Chapter 54

"Charlotte? Do you think that there is a possibility that you might have shifter blood?"

She stilled instantly. It took her a minute to answer. "I don't really know. I know almost nothing about my mom and literally nothing about my dad. I'm sure Mom was a human, because Granddad and Grandma are human. My dad, I got nothing. I have sometimes wondered. But, I guess I might never know for sure."

"I've spoken to your grandfather and he was just as unsure as you are. He basically said that the only thing that he knew about your dad was that he was crazy about your mom. He never said, but I suspect that when your mom introduced your dad to the family, they were already married and she was pregnant with you."

Charlotte nodded. "That sounds about right. I have overheard Granddad and Grandma speaking about it occasionally. But, whenever, I brought it Dad and where he came from, they would always find a way to distract me or change the subject somehow. After a while, I got tired of that happening and quit asking. " She took a shaky breath and said, "I'm guessing that's what they wanted at the time."

"I'm thinking that you're right. But, I have asked Graeham to see what he can find. He said he would contact your cousin Caleb and have him run down your dad. Evidently, he still has all of his and your mother's personal things put up for you. He said he even had their marriage license and a picture of them with some other people. Your grandfather said it looked like a wedding." Jaxson let the sink in for a minute, before continuing. "It looks like it was their wedding, Charlotte. If we can find out who the people are in the photo, then we might discover more information about your dad and his family."

Charlotte nodded.

"Jaxson, I think we need to leave this for a minute. I'm already nervous and anxious about the baby, the wedding, Rio's wedding, Your Alpha ceremony, Rio's Beta ceremony, then the reveal during the banquet. I promise I won't act like an ostrich and stick my head in the sand. This is too important." Drawing a shaky breath, she sat up and looked at her wonderful mate and soon-to-be husband. Smiling, she reached awkwardly and pulled him to her and kissed him.

They broke apart when someone knocked on their suite door. Jaxson was growling, loudly. Angry at the interruption. Yanking the door open, he was about to yell at the person on the other side, when he saw Agnes and his mom.

"Oh. Hi Mom." He said meekly.

Charlotte chuckled because she saw him before he opened the door and after. He didn't dare speak harshly to his mom and he knew it. He might be a grown man in his thirties and about to be Alpha, but that was still his mom and his dad would rip him to pieces if he had spoken to her like he intended to do to the person on the other side of the door,

Looking at her son and his mate standing behind him in one of his shirts, Miney looked over at Agnes and said, "I do believe that we have interrupted something." She was the least bit repentant. As a matter of fact, she was smiling.

"Jaxson, leave us. Charlotte needs to try on her wedding dress, as well as the others for Friday and Saturday." Jaxson grumbled the entire time that he pulled on a shirt and slid his feet into his shoes.

"Jaxson!" He instantly stilled, and turned to face her.

Her smile was so beautiful and so angelic his chest actually hurt. "I love you."

Before going out and shutting their door, he blew her a kiss.

Agnes was struck by the genuineness and sincerity of the action. "That was so sweet. He actually meant that, too. No mockery, no condescension. Just pure and absolute love."

Miney nodded. "I raised those boys right. I always thought that Jaxson would be the more reserved of the two. But, it's actually Rio is so reserved. Jaxson is more demonstrative than his brother. But, Amber knows exactly how much he loves her."

Agnes frowned, 'What do you mean that you raised them right? I think I know, but want to be sure."

"I raised them to never let their mate wonder how they feel. It's important to be open about that kind of thing. Mates, just like spouses, need constant expression of love and affection to strengthen their bond, their relationship, so that it stays strong. A weak bond creates a weak relationship and a breakable connection. The mates must always let the other know what they feel."

Agnes nodded, 'Makes sense. Of course, it's the same in humans. The emotions you constantly express are the ones that are the most dominant in your heart for your significant other."

Miney smiled and nodded. "Yes, exactly like that."

Turning to her mate's son, her soon to be daughter, she smiled and handed her the garment bag that held the three dresses she would be wearing on Friday and Saturday.

"Might as well come on in and help me. Both of you." Charlotte suddenly realized that Amber wasn't with them. "Where's Amber?" She asked.

Miney cleared her throat and said, "She and Rio have gone to get something for Graeham and Anders."

"Oh. I can tell by the way you say that, you don't want me to pry. So I won't. At least, not yet." She said, laughing.

Getting undressed in front of the other two women, Charlotte almost completely disrobed. All she had left on was her panties.

Agnes, seeing Charlotte's scars for the first time, gasped and felt tears gather and spill over, and run down her face. "Oh, Charlotte!" She exclaimed. I didn't know!"

Charlotte smiled gently at Agnes, then at Miney. "It's okay, Agnes. I survived, and because of the person who did it, to keep someone else from harming me."

That got her attention. Her head snapped up and stared at Charlotte in disbelief. "What!"

Charlotte reached down and put Jaxson's shirt back on and sat on the side of the bed and patted the space next to her to invite Agnes to sit down, as well. Miney had already taken a seat in a large wingback chair close to the bed.

"I was 'tortured' and stabbed, two fingers broken and shot twice. All to save me from some very unsavory people." Charlotte could see that Agnes was having a difficult time coming to terms with what she was telling her. So, she decided to start from the beginning. By the time she got to the part about her 'torture,'

she was explaining about Marco and Tony. "Their idea of fun, aka, torture, was rape and sodomy, as well as cutting off fingers and toes. What was done to me, literally saved my life. Rio knew that I was important. But at the time, he had no idea how important. So, he did one more thing to protect me. He dumped my body on the family property up in the mountains. Unfortunately, when they 'dumped' me, I hit my head on a rock that he didn't see and it busted my head open and caused a concussion. When Jaxson found me, he said he was afraid to even consider that I was his mate, because he didn't think I would make it. It was not the trauma, it was the blood loss."

"I don't understand. How can you forgive him." Agnes couldn't grasp and Charlotte knew that there was something about her past that screamed abuse. "Agnes, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you were beaten, pretty badly. Among other things. Am I right?"

When she nodded, Charlotte knew that this was a touchy subject. The outcome of this conversation would be determined by how Charlotte explained the situation.

"Agnes, I'm guessing that your abuser was your spouse or boyfriend?" When she nodded, Charlotte continued. "Rio didn't torture me, stab me or even shoot me for his own sadistic sense of pleasure. He isn't a sadist, he isn't a cruel man. By him taking over my torture, and handling it himself, he kept me alive. Not to mention, if he had refused or protected me outright. He would have blown his cover and instead of one person dead, it would have been two. Maybe more." Charlotte swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "He cries about it. When he told what had happened to his brother and dad, he cried. The big bad Beta. Massive muscle man. Cried like a baby. Do know what he told me, in front of everyone? 'If it's any consolation, I'll see your face every time I close my eyes. Amber said he might have nightmares for the rest of his life."

All three women were crying now.

Agnes was the first to speak. "Miney, I'm so sorry. This must have been incredibly difficult for you to deal with. I'm sorry that Charlotte had to tell me and you had to be here to hear again."

Miney being the loving and warm woman she was, walked over to Agnes and pulled her up into a hug. "Child, you couldn't possibly have known the depths of the past for Charlotte and Rio. They're as close as a brother and sister now. Have you not noticed? He cares for her. Like a brother should. Now, girls, it's time to dry your eyes. We have dresses to try on. Madam Colette will be here tomorrow for the final fittings. So we must be ready."

Going over to the garment bag, Miney hung it in the closet and pulled down the zipper. Pulling out Charlotte's wedding dress she handed it to her and went to lock the door of the suite. "Can't have Jaxson barging in and seeing your wedding dress, now can we?"

For the next thirty minutes to an hour, the women tried on their dresses and checked the fit to see if there was anything that needed a last minute alteration.

When they were finished, Miney hung the garment bag holding Charlotte's dresses in the massive walk-in closet towards the back. Coming back out, she looked at the two women and said, tomorrow morning we will go over the wedding and figure out how to get everyone involved in rehearsals. One rehearsal should do it, I think."

Both women nodded and agreed with her. Unbeknownst to them, the men had gotten their rings while they were in Knoxville. Both of the brothers were excited to give their mates the 'engagement' ring the night before the weddings. Miney knew, but had been sworn to secrecy by them and her husband. She even knew that Graeham had something planned for Agnes at the wedding reception. He hadn't wanted to steal Jaxson's and Rio's thunder, and so had asked if he could. The answer had been an unequivocal yes. They were almost as excited for him as they were for themselves.

When the three women reached the bottom of the stairs, Rio and Amber entered in and Jaxson, Anders and Graeham came out of Jaxson's office.

Just then, Jamie came into the foyer where everyone seemed to have gathered and said, "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes, Ma'am."

"Wonderful Jamie. Thank you. You are laying it out buffet style on the sideboard, correct?" Miney replied with a smile, hoping that everyone would enjoy the surprise dinner.

The woman nodded, "Yes, Ma'am. Just as you asked for. Everything has been cooked, we are just taking the final items out of the oven." Just then several servants began bringing out several bowls of salad items. Charlotte saw chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, all kinds of olives, cheese, etc. Then they began to bring out could pasta dishes, even an antipasto. Then finally, they carried out several very large pizzas. Meat lovers, cheese, supreme, bar-be-cue, a spinach, mushroom and black olive pizza. Plus two or three more. Then, Charlotte's favorite part came out. It was a large dish of tiramisu. Her absolute favorite.