The Unloved Luna

Xavier's Pov

"You feel sparks because we're mates; that's why it's good when I do this," I add as I lean in and kiss Charisse's baby-soft lips. My actions take her aback, but instead of resisting or freaking out, she kisses back just a little.

Our kiss was brief, but it couldn't have been better; knowing that she kissed back a little reassures me that I could have a great connection with her. I notice her bright crimson cheeks as I back away from her. "We're friends," I confirm.

Charisse nods and turns away shyly. "Look at me," I say as I take both of her hands in mine.

"I don't want to pressure you into doing anything. We'll take things slowly, okay?"

She nods again in agreement but does not open her mouth to respond.

"Ah, you're awake." A few moments later, Doctor Simpson arrives.

"When will Charisse be discharged?" I want to get right to the point.

"After you finish these papers, Alpha," he says, offering me a packet and some tablets before walking away.

After skimming over the questions, I realize I need to learn more of the answers. I only have the name and the date.

I asked, "How old are you, baby?"

"I don't know."

"Do you happen to know when your birthday is?"

She sighs and shakes her head.

"I forgot many things when my old pack beat me," she says. I keep my gaze fixed on the pen and abstain from striking anything.

"Do you have any relatives?" Or whether you were born in your previous pack or not?"

"I know I had parents and possibly a big brother." But I know nothing else about my life," she says quietly.

"We can do a blood test if you're okay with it--to see if we can find a relative and get more information about you." I propose.

Charisse blinks and then looks at the IVs hooked on her body. "You don't have to do that for me; I don't want to waste any more of your time," she says, declining the offer.

Was I wasting my time? Even though I can't sense her feelings, she wants to learn more about herself. It's clear from all the medication and support she needs that she's been abused and starved for years. "Doc, can we do a blood test to get more information on Charisse?" I ask.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, but she won't be able to handle any more blood loss," he says, but his tone betrays his apathy.

'Shit's about to get real,' muses my wolf.

I rise and indicate for Dr. Simpson to join me in the corridor. I don't want my flatmate to hear me doing this, so I go a few rooms down. "Why in the hell are you lying to me?" I ask in a disturbingly calm tone.

He looks at me.

"Answer me when I ask you a question!" I demand that you throw him against the wall by the neck.

"She could perform a blood test, Alpha." Please forgive me," he begs forgiveness.

"If you commit another offense against my mate, I will personally kill you." I threaten to release him.

I hurry back to Charisse with one last peek. How dare a shifter oppose his Alpha in such a way; if it hadn't been for the fact that he was treating my mate, I would've killed him. I still want to murder him.

"Shit." When I smell Brad inside my friend's hospital room, I mutter.

"Merda." I hear him cuss, his Italian origins showing through.

'Who is this?' he says, peering at Charisse over the mind link.

'This is my pal. 'Stop looking at her.' I growl.

'How come she looks so familiar?' he wonders. Stop gazing at her, you moron!

'What exactly do you mean? 'She just awoke.'

'She looks like an older version of my sister,' he replies, fists clenched. He had a younger sister who was abducted when he was seven. His parents looked for him for five years, but Brad never gave up; I even gave him time off work to do so.

Brad Belle, Charisse Belle, hold on a second. Their surnames are not of Italian origin, but they were raised in an Italian-style environment.

"Charisse, didn't you say you had a brother?" I consulted with my colleague.

"I think so; I don't remember that much," she says.

"How about his name? Do you know your brother's name?" Brad inquires eagerly. She was taken by whichever pack she came from if he and Charisse were siblings.

"B-Francis, Stephen, something beginning with a B."

"It's possible that this is his. This could be my sister." Brad mutters as he runs his fingers over his hair. My best buddy and mate are most likely siblings, but there's only one way to find out: a blood test.

"Did I do something wrong?" Charisse inquires, her face concerned. Her heart monitor beeps faster as she nervously fidgets with the hospital blanket.

"No, darling. We believe you and Brad are linked." I say this in an attempt to calm her down. It's reasonable for Luna to feel concerned about her packmates, but believing she's the source is quite another.

"Here." Brad offers Charisse a cup of water, and I realize how dry her throat must be.

"Thank you." She gently holds the cup as if it were the most valuable object in the world.

"Doctor Simpson said you requested a blood test, Alpha?"

"Yes, Brad is going to do it as well." Finding out if they're related will be faster if they both do the blood test.

"These are only for her appetite and to relieve pain." "The Luna may feel dizzy and hungry, but it's best if you don't force her to eat more than she can handle," advises the nurse.

"Is there anything I should be cautious of?"

"Just don't put too much pressure on her bones or do anything violent in her presence." We discovered a lot of tension and mental trauma when we did a brain scan."

I nod and return my gaze to Charisse. She'd been sleeping for a few hours and wasn't awake when we discovered she and Brad were related.

He assured me he would let her get used to me before taking on the big brother role.

"No way, no how. "It won't happen again," she mutters in her sleep.

I gently shake her shoulder to wake her, but it is ineffective. I shake her harder as her arms move to cover her head. She blinks open her eyes and glances around the room, perplexed and panting. "It was just a dream, and you're safe with me." I coo, clutching her close.

All IVs had been removed earlier, and I had spent the last few hours filling out paperwork and asking nurses questions. "We can go home now," I inform Charisse.

Her reaction breaks my heart. "I don't have a place to call home."

"Your home is with me," I say.

"Really?"

"I'm not giving you up now that I've finally found you."