Chapter 23: 23. Charlie’s teasing about Michael and Zavier
AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
I was still glowing. Not metaphorically. Literally glowing like someone had dunked me in liquid moonlight and decided I should be my own torch. Zavier didn’t seem to mind, he looked downright smug about it, but I wanted to crawl under the floor. Charlie, however, was thriving.
"This is the best day ever!" He declared, throwing his arms wide. I got my Moon given blessing, a whole pack of new people to annoy, AND-." He turned dramatically, pointing at me with both hands. "a big brother!"
I froze.
"I-what?"I asked.
"You heard me!" Charlie grinned, stepping close enough to bop me on the nose. "You’re my brother now. The Moon picked me first, sure, but She picked you second. And I think that’s awesome."
"Second isn’t exactly-" I started, but Charlie cut me off.
"No, no, no." He shook a finger like a teacher scolding a naughty student. "Second is perfect. It means I don’t have to be the only one She looks at anymore. Now I have someone to share it with. And someone to annoy forever." He beamed. "Best deal ever."
I blinked at him. My brain tried to process best deal ever and failed spectacularly.
"You... don’t care that you’re the ’real one’?"I asked.
"Nope!" Charlie said cheerfully. "Why would I? You’re shiny. And grumpy. And way more fun to watch than me."
Before I could even answer, Rose leaned against the doorframe, looking positively feral with amusement.
"He’s right, you know." She drawled. "You might not have been first, Michael, but the Goddess clearly likes you enough to make the entire hall smell like silver fire. That counts for something."
Zavier squeezed my waist, purring low in his chest like he agreed. Charlie nodded so hard I thought his head might fall off.
"See? Everyone agrees. You’re perfect and chosen and mine."He said.
"Yours?!" I choked.
"My brother!" Charlie clarified, laughing so brightly even Rose chuckled. "Don’t look so panicked, I’m not stealing your mate. I think Zavier might actually bite me if I try."
"Correct." Zavier said smoothly, not even pretending otherwise.
Charlie just giggled like he’d won a prize.
"See? He’s protective already. I ship you two so hard."Charlie smirked.
"You-you what?" I sputtered.
"He ships you." Rose translated, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "As in, he’s officially rooting for you and Zavier to be together."
Charlie nodded solemnly, as if performing some kind of holy ritual.
"Yep. You’re my new favorite love story. Congratulations."He grinned.
Zavier’s smirk turned positively sinful.
"Hear that, little wolf? Approved by the saint omega himself."Zavier nodded happily.I groaned into my hands. "Please stop talking."
"Nope!" Charlie chirped, bouncing on his toes. "Next step. Affection practice session!"
"Oh no." I whispered.
"Oh YES." Charlie said, gleefully, already dragging a horrified Terrence and Adrian over to ’be witnesses.’ I should have seen it coming. Charlie was glowing like a lantern, Rose was practically vibrating with delight, and Selene looked like she was about two seconds away from smiting me where I stood just for existing. And the alphas? Oh, they were dying.
Adrian’s perfect golden smile was twitching, his jaw clenched like he was still trying to look charming but actively losing the will to live. Terrence had crossed his arms so hard across his chest it looked like he was holding himself back from hurling a chair. Xavier... Xavier had gone frighteningly quiet, which was somehow worse than when he was glaring. And Charlie? Charlie ignored all of them. He didn’t even glance at them anymore. He just stayed right in front of me, smiling like I’d hung the moon.
"You’re really lucky, you know." Charlie said suddenly, rocking back on his heels, golden eyes shining.
My brows furrowed.
"...What?"I asked.
"You got chosen second." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That’s so much cooler!"
"Cooler?" I sputtered. "How in the moon’s name is that cooler?!"
Charlie giggled, his little curls bouncing.
"Because! I was the boring first choice. You’re the dramatic one! The underdog! The one everyone roots for!"He grinned.
I blinked, trying to find words, but Rose was already nodding like he’d just said the wisest thing ever.
"He’s right." Rose smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Nothing’s more dangerous than the one fate didn’t pick first. They’re always the ones who change the story."
Selene groaned loudly, rubbing her temples like she had a headache.
"This is not how prophecy works-"Selene started.
Charlie ignored her. Again.
"I’m just glad I got a brother out of this!" He said brightly, looking right at me.
My entire brain short-circuited.
"Brother?!" I yelped.
"Yes!" Charlie clapped his hands, delighted. "You’re totally my brother now!"
I could feel every Alpha’s soul leaving their bodies at once. Adrian looked like someone had just stabbed him in the chest. Terrence’s storm grey eyes flickered like his wolf was mourning. Xavier’s knuckles went white as he adjusted his cuffs for the fiftieth time. Rose, however, was living for it. She actually laughed, a soft, musical sound that made Terrence scowl harder.
"Oh, this is going to be fun." She said, grinning like she was about to pour gasoline on an open fire.
Before anyone could recover, Charlie tilted his head at me and Zavier, his grin somehow getting even brighter.
"You two are so cute together." He said, completely serious.
I froze. Zavier did not. His silver eyes glinted with smug satisfaction, his arm immediately sliding around my waist and pulling me flush against him.
"See?" He murmured in my ear, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Even your little moon-blessed sibling approves." My ears went red. My wolf purred traitorously. Charlie’s tail, because apparently he had one, shimmering faintly silver started wagging.
"Ohhh, he called me sibling!"Charlie nearly screamed in happiness.
Rose outright snorted into her hand. Adrian actually looked away for the first time since Charlie entered, like he couldn’t take watching this. Terrence muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience. Xavier... Xavier just stared, the quiet fury radiating off him like a second sun. And then, like fate itself was playing favorites, the air shimmered and the Moon Goddess appeared right there in the hall. Her silver form glowed brighter than the torches, and everyone immediately straightened like guilty children.
"Finally." Selene muttered under her breath.
The Goddess eyes swept over the room, lingering on me. Her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Well, isn’t this delightful?" She purred. "My second choice, glowing brighter than my first."
I opened my mouth, ready to argue, but she just waved a hand.
"Oh, don’t pout. You’re doing wonderfully. Zavier hasn’t even failed yet." Her eyes slid to him, glinting. "Though we’ll see how he handles my little challenge."
Charlie’s grin turned downright wicked.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."He grinned.
"Fun for you maybe." I hissed.
Rose’s smirk widened.
"Oh no, fun for me too."She said.
The alphas were absolutely silent, standing there like statues, their expressions ranging from barely contained jealousy to full blown despair, but every time one of them tried to step closer to Charlie, Charlie would just step closer to me.
"Oh, stop looking so serious." Charlie said cheerfully to them, completely oblivious to their inner deaths. "You can play with me later! I’m talking to my brother right now!"
I swear Adrian physically twitched. Terrence actually growled under his breath. Xavier’s eye did that dangerous little tic thing. And I? I just buried my face in my hands.