Page 20 of Crimson Heart

9

The taxi stopped in the driveway in front of a red-brick mansion, where several other cars were parked. The building was larger than she’d expected and looked imposing.

Charlotte looked at the counter indicating the taxi fare and reached into her handbag to pay. When she pressed the banknotes into the taxi driver’s hand, he smiled.

“Nice place. Let me get your suitcase from the trunk.”

While the taxi driver walked around the car and retrieved her suitcase, Charlotte got out. Before she could take the suitcase from him, he was already carrying it up the few steps that led to the entrance door and placing it there.

“Thank you very much,” she said and walked up.

He nodded at her and walked back to his car. The entrance door was already open. In the foyer, several people were assembled, all werewolves. Rolling her suitcase behind her, she entered.

“Hi, I’m Jude and Austin’s sister,” she said hesitantly, while looking for a familiar face among the curious pack members who scrutinized her.

“Welcome,” a tall man greeted her. “Excuse us, but we weren’t told to expect a visitor.”

There was a hint of annoyance in his voice, and for a second, she regretted not having told her brothers that she would come to see them. However, she wasn’t going to apologize to whoever this was. After all, she was the alpha’s sister, and only the alpha had the right to reprimand her. And knowing how much Jude loved her and saw her as somebody to protect, he would treat her much nicer than this man and the beautiful woman standing next to him.

“Charlotte?”

At the familiar voice, she let go of her suitcase and turned her head to see Austin come from a corridor, running toward her. A wide grin spread over his face, and she knew she’d made the right decision to come here. Her brothers would understand her and help her.

Charlotte threw herself into Austin’s arms.

“It’s so good to see you!”

He lifted her off her feet and squeezed her tightly. She kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey, little one! What are you doing here? Are Mom and Dad with you?”

Austin glanced past her to the open entrance door.

She shook her head. “No, it’s just me. I needed a change of scenery.”

That was the understatement of the century. She needed a lot more. She needed support, or her parents would destroy her life.

“Somebody let Jude know,” Austin said, motioning to a young woman, who’d stayed in the background. “Priscilla, would you please?”

The woman looked timid, but she reacted quickly, nodded, and walked away as the sound of more footsteps became louder.

Austin set her back on her feet. “How long are you staying?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet.”

If she could, she’d stay under the protection of her brothers for good so that her parents couldn’t drag her back to the Leon pack. But this was something she had to discuss with Jude and Austin in private.

“Charlotte.”

It was Jude’s voice. She turned her head and saw him exiting a room, Priscilla following him. He smiled at her, but his expression wasn’t quite as exuberant as she’d hoped.

“This is unexpected.” Jude put his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

“Hi, Jude,” she murmured, kissing him on the cheek. “I missed you.”

“So you thought you would come for a visit, hmm?”

“Yep. Hope it’s not inconvenient.”