Chapter 53

The two couples sat in the diner eating their food. Each male was thinking about security for the upcoming event and what a nightmare it was going to be. The Alpha and Beta ceremonies with the reveal at the banquet following after. The multiple scenarios ran through their heads. Everything screamed nightmare. For sure, they both knew that Bill would have someone of both women during the ceremonies and they had even worked out between themselves that one of Hunter's team would be a groomsman.

"Can I get you folks anything else?" The waitress said, smiling at Jaxson. Reaching out, she was going to touch him, when Charlotte reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"The merchandise isn't for sale. Don't touch what doesn't belong to you." She had, closing her grip on the waitress's wrist.

"Hey, you're hurting me!" She said loudly. trying to draw attention.

"Yes well, I meant to. Jaxson is your Alpha and my mate and soon-to-be husband. DO NOT TOUCH HIM LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

Jaxson was startled, as was Rio. Charlotte was not timid and she had some sass, but this. This was a side they had never seen before. They were all stunned silent.

The manager of the diner, an older woman, came over to their table to see what all of the fuss was about.

"Alpha Jaxson, what can I do to settle everything down." She asked staring warily at Charlotte.

Rio spoke up and said, "Our server reached out to touch my brother, the Alpha. It's plain to see that the two of them are mates. All you have to do is watch them for more than a few minutes. Not to mention that they are sitting practically in each other's laps and he was feeding her from his plate. When that girl reached out to touch him, Charlotte reached out and grabbed her wrist and told her not to touch what didn't belong to her. She never said she was sorry, she never looked it either. Charlotte is our new Luna and will be marked during the Alpha ceremony." The manager was listening and looking at the two sitting so close together. Then she took a deep whiff.

Turning to the waitress, she said, "Girl you better apologize right this instance. If you want to live. Did you know that you could be killed for what you did?"

"I did nothing wrong. Besides, she's just a human."

"Are you really that stupid? Take a deep sniff and tell me what you smell on those two, you idiot!" The manager said, harshly.

The girl did take a deep sniff and smelt the two then she took another sniff and smelled it. That faint intermingling of their scents, a baby. An Alpha cub.

The manager knew when she realized her mistake. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open and the blood drained from her face.

Ohmygod, ohmygod!!! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Luna. Please! Forgive me?" The girl was in tears and had forgotten about her wrist. She was focused on staying alive.

Amber was standing there watching with a great deal of interest, frowning. "I don't understand, Rio. Why is she so frightened?"

"The Luna can have her killed. That's why." The manager informed her.

"But why? I still don't understand." Amber spoke in confusion.

"She tried to interfere with mates. That's illegal in the shifter world." Rio said.

"Okay, I get that. but how did she know after smelling them? Like you said, Charlotte isn't marked." Amber still didn't understand, so Rio explained it to her.

"Only truly mated couples can get pregnant. Because Charlotte is Jaxson's true mate, she can get pregnant with his cubs. If something happens to her and he takes a chosen mate, they will never have children together."

"Okay, what does that have to do with the baby?" Amber asked.

"Both women smelled the cub that Charlotte is carrying, or at least the change in her scent that would signify a shifter pregnancy. So, she is quite literally begging for her life. Charlotte could order her death and no one would bat an eye nor would anyone help her. She knows the rules and laws, because she grew up here." Looking over at the young female, he asked her, "Didn't you?""

Nodding her head, tears still streaming down her face, she answered, "Yes, Beta. I did. I was born here."

" Then why did you do what you did?" Rio demanded.

"I honestly don't know, sir. One minute I was thinking about getting off because you are my last table and the next, I remember thinking how handsome Alpha is and how great it would be to have a mate like him." The girl cringed at this.

"All shifters are drawn to power. That's natural. I would advise however, that you learn to keep your hands to yourself. Your Luna is pregnant and as you can see, can be quite vicious." Rio turned to look at Charlotte who had calmed down and was in his brother's arms. Raising an eyebrow, Rio said, "Well? Anything you two want to say to the young lady?"

"Not yet. Be at the Alpha house one week after the Alpha ceremony on Friday at 5 p.m. You will learn proper etiquette and what it means to act, dress and talk like a lady. If you want to attract the right kind of power, you have to know how." Charlotte said, letting Jaxson help her up out of the booth.

"Yes ma'am, thank you, Luna." The poor girl was falling all over herself trying to show how apologetic and grateful she really was.

The two brothers threw some money on the table to cover their bills and tip and walked out. Jaxson and Charlotte climbed into Jaxson's Jeep, while Rio and Amber got into Rio's large truck.

When they got back to the Alpha house, Jaxson carried her up the stairs and called three people, his mom, Henry and Misty. Asking them to all come, he disconnected the call and unpacked their clothes. He was getting Charlotte a bottle of water when there was a knock on their suite door. Handing his mate her water, he went and answered the door, letting in however had knocked.

"Is Henry and Misty with you?" He asked his mom.

"No, should they be?" Miney asked.

"Well, I called them. I have some questions for them. Also, now that I think about it, I need to speak to Graeham." He picked up the phone and called his mate's grandfather to come to their suite, as well.

Henry, Misty and Graeham all managed to arrive at the same time. Leading everyone into the living room of the suite, Jaxson indicated that everyone sit.

"I have some questions and I'm not sure who to direct them to first, so I'm going to go on instinct and go with you, Mom. Today at that diner, we stopped and had an early lunch. Charlotte had been wanting to eat there and it was the perfect opportunity. As we were getting ready to pay our bill, the waitress reached out to touch me. The reason isn't important. What is important is how Charlotte reacted. For her it was violent." Jaxson took the time to describe the actions that Charlotte has used and her almost rage plus her incredible strength.

"Mom, is it because she's carrying an Alpha cub or because she's simply pregnant with a shifter baby?"

Miney squealed with joy at the word cub. Taking a deep whiff she smelled it. The woman was almost jumping up and down. "Oh, my goodness. A grandbaby. A cub, our first." MIney was smiling as tears started pouring out of her eyes.

Someone knocked on their suite door. Jaxson cursed under his breath and Charlotte, having heard him, laughed.

"Hi Dad, come on in." Jaxson said after he opened the door and there stood his dad.

"What's got your mom so excited? I could feel it in our suite." Anders asked his son.

"She's pregnant. But, that's not what I have everyone here for. I'm trying to get to the bottom of Charlotte's behavior. She never acts like that. We're trying to figure out if it's because she's pregnant or if it's because she's pregnant with an Alpha cub." Jaxson gave his dad a brief rundown of the incident at the diner.

"Hmm, possibly. But doubtful. I have someone you two need to speak with. I'll give her a call and have her come tonight for dinner." Anders went to gather Miney up to him and kissed her cheek. Turning to Graeham, Anders knew that something was not being said that should have been. Years ago.

Henry and Misty lead Charlotte into the couple's bedroom, to give her an exam. Especially to see how that bullet would was healing.

"Graeham, what do you know about Charlotte's dad?" Looking the other man in the eye, he let him know that he was aware something wasn't right.

"Not a lot really. I know that he came from out West. Somewhere around Colorado maybe the Denver area. I never really got to know him like I would have liked."

Looking over at the young man, Graeham realized something, "You think he was a shifter, don't you?"

Jaxson nodded his head. "It's the only thing that makes sense. I was around pregnant women all my life growing up. My mom would help the doctor as a midwife. I have never seen a non-shifter female act like that when pregnant. Charlotte was ready to commit violence. You know how even tempered she is most of the time. She's got sass, but, she's never violent. She's never tried to hurt someone on purpose. That's a shifter response."

"You know, I can give you her dad's name and address where he was from. It's a starting point."

Jaxson nodded, liking the idea of backtracking into Charlotte's life. Well, her parent's lives.

Just then, the three came out of the bedroom, having finished the exam. Misty spoke first.

"Wound is looking great, should be healed up pretty soon. She seems to be healing a little faster than usual, but I'm not complaining."

"Agreed. The rate that she is healing is almost the same rate that you or Rio would heal. Maybe it has something to do with the baby." Henry stated, unknowingly saying what several of them were thinking.

"Jaxson, I'm tired. Can we lay down for a bit?" Charlotte asked.

Everyone realized that was their cue to leave. Graeham was the last to leave and he turned and nodded to Jaxson, letting him know that he would get him that information.

"Come on, Sweet Mate. Let's go lie down. Maybe a nap will make you feel better." Nodding, Charlotte ventured back into the bedroom and got undressed. Getting into bed naked, she lay down on her side and closed her eyes. The sigh of contentment she breathed wasn't all the out before she was asleep. Jaxson took his time getting undressed before following his mate and getting into bed. Gathering her up in his arms, he lay there thinking about what he and her grandfather had spoken about before sleep took him too.

Sometime later he was awakened by something. Then he realized that the something had been Charlotte. She was placing light, small kisses on his chest while running her hands up and down his bare hip and thigh.

He hesitated and she felt it. "I'm fine Jax. Henry and Misty both said so. Besides, I really need some quality time with my mate." Reaching to the front of him, Charlotte took him in her hand and gripped him firmly. That was all it took. Suddenly she was on her back and she was laughing for the sheer joy of just being with him. Soon enough the laughter turned to gasps and moans. Then cries and a scream.

Sometime later, they were lying entwined touching each other with the sweat dried on their bodies and they just enjoyed being together.

Jaxson knew he had to ask her, but he wasn't really sure how he was going to. So, he just came right out and asked her what was on his mind.