Charlie's PO.V. I held my ground, forcing myself to stand tall when all I wanted to do was shrink away from the angry gathering of bears behind my mate's mother. Eden Wilde. She was not a woman I would win over easily, and based on the look on Damien's face, she was not the only one I would have to

"So, I should be blamed for the actions of the few? Why would I not stand up for myself, and why didn't you stand up for me?" My pointer finger thrust in his direction, but he looked up at the canopy of trees and took several deep, calming breaths. "I did stand up for you, but there is a way to go

My body ached as I worked up to a run. The stiff joints and muscles from sleeping on the ground took several minutes to work out and loosen up. Yet, the pain inside my chest didn't go away. With each step away from Damien, it got worse. I knew I was doing the right thing but wasn't happy about it.

Damien's P.O.V. It all made sense now... the comments Charlotte made about people wanting to manipulate and use her, the towns going wild with excitement or anger when people recognized her, and needing to use a different name. Even the way she carried herself, so confident and poised. She had the

I loathed that I had used my dislike for them as one of the reasons not to give Charlotte a chance when we first met. "Charlotte is not a toy, and I warn you now, Mother. You need to decide what is more important to you, having me in your life or holding onto your hatred for a species you never eve