Michael P.O.V

It's obvious that Charlie doesn't want to go on this trip; he knows something is up. Convincing him to get out of the area is the only way to keep him safe.

"You should call your mom, let her know you want to go," I tell him, pulling back onto the road.

"I don't want to go." He sighs.

The truck falls silent after that. Charlie will end up calling his mom, just not right now. He knows leaving will keep him safe. He has to go, he just has to.

"I should take you home so you can pack," I mumble under my breath.

Of course it was risky, but I couldn't send Charlie off with his parents without proper luggage. They would be suspicious.

Charlie looks over at me and sighs. He shrugs his shoulders. I knew that deep down, he didn't want to go. He didn't trust it and I couldn't blame him. I think he was starting to see the holes in my plan. I wasn't going to lay low.

"Is that safe?" he asks softly.

"You're with me," I remind him, "of course you're safe."

I just try to reassure him, though I had failed to keep him safe. James just couldn't leave him alone. My brother knew exactly how to push my buttons.

Charlie was quiet for the rest of the ride home. I park the truck in his driveway and get out to make sure that we're alone. I walk around the entire house; no wolf scent. I help him inside once I'm sure that it's safe. I couldn't smell James or any other wolves.

"Call your mom, get packed. I'm gonna stay here with you until you go," I tell him.

Charlie sighs and rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to go and I don't blame him, but it will keep him safe.

"I can call her in the morning," he says. "She said they weren't leaving for a few days. I'll let her know."

Charlie's stalling. I can't help but wonder what he's thinking about. He sits down on the couch and sets his crutches aside. He sighs and leans his head back against the couch cushions. I sit next to him and wrap my arm around his shoulders.

"I just want things to be okay," he murmurs.

I sigh and nod. I rub his shoulder softly and rest my head against his. He closes his soft, green eyes and just lets the silence take over the room. I didn't really know what to say. It was my fault that Charlie was in danger, but I couldn't keep him away. I couldn't keep getting him hurt either.

"They'll be okay after you go on that trip with your family. I promise," I assure him, though it was a bit of a lie.

I couldn't guarantee his safety after that, not without becoming Pack Master, and even then, I probably wouldn't be able to. Charlie was like my dirty little secret, and I absolutely hated that. It was hard enough trying to explain being gay, but being in love with a human only made things more difficult.

Charlie grabs my hand and holds it to his chest. He closes his eyes and lets a quiet sigh slip past his soft lips. I turn his head carefully. He opens his eyes before I kiss him gently. His eyes close again and soon he returns the kiss.

"I love you," I tell him.

"I love you too."

I sigh and pull him onto my lap. I lay my head against his shoulder and close my eyes. He runs his fingers through my hair gently.

"You want some dinner?" he asks softly. "I can order us a pizza," Charlie offers.

"That sounds nice."

Charlie got on his phone and ordered us a couple of pizzas. It would be better to stay inside for the night. We waited around for the pizza, which was about half an hour. When it arrived, I answered the door and brought the pizza back to the living room. I set the boxes on the coffee table and settle back down with Charlie. He opens one of the boxes and takes out a slice of cheese pizza, soon we're both digging in.

"I really don't want to go," he says softly as he eats.

"I know you don't, Baby, but you'll be safer with your parents. Everybody will cool off."

Charlie sighs and eats in silence after that. The quiet room was thick with tension. I didn't bother saying anything else about it.

I clean up and put the rest of the pizza away. I take Charlie upstairs and help him into bed.

"I'll sleep on the couch," I say softly.

"No, stay in here with me." He holds his arms out.

I smirk a little and sigh before stripping down to my boxers. I climb into bed with him and take him in my arms.

"Everything's gonna be okay. . ."

Charlie nods against my chest and soon we're both falling asleep. Charlie's head laid against my chest, his arms looped around my lower back. It was like he was afraid of letting me go.

The morning light comes flooding in from his window, waking me up after a while. I sit up and notice Charlie isn't in bed with me. There's a bag packed in a chair at his desk and his crutches are gone. I get up and pull my jeans on before heading downstairs. Charlie's sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a slice of cold pizza.

"Morning," he says before taking a sip of his drink.

"Hey," I yawn and rub my eyes. "You packed?"

"Just got off the phone with my mom. I'm leaving tomorrow," he tells me. "She took care of everything."

I pour myself a cup of coffee and sit down next to him. I hold his hand across the table, stroking the tops of his knuckles gently with my thumb.

"I'm gonna miss you while you're gone," I say softly.

"I'll be back before you know it," he assures me. "Everything is gonna be okay."

I really hope that's true. Charlie leaving is for the best, but I can only hope that it actually works.