Chapter 83
When I returned to the house, out of breath from my wolf pushing us past our limits to get to Charlie, she was sitting at the breakfast bar, sipping a coffee and eating a doughnut with Ben. I trusted my brother with my life, but seeing her safe, with my own eyes, helped calm my racing heart, and made breathing easier since I discovered the intruder’s scent.
“Did you have a good run?” Charlie asked with a smile as I walked through the back door, my underwear was forgotten in my rush. Her eyes racked over me, openly admiring my naked body, it made me embarrassed and turned on at the same time.
“Yeah, it was good,” I replied, I kissed her head on my way to the laundry room to grab a pair of shorts.
“I didn’t tell her about the spy, I figured you would want to be the one to break the news to her.” Ben linked me, I nodded my thanks back as I came back into the kitchen.
“Ben was picking up doughnuts for Maria and thought we might like some too.” She said, in a tone that suggested she didn’t believe a word of it.
“That’s nice?” I shrugged, unsure of how to respond.
“You know, if you’re gonna panic every time you have to leave me alone for five minutes maybe you should just assign me a bodyguard, rather than bothering your brother and ruining Maria’s mornings,” Charlie said with a sip of her coffee.
“It’s not like that, but I think a bodyguard is a great idea, we could set up some interviews for when we get back!” I replied happily, I looked to Ben for his opinion, only to see he had his head in his hand, I realised my mistake as I turned back to Charlie to see her fighting back furious tears.
“I knew it! I knew you were worried about me being around the pack with my powers, why lie? Why didn’t you just admit it when I asked you?” She yelled, she slammed down her coffee cup and stormed out of the room and up the stairs.
“You couldn’t have warned me I was walking into a trap?” I asked Ben exasperated.
“Hey, I’m your Beta, not B9, I can’t be there yelling ‘danger Will Robinson, danger’ every time you’re about to put your foot in it with your mate.” He replied with a chuckle.
“Oh, because you’re Mr perfect Relationship all of a sudden?” I snapped.
“I’m looking at ten years of wedding bliss next year.” He retorted with a chortle and a shrug.
“Yeah, and if I’m lucky maybe in ten years Charlie will let me mark her,” I said forlornly.
“Give the girl a break!” Ben cried exasperated. “You only met her six days ago, and she’s had her world turned upside down, and had to rethink everything she thought she knew. You know humans typically take years before they commit their lives to one another, and you want her to get over all of that and her issues, because it’s easier for you! Grow up! Do you think you don’t have issues? That Maria and I didn’t when we got together? Of course, we did, and we work at getting past them every day, even now. Her father abandoned her and her mother, you don’t get over something like that just because you’ve met your mate. So, pull your head out of your ass and give the girl a little more time, it’s no wonder the way she was brought up that she would have abandonment and commitment issues, as her mate it’s your job to support her, not fix her. She has to do that for herself, but she won’t if you keep pushing.” Ben ranted, taking the last bite of his bear claw. “Anyway, now that you’re home, I have to go pick up another box of doughnuts for Maria’s monthly social committee meeting, good luck.” He added as he headed for the door.
“Thanks for coming to check on Charlie, and you’re right, I shouldn’t have pushed her like I did,” I said sadly.
“Look at that, progress, Dr Phil would be proud.” He laughed as he closed the door, leaving me to figure out how to make things right with Charlie. I saw her half-drunk latte on the counter and decided maybe a peace offering would help.
I walked into the bedroom with two cups of coffee in hand and panicked when it was empty, until I heard the running water in the bathroom. I set the coffees down, stripped my shorts off and made my way to the shower. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her, the water running down her perfect body, I opened the door and she immediately moved to the far side of the shower, away from me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as the hot water washed away the dirt I had accumulated during my run.
“I am worried about you losing control and using your powers on someone in the pack, but that’s not why I asked Ben to come here today.” I started explaining to her back.
“Then why did you lie to me?” She asked, still facing away from me, she reached for the shampoo, but I got there first.
“I didn’t want you to think I didn’t trust you, because it’s not that, I’m just worried about the aftermath, and what it would do to you if you accidentally hurt someone,” I said, wearily.
“You don’t think I’m afraid of hurting someone? I’m terrified, and you acting like nothing is wrong, just made it worse. Knowing that if I do lose control, you would be there to stop me, makes me feel a little better. Why was Ben here then, if not to protect the pack from me?” She asked and finally turned to face me.
“He was here because I found something on my run, someone has been spying on the house, we don’t think it's been happening very long, and I have a team out there right now trying to find out more. And I didn’t want you to be scared of coming here, or worrying you were being watched whenever you’re here, I just wanted to protect you.” I said as I turned her around to shampoo her hair.
“But I can tell when you’re keeping things from me, which makes me crazy, so just tell me the truth from now on.” She said with a sigh.
“You mean like you did when you kept things from me about your dreams?” I asked softly, she was silent for a moment.
“I’m not ready to talk about that yet, I’m not keeping it from you, not exactly, I’m just not ready.” She said quietly.
“Okay, so you will tell me when you’re ready, I can accept that, if you can accept that when I keep things to myself it’s because I have my reasons, and I will tell you when I’m ready,” I said, as I rinsed the suds from her hair to my surprise, she turned around and wrapped her arms around me.
“You’re right, I’m sorry, I know it’s one of my hot-button issues. I can overreact sometimes.” She said softly into my chest.
“I wouldn’t say that exactly,” I replied, suppressing a laugh.
“My whole life my mother has kept things from me... things about my father, and it makes me crazy, but she always looks so sad when I ask about him, so I stopped. But I have so many questions, even before all this, and when I feel like someone is keeping something from me, even when they have good intentions, it makes me feel like that lost little kid all over again. And I get angry because... because I can’t get angry at her for being too heartbroken to talk about him. And I’m so mad at him for leaving her, but I can’t do anything with that either, because he’s not here for me to yell at. I know it’s not fair to take that anger out on you, I just can’t help but feel like I’m reliving that part of my relationship with my mother with you... I can’t live like that again... Like the truth is being kept from me. I know you’re going to have to sometimes, for the good of the pack, or me, and I’m trying to get past it... but I’m not there yet.” She replied, as she turned me so she could wash me in return, I relished her fingers in my hair.
“I know, and I’m trying to understand even if I know I won’t ever fully get it. I’m sorry we fought, especially today. I know it’s going to be an emotional day, saying goodbye to Mrs Shapiro.” I whispered as I rinsed the last of the suds out of my hair and started combing the conditioner through hers.
“Am I a terrible person if I say I don’t want to go?” She asked quietly.
“No, I think it’s a normal part of the grieving process, besides, who wants to go to a funeral?” I asked, making her laugh.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” She said, as she started washing my body, her soft touch, made me hard.
“We still have a little time before we have to start getting ready,” I said with a smirk as she noticed my erection.
“You might have time, but I need a lot longer than you to get ready.” She said with a giggle as I washed her body.
“You’d look amazing with only five minutes to get ready,” I murmured into her ear as I let my hands roam over her body.
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