Bloodlines of Old Ch. 03

As stated, if you skipped chapter two over the TRIGGER WARNING FORCED ABORTION, I will summarize that chapter now. But understand it is a huge component of the plot moving forward. It is brought up several times and is the main catalyst for a lot of situations moving forward. It's never described or detailed, but the notion of having someone take away your child against you will is prevalent throughout the future of this story.

Chapter two summary, the tension of attraction and confusion between Cassidy and Charlotte comes to a boiling point when they finally have consensual sex and Charlotte turns Cassidy. Once Cassidy isn't under the guise of sexual motivations, she runs away from her connection to Charlotte. Strangers then track her down and take away her unborn child as it isn't a 'pure blooded' creature.

She momentarily forgets who Charlotte is from the drugs given to her by her captures until an interaction with Anne, from Nana's nursing home brings a few things full circle. She begrudgingly, but willingly allows Charlotte into her life without knowing the full details of their relationship or the devilish deeds taken place against her.

As they come back together, Charlotte vows to take revenge on the ones who have taken their child away.

SIDENOTE

I have no intention of making regular chapters this long, however, I want the sex to be more than just sex in this story, and therefore I thought it appropriate to make such a LONG CHAPTER because, let's be honest, you are all here for the sexual content. I strive to have sexual moments in every chapter I post, but I couldn't bring myself to just thrust the two characters together for the sake of being intimate. SO there is a lot going on in this chapter, but there are a couple sex scenes that I promise will heat up as the characters work through their problems.

As always feel free to comment good or bad and make requests for certain scenes or situations for future submissions!!

CHAPTER 3

There was a wetness under my cheeks that I knew was from crying through the night. Usually awakening to tears was hard to do, but as soon as my eyes opened, I felt Charlotte tugging me tighter against her body and making soothing sounds against my ear. Our naked forms were heating each other and I squeezed her arms tighter around me.

"Good morning Mate," she nibbled my ear as a shudder escaped my body. A single tear fell, but she rolled me onto my back, and licked the pathway with a tenderness that shook my soul.

"How could," I clutched at her neck to keep her from distracting me anymore with her mouth, "how could I have had your child? We only-" she stopped me with a soft and reassuring kiss that melted my wavering resolve to escape from the mess that was fueling a new fire in my soul.

"I know there are a lot of questions, but I can promise you, they will pay," her eyes shimmered and threatened to change more, but she held back. The power radiating from her scared me and I pushed off the bed slowly. I paced the floor beside the bed, not caring that both of us were still naked. I rubbed my temples as her body alone commanded my worship.

"I didn't even know, where did, how did,-" I cut myself off trying to manage a single coherent sentence to her. I stroked the necklace as it seared against my sternum. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Charlotte commanded without taking her eyes off me.

"Sorry, Alpha," Ethan strode a couple steps into the room before bowing once to each of us. "The council has arrived, we are only awaiting Erica but she will arrive shortly," Charlotte finally looked at him.

"Very well, Ethan, thank you, we will be along shortly," she gave him a nod as he bowed to each of us again. I didn't like that I was receiving the same formalities that she was simply because we had sex. Apparently everyone knew, even as it finally registered that I had been standing stark nude at his entrance. I blushed looking down at myself and Charlotte chuckled.

"Let's get dressed, your duty as the Alpha's mate has come," she stood and kissed me quickly before pulling me towards the dresser.

As she tugged me into the large room on the first floor that screamed boardroom, I tried to shy away from the dozen or so eyes that immediately stood at attention. They took her in, bowed, then glanced at her fingers tightly wound through mine as we approached the head of the large oak table. She seated me in the chair and with a nod, the others all sat down in unison. She stood behind me and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"As you all know, there has never been a call for full council in four centuries," the mumbles of agreement and confusion met her statement. I wanted to shrink away from the gazes that were assessing my presence with more attention than her words, but Charlotte squeezed a little reassurance into my shoulders. Her thumb stroked under my shirt a little at the mark that was still a little sore. But it still somehow managed to send ripples of desire through me.

"I make a motion to declare war," several people stood and slammed down at the table, the words from each drowning out the others as she let them express their discontent.

"Silence," Charlotte didn't scream, it was barely above a whisper, but the growl permeating the word froze the vocal protests. Most of the members remained standing, but halted their assertions.

"Alpha, I believe that is unwise a position to take, we are not armed as we used to be, we have not the people, nor the resources for an offensive position. It would be detrimental to our numbers," the man was calm, but his jaw clenched as he spoke. He seemed an older man, giving off a kind of Mr. Rogers feeling with his silver fox facial features and older style suit. But I couldn't pick a number for an age to match his presence.

"Alpha, While the fighting isn't what it used to be, we have remained for the most part, disengaged from casualties on both sides. I would liken our situation to a cold war, though I agree with Derrick, we do not possess the ability to take them on right now," the younger man seemed new to stating his position, but he dished it out with conviction that I envied. His short blonde hair was well kept as if he had a barber on retainer. His strong chin and prominent cheekbones had me anticipating that he would have an English accent.

I couldn't help but find my gaze lingering on the woman seated at the opposite head of the table. She seemed to be assessing me as much as I was her. She seemed all too calm for all the emotions pulsing through the room. The corner of her mouth barely lifted when our eyes met. Her long reddish brown hair was in a tight bun. The color reminds me of Charlotte's for some reason. Her business casual attire seemed formal in shape, and only complimented the sheer power that was radiating from her perfect posture as her hands were clasped on the table before her.

A few others voiced similar concerns about the lack of resources and ability to carry out any offensive measure. Charlotte gracefully allowed the discourse for a few minutes. By the end, only three members had not stood to declare their thoughts on the issue. Charlotte was about to speak when the woman opposite me finally weighed in.

"Charlotte," her directing of the name and not title of Alpha seemed out of place, but everyone looked to her with sincerity.

"Our lines are stable, why should we subject ourselves to sacrificial engagement now? If anything we should consider entering into a treaty that would solidify peace for our people after all these years." The room nodded silently with this woman, before awaiting Charlotte's answer. "Surely with the whole counsel present, that is the course we should be pursuing agreement on. We could offer an agreement of territories of control, allow them to have their space, and us to have ours."

I knew the heartbeat quickening in my chest was matching Charlotte's now as she worked to compose an answer. The woman's gaze never left mine as she spoke, but I was the only one who seemed to notice.

"They have killed," she paused and squeezed my shoulders again, "our child." There were several murmurs of astonishment in the crowd and I let a few tears fall silently. I didn't even know I had a child let alone how impactful that child could be.

I was openly crying as the pieces of my past were slipping further into my head. If I had just trusted myself, trusted my feelings for Charlotte, trusted Nana, trusted my soul, my child, our child, would still be here. And not being toted around as the catalyst to all out war. I understood the rallying call for justice, but it was simply all my fault. My actions led to this situation, not anyone else in this room.

"Oh darling, she tricked you hasn't she? You aren't even aware, what a pity.

Perhaps I should show mercy on you." My brain replayed the scene as if it was the first time, and I thought of how Charlotte could be using this as an excuse to catapult all these concerned faces into raging war. I wasn't the only person involved in this tragedy, I didn't even know I was, or could be, carrying a child. She may have seduced me and thrashed all of my senses into a blender with her mind-blowing sex, but that different than having a relationship where two people were on the same page. We weren't even in the same book. As all the others bantered and argued with each other I suddenly stood, prompting silence into the room. Charlotte tried to wrap her arms around me, but I shoved her off, and faced her.

"NO! I will not let you use this for your political games." I pushed her slightly with an accusing pressure, only to make a point. "YOU did this, YOU gave me a child that I was unaware of, YOU didn't tell me everything, YOUR actions started this not mine!" I was angry, and I didn't care if an audience was witnessing my childish outburst.

I turned to lean over the table and address the rest of them, "I don't know what this war is, or was, or whatever is being discussed, but don't you dare use my tragedy as a way to catapult more people into tragedy. I will make them pay, with or without your conscriptions. He had no right to do what he did, but I had a right to know." I unsuccessfully tried to hide the shaking emotions running through me as my body wanted to shift and run.

I couldn't even meet Charlotte's eyes as I pursued the exit, I knew the pain in them would soften my resolve. I was certain I loved her, but my certainty was unstable if it produced results like this. I couldn't trust myself, I told her I didn't want to be in charge of anyone or anything, but she persisted. And I let her. I listened to a part of me that I never thought was there. And it was clear, that part needed to never speak again. The room erupted with motion and shouts as I made a path to the door. No one stopped me, not even Charlotte.

Once I crossed the threshold of the doorway, I made for the bedroom for Nana's box and to get out of here. Maybe I could put this all behind me someday, but probably not. As I packed some clothes into a random bag I stole, the door opened, and the woman who stared at me during the meeting entered without permission.

"I don't care what you have to say, I'm leaving. Charlotte is a monster and I regret ever having met her," I knew it wasn't true, but it felt good to say. The wolf in me was howling with regret, but that relationship had just started. It would learn who was in charge whether it liked it or not. If anything, that was the fledgling of a childlike relationship I could do some good with, that I had some knowledge of. I was going to cherish that wolf, but it had to submit to my choices first.

Her chuckle stopped my aggressive packing of items as I threw a shirt into the bag and looked at her, daring her to defy me more.

"I always wondered how tenacious Charlotte's mate would be," her hands went to her hips as she oozed power, "I have to admit, you don't disappoint." The smile on her face was genuine and a bit condescending.

"Listen, lady, I don't give a fuck about this mate shit people keep calling me, I'm not her mate. If you think great sex-" In the blink of an eye, she had me pressed against wall with her face and inch from mine. My breath caught in my throat as she pulled my shirt down my shoulder. Her eyes blazed and matched Charlotte's wolf with a glint as she stared at the mark left from our love making. I tried to push her off, but it was no use, she was stronger than Charlotte.

She licked her lips then in the same instant was standing back by the doorway as if nothing had happened. The smirk on her face was the only indication. I almost fell forward from the loss of her pressure.

"WHAT THE HELL?" I screamed as I clutched at the now burning mark on my shoulder. She seemed lost in thought, so I grasped for the box from Nana to add to my bag and get the hell out of there. When the light reflected the shimmer and hit her eyes, she had the box in her hands with a whip of wind.

"Seriously lady, give it back," I wanted to rush her, but I knew it would be no use to her powers. She held it gently, as if it were fragile. She stroked my name, and the adorned wolf beside it, in a loving manner as I had the first time I saw it. For once, I saw real emotion cross her eyes.

"My father told me about this box," she slowly sat on the bed as the whiplash of emotions held me frozen in place. "Have you opened it?" she was sincere now, as her eyes shimmered a little. I shook my head and bit my lip. How was Nana involved in everything?

"Please, sit," she gestured to the spot beside her on the bed, and I couldn't help but want to give into this more gentle nature she was exhuming. I slowly sat as she smiled sadly at me. She placed the box in my lap, "Go ahead, it's meant for you, she hid this for so long, from so, many, people." She didn't try to hide the tears falling on her face and the resolve almost broke my heart.

I stroked the sides lovingly again before opening the tattered metallic shoe box presented to me. There were several things inside and I didn't know where to start.

This stranger seemed to sense my trepidation. She reached inside and pulled out a photo. It was Nana, but closer to my age, she seemed happy, happier than I had ever seen her. She was giggling and leaning into a gentleman I didn't recognize. Their old style swimsuits were endearing, but not as endearing as the smiles on their faces.

"They were in love," she held the photo between us to admire.

"Who was he?" I asked gently, clearly understanding the woman was Nana. She had married my grandfather well into her thirties, I didn't know she knew him this long before they got married. She looked as if she had just turned twenty in the photo. The woman beside me shuddered a deep breath.

"Gregory, he was like me, like Charlotte, but your Nana, was like you, human." I knew she was trying to tell me something, but I didn't understand. I raised an eyebrow at her for more information. She leaned back on her hands and looked away.

"Gregory was my father," my mouth dropped at the confession.

"So are you," I swallowed, "like related to me?" I am more confused now than the last few days. She chuckled sadly.

"No, they didn't get the chance to, they never," she rubbed her face with her hands, "Gregory was your Nana's mate. But not my mother." Her insinuation was giving way to a migraine.

"So we're not related?" I needed her to fill in the blanks.

"Well not yet, no," her smile was sincere, but laden with sadness.

"So, I thought mates were, like, married right? At least that's how Charlotte seems to see it," I tried to be gentle, but I was still angry at Charlotte.

"In a human's eye, yes," she tugged her lip into her mouth with thought. "Mates are not something you choose, it chooses you, kind of. Mates are predestined, they are gifts from Luna that are sacred bonds beyond what our eyes can see. In the human form, it would be 'love at first sight'," she made air quotes with her hands.

"Then what happened? I mean they look so happy?" I was scared about what I was asking, but I knew it was important.

She stared off into space before answering me. "They were, they really were. Finding your mate is the greatest gift of all, without a mate, you are only one part of two halves." She seemed paralyzed to continue, so I tried a different approach.

"Have you found your mate?" I tentatively asked.

"I did," she chuckled menacingly, "she was killed in the war, by a man named Deacon. She was," her breathing paused her confession, "a human. And therefore, impure to the bloodline of wolves. They killed her in plain daylight. It looked like a traffic accident," she played with a ring on her finger, "she had gone to get me flowers to celebrate our engagement. She was a hopeless romantic and wanted us to get married as humans do. She died with a bouquet of flowers and this ring in her pocket." She twirled it between her fingers as her tears meshed with the shiny declaration of love. "She was going to propose to me that night, although we had already mated, she loved big gestures of romance." She giggled through tears.

I couldn't help but want to soothe the vulnerable woman before me who was regalling her tragic tale, to what end, I didn't know. But I could tell it was hard for her to share, and she seemed to be doing so out of some benefit to me, that I didn't understand yet. I rushed her in a hug that she instantly reciprocated. We clutched to one another for a few moments before the door to the bedroom opening interrupted us. I looked up as I stroked a stranger's back in condolement.

Charlotte stood uncharacteristically in the doorway. I ground my teeth at her intrusion before slowly pulling back from the saddened woman in my arms. She wiped her tears away and stood composing herself quickly.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it," she stood and approached Charlotte, "remember what I taught you about Gregory?" she seemed to be chiding or teasing Charlotte.

"Yes mother," I flushed at the title, only now realizing what she meant by we weren't family yet. Did this woman really think I wanted to be with Charlotte forever? Charlotte stayed in the doorway and stared at me. I wiped some residual tears from my face as I awaited her accosting of my actions.

"She didn't introduce herself did she?" she put her hands in her pockets and I recognized her uncomfortable suggestion. I shook my head without leaving her eyes. She huffed and slowly sat down beside me. I stared at the photo in my hands.

"Did she tell you about Gregory?" She was hesitant and I nodded slowly.

"Kind of, seems there was always something tugging us to each other," I didn't like to admit it, but the evidence was mounting.

"More than you know," she whispered. I looked at her as she glanced at my mouth, and tucked stray hair behind my ear. It took everything in me not to lean into the gesture. I bit my lip and stroked the photo, "So we're not like some weird incestual second cousins or something are we?" Her laughter spiked solace into my being.

"No, mate, even if we were, that isn't how mates work, they don't conform to this realm alone. They are sacred gifts from Luna that should be cherished," she rubbed my thigh and I let her. "Honored, treasured, and I am learning," she seemed to reluctantly continue, "built on a foundation of trust." I liked her sentiment, but her actions had suggested otherwise.

"How could you give me a child without telling me?" I wanted to shove her hand off me, but the burning acceptance was too much to fight. She weaved her hand under my shirt and rubbed my belly. She leaned into me and nuzzled my neck as I sighed from some deep part of me that I wished I could cut off, but I knew I couldn't.

"I will never forgive myself for that," I could feel her breath shudder into my neck, and I could only clutch at her tightly with the admission. I hated our situation as much as I hated her actions in it, but not as much as I loved her. And I think I really did love her. As much as I could in my confused intoxication of her.