All the things I didn’t know.

Introductions (Charlie’s POV)

I should have been mortified that my dad walked in on Cohen and I, for Goddess sakes I was practically begging him to f**k me, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t embarrassed at all. If my dad hadn’t pulled us away I would have been content to stay in bed with this beautiful man all night just being introduced to each other’s bodies. His body is something I have every intention of become very familiar with. My most intimate areas throbbed at just the thought of him. I thought I was being discreet as he was focusing on his phone as we walked. That was until my phone dinged in my hand. I flipped it over to find he had programmed his name into my phone as ‘Cohen/Mate’ with several heart emoji’s. That made me happy until I read the message;

- Baby, I’m not sure what you’re thinking about. But it better be me. The scent of your arousal is delicious but I don’t feel like having to kill half the males in my pack. You smell good enough to eat so could you get your mind out of the gutter so I don’t have to fight my men off of you? ;)

My face flushed crimson red and he lifted our interwoven hands up to place a kiss on the back of mine. “Sorry” I said insincerely. “No need to be sorry baby, I just don’t have any intentions of sharing you. With anyone” his eyes darkened as he spoke. I wasn’t sure to be scared or turned on so I tried to put it out of my mind as we walked the rest of the way to the common room.

Once we arrived the room fell quiet. My father made his way up to the bar and addressed the awaiting crowd.

“As many of you are aware my daughter Charlie has finally made her long awaited return to Jade River. As a celebration of both her 18th birthday and her return we will be having a party on Saturday night. Claire has made all the arrangements but if you have any questions or would like to help out in some way please see her”. He gestured to the woman who had come to stand beside him and wrapped her arm around his waist. Who is this woman? Most of the pack members could barely look him in the eye let alone touch him. Claire looked like she just stepped out of the pages of a magazine, her long blonde hair was perfect with not a strand out of place and her impeccable makeup only accentuated her high cheekbones and emerald green eyes.

As if in cue my dad turned to me “Charlie I would like to introduce you to Claire, my chosen Luna.” I stretched out my hand for her to shake but instead she pulled me into a hug “it’s so wonderful to finally meet you! Charles has told me so much about you.” “I’m sorry I wish I could say the same” I answered awkwardly. Dad just shook his head “sorry kid, your mom didn’t want you knowing anything about my personal life.”

“It’s okay Dad I get it”

I noticed Cohen had been pulled away by yet another stunningly gorgeous woman. She had her hands on his shoulders and he was rolling his eyes and laughing. The feeling of jealously began bubbling up inside me. I really didn’t like another woman putting her hands on what was mine. He clearly felt me staring at him and he met my eyes and smiled. I was mad so I turned my back to him and pretended to be looking for someone else when I felt him come up behind me and lean close to my ear “don’t you ever turn away from me little wolf” he whispered lowly making my insides quiver.

He gently turned me around and snaked his arms around me from behind. “Charlie this is Ella, my cousin” he emphasized the word cousin and I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. “Hi Ella, it’s very nice to meet you” she was a petite yet tall girl with big black curls and bright brown eyes. Without warning she threw her arms around me for a quick hug before releasing me, she grabbed both of my hands at the wrist and began bouncing in front of me squealing. “Oh my goddess finally!! Cohen hasn’t let me talk to you since you got here. I’ve been wanting to meet you so badly. We met when we’re were kids but I was like 4 so you probably don’t remember me. I’m so excited to finally have someone to hang out with who isn’t only using me to get to my cousin. Those girls can be ruthless. They just want him for his status and money” she turned to look at what I can only assume to be my new fan club. The same girls who were glaring at me yesterday were doing their best to give me the stink eye any time Cohen or my dad weren’t looking. “Ella I think you’re overwhelming Charlie” Cohen interjected. I saw his eyes glaze over and he simply said “would you mind hanging out with Ella for a minute baby, I have something I need to take care of. I’ll be in my office just down the hall if you need anything but I’ll be back before you know it.” I nodded with a smile and he turned to leave. I talked with Ella for a bit, she told me that she was 16, was homeschooled, she was pretty sure she knew who her mate was, apparently it was a warrior named Sean, she wanted to be a designer and she worked part time at a boutique that Cohen owned. She saw Sean in the corner and excused herself before the two of them disappeared together.

My dad introduced me to about 30 different people from chefs from the kitchen to his secretary to head of security. The only one I could really remember was Torin, it turns out he was dads second Betas son and would become Beta when Cohen took over. I also learned that Beta meant second in command. After a while I found myself alone and in need of a washroom. I asked one if the omegas who were serving behind the bar and she pointed me in the direction.

I wandered down the long hallway peeking in each room in search of the one I needed until I heard a familiar voice but using a very unfamiliar tone. It was Cohen except he was mad and his voice was booming. “ I was nice about it the first time and I’m telling you this is your very last warning. I’m going to make myself crystal clear. I don’t want anything from any of you ever again, In fact I regret that any of you even thought that that you had a snowflakes chance in hell of becoming my chosen Luna. I love Charlie, I have since I was 9 years old and if any of you do anything to make her feel unwelcome I will throw you out of this pack personally. Do I make myself clear?” A chorus of meek “yes Future Alpha” could be heard. “Now get the f**k out of my office and if you can’t be nice to her then steer clear. One day I hope for your sake that you meet your mates so you can truly understand what it feels like. You’re all excused.”

That voice, it was meant to make you feel small and insignificant but to me it sent jolts of excitement all over my body. I heard foot steps approaching the office door and ducked into the bathroom conveniently located behind me. I quickly did my business but I was still in the stall with the door closed when I heard two voices come in.

“I don’t know why he thinks she’s so special. She’s not even pretty and from what I’ve heard she’s a prude too.” The first voice said. Were they talking about me? “Michelle, keep your voice down! Are you trying to get kicked out? Cause I’m not! So as far as the Alpha is concerned the Future Luna is my best friend” the second voice scolded.

“Whatever Casey. I’m not scared of him. He’s been in my bed. And he liked it. A lot. He would never kick me out.”

Terrible timing. My phone dinged. They knew someone else was in here. I held my head high and stepped out. The one girl who I assume is Casey bowed her head and made a quick exit while the other stayed behind. I recognized her from this morning even though she had changed out of her silver backless mini dress.

I decided since there’s a very good possibility that I will be helping to lead this pack I should take the high road. I stood at the sink next to her but didn’t say a word. I washed my hands and straightened my hair and then turned to leave. “Have a nice evening” I said with a fake smile. “Oh you too.” That was the last thing I heard before I was on the floor. My chin hit first and I tasted blood. “Oh I’m so sorry did I trip you?!” She asked, her voice laced with insincerity. It hurt like a b***h but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that. I simply got up, dusted myself off and looked in the mirror, my lip was bleeding but otherwise I was fine. “Oh no. My fault” I said but I couldn’t help but rub it in her face just a little bit, “ oh by the way, would you mind pointing my in the direction of my boyfriends office? Oh I’m sorry I meant my mate, Cohen.” Her face turned to a scowl. “ it’s across the hall” she said dryly before stomping out.

I dabbed the blood off my lip before heading out. I knocked oh Cohens office door before I poked my head around to peek in. He was sitting with his head in his hands behind his very large desk. “What?” He muttered not looking up. “Sorry! Is this a bad time?” His mood visibly lifted the moment he looked up. “Not anymore it’s not” he is such a flirt. He leaned back in his chair and reached out his arms for me. I walked over to stand between his legs and he pullled me down onto his lap and pulled me to his chest. He pressed his face into my hair and breathed deeply. “That makes everything so much better. I don’t know how I went so many years without this.” “Without what” I asked lazily, I felt high off his scent, willingly drowning in it.

“You” he paused “just so you know you aren’t going anywhere. I can’t loose you ever.” We sat there in silence for a few moments just basking in one another. He pulled away finally looking at my face. He immediately noticed my lip was swollen and split.

“Charlie what the f**k happened? Who did this to you?” He grabbed my chin and held it in place. “I tripped” I was only half lying. I did trip, I just had some help. I wanted to tell him but I heard what he had said and I didn’t want to cause a riff in the pack in my first day. If she tries something again I won’t be so forgiving,

“Awe babe are you okay?” his concern was genuine and so sweet. “I’m fine. It’s these shoes. I really shouldn’t wear them”

“Oh yes, you should” he began kissing my neck while one of his hands snaked it’s way down my leg to my shoe and then back up resting in between my thighs. I could feel the heat from his hand radiating into my core. I bit my lip to stifle the moan trying to escape my lips. “Baby if you keep biting your lip we see never leaving this office and I’ll take you here on my desk” he teased but two can play at this game “you promise? I mused and but my lip again while looking up at him through my lashes knowing exactly what I was doing.

“f**k the things you do to me woman. But yeah, I do promise that one day I am going to have you on this desk” he closed his lips on mine but quickly pulled away. “Want to know what kills a mood in a second? Your dads voice in my head. They are looking for us to start dinner, we have to get back.” I stuck my bottom lip out in a pout like a child. He just laughed at me and we exited our little bubble.