The Dormant: The 5 Goddesses

Episode 13: Inlaws

~Charly~

"Mom, I have a date at eight. Can I go?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my heart was pounding. She snapped her neck toward me from the couch and gave me a serious look.

"With whom?" she asked, her tone all business.

"A guy I met while visiting friends up at Camp North," I replied, shrugging, and attempting to make a quick escape up the stairs before she could ask more questions.

But I froze in my step when I heard her thundering voice behind me. "Name, age, social security number, and the time he is dropping you back home?" I stood there, making circles with my foot and looking down at the floor.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and answered, "Noah Solvermond. He's a little bit older; he just turned twenty-one." I bit my lip and fidgeted with my hands, then added, "He promised he would come and meet you guys before we go, so you feel safe that I'm not going out with a maniac."

She thought for a second, c*****g her head at me, then said, "Charlotte, you've become an amazing girl over the years. Last year, when that boy did what he did, I wanted to hang him by his teeth, but knowing you stood up for yourself made me proud. He is indeed a little bit older than I would have liked, and I'm not saying yes yet. I need to pass it by your dad first, but knowing you, I know you won't do anything I'd be ashamed of. Though he does have to step inside and meet us first, so I can tell him if he even touches a hair on your head, he's getting momma bear justice." She finished with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

Beaming, I ran and jumped onto the couch, hugging her tight. "Thanks, Mom. I love you so, so much. Why don't you come up with me and help me get ready?" She grinned, patting my head and nodding, then wrinkled her nose.

"You were exercising? You need a shower." I made a mock insulted face, realizing I was still sweaty from the day's activities. Getting up from the couch, I started running up the stairs to my room. "I'll be right up," she yelled, laughing.

I hopped into the shower, shaved my legs, washed my hair, and scrubbed myself clean. Checking my phone, I saw it was already seven pm, and I had no idea what to wear. I brushed my teeth and ran to my closet. I had jeans, shorts, and shirts, but nothing seemed right for a date with Noah. Patrick walked past my door and saw me in my disheveled state, clothes scattered all around me. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Women," he muttered.

I looked up at him and yelled, "When you start dating, you'll understand!" Feeling overwhelmed, I was about to burst into tears when my mom walked into my room, smiling, and carrying a blue silk dress. It was off-shoulder with a plunging back, fitted at the waist, and the skirt flowed past my knees. It was beautiful.

She laid it on the bed and passed a hand on the fabric, "That was mine at your age. Why don't you wear it tonight?" I sat beside her, staring at the dress.

"Really?" I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.

"Really," she confirmed. "Now, let's get you ready." She started fixing my hair, brushing, and fluffing it as we talked about Noah and my friends, and she shared stories about my dad and how much Patrick and I meant to her.

When she finished, she turned me toward the mirror. On its reflection, a golden-haired beauty stared back at me. "You are beautiful, Charlotte. Never forget it, my sweet and caring girl," she whispered, smiling, and resting a hand on my shoulder. The doorbell rang, and she shook her head. "Stay here," she commanded, heading for the door. "I'm getting your father."

I rolled my eyes and took one last look in the mirror.

~Noah~

I was on cloud nine after the girls left. Not even Liam or Ben could bring me down from my mate-induced high as I entered the packhouse. Liam raised an eyebrow at me. "If you're asking me on a date, I must say I don't play in that team, mate." he teased.

I laughed, too happy to be bothered by Liam's teasing. "Oh, someone's sad because I have a date with my mate, and you're spending your night with Ben."

Ben, who had just walked in, flopped onto the living room couch, groaning. I sat beside him, concerned. "What's wrong? It's not like you to miss an opportunity to dish out to Liam."

He shook his head, staring at the ceiling. "I'm just off. But don't worry about me. Where are you taking her?"

Realizing I hadn't planned anything, I panicked. "Oh s**t, I haven't thought about it. I wasn't planning on the big date night being today." I glanced at my watch, seeing how little time I had left.

Ben shifted his finger, opening his mouth. "She seems like a down-to-earth, shy girl. She'd probably want to talk to you, so please don't go all razzle-dazzle on her."

Stunned, I looked at him then heard Liam shouting from the other end of the room, "Please cancel the helicopter ride and fireworks with her name."

I tossed the remote control at him, frowning. "You still understand I am your Alpha, right?"

Ben replied beside me, "And as my Alpha, I must always tell you the truth: you suck at dates."

He was right. Raised by wolves, I grew up thinking my mate would be familiar with life in a packhouse. Wolves usually end up in each other's beds five minutes after feeling the mate bond. But with Charly, the Moon Goddess had chosen a human-raised wolf for me, and I had to ease her into this life.

I turned to Ben and Liam, seeking advice. Ben was shuffling with his phone, and Liam was eating a sandwich. "So, what should I do? How do you make a human-raised wolf want to leave her life behind and become the other part of your soul and the most important member of your pack?"

¨Take it, no questions, mate, mark. ¨ I heard my impatient wolf growl out his reply.

Ben checked his phone again, texted something, and then threw a cushion at me, shaking his head. "You'll get there, just don't do anything too big too soon. Not yet." His phone beeped again, and he smiled as he answered the text. I realized he wouldn't be much help tonight.

"Well guys, this wolf has a date with his Luna," I said, standing up and walking out of the living room, closing the door behind me with a loud bang.

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I was so excited I arrived half an hour early and decided to wait in the car. Meeting the parents, I chose to bring my regular pickup truck—safe, family-oriented, and not too showy. My skin crawled with anticipation. I couldn't wait any longer. Turning off the car, I took a deep breath and grabbed the daisies I brought for her mother.

"Charlotte, are you ready?" I mind-linked her.

"Uuummmm...Almost," she replied, shuffling around. I could feel her excitement as I rang the doorbell. "Charlotte, your date is…!" A middle-aged man opened the door, yelling, then stopped, staring at me. "…And you are not twenty," he stated skeptically.

I was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and a pair of jeans. Still, you could see a glimpse of my muscles constraining against it.

I chuckled and showed him my ID. He was more surprised as he looked at the card. "What are you, a linebacker?" He tilted his head back, yelling again, "Charlotte, your oversized date is here!"

He started tapping his foot, looking at me seriously. "Well, after you showed me your ID, I guess it's fair for me to introduce myself. Nice to meet you, Noah Solvermond. I'm Charly's father, John Addams, and if you say something about the Founding Fathers, I will close the door, and you will never see my daughter again." He squeezed his eyes, introducing himself.

I raised my hand and shook my head. "Good, now we're talking. Are those for me? Charlotte should have told you I prefer roses." He ogled the daisies in my hand. "Charlotte, your oversized boyfriend brought me flowers, but I'm not accepting. They are not roses!" He yelled again; his arms crossed.

He was really trying to embarrass Charly, I thought, as we walked to the living room area. I laughed with him. A kid about fifteen years old passed by, playing on a PSP, barely noticing us.

"Patrick, manners!" his father snapped, taking away the console.

The kid glanced up, his green eyes widening at my size. "Good to meet you, Patrick. I'm Noah," I said, offering my hand.

He shook it enthusiastically. "Dude, how much do you bench press?"

Charlotte's mom entered the room, her eyes widening. "Hi... Oh my god, what are they feeding young people these days?" she exclaimed.

I smiled and handed her the daisies. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Addams. I brought these for you."

"What a thoughtful young man," she said, shooting a glance at her husband.

As I was getting verbally assaulted with banter by Charlotte's family, a familiar voice came from behind me. "Family, please step away from the big man before you do something to embarrass me more."

I turned around, and there stood Charlotte, looking stunning in a blue dress that highlighted her natural beauty, her hair was set free, and it went down her back in long golden waves, her beautiful eyes glinting with humor. Her father whispered something to her, making her blush and smile. f**k! She was breathtaking.

I stepped toward her, kissed her cheek, and whispered, "You look amazing, Charlotte."

She giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. "You to look very handsome tonight, Noah. Shall we?" She linked her arm with mine as I offered mine.

"Let's go," I said, smiling as we walked to the front door.

"Wait!" Sara, Charly's mom, called out. I turned back to her. "You know her curfew? Not later than twelve, and if you do anything…"

I finished her sentence, "You'll skin me alive?" She laughed and cupped Charly's face.

She walked over to Charly, let out a laugh, and cupped her face. “Finally, a smart one.” I bowed my head at her, grinned, and started to lead my beautiful Charlotte out the door.

“I am sorry about my family; I know they can be a bit much, but Crazy Addams aside, I love them,” Charly explained as I opened the door to the passenger side of my truck. I closed her door and then got into the driver's seat, buckling her seatbelt and then mine. Looking at her, I said, “I love them already.” A small pink hue appeared on her cheeks, and she grinned at me.

I started to drive and immediately got a mind-link. “So where are we going?” she asked. I smiled, grabbing her hand, and rubbing circles on the back of it. She was getting good at using the link between us.

With my voice, I answered, “Well, it's a special place where we can talk about this.” I pointed between us.

“And what is this?” she asked aloud, mimicking my gesture.

“All in due time, my princess, all in due time.” During the drive, we made small talk about favorite foods and colors. I told her I was the heir of a multinational company, and my dad had just retired to Colorado. She told me about her adoption and how her mom couldn't have kids but were later blessed with Patrick, and how lucky she felt to have a family who chose to love her not because she was their blood but because they wanted to.

I soon parked the car, telling her we had arrived. “And where did we arrive?” Charly asked, seeing we were in an open field outside of town.

I climbed out of the truck and opened her door, offering my hand. “Do you trust me?”

She looked at me warily, meeting my gaze, and squinted her eyes. “Not really, but you’re already in my head, so what choice do I have?” Shrugging and c*****g her head to the side, she gave me her hand and smiled, stepping out of the truck.

“I’m happy with that answer. I hope after tonight you will trust me,” I said, beaming back at her.

We walked the trail, and she asked, shifting her legs, and putting her arms behind her lower back, “You’re not bringing me to a field to murder me, are you?”

I cracked up, running a hand through my hair. “Why the hell would I do that?”

She bit her lip and frowned a little. “Well, I don't know, maybe the whole walk on a trail in the middle of the night with a handsome stranger, Cult Leader bit,” she answered.

“Well, if I was going to murder you, I would have already done it, and I wouldn’t have done that,” I said, pointing ahead.

At the end of the trail, lit up with a hundred light bulbs, stood a gazebo filled with all the flowers I could find on such short notice. In the middle was a rug. I revealed a picnic basket from behind my back. “Midnight picnic?”

She ran, or better yet, skipped to the gazebo, turning in circles when she got to its center. “I didn’t know your favorite flower, so I brought them all,” I said, standing at the entrance.

She smiled and, after smelling some roses, sat down in the middle where the rug was. “This is incredible, Noah.”

I grinned at her, lingering and watching the scene in front of me. It reminded me of a painting, the light catching her hair, skin, and eyes perfectly.

She looked at me. “I can see your thoughts, you know.” A small smile appeared on her lips as she continued. “You think I’m pretty, don’t you?” she teased, brushing some hair behind her ear.

“Well, Miss Smarty Pants, I think I know something you don’t know.” She shot her head up, thinking I was going to do something magical.

“What we’re having for dinner,” I said, sitting over to her side and opening the basket.