Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Charlotte was standing on the balcony of Azraiel’s room. Ayleen had given her a grand tour of the house….. and before even seeing every room, she had decided to stay in Azraiel’s room. There is absolutely no reason to stay in separate rooms. She had planned on having a real conversation with Azraiel regarding his behavior. He was behaving as if she’d break if he said what he wanted. She appreciated him giving her space and the freedom to choose in every decision, but her shift was coming near. With only one month left and asbsofuckinglutely no idea if she’d survive or not, she didn’t want to spend these days being cautious. God knows she has spent her whole life like that.

All her plans of sorting this shit went out of the window when Azraiel called before dinner to not wait for him. The rogue situation had sent the entire pack into a frenzy and Azraiel had to conduct an emergency meeting in the packhouse to warn everyone as well as soothe their worries. They were instructed to not wander in the woods alone at any time let alone after it gets dark and report any suspicious activity they might encounter. Ayleen too…had left for the meeting briefly but returned some time ago. They had their dinner and Ayleen left her alone so that she could unpack in peace…which she had done within 15 minutes as there was so little to unpack…! It was 11 in the night already and Azraiel was still at the packhouse.

She sighed and looked over to her the cottage.

It’s funny…isn’t it….?

One month ago, the house in which she lived with his uncle was home…. She never thought of it as a house…but always home…. where she belonged. But then she came here…. she started living in that cottage….and made it her home…. realizing that she felt she belonged in here, in this pack…. and today, she came to this house a few hours ago….and she has already claimed it as her home….as if she has always belonged here… and nowhere else…!

Life is indeed funny at times…. throwing a curveball at you when you think everything is going as it was meant to be….. and then one event happens….and you realize how wrong you have thought all along… how wrong you have been…. You thought everything was happening because of you… your choices…without realizing that there’s a much bigger power…a great force that is making these events happen…. not you… not us…. Something that we can’t comprehend….

It’s unpredictable….time… life…. Everything is unpredictable… Who’s to say that she’d be alive tomorrow…let alone after a month? What if those who wanted to hurt her return and succeed before her shift…? Would she be able to share at least some happy memories with her mate…or she’d succumb to her fate… the fate that has been nothing but dark till now…?

With these questions in mind, she spent another hour there. Charlotte was so immersed in her thoughts that she almost forgot she had locked the door from inside. It was a knock on the room’s door that broke her chain of thoughts.

She hastily went inside and rushed to open the door.

“Hey…!” Azraiel smiled and walked inside as she shifted to the side giving him a smile and a brief “hey”.

“I was hoping you’d take my room…!” He said as she sat down on the edge of the bed and he sat next to her.

She shifted in the bed and turned, so that she could look at him. “Yeah… you hoped but never said anything…!”

“I..I didn’t know if you’d want to stay in the same room as mine…!” he answered looking at her…his eyes fluttering…with doubt…or…?

She silently gazed into his eyes for a few seconds, trying to decipher the emotion swimming in there…. but she failed…!

So instead, she asked… “Have you eaten something…?”

“Yeah… I had dinner at the packhouse.” He replied looking worried at the change of one in her voice…

Charlotte nodded… “Good… and what about the rogues situation…?” She asked, not wanting to dismiss his worries so casually.

“We haven’t found anything yet….” Azraiel had that expression on his face…. The one that said he was lying….

“Okay…. Why does it feel like that’s not all…What are you hiding Azraiel…?” Her voice cracked at the end at the thought of him not trusting her enough to share everything with her.

“I…. It’s nothing, Charlotte…” He wasn’t looking at her anymore….ahh…definitely lying…

She wanted to scream…. But she didn’t.

She calmly took his hand in hers and when he finally looked at her, she said “I am not fragile you know…”

He smiled sadly… “I know…You are one of the strongest women I know…”

She nodded and smiled…. “Then why do you treat me like I’d break if you tell me things as it is…? Do you not trust me…? Do you feel like I won’t be able to take it…or I am not strong enough for you….?” Fear was making its way in her chest and she wanted to squash it as soon as possible.

“I…I don’t…I….” It was the first time that he was speechless….she waited patiently for him to continue….

He shook his head and sighed loudly groaned…. “I…I am sorry… I didn’t even realize that I was doing it…” He looked troubled and Charlotte just wanted to hug him tightly.

“I trust you…. I am sorry if I ever made you doubt yourself….” She looked surprised, she knew that when he squeezed her palm reassuringly…. “It’s just that….as your mate…my first instinct is to protect you….from enemies….sometimes from the harsh truth and….sometimes myself…” He muttered the last under his breath but she heard it nonetheless….

Charlotte nodded….maybe his wolf and his thoughts are clashing…. Maybe it isn’t what she thinks it is…

“Then…tell me…What’s going on…?” She asks, eager to know the reason behind his worry.

He looks at her and then at their hands for a few seconds. When he looks at her again, his face is masked in the poker face he uses on everyone else.

“The rogues we found today….. they left no traces behind….. just like the ones that dropped you at our borders….”

She understood his trouble now…hell…this news made her heart lurch with fear…

“You think they are the same ones….” She exhales when he nods, his face is grim.

“They were here at the same time your eyes and voice changed today….” He adds quietly.

And now the picture started getting clear…

“It wasn’t a coincidence…!” She mutters to herself but is sure that he heard her.

“Yeah….”

“They…they never hurt me, Azraiel…They are the ones that saved me from Richard….!” She looks at him…. her voice laced with worry.

“I know, Charlotte…but we don’t know for sure…. we’re just assuming right now…. I have increased the security around the pack…. neighboring packs have been alerted and we are asking around to see if anyone has seen them…” She knew he was right to care for his pack and yet…. somehow…. the thought of those rogues getting hurt didn’t settle right with her. She felt responsible….as if it was happening because of her….as if they might get hurt because of her….that too when all they have done is save her.

“I am going to talk to the head coordinator tomorrow…to see if he could help us get information…and I…” He hesitated.

“Azraiel…. we literally just talked about this…” She reminded him, not so calmly this time…

“I…I know…sorry…”

She gestured for him to continue….god…he is like a broken record.

“I was thinking about telling my pack about you….and having an initiation ceremony…!” He finally said.

It took her several seconds to actually grasp what he was saying…! He wants to introduce her to the pack…as his mate….as their Luna…

Oh fuck…..!

Her heart dropped in her stomach. She has been so ecstatic about being his mate that she completely forgot that he is an Alpha….and that would make her a Luna… of the biggest pack in Rysterbia and surely one of the biggest packs in the whole world.

Without realizing, she had started panicking. Her palms grew sweaty and her heart beat increased and Azraiel caught on immediately…

“Charlotte, what’s wrong…? Did I say something wrong…? Do…Do you not want to be introduced right now…? It’s fine if you don’t…. we can wait…!” He said hurriedly while cupping her face in his palms…

She took a few deep breaths…. God.. she forgot she would be a Luna…stupid…stupid….stupid…and then another fear started creeping up her spine….What if she’s not good enough to be a Luna…? What if she couldn’t fulfill her responsibilities to these amazing people who have opened their home and hearts for her…? What if her dream comes true…and she becomes a nightmare for these people…? She shuddered at the possibility.

“Charlotte…?” He shaked his shoulders..

“Please…relax…you are scaring me…” He was panicking now…!

You are scaring him….Her wolf scolded and that snapped her out of her thoughts.

“I…I am fine….I am fine…” She whispered it to herself and Azraiel took a breath of relief.

“Hey..! We don’t have to do anything that you are not comfortable with…” Azraiel rubbed her back speaking barely above a whisper.

Charlotte felt like a fucking hypocrite…. A few minutes ago she was pissed that he always gives her choices….never demands anything, which makes her feel like she is the one demanding everything…support…care…affection…everything….and this one time….the fucking one time he wants to do something….and she starts panicking…! Bravo…Charlotte…Bravo…!

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath….Maybe her wolf can help her take this decision. She quietly called her….and she came instantly…

Just say yes….they are our people….and I want to meet them…so do you…even if you don’t realize it right now…

Her wolf answered clearly…without any hesitation…and Charlotte opened her eyes with gratitude replacing the fear gripping her heart.

She turned towards Azraiel…and found him looking at her tenderly….

Oh…this man….he is going to be the death of me…!

“I want to meet them…! Maybe….we can do the ceremony this weekend…?” She suggested and Azraiel beamed…

“You sure…?”

“I am sure…!” She answered, her voice indicating finality.

“That’d be perfect…!” He closed the distance between them and placed his lips on hers….and she almost forgot how to breathe.

In her head, her wolf was doing a happy dance wiggling her tail, excited to meet her pack…and desperate to meet his wolf…!