Queen Takes King, Checkmate.

Chapter Eleven.

Charlottes' POV.

I knew I didn't belong here, at the Maelstrom Packhouse, being that I wasn't even an official pack member and because I was the reason their future alpha was injured like this.

It felt awkward at times, when I'd be pacing the hallway out of boredom and accidently bump into another pack member who passed by or to pay their respects to their injured alpha.

But Markus was important to me eventhough we weren't mates and never could be, there was a connection we had that I couldn't break no matter how hard I'd try.

I had known what it felt like to lose him, what it was like to not have him alive and with me for a brief moment and it scared me that he could be lost so easily... if my mate ever got to him again or knew I was here, it would surely happen again...

I was going to leave when I had finished crying my eyes out at the end of Markus' bed, but I found that I didnt have the strength to do so.

I couldn't leave Delilah on her own to look after the pack until their parents arrived home.

I'd known Delilah since we were in high school and I was dating her older brother, Markus obviously, that's how we became friends but over the years as she found her mate and moved away to start her new life, we drifted apart.

And as always, Markus was always the only person there for me.

I had missed Delilah but her new life as a mother and a mate was far more important than hanging out with a half-blood like me.

I knew I wasnt welcome here, but just the thought of leaving Markus with saying godbye while he was unconcious seemed wrong.

He had the right to know that I was leaving and never coming back here, never seeing him again because I didnt want him to be in danger. He needed to hear those words and remember them because I would only say them once.

"Charlie... how long have you been out here?" Delilah's soft voice whispered as she stepped into the dimly lit hall.

She was wearing only a floorlength nightgown, made of a beautiful lavender silk that seemed to only enhance the appearance of her swollen stomach but her brunette waves and petite face were flawless as ever.

"You should go back to sleep, everything is fine" I said in a voice with no emotion, giving away just how tired I really was since I had been up for well over two days straight with no sleep and only water to keep me hydrated and the occasional toilet break.

I didnt have time for luxuries like food or sleep because I wanted to be here when Markus woke and I didn't plan on hanging around for long when he did.

"Have you even slept at all while you've been here?" She mumbled, padding over to me and tugging at my mates crumpled black hoodie I still wore and running her hands through my long hair which I currently wore down.

"I said I'm fine. Go back to sleep Delilah, Daniel will be here in the morning and you know how he gets when you don't look after yourself and the baby" I snapped, gently removing her hands from me and taking a step back.

She looked hurt by my actions but also knew that I was right when it came to Daniel, she shook her head "I'm not looking after myself? You've got to be freaking kidding me right?"

I sighed and moved her towards the direction of her room, telling her that I would sleep when I needed to.

She reluctantly left and I sighed with exhaustion now that she was gone, leaning back against the wall and letting my head rest against it while I closed my eyes.