His Confession
Charlotte
Dinner at the Westwoods is nothing like the functions I have attended here.
The sound of several conversations taking place at once fills the dining room.
Voices talking over one another, chairs scraping back, someone laughing too loudly, someone else arguing over who took the last of something, or who reached for a jug first, even though the table is covered with enough food to feed a small army.
There’s amusement in the banter, and despite it, everyone is helping one another without the careful etiquette I have known all my life.
Sienna moves a glass closer to Elijah; Scarlett holds Stephen, motioning Sienna not to worry; Renji places the salad bowl closer to Carter before he even asks for it, noticing it before he even opens his mouth. Jayce passes the chicken around before helping himself.
It should be overwhelming, chaotic even, but it just feels right.
There is something warm about it, something lived-in and unpolished, and I find myself sitting without touching anything for a moment too long.
And then there’s the extended family: Damon and Robyn, as well as Mum, Royce and Skyla, who managed to make it in time for today’s dinner; they’ll be staying until the ceremony tomorrow.
Damon is currently speaking with Mum, while Royce sits beside Skyla, one arm behind her, his gaze protective as always.
Skyla’s expression softens whenever she looks at the baby, but there is something else in her eyes, too, something quieter, and my chest aches for her even though she smiles when Scarlett spots her looking and passes her Stephen.
I know what’s been happening, although we only found out recently. They’ve been struggling to have a baby, and Skyla’s miscarried several times. It hurts… so much, and I wish there were something I could do…
I move my attention away, knowing they don’t want sympathy and she hasn’t told her family about her fertility issues.
My attention lands on Renji, who sits beside Shahira, his hand around her waist. Now that their secret marriage is no longer a secret, Carter and Ares are clearly making it their duty to irritate him about it for the rest of his life.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Ares asks as he re-enters the lounge after dealing with something for his pack.
Ares stands beside me, arms crossed, already looking as if the entire thing has personally offended him.
I glance up at him. “You ask about food far too often; I was waiting for you, sort of.”
“That means you weren’t,” he states, but his eyes flick over my face, searching in that blunt, too-aware way of his, and I know he is still checking whether I really am alright.
I am fine, I reassure him. He sits down and takes my hand, giving it a small squeeze.
“Good,” he answers. He’s about to let go of my hand, but I hold it tighter.
“Princess, how do you expect me to plate our food?”
“With your other hand, Alpha,” I reply sweetly.
His eyes narrow at my tone, and I smirk when I see him swallow. Oh, I love the effect I have on him.
Liam notices us and smiles. “Eat first; the food is getting cold,” he says warmly, amusement in his expression. “It’s not like Ares not to have his plate filled first.”
“I know, he piles it so high as if someone is about to finish the entire table,” Renji remarks.
I bite back a smile as Ares glares at his brother and father. “I don’t do that.”
“I can imagine you doing that,” I admit, making the boys and Skyla snicker.
“She’s learned fast,” Sienna says with amusement.
“I had to; he tries to shovel food into me at every chance possible,” I remark, making Mum laugh this time, too.
Ares gives me a look, and his stare, though intimidating, doesn’t faze me.
“Well, you do pick at your food,” Mum adds, and Ares looks at her triumphantly.
“See, I knew it wasn’t in my head,” he says.
“Well, it works out then, since you eat far more than your share,” Jayce says.
“Na, she needs to eat, though,” Ares grunts.
“Are you saying you’d rather she eat more than you getting extra food?” Shahira asks with pure innocence, but the cheeky glint in her eyes makes me smile.
Ares grunts. “I preferred it when you all fussed over that blob of a Westwood.” He points at Stephen, who at that moment looks almost offended. The timing makes several of us chuckle.
“He is the future Blood Moon Alpha; you can’t call him a blob,” I say, amused.
“Ares has the funniest nicknames for him; I think I like them as much as Mama’s,” Sienna says, eating some pasta.
I smile. I had heard a few of his thoughts earlier, and I wonder if Sienna knows those nicknames.
Does she know what you call her? I ask Ares through the mind-link. He narrows his eyes at me.
How do you know? he asks.
You think as loudly as you appear to, I inform him dryly.
Na, no one knows those weird-as-fuck ones, and they better not. I smile at him. Charlotte…
Fine, I won’t say anything if you tell me them all, I say. I had only heard Sienna’s and Renji’s earlier.
Fine. That’s Stubborn Sienna; she’s Shy Shahira; Heaven is Haughty Heaven, ‘cause she and Thickhead Theo are kinda a thing. I suppress a giggle as he continues. Ratbag Renji, Cunt Carter, Jackass Jayce, Sassy Skyla and Rich-boy Royce.
I stare at each person as he says them, almost laughing at Royce’s, then look up into his hazel eyes as he keeps adding food to my plate. I don’t even stop him, too surprised to do so, even if I know I can’t eat that much.
So none of them has any idea about your cute nicknames for them? I ask, genuinely surprised.
No, he growls. And that’s the way it better stay; it’s lame.
I don’t think it is, I say. Do I have one? I ask, secretly hoping I do.
He grunts. You were Chilli Charlotte; that attitude of yours is always so hostile. But I might need to upgrade it.
Chilli Charlotte… I repeat. No, I like it; don’t change it.
He smiles faintly but catches himself and looks away quickly.
Sure, he answers gruffly, making me smile.
I look up to see Royce watching us; our eyes meet, and I smile at him. I can’t mind-link him anymore since Ares marking me broke that connection, but I hope my smile is comforting enough. Mum, however, looks happy as she catches my eye and smiles warmly at the both of us.
But not being able to mind-link them, that hits harder than I expected.
“Eat,” Ares says, and I finally look down at the crazy amount of food on my plate.
“This is enough food for three people,” I say.
“Not really. Now eat.”
I’m beginning to realise that when it comes to food, Ares definitely isn’t going to let it slide. So I pick up my fork and begin eating; only then does he seem to be satisfied.
I look around the table; I kind of like the big family. I smile faintly, realising that back home our table of four will now become three… Selene… Helios… Please bless them with a child…
I look over at Skyla and Royce as he kisses her forehead, clearly mind-linking her.
A big family is nice, I say to Ares.
Don’t get too happy; they can get fucking annoying.
I raise an eyebrow and glance at him. You find everything annoying.
He simply gives me that look of his. I only find annoying things annoying.
Just admit you love them dearly, I push as I take another forkful of food.
Don’t have a choice. They keep existing and bothering the fuck out of me, he replies. You trying to start something, Princess?
I’m trying to get you to admit your feelings, I answer with a challenging smirk.
I can admit I care for you.
That throws me, not expecting him to say it outright. His hazel eyes are now locked with mine, and my heart betrays me, speeding up.
What’s wrong, Princess? Can’t continue the challenge you started? he asks. The noise around us seems to fade, and his hand suddenly rests on my bare knee, sending a shiver through me. Want me to repeat myself, Princess?
Judging by the way his mouth curves slightly, he knows exactly what effect he’s having on me.
“Ares,” I warn softly.
His fingers brush my inner leg, and I swallow.
“What?” he asks, cocking a brow, that faint, playful glint in his eyes now darkening. His hand slips beneath my dress and a rush of pleasure hits my core. I clamp my hand over his wrist, but he’s stronger, and his fingers graze my inner thigh, and his gaze drops to my mouth.
I lick my lips; suddenly they feel extremely dry, and that is all it takes.
Ares stands suddenly, his chair scraping back, and everyone looks up at him.
“Ares?” Scarlett asks.
“Need a minute,” he says.
“For what?” Carter asks.
“For you to mind your fucking business,” Ares growls.
Liam sighs. “Ares,” he warns.
“What? He asked,” Ares grunts, taking my hand and pulling me up before I can decide whether I should look composed or let him pull me along. But I find myself following him without a fight.
“Ares, where are we going?” I hiss as he leads me out of the dining room and down the hallway.
“You started it,” he says, looking down at me, and that look in his eyes makes my core clench, realising exactly what’s on his mind.
“You cannot be serious; our entire family is here,” I hiss. Although the thought of him pulling me close and kissing me seems to be overruling all logic in my mind.
Ares pushes open the bathroom door and, pulling me inside, shuts it behind us and slides the lock into place.
“Ares-”
His mouth is on mine before I can finish, and whatever protest I had planned disappears immediately.
He kisses me hard, one hand at my waist, the other sliding up to cup my face as he walks me backwards until my back meets the wall.
I clutch his shirt as pleasure darts through me, settling straight into my core.
Pleasure sizzles through us as a soft whimper escapes me. “Fuck, Ares…” I moan against his lips. He kisses me hard before he tugs my head back and kisses me along my neck and shoulder.
“If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to tell me clearly,” he mutters as his tongue flicks across my neck.
I don’t want him to stop…