Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Charlotte put on her best dress today. She will be leaving soon to meet her pack.

Her pack!

Somehow it didn’t feel weird to say that. In fact, it came to her naturally. As if she has been waiting for this for a long time.

She was nervous of course but excited as well. All her life, she has craved for that family, for the love, the respect and she found it in the Blue Orchid pack, in Azraiel and others, but it just wasn’t the same. She was still an outsider in the pack, but with red eyed wolves, it would be different. She was not someone’s mate there but the Alpha. Sure, those people are practically strangers, but she can’t help but feel the connection. Even her wolf seems to trust them. That should be a good sign, right?

“Ready?” Azraiel walks into the room. He looks dashing as always. Dressed in a light blue shirt and black pants, he looks nothing less than a model.

“Yeah..” Charlotte mutters breathlessly.

Azraiel offers his hand and Charlotte takes it smiling at him.

They walk down in silence. Charlotte knows he doesn’t trust them and he is right to do so. But the fact that he hasn’t made his reservations vocal, considering her feelings and all, it just makes her love him more. She knows Alphas are protective of their mate and being a trueblood, he feels the emotions with much more intensity. Yet, this man has been at her side, every step of this journey, supporting her, helping her, loving her, even when he knows that she can turn out to be someone he never could have imagined.

As she sits in the car, she greets Theo who is already sitting in the back seat. She sends a quick thank you to the universe for letting her live to see this day. All her life, she has done nothing but complain and feel sad about the lack of that togetherness, that sense of belonging and now it has ended. All because of these people. In a way, she feels grateful to her Uncle, Sarah and Richard for scheming against her. She would have never met her real tribe otherwise.

She shifts her attention to Azraiel as he climbs in the driver’s seat.

“What’s up with you today?” Azraiel asks Theo.

Charlotte frowns and turns to look at Theo.

She didn’t notice before because she was lost in her own thoughts, but something is definitely up with him. He looks like he hasn’t slept all night. There are dark circles underneath his eyes, his shirt looks rumpled and his hair looks like he hasn’t brushed them at all.

“Nothing!” Theo grumbles.

Azraiel narrows his eyes at him in the mirror and she is sure he is saying something to him via mindlink.

“You don’t have to come. You look like you can use some sleep right now.” Charlotte says softly, feeling like he is a ticking time bomb.

Theo sighs loudly. “I am fine, you guys.”

Charlotte and Azraiel look at each other and they both know he is not fine. Maybe it’s the stress of what happened with Kira, but he is not fine.

Azraiel starts driving and they say nothing to Theo because they know it will just make him angry. No one says anything the whole ride but the sound of Theo shifting again and again isn’t lost on them.

“Can’t you sit straight?” Azraiel says frustrated when Theo moves for the nth time.

“No. I can’t.” Theo snaps and his eyes turn yellow.

Azraiel growls at him and for a second there Charlotte is afraid that these wolves will shift in the car.

She gently puts a hand on Azraiel’s. He visibly relaxes and Charlotte breathes in relief.

“His wolf is on edge, Azraiel. Don’t poke him, please.” Charlotte says to Azraiel through mindlink. He has been teaching her how to mindlink and she can finally see how this is useful.

“I’ll try and he is being disrespectful.” Azraiel grumbles.

Ugh..Men!

Charlotte doesn’t say anything but keeps an eye on both him and Theo. Something is definitely up with Theo. She just hopes he is alright.

Soon, they reach the clearing where they are supposed to meet the pack of the red eyed wolves.

Her pack!

She sees Nicholas and Jamie standing there with around two dozen or so wolves.

Charlotte takes a deep breath and exhales.

Let’s just hope I don’t disappoint them.

The three of them exit the car and walk toward the group. They are all looking at her and for some reason, their eyes on her don’t make her nervous. Instead, it makes her feel happy and content like one feels with family.

“Charlotte.” Nicholas and Jamie greet her and she smiles at them.

Charlotte looks around to see that everyone is watching her, including her mate, but Theo, he is busy looking at a pretty girl standing shyly at the back of the group.

She’ll have to ask him what’s up with him.

“Uh.. there are more people from our pack but for safety, we split up a few days ago. Around three dozen more are there, but they are a bit far from here. Since we now have your permission to live here, they’ll be arriving soon.” Nicholas informs, looking at Azraiel.

“Do you want me to introduce you to the pack, or do you want to address them first?” Nicholas asks Charlotte.

“Uh- I’d like to say something first, and then you can introduce me to each and every one of them?” Charlotte suggests and Nicholas nods.

“Hi everyone!” Charlotte’s voice changes as she starts addressing her pack. Instead of the deep yet soft voice, it is loud, clear, and bold.

“I know you already know who I am to you. For you, I am Charlotte, your Alpha, someone you have never met before, someone whose existence was just a story for you up until a month ago. But for me, you are the family I never had. Even though I am meeting you folks, for the very first time today, I still feel like I’ve known you guys for years. I am not a wolf yet, and I am far from being the Alpha you deserve. I just hope you guys give me a chance to become the Alpha that you should have. It won’t happen in a day, but I promise that I’ll put in my everything to become the leader you deserve.” Charlotte speaks with clarity, whatever comes to her mind.

As soon as she stops, murmurs of “Welcome Alpha” begins to reach her ears. Charlotte smiles, her grin reaching her ears and she turns towards Azraiel. To her surprise, he is already looking at her with a tender look in his eyes.

He smiles softly at her and squeezes her hand.

She might not have the family she wanted all her life, but right now, she has everything that she has ever prayed for!