Stolen Fates - Anna

Mate

"Charlie," Anna called to him on a whisper and grinned as she watched his nose wrinkle in protest to being pulled from his dreamland. She brushed her fingertip down the length of nose and chuckled when he reached up to swat away the annoyance.

She'd woken to the sound of her alarm roughly an hour ago and had followed her typical morning routine while she let him sleep. She'd showered and dressed for her morning classes in a pair of black, capri-length leggings and a gray, off the shoulder sweater worn over a black racerback tank and her feet were clad in a pair of gray, canvas flats. Her hair was still damp but contained in a messy bun atop her head.

Sitting on the edge of the bed beside him, she brushed his messy hair away from his face and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his temple. She stood and scribbled a quick note, folded it and placed it next to him on the bedside table before leaving the apartment.

A short time later, Charlie's eyes fluttered open and it took a moment to remember that he was not at home, but in Anna's bed. He turned over quickly and blinked against the sleep in the corners of his eyes. He scrubbed his hands over his face, slightly confused by her absence before spotting the folded piece of paper with his name on the front, on the nightstand. Taking the note in hand, he scanned his eyes over the content and felt a smile pull at his lips.

Had to go to class. Text me when you wake up. xoxo A

Setting the note back on the table, his eyes searched the bedroom floor for his jeans. His brow creased when he didn't immediately see them but finally spotted them folded, along with his other articles of clothing, on a small chest at the foot of the bed. Pulling the stack of clothes across the sheets, he found his boxers and stepped into them, sliding them over his hips as he stood from the bed. He stretched his arms high above his head and felt his muscles pull and relax. He pulled his phone from the pocket of jeans and set it on the table before pulling on his jeans and sitting back down to pull his socks over his feet.

He stood from the bed, picked his phone back up from the table and moved out of Anna's bedroom. His nose picked up the distinct smell of coffee and followed the delicious scent into the kitchen. His lips formed a smile when he found the coffee pot and an upside down mug placed beside it. Turning the cup over, he poured the bitter liquid in and then lifted the rim to his lips and took a slow sip of the hot contents. His eyes roamed over the kitchen and he felt a tug in his stomach as he caught sight of the mug she'd used earlier that morning in the sink.

A smile cornered his lips and he turned his attention back to his phone. He pulled up her contact information and sent her the text she'd requested.

Wish I could've seen you this morning but I'm not much of a morning person lol. Thanks for the coffee btw.

He placed his phone on the counter as he continued to sip his coffee until it was gone. He poured what remained in the coffee pot down the drain of her sink and quickly washed it and the two cups, placing them upside down on a towel beside the sink to dry. His phone chimed and he picked it up, looking over the new message.

I could tell lol. It was adorable tho.

He laughed and shook his head at her message and quickly typed a reply.

I'm glad you thought so lol. How's class???

Her reply came back quickly and he could only grin like a starry-eyed teenager.

I'd much rather be there. I have to work tonight but can I see you after?

He nodded his head to himself as he typed back his answer and slid his phone into his back pocket as he left the kitchen.

I'll meet you there... Please text me if the asshole shows up again.

He moved into her bedroom and slid his t-shirt over his head but left the flannel folded on her bed and sat down to slide his feet into his shoes. He stood once the laces were tied and left her bedroom for the living room. He picked his hat up from the floor and pushed his hair back before covering the messy strands with the cap. His phone chimed again and he pulled it from his pocket to read her message.

I will, promise. See you tonight. xoxo

He pushed his phone back into his pocket and took a glance around her apartment with a faint smile coloring his features. His hand gripped the knob of the door and turned, leaving her apartment and heading out to find an answer to a very pressing question that had been bouncing around in his head since he'd caught a glimpse of her bright eyes last night.

Charlie made the short drive from Anna's apartment to the office building of his father's construction company, Petrescu Construction. He gave a short nod of his head to the brunette behind the desk and continued into his father's office when she didn't stop him.

His father held up his index finger to Charlie, his other hand holding the receiver of the desk phone to his ear. Charlie moved quietly from the door and relaxed his frame into one of the armchairs opposite the desk. His eyes moved around the office, catching sight of familiar photos placed on different tables and surfaces. One in particular drew his attention with an affectionate half-smile pulling at his lips.

The family photo was taken when Charlie was around nine. His father, Alexander, stood smiling warmly with a hand on each of his son's shoulders. He felt a pang in his chest as he looked at his older brother, Nicholas. He'd been fifteen and still had a full life ahead of him. His mother's piercing green eyes pulled the smile back to his features as he thought of her. His mother, Gabriella, was truly a special kind of woman with her generosity and understanding. She helped to balance his father's quick temper and strict expectations.

Charlie's attention was drawn back to his father when he heard the receiver of the phone placed back down on the base. "You can't just show up to work whenever you like, Charlie," he heard his father speak and the irritation dripping from his tone was impossible to miss.

"Yeah, I know," Charlie agreed in a small voice before clearing his throat and leaning forward in his seat to lean his elbows on his knees. "I'm actually not here about work, dad," he dropped his eyes to the floor for a moment when he saw his father raise an eyebrow at him. He heard his father inhale slowly and the low chuckle that came from behind the desk.

"So, you found her...your mate," his father's voice questioned and Charlie's eyes jumped up to the older man's. "Finally," his father's voice spoke and he could hear the relief flood from the man's tone.

His father's question had stunned him and Charlie could only blink at him. Anna...his mate? It would certainly explain the overprotectiveness that he'd felt toward her since he'd first laid eyes on her. Thinking back on his reactions to her, he let his eyes drop back to the floor and let out a shocked brief laugh. "Well," he began and brought his eyes back up to the man in front of him. He opened his mouth to continue but couldn't think of the words to explain. "It's complicated," he spoke with a small shrug of his shoulder and dropped his eyes back to the floor momentarily.

His father arched a brow and leaned his elbows on his desk, steepling his long fingers. "How is it complicated," he asked with uncharacteristic patience in his tone.

Charlie sighed and pushed himself to his feet, scrubbing his hands over his face and starting to pace slowly around the open space of the office. "I don't think she knows what she is. It's like her wolf has been locked away. I've only caught a glimpse of it once, dad, and she doesn't seem aware of it at all," he explained, frustration and concern written deeply into every expression on his face.

"I'll call a meeting with the elders and ask if there's any precedent for something like this. In the meantime," his father spoke soothingly and stood from his seat behind the desk. He closed the distance between them and placed a hand on Charlie's shoulder, squeezing with a reassuring amount of pressure. "Keep her close and protect her. Even if it's from herself," his father continued and gave another squeeze of his hand before moving back to his desk and returning to his seat. "Take as much time as you need to see it done. I'll explain your absence here at the office," he finished and Charlie knew the conversation had ended when his father picked up the receiver of his desk phone and keyed a number into the the base.

"Thanks, dad," he said with a small nod of his head and turned to leave the office. His father spoke again but only to inform Charlie that he'd call him when he learned something from the elders. Charlie gave another brief nod and left the office with a mixture of concern, confusion and excitedness constricting his chest as he thought of Anna, his mate.