Chapter 3

Charlotte

My mother ends a phone call by slamming her cell onto the kitchen counter. The screen cracks worse than it already is, and I groan outwardly. I will have to work extra shifts at the diner to pay for that, because we both know she doesn’t have any money. She has burned through whatever savings my father had for us, and now we are living paycheck to paycheck. So, unless one of her many men friends decides to take pity on her, I will have to buy her a new one.

She is glaring at me like I have done something wrong. “What did you do?”

“I don’t have any idea what you are talking about.” After last night, her very presence is annoying me.

The anger in her eyes is quickly replaced by something else, and if I didn’t know any better, I would assume she is concerned for me. “You are wanted at the pack house.”

My breath gets caught in my chest. “Why?”

She scoffs loudly, pretending not to care about me. “How the fuck should I know? Go, before you get us both into trouble.”

I look down at what I am wearing. I am still in the diner’s uniform. Pulling my bottom lip through my teeth, I wonder if I have time to change, but as I edge toward my bedroom, Mom screams at me to leave again. Begrudgingly, I make my way to the pack house.

As I walk through the front doors of the pack house, I am keenly aware that I smell like the diner. While the scent is faint, it isn’t something that another werewolf would miss. My cheeks flush with embarrassment, but I refuse to put my head down. The Blackthorn pack didn’t offer to take care of my mother and me after my father passed. I have no choice but to work. I am supporting my family, and there is nothing wrong with that.

People are running here and there, and no one seems to have noticed my presence. I try to stop a few of the Omegas to ask why I was called, but they are ignoring me. They treat me like I'm inferior to them. My father would be ashamed.

“Ah,” Alpha Ronan’s voice causes me to jump. “You have arrived.”

I turn to see him flanked by several high-ranking pack members. My heart is thumping loudly in my chest, and hot tears prickle the corners of my eyes. I know why he has brought me here.

“Alpha Ronan,” I whisper. “Can we discuss this in private?”

He scoffs loudly, but I can see the pain in his eyes. This isn’t his choice. “There is no need. This needs to take place in the presence of the Elder Council.”

I swallow hard. Our conversation is beginning to draw a crowd. All of my tormentors are whispering to each other and snickering loudly. I am finding it difficult to keep my head held high.

“I understand.” I keep my eyes on him and him alone. “Perhaps we can move into the conference room."

He waves his hand dismissively. “Not necessary. I do not make it a habit to hide my personal affairs from my pack members.”

I nod my head and square my shoulders. The rejection will be quick. It is just a few words, and then I will accept. I have heard it is painful, but it can’t be any worse than the pain I have endured over the years.

Alpha Ronan approaches me, and his jaw ticks with irritation. “In what world would you have been a good enough mate for me?”

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