Charlie POV
The bottle of whisky in front of me is half empty, but there are twelve more bottles on my office floor. Each one has been drained of its contents. I don't think there is any liquor left in the Gravestone Pack house, which is both good and bad for me.
Good, because I am pretty sure I am drunk. Bad, because I don't want to think about facing Destin and Wren.
I wanted to take Wren as a chosen mate. She is perfect and would make an excellent Luna, but now that I am faced with her being my second chance mate, I am not sure I can do it. She isn't Shelly.
I met Shelly before the war began. I was the orphaned son of a disgraced Alpha, and she was the daughter of an Alpha. Goddess, her father hated me. He didn't think I would be enough for her, but Shelly wouldn't go against the fated bond that was gifted to us. She ran from her pack and her family to be with me. We had planned on starting a family together, but the war came before we got the chance.
The Moon Goddess's rogues attacked our little pack while I was away with Destin. I should have never left her alone. She fought to protect this pack and was killed. Her body was left on the front porch for me to find. I don't think I will ever forgive the Moon Goddess for taking her from me.
Her picture still sits on my desk. Just looking at the picture breaks my heart. Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked at the camera. I can't bear to look at it any longer, and I place it face down on my desk. It feels like a betrayal to think about her and Wren at the same time.
I lift the bottle to my lips, and my office door swings open. Edward and Winston stride in. "We thought we might find you in here," Edward says, flopping down onto a chair.
"What do you want?" I am aware of how grumpy I sound, but I don't care.
"Why are you feeling sorry for yourself?" Edward grabs the bottle from my desk. He turns it up and drinks too much for my liking.
Winston is looking at the bottles surrounding my desk, and I can see the judgment in his eyes.
"I am not feeling sorry for myself," I slur. "I am thinking."
Winston whispers into his brother's ear, and Edward unsuccessfully hides a smirk behind his hand.
"What did he say?" I demand to know.
"Just conveying rumors," he chuckles.
I scoff drunkenly. "What rumors?"
"Only that you have been distracted since my sister arrived," he informs me. "Rumor has it that you are in love with my sister."
"I didn't think the Lycan Kings would be interested in lowly werewolf pack gossip." I reach across my desk and pull the bottle away from Edward. Much to my displeasure, it is empty. Chucking it onto the floor, I reach into the bottom drawer of my desk and pull out my flask, but it is empty, too.
"I like gossip," Winston shrugs his shoulders.
Edward snorts at his brother's admission, but I am staring at him stupidly. I think this might be the first time I have heard him speak. It is well known that Edward is the talker and Winston is the strong silent type.
"Why are you here?" I ask again.
"We know Wren is your second chance mate," Edward sighs.
"Great," I reply sarcastically. "Everyone knew but me."
Edward ignores my outburst. "Mom thought you might be upset because sharing a mate is difficult. She sent us to talk to you about it."
"Oh great," I reply. "Even the Luna Queen knows."
"Sharing isn't so bad," Winston chimes in.
Edward grins. "Winston and I have been sharing everything our whole lives."
I roll my eyes. "The sharing isn't the problem. Destin and I have already…"
"Stop," Edward shouts. "That's my sister you are talking about."
"You started it," I scoff.
"Then what is the problem?" Macy's voice comes from the doorway.
"There is no problem," I spit at her.
Macy walks into my office and props herself up on the edge of my desk. She folds her legs beneath her and begins to shuffle through my paperwork.
"Rude," I snap as I try to take my pack document away from her, but her little hands are fast.
Eventually, she picks up Shelly's picture, and I can't stop the growl from rumbling in my chest. Winston is ready to fight me, but Macy silences him.
"You miss her," she whispers gently.
"She was my other half," I choke on the words.
She gracefully hands the picture back to me. "I can't imagine how hard it is to lose a mate, but I can tell you this. Wren doesn't deserve this. She doesn't need two mates who are hung up on the past."
"I can't just forget her," I tell Macy.
"I am not asking you to forget," Macy shrugs. "But just know this. If you break her heart, she has two lycan brothers and a deadly fae sister in law who do not abide by the laws of this realm."
"Are you threatening me?" I chuckle.
Macy hops off my desk. "I definitely am."
Winston turns around, and Macy jumps playfully on his back. He carries her out of my office piggyback, but Edward stays behind. He is studying me carefully.
"Are you going to threaten me, too?" I ask.
I would be stupid to pick a fight with a lycan. They are larger and stronger than werewolves, and frankly, they look terrifying. But I am not thinking clearly, and maybe a good fight is what I am looking for.
"I think Macy covered it," he smirks. "She is kind of scary."
I relax a little, but I still have all this pent-up frustration. "Then why are you still here?"
Edward is amused with my attitude. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you are looking for a fight."
"Maybe I am," I answer in return.
"You aren't going to get it from me," he tells me. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, you will have to deal with my fathers and Wren."
"Lucky me," I reply.
Edward shakes his head. "I really hope you lose this attitude by morning. You are being a real asshole."