Our Secret Obsession (Book 2)

Kane's POV

Sitting in the car, I couldn't stop the sobs that wracked my body. My body felt like it was overheating, slamming my finger on the window roll-down button so aggressively I thought it might break under my digit. For the past ten minutes, I'd been a pathetic mess, my chest aching with every breath. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I saw my red, puffy eyes and tear-streaked face. I looked weak, and the sight embarrassed me. Wiping my face with a tissue I found in the glove box, I let out a long, shuddering breath. 

"Shit." I sighed as the memory of the frenzied texts I'd sent my father earlier made me cringe. I never let emotions rule me. I knew my father had royally messed up, not just by making deals with demons and hiding it from Knox, but his unmovable stance on not discussing it any further wasn't helping anyone, least of all Knox.

I rummaged through the backseat for my phone and found it lodged between the seat cushions. Hesitating for a moment, I sent a quick text to my father: 

[ME: 'Sorry, hard few hours. I am on it.']

But the truth was, I wasn't on it. I had no idea how I would get Knox to straighten up. He was spiralling out of control, drinking too much, causing havoc. And somehow, the responsibility of the pack had fallen squarely on my shoulders.

Knox was my twin, but it felt like we were worlds apart lately. He'd become a ticking time bomb, and I was left trying to pick up the pieces. Connie, my so-called mate, was another issue. She was demanding, constantly needing reassurance, and her presence was a constant reminder of everything I'd lost. Add the situation with the other alphas in the surrounding packs and how they expected leadership and stability from Knox AND me, and my sanity felt ready to up and fuck off at any moment.

I glanced down at my phone, feeling a small wave of relief wash over me at the sight of Charlotte's image. I still had her picture set on my home screen, even though I knew I should change it before Connie noticed. But the thought of erasing that last piece of our connection was too much to bear. I ran my finger over the image, a familiar mix of guilt, loneliness, and regret gnawing at my insides.

Unable to resist the urge, I dialled Adam's number. Charlotte's brother might have some news about her and the pups she carried. The pups I should've been there for. The phone rang twice before Adam picked up, his voice guarded.

"Yep, you have Adam." Adam's stern voice came through the phone, and for once, I found myself speechless; no warmth streaked his tone, just a statement of fact. I struggled to find the words to ask about Charlotte, but Adam's harsh tone cut me off.

"I haven't got all day, you know that, right?" he snapped. I swallowed my pain and forced myself to speak. 

"I need to know why Sebastian wasn't at the meeting today. It was for all alphas. Sebastian was supposed to be there. The last I heard, your uncle was delegating tasks to him." A lie, and given the dark chuckle that slipped through the line, Adam knew this wasn't my genuine reason for calling. There was a pause, and I could almost hear Adam's hesitation. 

"There's been a change," he finally stated, his voice still devoid of warmth. He didn't go into detail, and the lack of information spiked my apprehension.

"A change? What kind of change, Adam?" I pressed, my mind racing. "Why wasn't I informed? Are the Lycan's cutting us off? Are they against us now?" The questions spewed from my lips as panic licked at my spine. It would make sense after everything that happened with Charlotte. The drama and heartbreak all seemed to be leading up to this moment of isolation. The silence on the other end of the line was almost unbearable.

"You're not being cut off," Adam replied, though his voice was tight. The fact that he wasn't using my name let me know my girl was close by. My ears prickled with Rolo's presence as he desperately tried to hear her sweet voice. 

"But things are different now. With everything that's happened, there are some adjustments being made." Adam replied coolly, the sound of the refrigerator opening sifting through the phone.

"Adjustments?" I echoed, my frustration growing. "What does that even mean?"

"It means," Adam expressed, his tone hardening, "that my uncle is taking a more hands-on approach. Sebastian isn't ready to lead, and until someone is, my uncle will be making the decisions." He announced with a sigh.

"Someone?" I asked, my lips curling upwards as pride exploded within me. He meant Charlotte. 

"Yes. Until he... or she is ready. Now, is that all?" He asked, goading me to ask about Charlotte, the reason we both knew I had called. 

"Eat this." I heard Adam bark as the sound of china being placed on a table filtered through the phone. 

"Do I look like a rabbit?" I heard Charlotte bark; the sound of the plate sliding across the table quickly made me smile.

"Veg?" I asked, my lips twisting into a smile.

"Broccoli. Her iron levels are low." Adam replied as the muffled sound of the phone being held to him cut off whatever he replied to my girl. My stomach ached to hear her again.

"If you try to feed me any more of this shit, Adam, I am going to shove this stalk so far down your throat you will shit enough trees to populate a forest of your own. Am I clear?" I heard my girl, sass.

"SHE is impossible," Adam snarled down the phone to me.

"Sweet potatoes. She likes them." I whispered, feeling my eyes prickle with hot, salty tears.

"How about sweet potatoes?" I heard Adam ask Charlotte.

"Yes, please, with mayo..." Her voice eased my heart, but when it vanished, it ached all over again.

"Me too." I heard Chase chime in.

"Me three," Liam added, and I fought the urge to laugh hearing Adam growl. 

"You fuckers can make your own. Unless you're pregnant too..." I knew without seeing Charlotte that she would be smiling happily. Surrounded by the family, she always craved.

"I will let you go." I sighed, wishing more than anything I was there with them. 

"One second," Adam grunted before the sound of a door closing, indicating that he had left the room.

"She is ok, Kane. You are welcome to..."

"No, it's for the best. Doctors orders.. No stress.. And me... Well, I am stress." I acknowledged. "But I do miss her. If you get a chance, I would love a picture of her... I bet she is getting big."

"Takes up all the room on the cuddle chair; not sure how much longer Chase will be able to nest in with her in the evenings before she crushes him." 

"I wouldn't let her hear you say that." I laughed. The image of the four of them playing happy families made me happy for her. But deep down, I resented that it wasn't me. Who I resented, I wasn't sure, but I did.

"You will see her for yourself at Connie's ball." My grip tightened on the phone, sure I had heard him wrong.

"What?" I asked, my mouth suddenly dry. "Why is she coming? She should be resting." I snapped, not sure how I felt about my precious Charlotte anywhere near Connie and her poison. 

"She is adamant, and what she wants... Chase makes sure she gets. And I am not saying no to that fucker... Sorry, Kane. She will be there." I closed my eyes and nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see me. 

"Remember, you are always welcome here if it's to see her or speak with your pups. They respond to Chase every time. The fucker is like the baby whisperer." Adam replied when I couldn't find my words. I pursed my lips to thank him, but the phone was snatched from my hands before I could.