Ordinary

I Won't Let you Kill him

CHARLOTTE

It's been a week solid that Kalix and I have been shuttered together in this remote hunting cabin.

My heat died away a couple of days ago, but I can tell both of us are reluctant to return to reality. As if we are protecting this fragile bubble of our new reality we've built over these seven days.

At the same time, we look up to speak. We both laugh and I blush. "You go first," I say, the smile on my face, almost cracking my lips with how broad it is.

"As much as I hate it. I think I have to take you back. They've been more than patient. I don't want them to have to come here and get us." Kalix says, looking more sheepish than I've ever seen him as he scratches the back of his neck.

I'm distracted by the size and shape of his bicep and his fingers that I can just see on the edge of his thickly corded neck. I can feel my body tense. Hyper aware of every move he makes. He tells me the bond will settle the more time we spend together and the more we're intimate and cave to it...but I don't think it will ever diminish for me.

This hunger that I have for him.

For his scent. His taste. The way he moves. Speaks. I can't find anything about him that doesn't please me on some level. It should alarm me with how far and fast I've already fallen. It doesn't.

He swallows thickly, sensing the change in the atmosphere of the room. I see his pupils dilate to match mine.

I smile. Better. That's much better.

He shakes his head, trying to break the spell. Then he turns his back to me. "Charlie, stop it. Seriously," he huffs, but it lackS the rebuke he intended to weave into it. It sounds more like a plea.

"Awww... What's wrong Kalix?" I tease, drawing closer to him. Watching the muscles of his back tense with my growing proximity.

"It's time to go back. We can't stay here forever. Your mom probably thinks I'm hurting you," he grumbled lowly.

"It doesn't hurt anymore... but I'm sure you can make it. If you tried." I taunt him. His shoulders bunch in surprise at my naughty words. He spins to pierce me with his dark eyes.

"Charls," he growls with clear warning in his tone. But it doesn't have the effect he desired... it turns me on more. The heat of his tone curls low in my belly.

"Yes," I answer obediently, beginning to circle him like prey. I want to climb him like a tree. We've been at this for a week solid, and I still can't get enough. He hunts, I sleep. We go again. And again. And I'm ready now.

There's a knock on the cabin door. Kalix growls in irritation.

He pulls the door open with so much force, a couple of bolts fall from the hinge. No one is there, simply a message stuck to a nail. I see Kalix relax by degrees when he finds no one present and simply a message. He scans it quickly, then turns to me. "One last time, then we have to go back."

"Twice," I countered, leaping in his direction.

Kalix and Charlotte stroll in, hand in hand as if arriving from a picnic around the lake. The whole assembly of family turns incredulous eyes on them. Draven smirks from his seat. "Seven days, little brother... you always do things your own way."

"Jealous? I'm finding it wonderful to not have to be the Alpha," he teases Draven, pulling Charlie into the security of his arms.

"Don't get too far ahead of yourself. You are going to be Alpha. I have to go to Africa, Morrocco to be specific. And I don't know for how long," Draven says, standing to place both hands flat across his desk.

Kalix frowns, "Talk to me. What's going on?" he hugs Charlotte tighter.

For the next couple hours, the entire family recaps the events of the last week. Kalix whistles low, shifting Charlie on his lap. He plants his head in her neck near her mark. "That's why you can compel me...your royal."

The whole room freezes.

Wait. What?

"Compel? As in force you to do something you don't want to?" Draven asks slowly in his deep timbre.

Kalix snorts, taking a deep inhale of Charlotte's scent, "I wouldn't necessarily say I don't want to." he smirks. The room groans, especially Adam who has turned an unflattering shade of green.

In "Explain", both Draven and Clint bark at the same time, causing Serenity and DeAnne to giggle. This whole situation is getting out of hand.

A guard enters the study without knocking. Draven rises, fury in his eyes... until the guard hits a knee. Panting, "Alpha.... there's a man. We couldn't get through the mind link. But there is a man, a human at the gate. And he has human authorities."

The entire assembly rises. Draven is out the door in two steps, pushing the guard to the side in a heap. Serenity is on his heels, followed by the rest of us. Adam after Serenity. Kalix with Charlie on his back. These kids. Myself following closely behind Clint and the unknown wolf (Gamma, who is always present but never speaks).

As we approach the gates, we can see unmarked cars. A swat van. And several FBI vehicles. And standing in their midst is Roger. My excuse of a husband.

[This should be good. I told you long ago, you should've left that pathetic excuse...now you're going to have to watch Clint kill him.] The voice that I now understand is my wolf taunted.

I challenge. She huffs and goes silent, but I can feel something beginning deep within my consciousness.

"What is the meaning of this!" Draven grits as he approaches the gates. Telling the guards to keep the gates closed within the mind link.

The officer in charge approaches the fence, bolt cutters in hand, looking smug and confident. Half a dozen heavily armed men stood behind him. And Roger with them. "We have a court order to search the premises. We are searching for a missing person and believe this to be her last known location. Step aside," he says, handing Draven a set of papers with official signatures and judge's seals.

Draven laughs. "Your missing person is right here... And she's no captive." He waves a hand at me. Throwing the papers back at the agent.

"DeAnne. Serenity. Adam, what are you doing in there? Charlotte! You have my whole family," Roger increases in agitation.

I push forward, followed closely by Clint, whom I can feel vibrating. "Roger, what is the meaning of this? Have you lost your mind?" I say animatedly.

"Me! he huffs. "I'm not the one who disappeared off the face of the planet and stopped responding to calls or texts. Who won't come home or even tell me where she is. And you have my kids out here? What is this, some kind of cult? Have you been brainwashed?" he slants his eyes at Clint who is too close behind me. I can feel the heat of him on my back. That last question caused him to growl.

I touch him lightly, just his hand and he backs down visibly, calming just fractionally. But Roger doesn't miss it. His eyes spark with awareness, but no hurt. Accusation. Confirmation of the idea that sprouted in his head. "So that's the way it is now?" he says softly.

The agents have begun drifting away, sensing they've been brought for a domestic disturbance and this is below their pay grade.

"Open the gate," Draven says softly. Then, he turns to Clint. "I hope you're ready for this. I won't let you kill him," then he walks away as Roger crosses over into WrenHaven territory.

I wonder what changes this will bring. WrenHaven changes everyone.