Calla Lily

Charlotte ⚪️

  I walked down the aisles of the record store which was quite busy. Records were now the cool thing brought back to popularity by young people who were not even born when they were created, me included. When we walked in everyone turned and bowed their heads slightly. It felt strange and I paused in the door way until I felt Sorren's hand on my shoulder. I kept moving into the small store which was lined with tall shelves around the outside wall and waist high tables with compartments that held records upright to allow customers to thumb through them in the middle.
I gave a small uncomfortable smile as a few wolves that we passed greeted Sorren and then me using our official titles. I began to leaf through the records finding the Stevie Nicks albums with ease. I grabbed Bella Donna, Rooms on Fire, and the Wild Heart. "Stevie Nicks?" Sorren asked. I nodded "The best ever." He looked like he was about to rebut when a woman's voice sounded from behind Sorren. "Good morning Alpha." I turned to see a woman with tan skin and dark black hair slicked back into a low ponytail. Her large brown eyes ogled at Sorren as he turned to address the strange woman dressed in black slacks, a sweater, and a long black trench coat. I turned back to the bin of records acting unbothered but curious to see where this was going. "Good morning." He said shortly. I let my fingers walk through the albums shuffling them as if I was paying attention to the titles they displayed. "Did you take care of that urgent business Alpha?" I rose a brow as she asked him that. She was not a stranger, and judging by her seductive tone, he knew her well. "Yes." He said flatly. "Perhaps we could get another drink sometime?" She questioned. I turned to glance at her out of the corner of my eye, she was who he was with that night. "No, I don't think-" I didn't hear the rest of Soren's reply as two young kids came up to me.
    "Luna! Luna!" I turned to find a young girl and boy no older than 8 smiling at me brightly a small bouquet of flowers gripped in their small hands. "For you!" They smiled brightly. "Thank you both! They are so beautiful." I exclaimed. They handed the bought of daisies, carnations, and baby's breath. The two kids smiled before retreating back towards who I assume to be their mother at the door of the shop. She smiled fondly and nodded before ushering the kids outside.
"Luna?" The woman asked. I turned to find her attention now on me. "I hadn't realized." Her gaze cut to Sorren and seemed to be almost sharp. "It's nice to meet you Luna, congratulations." This was the woman Sorren wanted to replace me with, and as far as I'm concerned she could have him. Only downside? Internal bleeding apparently just for me. "You are?" I asked her. "Charlotte." She answered swiftly. I hummed in contemplation. "Sorren isn't available for drinks." Her lips parted as I said that in shock. "I apologize Luna I did not realize the Alpha was mated." She said sincerely. "Now you do." Sorren turned to look at me. "Calla." He said tightly. "I just don't want any confusion." I paused for a moment "Or anymore trips to the hospital." I added. Charlotte looked at me wide eyed and then at Sorren who stood looking at me jaw tight.
"I'll take these." I stepped forward to hand the records to Sorren who took them wordlessly. The record store was full of quiet whispers as people took in the scene before them. I turned to walk towards the door ignoring all of the eyes I felt on me. I heard his steps quick on my heels as Sorren fished out a roll of cash and set it on the clerks checkout counter not pausing to receive the change as I pushed the door open exiting onto the street. I walked quickly towards his car my arms crossed over my chest. "Calla." Sorren said sternly. "Calla!" He lowered his tone as wolves passed us instead whispering angrily. We reached his car quickly and I yanked open the passenger door. As I pulled it open Sorren slammed his hand into the top of the door so hard that it left a dent and sent the door flying shut loudly.
My eyes snapped up to meet his as he took a few breaths to calm himself. "That was not the place." He said lowly. "And you were portraying such a united front?" I snapped. Sorren glanced around as I rose my voice before he yanked open the door "Get in." He said wanting to get me away from prying eyes and ears. "You don't get to pretend like it didn't happen." I said moving to get into the car. Sorren quickly shut the door and made his way into the drivers seat discarding my records into the back. "I am not denying what happened. I'm sorry for what I did." He said. "The pack just doesn't need to know." I said sarcastically. "Would you have told her no if I wasn't there?" I asked. "Of course! I will never put you through that again." He said turning towards me completely.
    "We talked about this Calla, I'm sorry." I shook my head "No you wanted to hurt me, and then you bring my parents to see me like that fixed everything? Like you can distract me?" All of the discussion the apologies ran through my mind, but something about today about being a good girl by shutting my mouth pissed me off. "It's the bond, you feel threatened by Charlotte." Sorren concluded "But I'm yours I promise Calla." I finally looked to him. "I feel threatened by you! As long as I sit down and shut up everything is rainbows and sunshine but as soon as I voice my opinion everything goes to shit!" I yelled. My voice sounded amplified within the small space. "Fuck!" I yelled turning to face forward again. "Drive." I said after a few moments of silence. Sorren sighed and put the car into drive.
"Your breakfast burrito was good?" Sorren asked as we reached the outskirts of town. "Seriously?" I asked incredulously plunging us back into silence. "My breakfast was good." He said as we began back up the mountain. "That's great Sorren." I snapped. We turned onto his driveway and made the short trek from the main road to his house. Jaden and Azalea were sitting on the chairs on the front porch their car in the driveway as we pulled in. As soon as Sorren put the car in park I was out of the door. "Hey Calla!" Azalea waved standing up. Sorren made quick work of closing the space I had created between us jingling keys in hand to unlock the house. "How was breakfast?" Azalea asked curiously. "Delicious." I said unconvincingly. "Not what you're craving?" Jaden laughed half heartedly. "I met Charlotte." I said as Sorren unlocked the door. "Am I allowed to say that now, or do I still have to keep my mouth shut?" I felt so brave all of a sudden, helped by the presence of other wolves and the presence of his pack. He asked me to behave because he could not treat me however he pleased in the view of onlookers.
    "That's enough Calla." Sorren ground out, there he was. The talking and pleading to forgive him almost let me forget how he was in the face of undeniable conflict. I walked into the house Azalea coming up behind me "I'm here to check out your stomach, let's head upstairs alright?" She said trying to delay the impending argument. "I can't believe I let you distract me." I said as Sorren walked towards the kitchen his hands clenched at his sides. "I will be meeting with the pack elders tonight. Word of your outburst has already reached them." Sorren turned towards me. I hadn't seen him on his phone and so assumed he was told this via mind link. "Do I get to plead my case?" Sorren's eyes looked to me sternly. "There is no case to plead." He said resolutely. "You're not serious." I dead panned. "We will talk tonight of the status of our relationship and how it could affect the pack." Sorren said.
    "Sounds like something I should present for right? Or are you afraid of what I might say?" I asked my anger rising. "This is bigger than you Calla this is about pack stability and my role as Alpha." He said seriously. "I've already explained the inquiry we would receive on why the mate bond is not completed." It's not completed because I was kidnapped I thought to myself. "I need to assure people that our relationship is strong." I clenched my jaw as he said that "Good luck doing that by showing up alone." I turned and began up the stairs with Azalea. We reached the bedroom and I shut the door exhaling deeply.
    "Are you alright?" She asked concerned. "I'm frustrated." I shook my head moving towards the bed as she unpacked her bag pulling out a stethoscope. "That's understandable. Sorren is stupid sometimes." She shook her head. I laid down and pulled up the shirt I was wearing revealing the purpling bruising which began to brown at the edges a sign of healing albeit slowly. "Yeah." I agreed huffing out a laugh. Azalea placed the cold stethoscope on my stomach listening for what I did not know. She then placed a hand lightly "I'm going to push, let me know if you feel any pain." I nodded in response. She didn't get very far in the examination before I stopped her wincing in pain as she pressed down below my belly button. "That still really hurts." She frowned as I said that "Maybe we'll take you for another ultra sound tomorrow." She said "Would that be alright?" I nodded again "If that's what you think is right. I'd rather not still be bleeding internally." I joked halfheartedly. Azalea let out a scoff "Yeah I'd rather that not happen either." She concluded.
    "Sorren meeting with these elders, what will happen?" I asked pulling my shirt back down and sitting up. "I am sure the pack members can conclude what happened between Sorren and Charlotte. Cheating on one's mate is considered a corrupt and vindictive action not desirable within a leader." She said. "So they will make someone else Alpha?" I asked uncertainly. "In extreme cases yes, but that rarely does happen. Do you want that for him?" Azalea asked uncertainly. I frowned as she asked me that, did I want that? Him to be stripped of his title and discarded? "Parts of me yes. I want him to hurt like how he hurt me, like how he hurt my parents when he took me away." I then paused "But I also think that if he wasn't an Alpha he would probably die." It was his whole being and I could not picture him taking orders from someone else.
    "I think that is a fair assumption." Azalea nodded. "He is trying to change I think." She then said with a shrug "But he is a man and they are stupid." A smirk creeped onto her face and I rolled my eyes "That doesn't give him an excuse." I said shaking my head. "No you're right it doesn't. The elders will ask him questions about your relationship and his ability to both have you and lead the pack effectively. They won't take his Alpha title from him, but he may be required to start bringing you to pack meetings and get togethers." She said honestly. I frowned my lips drawing into a thin line. "Don't look so upset, you'll get out of the house and plus I'll be there." She smiled raising her brow a smile tugged at my lips as she tried to cheer me up "I'm here for you alright? Any outing you're forced to attend we can hang out because most of the time, I don't want to be there either." I nodded "Thank you." I said sincerely. "Of course. Now, do you want to go back downstairs or hang out up here so Sorren is stuck with Jaden? Jaden just got a new set of golf clubs it's all he's been talking about. Sorren hates golf." My smirk turned into a full smile, we're absolutely staying up here.