To protect the Howards, he might have to leave the Isle.
“I am a vampire. I cannot love Melinda Howard.”
It’s too late his dead heart echoed.
“Then I will love from afar,” he proclaimed.
##
Before going home, there was one stop Charlie wanted to make. He stood in front of Nina’s house. He wanted to miss her, to mourn her, but he felt nothing but devout gratefulness. He looked at his finger, now adorned by the black ring. He looked up at the full moon, no longer fearing its rise.
Nina.
The Guardian he’d been seeing for three summers.
The Guardian that had given him physical release had now saved his life.
He recalled their first meeting like it was yesterday.
Nina had walked right up to him and kissed him. She hadn’t even introduced herself. He was standing on this same beach, late at night. Worked up. Full moon just days away. Bottle of tequila four shots down… worried about his sister. His brother. Missing his parents. Unsure he was able to do his job well enough to keep them all alive.
They spent the rest of that night on the beach, and many other nights that summer. He chuckled at the memory. She might have been a Guardian watching out for him and not actually on vacation, but they’d had a lot of fun while she did. He would definitely miss her.
Damp stung at his eyes. He did love Nina.
He wasn’t in love with her, she wasn’t the settling down type and he wasn’t ready for that yet either. Although he’d never been able to think like that. Too afraid he might bite a woman and turn her into a werewolf.
He felt obligated to settle down and start a family. It was his job to do so and carry on the Howard line. He peered at the ring… he knew so little about it. Would it really protect him? Keep him from getting hurt, or from hurting anyone else?
Footsteps approached. He turned to see who it was. “Michael, hey.” He was surprised to see his brother.
“Everything okay?” he asked with a bemused smile. “Melinda told me where this place was. I assumed you might come here.”
Charlie nodded. “Alpha’s dead,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I can’t imagine how that must feel.”
“It’s like I’m breathing as a free man for the first time in ten years.”
Michael patted him on the shoulder. “I have tried to imagine you transforming before, but to actually see it, I have to say it was pretty insane.” He paused before asking, “What’s it like?”
Charlie thought for a moment before replying.
“It’s like… giving in to every primal instinct. Giving in to every desire you’ve ever had. Every urge. Without a single fear of the consequence.”
They stood in silence for a moment. The only sound, the crashing of waves against the shore.
“You know, in some ways, Michael, I’ve been hiding myself away, just the same as Melinda did. I was so afraid I might hurt someone, or find something meaningful and have to give it up... I guess I’d let the wolf win a long time ago.” Charlie looked at the ring again. “What Nina gave me today, I only hope I can prove myself worthy to own.” He paused before continuing. “It’s what set me off at the morgue, seeing the ring missing from her finger.”
Michael waited for him to explain.
“Nina told me that a Guardian’s ring can only be taken off voluntarily. Built in safety measure. When I saw it missing, I knew she had for some reason, taken it off. I just couldn’t imagine what that reason could be.”
“I guess she thought it was for a good cause,” Michael comforted, his tone sympathetic. “I’ll leave you alone. Just wanted to make sure you were still alive and kicking. See you at home, Charlie.”
He nodded with a humbled exhale. “I won’t be far behind.”
Michael left, and Charlie walked out onto the deserted beach, the full moon tossing shadows onto the water’s surface. He swallowed hard, his throat tight.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed saving, Nina. Thank you. Thank you.”
##
A block away, a body that looked like Michael Howard began to shift and contort as it walked down an empty moonlit road. When the shifting was completed, Eva Jordan craned her neck, stretching.
“Too fucking easy,” she congratulated herself. A sinful grin spread across her face as she walked away from Charlie Howard. “The ring can only be removed voluntarily. I can definitely work with that…”
##
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To read Book 3, Bye Bye, Bloodsucker, visit: www.starlasilver.com or Starla’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Starla-Silver/e/B00PREX74U
Alpha Knows Best (Wicked Good Witches Book 2) Page 13
