Chapter 130 BACK TO HARTWICK

Chapter 130 BACK TO HARTWICK
CHAPTER 130

CHARLOTTE

About thirty minutes later, my phone rang again. I checked the caller ID and saw it was Zade. I stood up from my seat, my legs feeling a bit stiff, and walked over to the window. The cool glass pressed against my palm as I picked up the call.

Zade’s voice came through, warm but concerned. “How are you feeling? Are you okay? Not in shock?”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he couldn’t see me, but my next words would let him know exactly what I was doing. “Your care is actually touching.”

Zade laughed softly on the other end. “Can you not be bitchy to me for one day and just act like my younger sister?”

I chuckled, the sound feeling lighter than I expected. “You know that won’t make sense.” I paused, my fingers tracing the edge of the windowsill. “What’s the reason for calling?”

Zade exhaled. “I informed Dorian about the attack and he went all Alpha on me. He’s so worried and ordered me to book the next flight for you and Diego to return to Hartwick tomorrow.”

I hissed through my teeth, frustration rising in my chest. “That sounds really like Dorian. But why would he have Diego accompany me? Didn’t you inform him about his mother’s burial? He’d come here for that.”

Zade’s voice grew heavier. “I didn’t bother to inform Dorian because he went Alpha shit on me and suspended me just because I informed Elder Cass of his change in behaviour. He relieved me of the suspension after I explained what I did by telling Diego to watch over you.”

I leaned my forehead against the cool window glass. “That’s really strange of Dorian.”

Zade continued, “Elder Cass and I researched about the Blood Moon affecting the bond if both mates have unsettled issues. It could tamper with the mate bond and make one of them have glitchy memories where they forget the other. But after seeing how he acted and fussed over your attack, she told me it wasn’t the Blood Moon at work but something else. There's something that we're yet to figure out. But Dorian is adamant and wouldn’t talk to anyone.”

I stayed quiet for a while, my chest feeling tight with worry and confusion. What is happening to him? Why is everything falling apart? “I’ll talk to him when I return to the pack tomorrow. Don’t worry about him anymore.”

Zade sounded relieved. “Okay. I’ve booked tickets for both of you. Your flight is at seven tomorrow morning, so don’t be late to the airport. I’ll text Diego an explanation so he can understand.”

I smiled faintly. “Alright, big brother. Love you small.”

Zade laughed warmly. “Love you plenty, Charlie puppy.”

I cut the call and turned around. Diego was awake and sitting upright on the sofa, staring at me.

I jumped slightly. “Geez, dude, you just scared me. Why are you up instead of sleeping?”

Diego narrowed his gaze at me. “Maybe if you want to make a call next time and don’t want to wake people around you, you should learn how to speak quietly and in whispers or leave the area at large.”

I laughed and joined him on the sofa, the cushions sinking under my weight. “I’m sorry for waking you up. I know how stressed you are.”

My mother called from the kitchen. “Drag your asses to the dining table. Food is ready.”

I helped Diego to the kitchen. We sat around the table and my mother served us the food. The warm aroma of the meal filled the air.

Midway through eating, Diego asked, “Why did Zade call?”

I looked at him and asked, “How did you know it was Zade?”

Diego shrugged. “I just knew from how you were speaking that it was him.”

I asked him, “Where’s your phone?”

He dipped hisbhands into his clothes and then sighed, “I think i misplaced it between the fight or I probably forgot it at home.” He arched an eyebrow at me. “Don’t avoid the question.”

I shook my head. “I’m not avoiding the question, but Zade said he’s going to shoot you a message explaining to you, so I think it’ll be better to see Zade’s message.”

Diego replied, “Well, my phone isn’t here with me and I can’t leave your side to go search for it.”

I told him, “Dorian had Zade prepare flights for us to Hartwick tomorrow morning.”

Diego was quiet for a moment. “That’s messed up. Travelling tomorrow is an impromptu.”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”

Diego told me, “I will go over to my apartment to pack my stuff. You must lock the door after I leave and not open it for anyone until I say the code ‘Hartwick’.”

I nodded.

After we finished eating, he left and I closed the door.

I went to my room to pack my belongings. My mother came in to help me and took my hand, her palm warm and familiar. “Are you okay?”

I squeezed her hand back, my throat tightening. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

She pulled me into a gentle hug. “If the pack ever gets tiring to you again, don’t hesitate to call me and come stay with me.”

I nodded, resting my head on her shoulder for a moment. “I will be sure to put that in mind, but I don’t think Zade and Dorian would allow me out of the pack seeing the rogues are after me.”

My mother asked, her voice soft, “Do you know why the rogues are after you?”

I shook my head, frustration bubbling inside me. “I myself don’t understand, but all I know is a rival of Dorian, Lockwood, has been wanting to have me since or before I arrived at the pack. He used Dorian’s ex-beta to try to kidnap me after I awakened my wolf, but Dorian knew about it and intercepted it. And banished the beta. But that hasn’t stopped the rogues from coming after me.”

My mother repeated the name “Lockwood” with her brows furrowed.

I asked her, “Is something wrong?”

She shook her head slowly. “I’m just trying to remember a certain time before your father and I broke up. He’d mentioned having business with one Lockwood.”

I stopped what I was doing, my hands freezing on the clothes in my bag. “Lockwood is a notorious Alpha. Are you sure this was the man my father had dealings with? There are lots of people who go by that name.”

My mother shook her head. “I’m fairly certain he’s the same Lockwood because he’d mention having to fix some pack issues from him. But when I tried to ask deeply, he wouldn’t offer me direct concrete answers and I realized he wanted to keep it a secret, so I didn’t bother to ask him.”

I resumed packing my clothes, my mind racing. So my father had some kind of werewolf dealings with Lockwood? Lockwood, who's a notorious rival to Dorian? And the same Lockwood who brainwashed one of Dorian’s men to get close to me romantically, which was all a means to kidnap me and hand me over to him? The same Lockwood who wouldn’t stop sending rogues after me?

My mother looked at me. “Don’t stress too much about it. They might not have much meaning to your father’s work with Lockwood and it may not have anything to do with you.”

I looked at her. “Maybe their meeting doesn’t have anything to do with me and I’m overthinking things.”

There was a knock on the door. I went to answer it. “Who’s there?”

Diego’s voice came through. “It’s me.”

I peered through the hole to see him looking around.

“The code?” I asked.

He smirked. “Hartwick.”

I opened the door and he walked in. He closed the door behind him. I returned to my room and continued packing my stuff.

The following morning, we left for the airport. My mother drove us there. She hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek. “I’ll call you later in the evening to check if you’ve arrived.”

I nodded, my eyes stinging a little. My mother turned to Diego. “Take care of my daughter. I will contact you after the work tour ends.”

He smiled. “I’ll protect her with all my life.”

We boarded the plane and it taxied into the sky. I slept off immediately on Diego’s shoulder and stayed that way all through the ride. Once he woke me up to eat something before I returned to sleep.

When the plane landed at the airport, we got our bags and walked towards the gate where we spotted Zade holding a notice with my name.

I rushed to him. He hugged me tightly and ruffled my hair. “Charlie puppy.”

I eyed him. “Stop calling me that.”

Zade grinned widely and turned to Diego. “Charlie puppy is Charlotte’s name. Don’t you think it’s a cute name?”

Diego smirked and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Never knew Charlie puppy was your name.”

I glared at Zade. “I’m going to kill you.” I turned to Diego. “If you dare call me that name, I’m going to roast you alive.”

Zade and Diego said at the same time, “Aww, so scary.”

I burst out laughing and we headed to the car. Zade thanked Diego for what he did for me. Diego said it was nothing.

When I got to the pack house, Diego had already dropped off on the way while we continued. I saw Dorian with Kale fixing some machines.

We both exchanged glances and I continued heading into the pack house into my room. I dropped my bag and collapsed on the bed, sighing heavily. A moment later, my door opened and Dorian walked in. I stood up and called his name.

He smiled, closed the door, and rushed up to me. He hugged me tightly. He breathed in my scent and ran his fingers through my hair. “I’ve missed you.” He checked my body and asked, “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. And I've missed you so much.” I looked up at him, my eyes taking in his familiar face and build.

He kissed me slowly, pulling me closer to himself, and I let him, kissing him back. I had missed him so much and the bond felt so overwhelming.

He cupped my face and told me, “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you and it’s important.”