My One Exception - Book 1

My One Exception - Lunatic

This was hell. Charlotte was sure of it. She had fed her family a lie that she went for a drive and saw the alpha break into the school, thus going after him. They seemed to buy it, which was nice. But the repercussions of that lie led her to be watched at all times. Chris gave her a lecture on how reckless her behavior was and all Kate could do was make those passive aggressive comments of hers.

They were all in the garage with a couple other hunters, making a plan for the full moon. "So what, another night of kicking through leaves in the woods?" Kate asked sarcastically.

"I prefer to think of it as another night trying to keep innocent people from being killed. A list which now includes my daughter." Chris countered.

"How do we know it won't try going after her again?" one of the other hunters asked.

"It won't go after Allison." Kate said, sounding sure of herself.

"It won't have any target at all, not on a full moon." Chris said.

"How come?" the guy asked.

Dumbass. Where did Kate find these people? Charlotte wondered.

"An alpha is like any other werewolf on a full moon. It struggles under its sway, which means tonight is our best chance to catch it, when it's unfocused." Chris further explained.

"Yeah, but what if it has a reason to stay focused?" Kate baited. She could annoy Charlotte more than any other being on this planet.

"Well, do you know something we don't?" Chris asked. "I just don't like surprise. But you're the expert, so you tell me" she replied smugly. Well, I know more than all of you so there's that, Charlotte thought. The other hunter finally decided to speak "What about Derek?"

Kate shook her head "He's smarter than that. He won't be out tonight. There's cops everywhere." she explained.

"And if for some reason he is-" Chris started, but was cut off by Victoria, holding a plate in the doorway "If he is, you find him, you kill him, you cut him in half. Anybody want a cookie?"

Jesus Christ, Charlotte needed a new family.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Charlotte said, running out of the garage. She opened the door to see the mail lady with an envelope.

"I have a letter for a Charlotte Argent?"

Charlotte smiled at her "That's me." and was handed the letter.

"Have a great day." the mail lady said, walking back to her vehicle.

"You, too." and she shut the door. She sat on the couch and opened the letter. Written in neat handwriting, it read:

Dearest Charlotte,

I apologize for my actions at the school, I did not expect you to be there. I do hope those bruises are fading quickly. Derek will never put his hands on you again, I assure you. Stay inside tonight. Such a lovely girl does not need to get herself caught in the crossfire again. It will better by tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

With much adoration,

Your Alpha

Charlotte couldn't help but to blush. She had to admit, he had a way with words.

"Who was at the door?" Victoria's sharp voice rang out.

Charlotte jumped slightly, shoving the letter into the couch and acting like she was on her phone. "Oh, the mail lady tried to deliver the neighbor's package to us. That's all" she told Victoria, convincingly.

"You know, she did that right when we moved in, too." Victoria said with a shrug, walking away.

Oh, thank god. So, now all she had to figure out was how to stay in tonight without raising suspicion.

Twenty minutes later, Kate was banging on the the bathroom door, asking if she was alright. Charlotte had faked throwing up to sell a food poisoning story. "Just a second" she called out to Kate. She opened the door and registered Kate's disgusted look.

"Oh honey, you look like crap" she said with absolutely no care behind it.

"Aww, thanks Kate" Charlotte said with a fake smile."I'm sure I'll be fine, I think I got most of it up. What time are we leaving?" Charlotte asked like nothing was wrong.

"Uh, we're leaving at seven. You are taking your vomit-ridden ass to bed and staying there." Kate said.

Charlotte decided to play the game a little more. "Oh, come on! I can hurl in the woods." she said.

"It's my car that I'm worried about. You're. Staying. Here." Kate told her, leaving no room for argument.

"Fine" Charlotte said, walking past and slamming her door. Mission accomplished.

Charlotte was lying on her bed when a anonymous text came in:

?: Did you get my letter?

Great, now he had her cell phone number. No harm in texting him, right?

CA: Yes, I did. I faked food poisoning and was told to stay home.

PH: That's my girl, always sharp.

CA: I have a question.

PH: Anything.

CA: Why do you care about me?

PH: You are different from all the rest.

CA: They're coming after you tonight.

PH: They won't find me. Anyway, stay inside. You will be safe.

That was interesting, she thought. He's very adamant that she is not to leave the house. He is aware that she knows how to hunt, right? Whatever. She could stay home. A nap sounding good anyway. Halfway through said nap, her phone rings. She saw that it was from Stiles or rather Stiles' phone.

"Hello?" she answered quickly.

"Charlotte, he's out. Scott got out. I need you're help." Stiles voice came through the phone, sounding desperate.

"Pick me up down the street from Allie's house." she instructed him.

"On it." and he hung up.

Ok, now how to get out of the house without Victoria noticing? She opened her door and heard the sound of running water. Perfect timing. Send Victoria a quick text that she wasn't feeling well and that she would be staying in her room the rest of the, grabbed her gear and headed out the front door, locking it behind her. She ran down the street and hopped in the Jeep. Stiles spilled the whole story to her.

"You got him a water bowl with his name on it?" she asked him.

"Well, it was payback for making out with the girl I like, ok?" Stiles defended.

"He could be anywhere by now, he's most likely trying to find the alpha" she told him. Oops, probably should've said something to him. She pulled out her phone and texted Peter "Scott needed help." He knows what she meant.

They both saw flashing lights up ahead. They looked to be in a park. Stiles pulled in fast and got out. Charlotte hunkered down in the seat because no one was supposed to know she was there. She saw a sheet covered gurney get loaded in the ambulance and Stiles hugging his father. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and realized it was a car. Chris' car. She saw him and Kate talking. She didn't like the looks of it, they we staring right in Stiles' direction. Oh my god, they think it's him, Charlotte realized. This was not good.