Cold Silk

17. Damien

   Heathens: Halestorm

 
It started with a tremble in her arm.

The one laying on top of me. It's what woke me initially.

Her wrist was flexing back and forth. Her hands were grasping desperately at my fur.

Small noises made their way past her lips, mini notes of distress that made me ache to open a link and soothe her as if she was a part of my pack.

I did the next closest thing, I shifted.

The rest of the house was quiet. I could hear the tiny blondes' snores from the couch beyond. Maze's soft breathing paired with Jax's in the room was almost loud compared to the troubled whispers from Charlotte.

The most unfortunate part about shifting is the nudity. I know I'm not a small man. In any capacity, and it makes for some pretty close quarters, especially in situations like these.

She didn't wake when I slid under her, setting her cheek on my chest and settling her curved body between my legs.

My dick liked that a little too much.

Even thinking over the last few hours of knowledge we'd gained did nothing to soften it. Despite my obvious pleasure of being in Charlotte's company and seeing her drop her towel earlier, there were too many factors that have this, whatever it is that I feel for her, pointing to being a bad idea.

And it fucking should have me limp as a noodle too. She's obviously got something going with my brother. And yet...

'Maddox.' I waited for him to open the link while I did the equivalent of a mental knock on the other side. Charlotte didn't have any clocks set up, even the stupid stove one wasn't set, so I can't tell what time it is past that it's dark as fuck outside.

I knocked louder, the power behind it more of a battering ram than polite rap of the knuckles.

'Fucking what?! It's three in the fuckin' morning! What the fuck do you- oh shit. What do you need, Alpha?'

I stifled a chuckle, knowing Maddox is a heavy sleeper, and though he can be a rude asshat, it wasn't personal. Towards me.

'I need you to find anything about a St. James from before I took over.' I intoned, grunting as Charlotte shifted closer, straddling my thigh as she lifted her knee dangerously close to the family jewels. I cupped them protectively while drawing her close with my other arm. Thank fuck she'd stopped whimpering and was sleeping peacefully now.

'Also, find out if about any Great Danes who might have been associated. Not sure what their actual beast was, or their name, but I need to track them down. Another thing, find out who Charlotte St. James has been texting about a boy named Seth.'

'Personal?'

'Kind of. Don't outright tell anyone what you're doing. I want any info you find kept under wraps until I decide what to do with it.'

'Got it.'

'Oh, and Maddy...'

'...What?'

Oooh, the trepidation in his voice. I grinned, forcing the feeling of mischievous glee onto my face and not into the link where I answered.

'Give Malcolm a big kiss and ask him how're tricks?'

'Fuck off, D. I know what you're after with him, and I'll ask, but you gotta stop with the jokes.'