Chapter 3:
1214 Words
Charlotte:
His laugh was smooth and deep, and a shiver of pleasure ran through my body.
"My name is Connor."
"Alpha Connor of Blood River pack?"
"You know who I am?"
I smirk. "Of course I know who you are. I did send you the invitation to this celebration after all."
"But don't the Alpha and Luna usually send the invites?"
My shoulders raise in a non committal shrug. We fall quiet, staring into each other's eyes, neither of us moving. Then, like we realize that there is nothing separating us, we snap together in a clash of lips and limbs. He scoops me off the ground so our faces are level and pulls back from my face.
"Do you want this?" He asks. "I can't offer you everything you want." I have no clue what that means, but I am so worked up by being near him that I just nod my head furiously and pull his face to mine again. He lowers me on my back underneath him as we lay on the soft moss of the forest floor.
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I lay with my head on his chest, our bodies wrapped in each other as we catch our breaths. Connor pets my hair, and with a quick kiss to my forehead jumps up and starts pulling on clothing. As we dress, neither of us speak. I walk back into his arms, feeling cocooned in his strong body.
"Time to get me back before people think I'm kidnapped." I turn to leave, but his arm catches mine.
"Charlie, we need to talk."
Connor:
She looks up at me with confusion. Damn, this is going to be so much more difficult than I thought. Now that I know her touch, her taste, I don't ever want to let her go, but how else will I save my pack?
"What's the matter, Connor? Is something wrong?" Her concerned expression makes me feel like a huge monster, but I have to do this. Not willing to let her go yet, I pull her closer into me and inhale her sweet scent.
"Charlie, I can't accept you as my mate." I flinch at her gasp of surprise and pain, and my chest aches in pain.
"What do you mean?" Tears well up in her eyes as she pulls away from me and gets to her feet, and my wolf fights me so that he can hold her. I reach out a hand to her in a silent plea for understanding.
"Charlie, I have a duty to my pack, and I need a strong Luna by my side."
"And I'm not strong enough?"
"It's not that. You just aren't the kind of mate I need." I hear her stuttered inhale and it hits me like a knife to the chest. I close my eyes for a long moment and gather every tiny ounce of strength I can find to rip off the bandaid.
"I, Alpha Connor Whitmore of Blood River Pack, reject you, Charlie, as my mate." She shouts in pain and sorrow, falling to the ground, but I can't go to her. If I touch her now, I'll take it all back, but my pack needs a powerful luna, and she is just a house worker.
"Connor." She says, her voice breaking with her grief, and I know that if I stay here I will end up scooping her up and taking her home with me.
I turn around, and force myself to walk away from her.
Charlotte:
He leaves me in the forest. I am crumpled on the ground, clutching my stomach as I fight the waves of pain and nausea.
He rejected me.
I lay on the forest floor for what feels like hours before I can gain the strength to stand up and make my way back to the pack house. Even then, I have to shift into my wolf part way there.
I haven't accepted his rejection.
That single hope spurs me on. If I don't accept his rejection and talk to him, then maybe we can work this out.
I need him.
Staggering, I drag myself into the pack house, leaning against the walls for strength. It was late, well past nightfall, and everyone was either in bed or asleep. I hadn't realized how long it took me to make it back.
I have never felt so weak.
It feels like every breath is a battle. My wolf feels heavy, like she has become dead weight inside me. Every couple moments I feel her whimper in pain, and I have nothing in me that I can offer as support to her. I struggle to make even the most subtle of movements, and as I near the stairs I prepare myself for the near impossible climb to Annie's room.
All thoughts completely leave my mind when I see my mate standing on the stairs, sucking face with some she-wolf.
No.
Not just a she-wolf.
Annie.
The few broken remnants of my heart crumble into dust, and I let out a wail that has Annie and Connor pulling apart and turning to me. I slide down the wall that was previously supporting me and sob uncontrollably. Annie kneels in front of me, her hands probing my naked form for injury, but I push her off of me.
"Charlie, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Annie tries to get me to respond to her, but I just stare at Connor and his stoic expression. My wolf stirs in me, offering her silent support.
"You piece of shit." I say, but it comes out more like a whisper. With all the acute hearing of our species, both Connor and Annie hear me. He stiffens, but his face just shows boredom. Annie looks between us, obvious confusion present in her furrowed brows. I glare at Connor, and in this moment my sorrow turns to uncontrollable rage.
"You piece of s**t!" I jump up and launch myself toward Connor. He takes a few quick steps back until he has nowhere further to go.
"Charlie, calm down. What Annie and I do is none of your business."
"The hell it isn't! She's my sister!" All colour leaves his face as I square my shoulders and ready myself for the worst moment of my life.
"Charlie."
"I, Charlotte Dupuis of Summer Moon Pack, accept your rejection."
I feel our bond snap, and it's like bullet to the chest. Connor stumbles back, and I try to stay standing, but I just end up on my knees, clutching my chest in pain. Annie is calling my name, and it is enough for me to snap out of my trance and get back up.
"Charlie, I'm so sorry, I had no clue!" Annie clutches my arm, and my ears perk up as I hear the sounds of stirring. I don't want to be here when others come to investigate the commotion. I shake Annie's hand off of me and storm out of the room, ignoring her crying and Connor's groans of pain.
As soon as I pass the door I break out into a run, shifting into my wolf mid-stride. I don't know what direction I'm going, but I don't care. I just need to leave.
And I don't think I can come back.
- Writer
