowned. “Are you sure you actually want me, Charlie? Or am I just the safe option p>
Charlie blinked. “What do you mean p>
“If Barbara hadn’t been caught lying, you’d still be chasing her,” I said. “You were obsessed with her p>
“That wasn’t love,” Charlie said quickly, shaking his head. “I see that now. It was just a stupid distraction p>
“Then why choose me now?” I asked. “Why not a year ago? Or two years ago? Why now, right after Wesley got married? Are you just looking for a partner because everyone else is settling down p>
“No, Emma,” Charlie said, taking my hand. “You’re not a safety net. You’re not convenient. I’m telling you this because I almost lost you, and it opened my eyes p>
He squeezed my hand. “We don’t have to rush. We can start from scratch. We can go on simple dates and take our time. If, after a month or two, you feel uncomfortable, you can walk away. I’m not putting a gun to your head p>
He looked into my eyes. “My father is retiring as Regional Alpha in six months. There’s a good chance the Council will appoint me to take his seat. When that happens, I want a Luna who is competent, strong, and kind. I want you by my side, Emma p>
His words gave me the stability I’d wanted. It was the life I’d planned before I was taken to the rogue territory.
I let out a breath and pulled my hand back. “I can’t give you an answer today, Charlie. Too much has happened, and my mind is a mess. I need time to think p>
Charlie nodded. “I get it. That’s fair. But tell me one thing. Is there any hope, or do you still hate me p>
“I don’t hate you, Charlie,” I said quietly.
Hate was far from what I felt. The truth was worse. I’d spent years waiting to hear him say those words. But now that the moment had come, it felt wrong. My world had changed, my heart was split in two, and nothing felt simple anymore.
Charlie smiled and stood from the bench. “That’s enough for me today. Take all the time you need, Emma p>
After Charlie walked away, I stayed on the stone bench for a while, taking deep breaths. I stared at the hedges, but my mind kept spinning. I knew this was only the beginning. Now that Charlie had made his feelings clear, everyone in my life would start pushing us together.
When I finally went inside, my parents were sitting in the living room. My father held a cup of coffee, and my mother sat beside him on the sofa.
“There she is,” my father said, smiling as I walked in. “Charlie just left. That boy really stepped up for us, Emma. He organized the search, worked with Wesley, and helped plan the swap for the old woman. He did whatever it took to bring you home p>
I sat in the armchair across from them. “I know, Dad p>
My father’s preference for Charlie was obvious, but I couldn’t blame him. To my father, Charlie was a loyal pack member, a future Alpha, and a safe choice from a respected family. He had no idea about the rogue bond tying me
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to Alexander. 1
mother studied me. She set down her teacup and frowned. “Emma, you haven’t said much since you sat down. You look like your mind is somewhere else p>
“I’m just tired, Mom,” I said.
“Please don’t keep everything inside,” my mother said, leaning forward and taking my hand. “It’s normal to feel shaken after being taken by those people. Trauma takes time to heal p>
I swallowed. I couldn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t say, “I’m not traumatized by a kidnapping, Mom. I’m fighting a soul bond with the Rogue Lord p>
“I’m not traumatized,” I said.
“Maybe doing something normal will help you feel like yourself again,” my mother suggested. “Charlie is / someone you know. He cares about you. Maybe give him a chance and go on a simple date. It might help you feel better p>
I nodded just to end the conversation. Inside, my chest felt like it was being pulled in two directions. A year ago, hearing my mother encourage me to date Charlie would have felt like a dream. Now, it felt like torture. How was I supposed to return to the life I once wanted when my soul was tied to Alexander?
I went up to my bedroom to get away from my parents. My phone rang on the nightstand. It was Anita.
I picked it up. “Hey p>
“Haley is barely talking to me,” Anita said as soon as I answered. “She hasn’t called me all day, and when I text her, she gives me one-word answers. It feels like she’s pulling away from me p>
“What do you mean?” I asked, leaning back against my pillows.
“It feels like now that the kidnapping is over, she realized she doesn’t need me,” Anita said. “I hate this. I’m not going to let someone push me away without an explanation. Either she likes me or she doesn’t p>
“Anita, take a breath,” I said. “You might be overreacting. You know how you get when you think someone is pulling away because of your past relationships p>
“I’m not overreacting,” Anita grumbled.
“Just talk to her directly,” I said. “Be mature about it. Tell her that if she doesn’t want this anymore, you can end it like adults. But don’t assume she doesn’t care without asking p>
Anita laughed over the speaker. “Look at you giving relationship advice. Aren’t you the expert now p>
I rolled my eyes. “Stop comparing my situation to yours p>
We hung up a few minutes later.
I was getting ready for bed when my phone buzzed with a long text from Anita. I sat up and read it.
Haley finally texted me back, Anita wrote. Her parents are forcing her to marry a man.
I gasped and typed back. What? Why? They know she likes women!
Anita replied right away: It’s all about politics and family expectations. Her father says they need a male heir to take over their pack and business. He called her reckless for going on resort trips and said the abduction proved she needs a husband to protect her. If she refuses to marry a man, her father will cut her off from her inheritance.
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My stomach dropped. That’s so unfair. Where would she even start if her family cuts her off?
Exactly, Anita texted back. She’s terrified of losing her family and everything she knows. Her father is a harsh man.
I stared at the screen. Anita and Haley were facing the same problem: family expectations versus the person you choose. It was the same battle I was fighting, just in a different form.
I typed back: Don’t give up on her, Anita. Tell her not to do anything crazy, like cutting off her parents right away, but encourage her to fight for your relationship. Just don’t puşlı her too hard. She’s already under a lot of pressure
I will, Anita replied. I’m going to tell her I want to fight for us, but I also won’t accept being kept as a secret forever.
Fair enough, I texted. Just give it some time.
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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.