Puppy Love
Chapter 41

~Charlotte~

Caspian sat close to me, leaving no room to excuse myself. The way Liam and Josephine stared at us meant they had figured it out.

Great.

It was now their turn to tease me.

Somehow, I wished I wasn’t so mean to both of them, especially Liam. Teasing him about Sophia. I knew I wouldn’t hear the last of this. I looked at my cousin, and there was a look of mischief in his eyes that made me look away, but it wasn’t just him. Marvin, too; the rest seemed oblivious, but it would only take a matter of time.

“I see you like polo?” Sebastien asked Caspian, and Liam chuckled.

“I actually play,” He said, and Sebastien’s eyes widened. I couldn’t believe this guy played polo.

He had just ticked one of my boxes unknowingly.

“Great, we all play polo. When we are free, we might attempt it. Maybe look for locals to complete our teams,” Liam said, looking right at me, and I knew I was blushing.

A1 Let’s Try

“That will be great, Your Highness,” Caspian said, being polite.

“Please, it’s Liam. Let’s leave all that formality for the King’s Hall in Lucland,” He said, and everyone laughed except me. Ria was giving me hell, and I couldn’t take it.

“I think I am not hungry,” I said, trying to get away so I could calm down.

“You haven’t touched your food. I suggest you eat,

Charlotte,” Josephine said, teasing me.

looked at her, and the look in her eyes said, ‘Your turn’.

How could I be the first among us to replace my fate?

This was so unfair.

“Charlotte, I want you to brief Caspian on what we know about the docks so far based on what the former officers told us. There won’t be much work today as we are yet to receive our orders,” Justin said, and I wondered why he had to pair me up with Caspian. There were seven of us, and it had to be me. Knowing I couldn’t turn it down, I just smiled and nodded.

The rest of breakfast went quietly, and everyone left the dining room except Caspian and me. There was no point leaving since I would be dealing with him.

I turned to look at him, and he had a smile on his face that read anticipation, and I wondered what he was anticipating.

“There isn’t much to say. The only information we got was from Gamma Lebedev and Delta Sokolov.

Those two are shady as hell. They just said their alpha told them to escort him to the docks because illegal activities were going on there. They went, waited a bit, and left, leaving the alpha and the Beta. I am sure you know the rest of the story,” I said, summarising, and he nodded.

“Mike murdered Thompson.” He said, and I nodded and was glad my work was done.

“Well, since you know it, that is it,” I said, ready to get up, but he stopped me.

I was shocked by his response. I wanted to forcefully leave to prevent myself from violating him because my wolf wanted to do plenty. I wasn’t sure if we were on the same wavelength.

“Do you mind showing me that stream?” he asked me suddenly, and I raised my eyebrow.

“It’s early,” I said, and he nodded.

“I know, but I would like to see it now,” he said as if it were my job to give him a tour. I wondered if I was the designated tour guide.

He should be kissing me right now and telling me he wants to try not to ask for a tour. Reigning in my disappointment, I nodded.

“Very well, let’s go,” I said, and he smiled, getting up.

We left the dining hall, walking side by side. We bumped into Noah on our way out. He seemed to be heading to the gym.

Who eats and then works out?

We had all missed our workout session this morning, and I wondered why. I also wondered where Josephine and Liam went. It would be epic bumping into them at the stream since that was their joint.

We left the house and headed toward the woods.

The silence was deafening, and I knew I had to speak up.

“Are we just going to pretend that we aren’t fated?”

I blurted out, and he stopped in his tracks.

“I thought you didn’t want to address the topic after what happened yesterday when I came to your room,” he said, and I could not believe this guy.

“You came to my room to say ‘Hello’,” I reminded him, and he sighed.

“I did not know how else to strike up a conversation with a woman I had just met for the first time. Hello seemed like a good start, but then you shut me down,” He said, and I stopped walking.

We were already in the woods, and Ria was going crazy. His scent drove me nuts, and I could not believe how calmly he was taking it.

“Really?” I asked him, and he looked genuinely confused.

We stared at each other for a while, and it was clear neither of us had the words.

“The stream is up ahead. I hope you are vigilant because I will be heading back once we get there.

You can stay all you want and replace your way back,” I said, and he stopped and reached for me. The electric shocks I felt were beyond explanation. It was criminal for someone to have such.an effect on the other.

“Charlotte, please,” he said calmly with a sigh, and I looked at him, wondering what he was planning to say or do.

“I am sorry about yesterday. Maybe I should have made more effort, but it isn’t every day a commoner replaces himself fated to royalty,” he said, and I did not know what to say.

“I have waited six years, hoping I will replace you one day. I have remained single for that purpose, believing that the moon would smile at me. I didn’t want to choose a mate; I wanted my fated, and then I found you, and you are a Volkov. Too high for me to reach.

I am just the alpha of Cains, not a head alpha or council member. I feel a bit inadequate.

Coming to say hello was all I could think of while I fought my impulses. My wolf was going crazy, and I was worried you might be disappointed with what fate gifted you.

I am sorry, Charlotte. I really am, but if there was no one in the office when I saw you, I would have crossed all boundaries.” He said, and I was shocked at his confession.

Caspian sighed and pulled me close to him, the electric shock waves coursing through my skin,

Ria urging me to give in to him.

“What I am trying to say is that I want to accept our bond if you let me,” he said, and I was in shock.

I didn’t know that he was intimidated.

How can someone as strong and as handsome as Gaspian feel threatened by me? I guess I judged him a bit too harshly, and I felt terrible for it.

“I was worried you would reject me. I was worried you were already taken, promised to someone or with someone,” I confess, and he shook his head and reached out to feel my cheek.

“I waited, Charlotte. There was no amount of pressure that made me waiver. Only a fool will reject you. You are everything I hoped for and more,” he said, and I did not know how to respond; my lips were tongue-tied.

“What do you say we give this thing a try? Embrace it and run with it. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. I am willing to try for both of us. I am willing, Charlotte,” he said, and Ria was doing a summersault in my head.

I couldn’t wait to tell Gemma and Jewels about him.

Goddess, the moon did bless me.

He wasn’t just a handsome alpha but a charmer,too. There was no need to be cautious now that knew there was no one in his life, yet I battled with the right words to speak.

I had always had something to say, but I was speechless today.

Unsure where to begin and what to say.

Caspian had that effect on me, and I realised and wondered what other effects he might have on me.

Eliminating the space between us, Caspian arrested my lips with his and kissed me. His k**s was soft and gentle, and when I opened up and responded, it became fierce and fiery. I did not know how I felt until my body and wolf began to respond to him. His hands were on my waist, and I wanted to eliminate the fabric that served as a barrier to his touch to my skin. He placed his palm under my shirt as if reading my mind but kept it at the waist level. I believe he wanted to touch me, too.

Both our hearts were pounding as we kissed.

There was no need for words between us. This was the sign of a new adventure for us. I was grateful our fathers sent him my way.