A/N: Wow, okay, sorry it took me so long to update. This past weekend was my graduation party, so it's been pretty crazy. I would like to say a HUGE thank you to those that have Favorited/followed/reviewed this story. Your support is incredibly inspiring and I look forward to hearing more from you.
So, here's the next installment. In this chapter, Charlie meets Nick and Antonio, and we find out a little bit more of Charlie's past.
**disclaimer: Bitten and all of it's affiliates belong to Kelly Armstrong and whoever it was that produced the TV show. I only own the unfamiliar.
Charlie knew something was up when she woke up. When she first glanced at the clock, she had to do a double take. It had been a long time since she'd managed to sleep passed three a.m. but here she was, still in bed at quarter to nine. Charlie groaned and sat up, regretting the movement immediately when her head began to pound.
The longer she sat there, the more she could feel her sickness. Whatever it was that was hitting her, it was hitting her hard. Her skin felt clammy, but she felt like she was on fire, and her head and stomach seemed to be revolting against her. It took her much longer than necessary to apply some deodorant, use the bathroom, and make her way downstairs to make some toast.
After she'd finished her depressing breakfast, she wandered the house, trying to find where Jeremy was. She found him in his study, finishing up a phone call. He gave her a small, tight smile when she entered the room.
"We have a problem," Jeremy began, rubbing a hand over his face. "A woman has been killed by a Mutt near the property."
Charlie gasped. Though she'd never personally come in contact with a Mutt, she knew that they were a vicious people. Her father had told warned her many times that the Mutts were not afraid to kill. The knowledge that there was one so close to Bear Valley was frightening.
"Do you know who it is?" She asked, rubbing circles against her temples. Her head was still pounding, though the pain had lessened slightly with breakfast.
Jeremy shook his head. "Unfortunately, this is not a scent I recognize. I've called the pack home in hopes that we can deal with this issue has a pack."
Charlie nodded her head and wrapped her arms around herself. It must be serious if he'd called the pack home. From what Clay had explained to her, they all got together for major holidays and birthdays, but for the most part, everyone did their own thing.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Charlie asked.
"You'd be doing be a great service if you went and opened the windows in the bedrooms, to air them out." Jeremy replied. Charlie nodded and turned to leave.
"If there's anything else you need me to do, just let me know." As she left the study she decided that she would change the bed sheets as well as open the windows. Over the years she'd developed her own laundry detergent that would just barely give off a breezy smell to a werewolf. It wasn't so extreme that it affected the senses, but it smelled nice, clean.
Dumping a cup full of the detergent into the washer, Charlie made her way upstairs to start opening windows. She always tried to stay out of the other bedrooms because it felt like an invasion of privacy to her, going into another person's sleeping quarters when they weren't home, but as she opened the first door she was met with a slightly musty smell, indicating the room hadn't been used in some time. After opening the windows, she stripped the bed of its sheets and threw them in the hallway.
Two hours later, Charlie found herself smoothing the last sheet in place, and folding the old, now clean, sheets to put back in the linen closet. She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and went downstairs to start making lunch. Charlie's stomach had finally calmed down after her breakfast, and she was starving.
Unfortunately for her, and Jeremy, there was not much left in the kitchen in terms of food. Jeremy had been on his way into town to get groceries this morning when he'd come across the dead woman, so he never made it into town. Charlie found her aha moment in the back of the pantry in the form of soft tortilla shells. Lunch was going to be quick and easy—build your own wrap.
While the grilled chicken from last night's meal was re-heating in the microwave, Charlie chopped the last of the veggies. She was just putting the last of the food on the table when she heard the front door open. Though her nose wasn't working the way it usually was, the sound of the footsteps indicated that Clay had come home.
He'd been guest lecturing at a university in Upstate New York, and after his final lecture of the week, Jeremy had called him home.
The three werewolves gathered around the table and began to fill their plates. Charlie slathered her tortilla with a mayo/mustard/ranch dressing mix, spread a healthy amount of mixed veggies around, and topped it with a few strips of chicken. After she'd rolled the shell, she glanced at Clay and Jeremy—both seemed to be making an effort to put veggies on their wraps, but both had large amounts of meat as well. After Jeremy took his first bite and nodded, Clay and Charlie dug in. There wasn't much talking between the three as they ate, their focus on the food in front of them.
After their meal was complete and all dishes were put away, Charlie excused herself to go shower. She figured a shower might help to ease her headache slightly. She figured it wouldn't make sense for her to change into an outfit for the day when it was already half over and she had zero ambition, so she grabbed a comfy pair of shorts and a slightly baggy t-shirt.
She stepped into the bathroom and turned the lock. While Clay had no qualms about breaking locks, the lock on the bathroom and the lock on Elena's door were said to be the only locks he wouldn't break. When Charlie first arrived at Stonehaven, she'd forgotten to lock the door. She'd been mid strip when Clay had walked in, stared at her naked chest (probably the scar, if Charlie was being honest with herself) for what felt like five minutes, muttered a gruff apology, and left. After the incredibly awkward situation, she always made sure the door was locked before undressing for her shower.
When the water was at an acceptable temperature, Charlie got in. The hot water felt good against her skin, and she let herself sink in the feeling of the warmth. She'd always loved showers, and didn't think there was anything that could compare to how relaxing a shower could be.
She took her time washing her hair. Massaging shampoo into her scalp the way she'd learned from her college roommate. While it didn't beat going to the salon to get your hair washed, it was a close second. Charlie had always hated that she couldn't use scented soaps. It was probably the number one downside to heightened senses. She could remember what it was like in the years before her change, when she used the peach scented shampoo like it was a drug.
When she stepped out of the shower, she toweled off and wrapped her hair in a towel. She dressed quickly, struggling to pull her sports bra down her damp skin. After dressing, she brushed her teeth quickly then walked back to her room. Her head was still bugging her, so she switched out her contacts for her glasses. After applying deodorant, she removed the towel from her hair and combed through the damp tresses.
Charlie quickly braided her hair back in a loose french braid. Once she was satisfied, Charlie hung her towel over the chair in the corner and slipped on some socks. She figured it wouldn't hurt to try and convince Jeremy to let her go grocery shopping.
"You know, if the whole pack is coming to Stonehaven, we're going to need more food in that kitchen than a loaf of bread and some uncooked pork." Charlie hinted, leaning against the door of the study.
"Are you trying to say something, Charlie?" Jeremy asked.
"I'm just saying that someone has to get groceries, and it's not going to be Clay because all he's been doing since lunch is mope because Elena hasn't called you back yet. So, it's either your or me." Okay, so maybe she could have said it a little nicer, but Charlie felt like her entire head was going to explode.
Jeremy sighed. "If I let you go, promise me you'll leave the second you smell something." Charlie nodded her agreement. "The list is on the fridge, just put the bill on my tab."
Charlie ran up to her room to grab her keys and purse, stopping to grab the list from the fridge.
"Is there anything else you need?" Charlie asked Jeremy as she was leaving. He shook his head no.
As she walked out to her truck, Charlie looked up at the sky. It was going on 5 o'clock, but the sun was still shining brightly. Stepping up into the cab, she threw her purse onto the passenger seat. She cranked the engine and turned the radio on to the mixed cd she'd made years ago when she left for school.
The Bear Valley Grocery was a peculiar place. Everything seemed backwards to Charlie. It took her almost five minutes of wandering to find the milk. After spending the better part of an hour and a half, Charlie almost forgot to pick up the cold&sinus medication she wanted to buy. As she strolled the medicine isle, she kept her ears turned to any sort of gossip that might be going about the dead woman.
"…Jennifer Sikie said she was talking to some guy last night, before she left. Said he looked to be mid-twenties with brown hair cropped close. As she was leaving, I guess he warned her to 'be careful out there'."
"…It's such a shame. I didn't know there were any wolves in the area.."
The whispers died down as Charlie got closer. She picked up the medicine she wanted and turned, steering her loaded cart. She made one last stop at the coolers to pick up a bottle of Lemon-Lime Gatorade before going to the counter.
After she loaded the groceries into the bed of the truck, Charlie swallowed the directed amount of pills and started her drive home.
Forty-five minutes after Charlie left, Jeremy made his way down to the basement. He was about a fourth of the way through Mutt records when the familiar scents of his long-time friend, Antonio Sorrentino, and Antonio's son, Nick, wafted down the stairs. He set down the paper in his hand and smiled when his friends came into view.
After hugs and exchanged greetings, Jeremy explained the problem. "This isn't a Mutt I've smelled before. He's killed on our territory."
"A Mutt hasn't come this close to Pack territory in years." Antonio replied.
"Maybe if I had been a little less-"Jeremy began, but was interrupted by the sound of a truck pulling into the yard.
"Are you expecting company?" Antonio asked, not recognizing the vehicle.
"Not exactly." Clay responded. Antonio and Nick gave him a look that read 'explain'.
"We have a new pack member." Jeremy clarified.
Clay nodded. "Charlie's been with us for a little over a month now."
Charlie's nose barely registered the smell of the unfamiliar werewolves in the house when she carried the first load of groceries into the kitchen. Her ears didn't even register the sound of footsteps coming up the basement stairs as she was putting the groceries away.
She was stretching to put a box of pasta on a shelf in the pantry when someone spoke. "Need any help with that, Charlie?"
She's not proud to admit it, but Charlie screamed. It honestly felt like her heard had stopped momentarily, and she almost dropped the box.
"Jesus, Clayton. Don't do that to me." Charlie said, turning around. She stopped short when she noticed the two unfamiliar men standing in the entry to the kitchen with Jeremy. "well, this is awkward."
"Charlie, this is Antonio Sorrentino and his son, Nick. Tonio, Nick, this is Charlie King."
Charlie smiled at the two men. It was blatantly obvious they were father and son. Nick looked so much like his father, it was uncanny. She couldn't help but admit that both men were incredibly attractive.
The phone rang before anyone could reply. Clay was out of the kitchen and in the study in a matter of moments. Jeremy and Antonio followed him, leaving Charlie in the kitchen with Nick.
"Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" Nick asked.
How could he have been such an idiot? Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? That had to have been the stupidest thing Nick had ever let come out of his mouth. There was something about this woman though, that made him want to say stupid things like that. He only hoped she wouldn't laugh in his face.
"No, but I scraped my knees up pretty bad crawling out of hell." Her words surprised him. Never had a woman responded to a come on from him so quickly. As she returned to putting away groceries, Nick studied her.
She was beautiful; he would be lying if he said she wasn't. She looked to be of average height for a woman, but had subtle curves. Even in what looked to be lazy clothes, she was stunning. As she turned towards the fridge to put something away, Nick caught a glimpse of a tattoo running along her ear.
"Nice ink." He acknowledged. Charlie ran a finger along her ear and smiled. It was radiant.
"Thank you. Would you mind putting these in the pantry for me?" Charlie gestured to a bag of boxes.
If she was being completely honest, Charlie asked Nick to put the pasta away for the sole purpose of admiring him. She'd never been this obviously attracted to a person before, and she felt kind of ridiculous. The first time he'd spoken to her, he'd given her a lame pick up line. And then, she'd stupidly replied in the usual snarky way she'd talk to the drunk patrons of the bar she used to work at.
"Is Charlie short for anything?" Nick's voice cut through the silence. He turned and their eyes made contact, hazel meeting brown.
"Charlotte, actually, but if you call me Charlotte I may have to kill you." Charlie joked. Nick laughed.
"Understood."
When Nick and Charlie had finished putting away the groceries, Charlie took the time to yell at Clay for answering the phone.
"You really are an idiot, did you know that?" She asked him. Clay let out a wolfy growl. "Oh, honestly Clayton, you know I'm right."
"I didn't think she'd hang up.." He mumbled. Charlie rubbed her temples. While she knew Clay loved the other female werewolf, Elena, he was a man, and he was utterly clueless.
"Didn't think she'd- look, I've never actually met her, but from what you've told me, she holds some serious resentment towards you. While I do not know if that resentment is called for, I do know that resentment is a dangerous thing. Sometimes, it's better for you and her if she can pretend that the issues don't exist.
"If you'd let Jeremy answer the phone, and listened, because we all know you would have, there is a large possibility you could be seeing her soon. Now, however, you'll be lucky if she makes contact again." Charlie ranted. Clay's face, usually impassive, slowly started to crumble.
"Look Clay," She sighed, resting her hand on his shoulder. "One screw up doesn't have to end everything. You have to stay positive. All you can do is hope that she makes the decision to come home. And if she does come back, you have to realize that it might not be for you, or even for her, but for the pack."
After her talk with Clay, Charlie excused herself to turn in early. She'd had a long day, and her mind and body felt like there wasn't any juice left in her body to keep going.
After Charlie had gone to bed, the four men sat in the study, nursing glasses of scotch.
"What's her story?" Antonio asked.
"You remember, way back when Alexander King was expecting a baby with Julia. He'd always known it was a girl, but he swore he'd stay with Julia through the pregnancy. What no one knew was that when Julia gave birth, she gave birth to a little girl that smelled like werewolf. Alexander told everyone that Julia and the little girl had both died during the birth—which was partially true, Julia did pass, but she lived long enough to name her daughter Charlotte. For her protection, Alexander took her away from werewolf society, but he stayed pack." Jeremy explained what he knew of the story.
"My god, seeing her was like a blast from the past." Antonio sighed, spinning his glass in his hands. "She's the spitting image of Julia, isn't she?"
"Wait, who's Julia?" Clay asked. Nick continued the silence he'd been holding since Charlie went to bed.
"My sister, and Charlie's mother." Jeremy replied.
Nick lay in his bed, drowning in a smell he couldn't put his finger on. It was wonderful, and delicate. He couldn't stop thinking of what Jeremy had said. It wasn't supposed to be possible for women to be born werewolves, and he wanted to know just what it was that made Charlie King so special.
A/N: Okay, so the end (more like the second half) isn't my best writing, but with the crazy weekend, I kind of lost my thought/plot train. I never really had a set scene in my head for how Nick and Charlie were going to meet, and while I'm not 100% happy with it, I do like it. I like that they were both a little awkward about it, because while we all know that Nick isn't shy, he's never really met someone he was attracted to in the same sense as he is to Charlie.
It would mean a super lot to me if you reviewed! And let me know of any little plot bunnies you have. I'd love some ideas!
