Chapter 0195

"Damn it!"

I slammed my foot on the accelerator.

The car surged forward.

I hoped this was the right choice for the child.

The drive back to Obsidian Howl took nearly a week.

Each night, I stopped at a motel.

We both needed proper rest.

I made sure we were fed.

Not once did she ask for food.

My guess was they starved her.

Or only fed her when they felt like it.

She had learned to wait.

To ignore the hunger pains.

The first day, she ate like an animal.

Lapping up food with her mouth.

She couldn't hold a cup without spilling.

She had no idea how to use utensils.

She had been their pet.

The age tag in her dress said 2-3 years.

She'd likely been the bar's property for years.

Charlotte was thrilled when I bought her clothes.

But she didn't understand changing daily.

She insisted the pink dress was her favorite.

She wanted to wear it constantly.

So I bought several identical ones.

She could have a fresh one each day.

A hotel staff member gave her a teddy bear.

She carried it everywhere after that.

How could people be so cruel?

Desiring to lock up a child was sickening.

Approaching Obsidian Howl, two Wolves stopped me.

They smiled when they recognized me.

"Is he dead?" one asked.

"Not yet."

I glanced at sleeping Charlotte.

The man nodded understandingly.

He waved me through.

I parked before the pack house.

Isabella's furious shouts reached me before I exited the car.

She was clearly enraged about something.

Probably equally angry with me.

I hadn't spoken to her since leaving.

I circled the car.

Lifting a drowsy Charlotte from the passenger seat.

She peered at me with one eye.

"Are we there yet?"

It had become her favorite question.

Asked multiple times daily.

"We are."

She straightened her spine.

Her bright green eyes widened at the massive house.

"Home?" she mumbled.

"Home."

Technically, it wasn't my decision.

But I knew Athena wouldn't reject her.

Especially upon learning Charlotte's origins.

I pushed the door open.

Sebastian, Isabella, and Alexander stood inside.

All glaring at each other.

Alexander's crimson eyes found me first.

Isabella slowly turned toward me.

Her emotions flooded through our bond.

Her hands clasped to her chest.

"You're... you're here." She breathed out.

Her dark eyes shifted to Charlotte.

She frowned momentarily before softening.

Likely realizing Charlotte was a wolf.

"This is Isabella." I told the child. "The one I mentioned."

"Your girlfriend?" Charlotte smiled at my mate.

"Yes. And this is Alexander. He's in charge."

"The Al...pha?"

She'd picked up terms quickly during our lessons.

"And that man is Sebastian, he's Alexander's..."

"Beta." She finished for me.

I felt like a proud parent.

She'd learned so much in such short time.

"I'm Charlotte." She muttered shyly.

Isabella stared at me.

I expected more words.

But she stepped forward with a slight limp.

"Hey Charlotte, come with me. Let the men talk."

She reached for the child I carried.

Charlotte looked to me first.

"She's good." I assured her. "She's a doctor."

I set her down.

She took Isabella's hand.

As they walked away, I heard her telling my mate about her pink dress and teddy bear.

"I assume he's dead." Alexander muttered once the office door closed.

"No. I encountered a problem."

"So you brought her here?"

"She's a Wolf."

"Why not take her to her pack?"

"She was held hostage. Likely for years. Doesn't know her parents' names. Only aware she's different from the men who kept her as a pet."

Understanding dawned in his eyes.

"He killed her captors?"

"Yes. Either too frenzied to notice her hiding. Or he knew I'd help her and used her to escape."

I looked toward Sebastian.

His face was thunderous.

He hadn't spoken a word.

I smelled alcohol on his clothes.

Now Isabella's shouting made sense.

"You take responsibility for her." Alexander's strange eyes darkened. "You brought her here, you care for her."

"Of course."

"That means no more solo missions. We work together, not alone."