Rejected by One Loved by the Other

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

That night Alpha Cameron called Charley. "We need to talk brother of mine."

"You want me to leave?"

"Hell no, I think you need to move to a bigger house, or she has to get a place of her own. I want her to finish school to be a doctor. If she doesn't then it will be a giant loss to all of us. She is going to need help, maybe a nanny or a housekeeper. Her being a doctor might be the best way to keep her safe."

"I don't want her to move out she will think I gave up on her. This house is the house I bought with my mate, I don't know if I can give it up."

"Not even for Little one?"

"I was measuring this place a little while ago to see what we can do to fit them all in. I will let you know after I sleep on it. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Wait, I almost forgot. Anthony is coming home tomorrow. He is all done Alpha training. I know he would like to see you."

"Where has the time gone? He was running around chasing rabbits as a pup and now he is going to be an Alpha with his own pack. I haven't seen the boy in a while, I'm looking forward to seeing him tomorrow."

Charley goes back to measure the house. When he smells something wonderful cooking. 'Who is cooking? Little one is taking a nap.' He yelled downstairs, "Who is here?"

"It's me, Charley, I am making stir fry. I am using all the leftover chicken and shrimp and pork in the frig then added some vegetables and a sauce. It will be ready in a couple of minutes."

"I thought you were sleeping. Let me set the table since you have done all the cooking. I want to talk to you about the house."

"Dinner is done." She carried the food to the table.

"Do you still want to live with me now that you are having your own pups?"

"If you still want me here. I will understand if you don't want me to. The pups would most likely be a lot on you. They will cry and get messy."

"The pups won't bother me. I like pups, I originally wanted a dozen."

"I can give you two to play with."

"Cameron mentioned this house is too small for the twins. I can do one of two things; we can find a bigger house and move; or we can add a few rooms to this place. I was thinking about redoing the basement for me and giving you upstairs."

"This is your house I will go along with whatever you want to do. I could move my music stuff into the basement and give the room to the pups. I won't be having anymore so that is all the room we need."

"You might find another mate. None of us know the future."

"There is no male that will want to raise another male's pups. Honestly, I don't care as long as you and I are together. Charley, I don't have any family, not blood family. I would like it if the pups could call you grandpop?"

Charley is getting all choked up, "Why would you want an old man like me?"

"Because you are the best man I have ever met. You are strong, kind, and a loving man. One if I didn't have in my life, I don't know where I would be. No, I don't mean with the running thing, yes you have helped me with that. It's just you have taken the time to let me see I am worth something. I will never be able to thank you enough for that."

Not wanting to get to emotional Charley tries to lighten up the mood, not very well. "What can I say to that, Little one? I would be so honored. I never thought I would be a father much less be a grandfather. You have given me back a life that I would never have had. Fate or the Moon Goddess has brought us together. Given each of us what we both needed." Charley messed up her hair. "You get to bed young lady you are going to need some sleep. I will clean up from dinner."

"I can help." Charley gives her a stern stare having her putting her hands up in surrender then goes upstairs.

That night Charley couldn't sleep. Memories haunting him, some start out good then turn bad. Some are just bad. His dreams bring him back to the time with his mate. They are dancing around the house. Then she is pregnant still dancing with him. They make a nursery; then the pup is growing up. When she finally turns around, he sees her face, it is Melody. The dreams take him back to the places him and Melody had gone on their way back to the pack. They are happy, laughing, then the picture changes, Melody is pregnant. She is the one getting a nursery together, she is happy. Then blood starts to pour over her and she is screaming. He can't help her.

Charley wakes up covered in sweat. Remembering the dream. It is the middle of the night, so he tries to fall back to sleep. His dream repeats again. This time it goes further. He is just standing there helpless; he closes his eyes, not wanting to watch it anymore. When he looks back it is his mate laying there dead. Their pup is in his arms, dead. This time he jumps up shaking. He runs in to check on Melody. Who he finds sleeping in her room. Safe and sound. "This isn't good I have to pull myself together."

The rest of the night he couldn't sleep. When Melody got up in the morning. She saw how tired he was. "Charley, you need to get some more sleep. I finished breakfast, eat and go back to bed. I will see you after school. I forgot I will be late I told Bethanie I would help her." She runs out the door as Charley sips on his coffee.

When the door closes, Charley lifts his head to the sky. "Moon Goddess, please not again. Take care of her, take care of them. You trusted her to me, not to take her away like my mate."

That afternoon Charley had tried to sleep and had the horrible dream again. This time he calls his brother for help. "I need to talk to you. Can I come by and see you?"

"My door is always open for you. I asked you to be here to greet Anthony when he arrives, he will be here in about thirty minutes."

"I will be there shortly." Charley gets his jacket and heads out the door. Remembering school would be out soon he mind links Melody. "Little one, I had to go to the Alpha's office meet me there."

"I am giving Bethanie a piano lesson so I will be there when you are done."

Cameron hears a knock on the door. "Come in, Charley." When he sees him, he furrows his brow. "What happened to you? You look like shit. After that call and your appearance, I know something is wrong, spit it out and let's see if I can help you."

"I am having dreams, and they are scaring the hell out of me. After the doctor told me she was pregnant I couldn't stop thinking about my Hope. In my dreams I see Hope dead with my daughter in her arms. Then Hope turns into Melody. This is the better part of my dreams; they get worse, to the point I wake up shaking and sweating. This is making me crazy."

"It makes sense that your old fears are coming into play now. You have all the right to be afraid. You treat Melody as your daughter, I can see how you feel about her. Charley, she is going to need you. Somehow you are going to have to get over this."

"I know that. The problem is how do I get past this."

"All I can tell you is she is not Hope. Hope was frail, she always was so tiny and weak physically. Your daughter, was beautiful. When she was born, she was as small as the palm of my hand. Melody is strong, she lived through so much, she will make it through this. Believe in her."

Then there is a knock at the door. "Come in."