The King's Love

Chapter 2 ~ Charlee

Avoiding Jaren became easier over the summer with Carissa’s help. I spent my summer break with peace and a lot of goofing around. Carissa told me how funny it is to see how pissed Jaren gets when he asks to come with and she tells him no. The first few weeks of my senior year have begun and I already hate it. Avoiding Jaren became slightly harder because we share two classes, but I just sit as far away as possible from him. Now and again I’ll catch him looking back at me, but I just ignore him. After lunch, I had a free hour so I went to the library to find the book our English teacher assigned us to read. Just as I found the book, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

“Okay, I’m getting sick of this Charlee!” Jaren exclaimed quietly. “This whole avoiding me because I’m dating Addison is getting childish and it needs to stop.” He adds. I pull my arm out of his grip and look at him appalled. “I’m avoiding you because you aren’t the Jaren I used to know, you’re an asshole now!” I tell him and he just looks at me shocked.

“Because of you, Justin refuses to hang out with me!”

“That’s Justin’s choice, not mine! Jaren, it was clear to me you were never my friend if it took Carissa bridging you with doing your chores for three months to come and see when I got here!” I say and I push him away from me. I went back to the bookshelf he pulled me away from and grab the book I came here for. “All you are is an emotional mutt and your mom was a coward for leaving the pack.” He says as I walk away. I refuse to give him the satisfaction and just keep walking. I went to the bathroom and cried for the rest of the hour. Before my next class, I went to my counselor and asked to be moved out of the two classes I shared with Jaren. I refused to even walk in his direction after that. He tried to text me a few weeks ago and said he was sorry, but I didn't answer. After I left him on reading, I blocked and deleted his number.

The entire town was alive during the winter. The Winter Solstice Festival was everyone's favorite time of year. We’ve been setting it up for a week now and everything's coming into place. It only lasted for one day and one night and at midnight, we set off fireworks and seeing it glisten over the snow was very beautiful. With the festival coming around that means the night after is my pack's annual Mate Ball. We have packs from around the region come, in hopes of finding their mates. Carissa, Nadine and Justin, and I had the entire night and day planned out. We are all to meet up at the town square. On my way there, I got a text from Carissa saying please don’t hate her, she had no choice. I was so confused about what she was talking about, until I was close enough to see them. Jaren and Addison were with them, as I got closer I could see Carissa mouth, “I’m sorry”. I pretend to get a phone call as I walk closer. I end the ‘phone call’ when I get to them. “Sorry guys, the alpha wants me to come back to the packhouse to help with some pack business. So, I’ll catch you guys later,” I say with a half-smile. Jaren rolled his eyes. He always knew when I was lying. Carissa hit him in the arm and gave him a look. I could tell her that she linked him to stop being a jerk. I went to the packhouse and asked my papa if there was anything I could do to help him today. He told me some important people were coming tonight for the Mate Ball tomorrow and told me to get some omegas to set up the guest rooms and make sure they’re in order. For the remainder of the night, I sat in what once was my Grandma’s office but now is mine. Carissa texted me, asking if I was mad at her. I told her no, I couldn’t be, Jaren is her brother, and sadly with that comes Addison. She told me Jaren had their parents force, Carissa, to let them tag along because Addison felt left out. I just rolled my eyes at that. She asked if I was going to come out to the clearing and see the fireworks. I told her I’ll meet her up there.

I made it to the clearing just before the fireworks started. “Hey, sorry Papa needed me to tell the omegas to make sure the guest rooms were clean and ready. He said we had special guests coming for The Mate Ball.” I say smiling, keeping my eyes on Carissa and Nadine. I caught Jaren looking at me and he smiled at me. I looked away from him and went back to talking to Carissa. I don't like being cold to him, but he doesn’t deserve my kindness, not after what he said. The fireworks start, they begin to paint the snow with the reflection of their colors and it's beautiful. Winter is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp and cold air and playing in the snow in wolf form. The fireworks made me forget where I was and when I looked around Jaren was staring at me like he was mesmerized. Addison looks at him and back at me, she grabs his face and pulls him into a kiss. I looked away and tried to hold back the tears. I decided to just leave and go watch the fireworks from my Grandma’s office. I start to walk away and I feel Carissa try to grab my hand “Wait Charlee the fireworks aren’t over.” She says, but I don’t stop, I refuse to force myself to watch the guy I love with someone else.

I slammed the front door behind me and fell to my knees in front of it. I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I hugged myself and cried silently. Carissa’s honey and rose scent came from under the door, and Jaren's chocolate and sandalwood scent soon joined it. “What the f**k has been Charlee’s problem!” I hear Jaren yell.

“You, asshole!” Carissa yells back.

“What do you mean? I tried to apologize for what I said and she ignored me and blocked my number!”

“Do you have any idea how much you mean to her? Are you that clueless Jaren?”

“What are you talking about?” Jaren asks a bit more calmly. I left and went upstairs. I didn’t want to hear anymore. I got upstairs and into my Grandma’s office as fast as I could, I shut the door behind me and sat on the couch just to the right of the door. I cried for twenty minutes and realized who I was crying over. I was crying over someone who didn't care about me anymore. I stopped and wiped my tears away.

I grab another tissue and take, out my phone to fix what little makeup I had on. Jaren’s scent comes into the room and a knock comes across the door. “Come in,” I say through a sniffle. Jaren walks in slowly and looks at me with concern. “What do you want, Jaren?” I ask and look away from him.

“Is it true?” He asks.

“Is what true?”

“Are you really in love with me?” I look at him stunned and he smiles. I start to feel the tears reform in my eyes. At this point, I can safely assume Carissa told him, I might as well tell him the truth. “Yes, I’m madly in love with you Jaren. It’s always been you, I was going to tell you when I came home, but then Carissa and Nadine told me about Addison, so I just kept it to myself. I saw how much you changed because of her and you aren’t the Jaren I knew anymore.” I look away from him again, it hurts to see him right now. “The only hope I have left is finding out you are my mate tomorrow night,” I add. He walks in front of me and grabs my hand, he pulls me to my feet and embraces me.

“Charlee, I have feelings for you too.” He tells me. “But I love Addison more and I’m hoping she is my mate tomorrow.” I push him away and look at him with anger and disgust.

“So you just came here to hurt me more!” I scream. “You know, I don’t ever want to hear a word from you again! If I had the choice to never see you again, I would take it! Get the f**k out of my office!” I push him out of the office and slam the door in his face.