Page 76 of The Dark War

“All right, we will set up another meeting for tomorrow after we hear about Folen and the trees. Please take the time for the warriors to train and see Raine, Naomi, or Liam regarding housing for any refugees.” My claws sunk into my body, my back resting on the chair.

Chapter Forty-one

Clara

Therewasasmallhumming coming from my bedside table, along with the typing of a computer. I raised my brows, still keeping my eyes closed. I wasn’t ready to feel the room’s light, but Giana forced me to get up.

It was time to get up and face reality again.

Torin was in a mood, which meant that I needed to ensure he and Kane were okay. As much as I thought Kane would go on a rampage, he did the complete opposite when I finally woke up the first time.

Goddess, seeing your mate so miserable had to be the worst thing to ever witness. He has always been my cuddly little wolf, and he was so broken now. Our pack didn’t realize what a big softy he really was.

He babied me like I was a little pup. He helped me change in the bathroom, bathed me, and treated me like a little doll by even daring to brush my teeth. That was rather embarrassing, but it made him feel like he was in control of my healing.

The bleeding slowed, Giana rested for a few days, and my strength was slowly returning. My body was almost back to the pre-pregnancy state. I rubbed my stomach, still listening to the little tapping on the side of the bed.

It abruptly stopped, and a warm compress was laid on my stomach. Opening my eyes, I see sweet Charlotte trying to take care of me. “Hi,” I mumbled. Her eyes grew wide, and she snorted in shock.

“I’m so sorry. I thought you were sleeping.” She giggled, taking the compress away.

“I was, but I feel like I need to get up and see Kane.” Charlotte hummed, pulling the sheets back up my body.

“I can get him for you. You need to be resting. He would get mad at me, and I don’t know if my heart could take the famous Alpha Kane yelling at me,” she chided. Shaking my head, she brought food from a tray and set it up so I could eat.

“He’s in a meeting. Wesley said they should be out soon. There isn’t much to report since the last time you woke up. They are just waiting on Folen speaking with the roots to see if they can work some communication through that since the falcons aren’t working.”

I slumped back on the bed. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.

Charlotte picked her computer back up and had me read an email from my father. Charlotte had become incredibly handy when it came to electronics. Her ideas regarding technology and magic were astounding, and she hoped to implement a security system for wolf packs on Earth.

Bergarian would stay as close to nature as possible, still having wolves scouting the territory, but these security systems for small packs on Earth would be great since they lived all around technology with the humans.

“It is just so beautiful here. I came here to visit Wesley’s parents in the Blue Waters pack, but I didn’t realize just how remote everything is. It’s so peaceful.” Her forlorn face went to the window. “And now—”

“It won’t be for long.” I stroked her hand. “I would really like you to come back and visit. I’d love to see about getting a more stable internet here.” Even when the portal was open, it would be spotty. “It would be great to communicate with packs with a steady stream once this war is over.”

“I can most definitely do that.” She beamed. “I’m still happy to be here with you and your mate. It’s a real honor. Never in my life would I have thought I would be here among royalty, let alone all the fun fantasy stuff.” Charlotte began to braid her hair nervously.

“I can say the same, I used to work in a diner and make cinnamon rolls, and then one day I make some friends and get chased up a tree by my mate.” Charlotte laughed as I continued to tell her how I met Kane. She intently listened and loved how I was so accepting because it didn’t come so easy for her in the beginning. Nothing was easy for Charlotte.

Her life was a struggle from the start. As an orphan, she bounced around from place to place. She also had trouble with an obsessed vampire that worked with the demon inhabiting the witch’s body.

“Is it hard?” I grabbed her hand. My power seeped through, calming the tension in her shoulders. Charlotte sniffed, rubbing her thumbs over my hands. “Is it a bit hard coming here, knowing we are helping vampires?” She nodded.

“Wesley had to really persuade me to come. I can’t lie to you. Being in the same area as those… others…” Her voice trailed until I pulled her into a hug. “But I know there are good ones out there. Your sister is mated to a very nice one, so is your friend Leia, but… it is hard to separate that sometimes. Humans can be bad too. It’s just been harder regarding supernaturals and their grouping.” Charlotte pulled away and pushed her strawberry blonde hair away from her face.

“Want me to let you in on a secret?” Her eyes were glassy as she hung onto my every word. The poor woman had been raised and abused by one, much longer than I ever had to endure from my vampire encounter. “I feel the same. Deep inside, I feel exactly the same. I guess that shows how ‘human’ we really are.”

Charlotte giggled, sitting up from our hugging position. “I’m glad, I’m really glad. I’ll always treat them nicely, though, but I can’t help but still have nightmares. Just don’t tell Wesley,” she whispered.

“It will be our secret,” I playfully whispered back.

Charlotte helped clean up the room and even helped pull my hair back into a French braid and change into one of my favorite dresses. She continued complimenting how beautiful I looked and how sexy Kane would find me. I couldn’t help but chuckle at how excited she was. She was looking for the light in this darkness, keeping my mind away from dark thoughts.

I was grateful for that. It was what I needed. Just girl time with someone who has experienced pain in their life. I didn’t feel pitied while she was here, just the love she had for the now, the current moment she was living in.

“Oh, let’s do make-up!” She pointed to the vanity seat. “Come on, hurry! Wesley says they will be done any minute!” I quickly sat down as Charlotte began. “Now, I don’t have much experience, but my friend Amanda back home taught me a lot.”

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