Once there, I can already see Charlie. She is chatting with Gisela, which reminds me that both of them are from the same pack. When Charlie spots us, she runs towards us immediately, hugging me. “I just heard about it, Gwen,” she mutters. “I am so sorry.”
She is one of those people who wear their heart on their sleeves and are just so honest in how they react. It’s exactly the reason why her words feel so comforting. “Thank you, Charlie.”
For a while, we are quiet, until Felix breaks the silence. “There are quite a few cars here. I guess Dad invited some more guests to the meeting with Maddox.”
“Looks like it,” I agree.
“I know that Uncle Silas is here,” Charlie says.
Silas? That’s the not-a-luna vampire who was at the luna meeting. “Wait, he is your uncle?”
“Yes, or rather, he and my dad were cousins, but I think it’s easier to just call him uncle.”
My mouth falls open. I knew Charlie was half vampire, Felix told me when I was still insecure and embarrassed about my own roots, but if she is related to Silas, she must be royalty.
“Are you a princess?” I ask her directly.
Charlie bursts into laughter. “No. I am just related to a vampire lord, but it doesn’t mean all that much.”
While I am still trying to grasp what Charlie just told me, I feel Felix squeezing my hand. “I’ll need to go to the meeting now,” he says reluctantly. “I am not sure, maybe, I should...“
“It’s fine,” I reassure him. “I am actually glad you are taking this on for me.”
Felix takes my face between his hands and kisses me. “You are my sunshine,” I whisper against his lips.
He beams a smile at me, his eyes lighting up.
“Please leave before it gets any more mushy,” Charlie groans. “I promise I have you covered.”
“Will Gisela join us?” I ask, turning my gaze to search for the young woman, but she is already talking to two bulky warriors. “Obviously not.”
“She has training,” Charlie grins, while linking our arms. “Anything you want to do?”
“I would love to see Faye. Is that okay? She is with Flora.”
“Sure!” She nods eagerly. “It’s been a while since I saw her, plus it’s also been a while since I saw Flora, properly.”
We walk towards the packhouse, using a side entrance so we won’t stumble into any visitors. I usually don’t mind, but I am scared that when they see me, they might want me to join their meeting. While we are walking upstairs to the alpha suite, I decide to ask Charlie something I’ve wanted to for a while. “Charlie, I have a question, but I don’t want to be too curious.”
“Just ask,” she encourages me.
“You are adopted, right?”
“Yes, my mom had a younger half-sister, Ella. Ella and her mate found me a couple of years ago and adopted me.” She sounds happy when she says it.
“You refer to them as your parents, don’t you?” I pause. “I am sorry if I am being insensitive. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I told you I don’t mind,” she grins. “I referred to them by their first names at the beginning and then by uncle and aunt, but when the baby came, I suddenly felt like a big sister, you know? And Dante has treated me as his child ever since they found me, and Goddess knows I didn’t give him the easiest time. However, I didn’t wake up one day and decide I’d call them Mom and Dad; it came gradually. I’d refer to them as my parents first, and then it just felt right all of a sudden.” She shrugs, before repeating: “It just felt right.”
“I think I understand. Thank you for telling me.”
“You are asking because of Faye, aren‘t you?”
“There is no hiding it, huh?”
Charlie chuckles. “It was pretty obvious. Are you worried she won’t have that connection to anyone?”
“Yes,” I admit.
