Page 20 of Claiming Charlotte

“See Rowan, who would care about you, just a loser and a junkie,” he grunted. I slowed my breathing and used the last amount of built-up energy I had to flip my assailant over my shoulder.

I stared Walker in the face as he hit the ground hard.

“You're wrong, and I’m not scared of you anymore.” I rasped and punched him square in the nose, knocking him out cold.

My mouth was dry, I couldn't speak, my body was covered in blood, and I lost the ability to tell the difference between theirs and my own a long time ago.

I crawled away from Walker and collapsed to the floor, unable to get back up. I was so tired and right now I had nothing left to give.

I looked up to see Arthur standing over me. He was speaking to me, but I couldn’t hear him. So, I peacefully rode the waves that carried me under. All that mattered was that Lottie was safe.

My head swam, and I was in and out of consciousness for a few days. I had no way of knowing how much time had passed, I only knew that my head was pounding, my hand was sore, and my body ached all over.

Charlotte….

That one name was always in my head, but I just couldn’t stay awake. I succumbed to the ever-present darkness repeatedly, resigning myself to death. Finally, I lifted my eyelids to a dimly lit room and the sinking abyss was gone. I groaned, turning my head to see where I was and recognized my own room within the Bennett Manor. Memories of the few hours before I passed out came back to me, and I sat up in alarm instantly regretting the movement.

“Whoa, buddy,” Thomas said, grabbing me by the shoulders and laying me back down. “Don’t move so fast, you’ll make yourself faint.”

“What happened after I passed out?” I asked, worry thick in my voice.

“We took the house back. The Walkers have been abolished from our territory, for now and we’re holding our ground. Walker is in the basement waiting for you, I figured you would want to be the one that takes care of him.” Thomas said. “And now that you're awake, I can be a total asshole and make fun of you for the interesting items I found in your drawer. You should really try to hide them better…”

I flushed, knowing exactly what items he was talking about, and Thomas chuckled before a serious expression crossed his features. “I want you to get a little better before you deal with him, do you hear me?”

I nodded, in no condition to argue with him. I relaxed against my pillow and took a glass of water that Thomas proffered. I held my four-fingered hand up and examined it and my bottom lip jutted out into a pout. Thomas must have stitched me up because the bleeding had stopped and bandages were wrapped tightly around the site of my missing finger.

“Did you find the others?” I asked, remembering what they’d done to Charlotte.

“We found most of them, but some are gone. Jason got away,” he said, hesitating before finishing his sentence. “Rowan, Charlotte is in really bad shape. She needs you. We are doing all we can, but she won’t let anyone within five feet of her. Maybe you can get through.”

I nodded, clenching my teeth together. I knew she needed me, and I needed to see her too. Already planning my revenge, I wouldn’t be able to rest peacefully until I took care of all the people who had a hand in hurting her, even if it only made me feel better. Charlotte was mine to protect, and I’d failed her father by allowing them to hurt her.

I sat up slowly and set the glass of water down. “I’ll go check on her now.”

The room spun as I gathered my bearings, but the feeling quickly dissipated, and I took a few tentative steps forward using the wall for support. I nodded to Thomas, and he rose from his chair, opening the door for me, allowing me to walk out.

I moved slowly down the hall toward Charlotte’s room, eager to see her, being mindful not to overwork myself so soon after waking up. I knocked on her door and was greeted after a moment by Nicole and stiffened as she exited the room. Right now, I couldn’t trust that she didn’t just go in there and hurt her further.

“Hi, Rowan,” she said softly, her eyes full of empathy.

My jaw ticked when she said my name.

“Stay away from Charlotte, do you understand me?” I growled at her.

Nikki looked hurt at my words, and she took a step back. “I had no idea about Jace, Rowan,” she defended herself, choking on her words.

“I don’t care, and I don’t believe you. How could you not know? You spent every moment with him,” I said, moving past her and standing in the doorway, blocking her view.

Nikki didn’t respond. She just wiped a tear from her cheek and moved down the hall, leaving me to tend to Charlotte by myself.

Quietly, I walked across the soft carpet of her room, until I saw her. She lay unmoving on her side, staring off into space. The sight of her caused my words to stay lodged in my throat as I approached her.

“Charlotte, I’m so sorry for everything,” I finally choked.

10

ROWAN

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