Agony fell short; she was shattered.
Charlotte, a werewolf, endured relentless abuse, leaving her utterly fractured. Austin, her supposed mate, subjected her to constant mistreatment and even infidelity.
In a daring escape, she fled, only to encount...
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I found it rather peculiar that Charlotte remained unusually quiet throughout the entire car ride back. My mind began to race, wondering if my parents had said or done something to upset her. My mother, in particular, was known for her warmth and friendliness when meeting pack members or any of my friends, so it seemed unlikely that she would have been the cause of Charlotte's silence.
I couldn't help but think that my mother might have overstepped when she inquired about Charlotte's past. She had likely been motivated by curiosity, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she should have approached the topic more delicately, if at all.
The following morning, I awoke to the sight of Charlotte's endearing, sleepy face beside me. I couldn't help but smile at how adorable and beloved she was to me. Deciding not to disturb her, knowing she had a challenging night, I quietly slipped out of bed to attend to my alpha duties, which had piled up considerably.
Midway through my tasks, Kenzie entered the room unannounced. "Leon, don't you think your mate is rather feeble?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of judgment.
I had always treated Kenzie with respect, given our shared upbringing and our parents' friendship. However, her comment about Charlotte crossed a line. Anger surged within me, and I couldn't contain my response. "I've shown patience with you, Kenzie, but I won't tolerate you speaking about my mate in that manner. Cease such talk immediately, or you'll regret it. Now, leave!"
Kenzie visibly stiffened at my words, but she quickly regained her composure and retorted, "If you ever come to regret your decision, you know where to find me."
With those words, she sashayed out of the room, her hips swaying and her blond hair cascading behind her. I felt nothing but disgust for her audacity to speak of my mate in such a way, as if I would ever regret choosing Charlotte.
Yet, in the midst of my anger, a wave of sadness coursed through our mate bond—Charlotte was experiencing a surge of sorrow. Without hesitation, I followed her scent, leading me to the heart of the pack.
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That evening, Leon extended an invitation to his parents and Kenzie for dinner at our home. Throughout the meal, Leon's mother directed a series of disdainful glances in my direction every time Leon placed his hand on my lap. It was clear that she held some hostility towards me.
I could sense Kenzie's jealousy brewing, evident in the way she clenched her fork so tightly that I thought it might snap in her grasp.
As dinner progressed, Leon's mother seized an opportunity to advance her own agenda. "Leon, Kenzie needs a place to stay while her parents are away. Would you be so kind as to offer her the spare room here?" she proposed, her underlying motive painfully obvious to me. She sought to create distance between Leon and me, anticipating that Kenzie might facilitate this.
I, of course, had no room to object in this house that wasn't truly mine. "Charlotte, are you comfortable with that?" Leon kindly inquired. It warmed my heart that he considered my feelings, but I was compelled to agree, wary of potential repercussions from his mother.
Kenzie's face lit up with a malicious smirk as she batted her eyelashes and offered her thanks. But then, with an abrupt change in demeanor, she rose from her seat and announced with a resonant voice, "I, Kenzie, challenge you for the luna position."
My heart skipped a beat. What?
Leon immediately protested, exclaiming, "What! I've already appointed Charlotte as Luna. There's no need for a challenge!"
"If you've already made an announcement, we need to ensure she is capable of defending the pack and fulfilling her role. If she can, there's no reason to fear a challenge," retorted Leon's mother, her intent clear.
Terrified and unprepared for such a confrontation, I had no desire to fight for this position, nor did I know how.
"Kenzie has received training overseas, and her combat skills surpass those of many in the pack," Leon mentioned, providing an endorsement I hadn't consented to but was now thrust upon me.
With a decisive tone, Leon's mother concluded, "Very well, then. The challenge will take place in three days." Her gaze remained fixed on me, a warning implicit in her stare.
