Charlie's POV

Sleep didn't come easy that night at all. I had gotten used to sleeping next to the oaf that was my mate, I had spent more than enough of the night crying, and it felt like my batteries were on low. I so badly wanted to call out for him and solve the problem as soon as possible, but I also didn't feel like this was something I needed to fix.

When I heard the beeping sound of the keypad to our apartment door, I half expected Presley to step through the door. But, much to my disappointment, it was my friend who had caused the problem in the first place that walked into the living space instead.

I frowned in disappointment. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I thought you would want some coffee." He waved the to-go cup in his hand, raising a brow. "I assumed you probably slept like shit last night if you even managed to catch a few z's." He sat down in my recliner, making himself comfortable. "Wanna talk about it?" He held the cup out for me to grab.

"What do you mean?" I grabbed the cup, sniffing the coffee inside.

"Exactly what I said," He said in a sarcastic tone. "Do you wanna talk about how last night you booted me out of your apartment after whisper yelling with Presley?" He crossed his legs.

"Well, I think I fell asleep and might have just laid my head on your chest or something, and he was mad about that." Mateo furrowed his brows. "Then he told me about eating dinner with Adam and Mary, so I got upset because I had fallen asleep, and he didn't bother even to come and get me to eat dinner with him. I don't know, Mateo. I feel like I'm not a priority or even in the stratosphere of being in his orbit." I frown, taking a sip of my coffee.

"I mean, I get your frustration when Erin was still here. I wished I had given him more of my time. Now that he's gone, I look back and realize how fucking stupid I was." He hummed.

Erin was Mateo's mate. But unfortunately, he was killed by a rogue wolf before Presley had found Mateo and accepted him into the pack. He told me the first year in the pack he had spent grieving the death of his mate. At time's Mateo reminded me of my older brother. So when he told me the story of his mate's death, I related to him, seeing it firsthand with my older brother.

Mateo, at times, would scratch at the reminiscent mark that had scabbed over, blending in with his skin. I liked it when he talked about his mate Erin, and it made me feel like I knew a piece of his previous life before this pack.

"I'm sure you gave him the love and adoration he deserved. But, I think you sell yourself short, my friend." I hummed, giving him a small smile. He returned the facial expression, holding his coffee up in the air, toasting to me.

"Thank you for the reassurance." I giggled.

"Always."

—

Mateo had left hours ago, leaving me to myself and my thoughts. It gave me time to think of what I wanted to say to Presley when he got home. What I wanted him to do to make me feel like something to him, anything to him.

I had begun to write down the main points that I wanted to get across to him.

I wanted him to set him aside for just us, no matter what, just an hour of his time.

I wanted, no craved, his intimacy. Typically for werewolves, you couldn't get a crowbar in between newly mated wolves to pry them apart. But, Presley, it seemed like he hated the idea of having to even deal with me, although that may have just been my negative thoughts coming into play. I wanted more than kisses, and I wanted him to embrace me as he did during my heat.

I wanted to get to know everything about him. Like, what were his interests outside being the alpha of the pack? What did he hate the most? Also, what could I do to help him with the pack?

August would talk about how he helped Alexandre with the pack's finances, and he also went on border patrols with him. Although I didn't think I would want to do that, maybe I could help him, also help Mateo, by translating some things into Italian, and like languages, like French and Spanish. Although different, there were many words alike in those languages. Since I learned English within the three months I had been in our pack, I'm sure learning other languages to translate would be super helpful when he conducted audits on packs around the world. Also, August would tell me he would be the one to typically talk to the omega's in packs because they were more willing to talk to him than another alpha. I knew I could easily take on that role. There was so much that I was willing to do for Presley and our pack.

I also wanted to talk to him about our mating ceremony. The last time it was even mentioned between the two of us was when my mom translated for us back when I was at home. I wanted him to prove that he loved me and cherished me enough to present me to his pack as his mate. To hold the ceremony under the moon for the goddess to see.

I also wanted to tell him I wanted my parents here for our mating ceremony. I wanted my mom to help me with the cleansing ritual. I wanted my dad to give me away to Presley at our ceremony. I wanted my little brother and my nephew here as well.

Mating ceremonies were more to show the pack how in love the couple was and to show the moon goddess that we, her creatures, loved one another. Was it necessary to have one? Not always, most wolves held a little get-together with their friends and family. But as Alpha and Luna of the pack, it was necessary. To show the pack that their Alpha and Luna were in sync with one another and that they worked well together to keep balance within the pack as a unit.

First was the acceptance of the bond, then there was the marking, then the ceremony. Although Presley and I had switched the order around a little because of our language barrier. Our final step was the ceremony, and I wanted it more than anything in the world.

I stared down at my notebook with all of what I wanted to say to him and shut it. I busied myself, starting a load of laundry and preparing what I wanted to cook for dinner. I hoped he would come home earlier tonight to finally talk everything out. I hoped that we could finally spill what had troubled the both of us to build up to the point where Presley was frustrated enough to leave home.

Hours passed, and Presley had yet to come home. Dinner had long gotten cold, and I frowned in frustration, putting everything away, eating without him once again. When midnight rolled around, I could hear the keypad beeping, making me sit up on the edge of the couch, ready to finally have the conversation with him I longed to have.

When Presley walked into the door, he looked rugged and worn out. Sort of how I felt, but tonight my agenda no longer held the same compliance we both had at this time of night. I was tired of the same thing over and over again. Tonight I was going to make sure everything was set straight.

"Hey," He hesitated, shutting the door quietly behind him.

"Hi," I responded, crossing my legs, and meeting his eyes.

"So," He didn't bother going to the kitchen as he normally would do to eat dinner. Meaning he didn't have the same thing in mind either.

"So..." I hummed, beginning to pick at my nails,

"I wanted to apologize for last night, first and foremost." He bit down on his lip, sitting down on the couch in front of me. I nodded my head, not accepting the apology just yet. "I know I overreacted; I removed myself from the situation so I wouldn't do some stupid shit. I might have a good hold on Ezekiel, but when it comes to you, that hold turns into putty."

"I fell asleep. Just so you know, I wouldn't disrespect you like that intentionally." I showed no emotion, crossing my arms.

"And I understand that." He ran his fingers through his hair, showing evident frustration in me or himself was the big question. We sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke again, "I don't even know what to say... I try to do everything that I can to be the best alpha. I can't even keep my mate happy."

"You can though, it just might require you to maybe take a step backward and instead of heavily involving yourself," I responded, raising a brow.

"I realize that." He pursed his lips in thought. "I didn't intend to make it home so late tonight, but I was trying to cover some bases, so we have time together alone at nights, well aside from full moon ceremonies, unfortunately, the both of us can't miss those." He tried lightening the mood, giving me a gentle smile.

"How do I know that you'll actually follow through with that promise?" I asked, ignoring his attempt.

"I'll prove it to you." He reassured. "I know I haven't been the best mate, but I want to be. I want to be the one you go to, for anything."

We sit in silence for a moment. "We're mates, but it feels as if we're strangers." I finally say.

"Yeah, and I don't want that anymore. I'm sorry." He pleaded, his tired eyes matching the tone of his voice. "It's my fault, I know you've tried talking to me, but my short answers really don't tell much of a story, does it?"

I nodded, "It really doesn't. I really would help if you expressed more than a 'this is good' while eating dinner that I cooked hours prior and heated up in the microwave. We both know it tastes like rubber at that point...." I furrowed my brows.

"I'll make it a point to eat dinner with you from now on, just like the first week when we came home." He reached out for me. I hesitantly sat at the edge of the couch, reaching my hand out for him to grab. My pale hand in his tanned, calloused one just looked right. I finally let out the breath I didn't even realize I had been holding. "Just promise to tell me whatever's on your mind? I'm all ears."

"Well, I wrote down what I really want...." He looked down at the notebook on the table.

"Go ahead," He brushed his thumb over the top of my hand reassuringly.

I pulled my hand from his, opening the book. "I know you said you'd set some time aside for just us. I just ask for an hour each night aside from dinner." I bit my lips, continuing when he expressed interest in what else I had to say. "Our mating ceremony?"

"Yeah, we should get planning that, shouldn't we?" He asked.

"Yeah, also, would we be able to invite my family? I know our pack's feelings toward my family aren't all that great." I frowned. "But I really want them here. I want my mama to help me with my cleansing ceremony and for my papa to give me to you. I don't want them to miss such an important time in my life. I mean, I've had people refuse to let me bless their child into the pack, specifically asking for August to complete the blessing." Tears welled in my eyes. "It hurts. Knowing that my papa did something so unforgivable that they took it out on me. I didn't do anything wrong. What happens when August gives me the Luna title of the pack when we have our mating ceremony? Will people continue to refuse me?"

"Why didn't you bring that up to me sooner, angel?" He got to his feet, walking to the couch I was sitting on, and wrapped his arm over my shoulders sitting down next to me.

"When?" I snapped, wiping the stray tear from my eye, frustrated.

"Stupid question." He mumbled to himself. "We'll get that matter taken care of in due time. My dad was very influential in our pack when he was the alpha. He made sure we remembered my older sibling even though they didn't breathe a breath of air into their lungs. I'm sure older wolves will be harder to sway but can be swayed nonetheless." Presley chuckled. "You've made an impression on my family too. My dad asked me what I did wrong last night and openly said he likes you probably more than he likes me."

"Well, you would know that if you were around me more often."

"You wound me," He clutched his chest, his hand on my shoulder tightening. "But you're right."

"Damn right, I'm right." I pursed my lips, furrowing my brows.

"Anything else before we go to bed? I know it's late, and you're probably sleepy. We'll have all day tomorrow. I made sure of that." Presley smiled timidly.

"All day?" I raised a brow, and my chest fluttered in excitement. Finally, time alone with him, it was something I desired more than anything.

"All day." He reassured me.

"Well, there is one thing...." My cheeks reddened.

"Mhm?" I turned to meet his gaze.

"Your intimacy." 

A/N: Sorry for how long it took to updateeee, ugh, I'm sorry again. I've been trying to think of the next upcoming chapters and what they entail, and they're going be craaazy. But the build-up to it is KILLING ME.

Anyways, you can always get up to 4 chapters ahead on my patreon with the peach tier. https://liinks.co/neonskies95

Next chapters got the glug glug 3000