In The Beginning, Chapter 70
Daniel POV
I could tell something was bothering Charlie, but she was trying not to let it, I pulled her into the trees, signalling the patrol to give us some room before I stopped moving deeper into the thicket.
“What is it?” I asked when we were alone. She glanced back at the pack, then into the trees to where the responding call of the warriors had come from as they cleared out. “No one can see or hear us. Talk to me.” I demanded as I pulled her close.
“I just got a little worried about the Luna ceremony and wedding... like... do other Alphas or foreign dignitaries from other races, or... how big is it going to have to be?” She asked, and I nearly let off a string of expletives at my mother’s interference.
“It’s traditional for the pack to be at the Luna ceremony, and we will invite a few friends, your mother. And not everyone will come, there will be warriors on patrol, and parents of young pups, and it won’t seem as big on the day. Other Alphas are only usually invited if they are friendly with the couple, they don’t attend another pack’s ceremonies... usually but there are exceptions. My mother’s extended family means we have connections to every Alpha in Northern American, as well as dotted around the world and she will want to invite all of them, but it is not about her, it’s about us. When it comes to the wedding, I’m happy for it to be as small as you, me, Ben and Maria or you can let my mother invite everyone she has ever met or heard of, I just want to marry you. And while I would like to invite Hyacinth, I have no deals, or allegiances with leaders of any of the other races. I can’t even get the Nymph King or the Alliance to talk to me.” I unloaded a bit more than I intended, Charlie’s anxiety seemed to melt, replaced with concern for me.
“How can I help you?” She asked softly.
“This?” I asked a little apprehensive, she wrapped her arms around my neck, stretching to reach and feeling her small frame in my arms helped the last of the tension leaving my body. “And stop listening to my mother?” I pleaded, only half joking.
“SHE HAS POWERS! I’m convinced of it, I felt fine before she used her... mind control to worm her way into my brain and make me crazy.” Charlie pouted adorably and laughing at her animated arguing helped both our moods.
“Ready to go back?” I asked her as her stomach rumbled, leaving us both staring at it, before laughing and making our way through the dense brush.
By the time we got back to the table Ben, Maria, and my parents had finished all the food that wasn’t on our plates, and were finishing a new platter, full of chicken wings, or their bones at least.
“Hey, where did the wings come from?” Charlie asked as we took our seats, soon people were stopping by, exchanging pleasantries and jokes while we ate and drank. I had barely started the feast Charlie had set me, when Kathy appeared with another two platters, both piled with chicken wings. I saw Charlie's eyes go wide as Kathy set down the food, batting away Ben with her hand.
“That is for you.” She pointed at one enormous plate of wings. “These are for the Alpha and Luna, only.” She threatened Ben affectionately, but he had the same look on his face when she caught him eating my birthday cake when he was seven.
“I was just gonna have one.” He grumbled as he took two, from the dish she indicated was safe. Charlie had snuck a wing while I was distracted.
“Oh, my goodness, Kathy, did you make these?” She groaned as she swallowed her first bite. The second however, sent the sweet and sticky marinade dribbling down her chin and neck, making her squeal then giggle as her hands were also covered in the sauce. Without missing a beat, Maria leaned forward and licked it off, only realising what she had done when her tongue made its way to Charlie's chin, and they were eye to eye. Too shocked to move, Charlie was frozen in place, her eyes wide, and from the look of her face trying really hard not to laugh. As if realising what she was doing for the first time Maria jumped back with a squeak, which broke Charlie, who began howling with laughter.
“I’m so sorry, I have no idea what that was...” Maria tried to explain, but Charlie was still laughing, I was struggling to keep my composure, Ben looked too stunned to formulate a thought, while my parents were looking away but clearly amused. “I really didn’t mean... I mean I must have meant to, but I didn’t...” She looked at me then her plate baffled, her own hands still covered in sauce.
“Calm down it’s fine, it’s your bond with Charlie growing...” I chuckled, but Charlie abruptly stopped.
“Wait what?” She asked with a frown.
“Maria sees you as her Luna, and as her Beta...” I tried to explain but I wasn’t expecting it yet. “She was... showing her devotion.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet, thank you Maria.” Charlie immediately turned and awkwardly, because of their messy hands, and our lack of anything to clean them with, hugged. “Do I... reciprocate?” She asked Maria, who laughed in her face. “I’m just saying, if you wanted to kiss me all you had to do was ask.” Charlie teased, puckering her lips and flittering her eyelashes until Maria was laughing, and seemed much more relaxed.
“Shut up!” Maria teased while trying to gently shove Charlie off her as she continued to mock her until Kathy showed up with a pack of wet naps for everyone. Ben was uncharacteristically quiet; I was about to link him when he stood up suddenly.
“Well, it’s getting late, we should be off. Goodnight!” He rushed out before anyone could argue dragging Maria behind him.
“What in the blazes...?” My father asked and my mother and Charlie snorted in unison, then looked at one another oddly.
“You...” My mother began, but thought better of it, leaning back in her chair.
“I would have to be blind, and I have perfect vision.” Charlie smiled, and my mother laughed, and not in a snotty way, but actually amused. I looked at my father, but he was just as speechless.
“You do surprise me.” My mother chuckled. “Oh, look Richard Arthur still has his stall. I feel like a cannoli, how about you?” She asked as she stood up, my father scrambled after her.
“Anything for either of you?” He asked as he went.
“Bear claw!” I called immediately, and received a nod from my father, and a light tap from Charlie, like a child that had forgotten their manners. “Thank you.” I added after a sharp look from my mate.
“No, thank you Richard, I’m stuffed.” She added, and he sprang off after my mother.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Nothing, how can you eat a bear claw after everything you ate already? I’m sure it can’t work out mathematically, there is only so much space inside a body-”
“Stop changing the subject.” I laughed, entertained by this little dance, while she smiled, a wicked glint in her eye as she turned to face me head on.
“Ben dragged Maria off so he could rip her clothes all her clothes off.” She stated bluntly, while I nearly choked on my beer.
“And how would you know that?” I finally spluttered after composing myself.
“Know what?” She asked innocently.
“Oh, come on!” I couldn’t contain my disbelief any longer, which made her giggle. I pulled her off her chair gently, placing her on my lap, her back to my chest, and my nose in her hair. “Please tell me how you knew?” I asked, and I felt her chest vibrate with held in chuckles.
“After she licked my chin... he couldn’t take his eyes off her, he stopped eating for the first time all night! And I don’t think he was full, but he was craving desert.” Charlie quipped while I chuckled, the smile refusing to leave my face as I held her and watched the flames dance.
“BEN!” I shot around at Maria’s scream only to realise what was happening as the pleasure in her voice registered. I felt Charlie chuckle as she pulled me back, and for twenty minutes, it was the closest thing to perfect I’d ever experienced. The pack had started gathering back around the bonfires, and the laughter and chatter and children playing was idyllic. Until a howl of pain cut through the forest. I jumped to my feet, setting Charlie beside me.
“Get to the house, teleport, now.” I ordered her, as Alpha I needed to go towards the danger, but I was frozen, unable to leave her. “Charlie NOW!” I yelled, and she nodded softly, before grabbing me and kissing me with such love it was impossible to fight. She pulled away and dissolved into pale purple sparks in my arms. Without hesitation, I leapt forward, shifting and destroying my clothes before my paws hit the ground, I sped towards the howl.
“I’m here, at the house, come back to me.” She whispered through the link.
“I promise.” I swore before I closed it. I used the pack link to map out where the Etas were, everyone accepted the link, but Alex. I broke through the thicket into a small clearing, where Alex’s wolf was crouched over an unconscious and naked body, snarling at the minotaur, who was ready to charge.
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