Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 271

Kane POV

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Two Months Earlier.

One afternoon, driven by a mix of hope and longing, I decided to visit the Sparrow brothers' mansion. I had been desperate, clinging to any chance to reconnect with Charlotte, and I hoped today would be the day. As I approached the grand entrance, my heart pounded with a nervous energy. Adam answered the door, his expression unreadable. His eyes met mine, and I got the sense he wasn't surprised to see me—almost as if he'd been expecting this visit.

"Can I see her?" I asked, striving to keep my voice steady.

"Why should I let you?" he replied coolly as he eyed me sceptically.

"Because I need to talk to her. Please." I swallowed my pride. He hesitated a flicker of something—pity, perhaps—crossing his face.

"Wait here," he finally said, stepping aside to allow me into the foyer as he punched something into his phone, and a loud click thundered in my ears.

"Safety first." He shrugged. After a tense moment, he led me to the study. Charlotte sat at a table with Liam, her head bent over a book. Chase lounged nearby, casually spinning a dagger on the tip of his finger, the sharp point glinting dangerously. His gaze lifted to mine, and I noticed his eyes harden—a clear sign that my presence was unwelcome.

Liam seemed absorbed in whatever they were reading, but Charlotte looked up as I entered. Her eyes flashed a deep purple—the telltale sign that Sage was alert. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, every fibre of my being yearning to close the distance between us.

"Charlotte," I began cautiously, stepping further into the room. "May I have a moment alone with you?" Before she could respond, Chase stood up, his posture tense.

"That's not happening," he stated firmly as I turned to him, not wanting to fight him on this.

"She can make her own decisions," I retorted, struggling to keep my frustration in check. Adam crossed his arms, positioning himself beside Chase.

"Not when it comes to you," he stated. "We won't allow it; the last decision she made when it came to you two cost her everything if I recall." My eyes drifted to Charlotte, who looked on, glossy-eyed but calmly. Ignoring them, I spoke directly to Charlotte, who seemed quieter than usual.

"Please, I just want to talk." She met my gaze briefly before looking away. "It's improper for us to be alone," she stated softly; those words were not hers but those of the Sparrow brothers; I knew that. "If you need time with a female, perhaps you should find Connie. I won't face the backlash." Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the blood drain from my face.

"It's not like that," I protested weakly.

"Time's up," Liam interjected, finally looking up from the book. His eyes were cold, matching his brothers'. "You should leave." I glanced back at Charlotte, hoping for any sign of encouragement, but she kept her eyes downcast.

"You look... well, Princess," I mumbled awkwardly, hating myself for not finding better words.

"Goodbye, Kane," she whispered, her tone final. Defeated, I nodded and turned to leave. As I walked out, I could feel their eyes on me, a mix of distrust and protectiveness. Once outside, I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. The encounter had gone worse than I'd feared.

An hour later, I found myself back at home, sitting on the edge of my bed, my head in my hands as I replayed it all in my hands. How did it get this bad? The weight of hopelessness settled heavily on my shoulders. Rolo, my wolf, paced restlessly in my mind.

"We have to do something," he urged. "We can't keep going like this."

"I know," I replied silently. The thought of never holding Charlotte again, of not being there for our children, was unbearable. Dark thoughts swirled in my mind—what if the Moon Goddess granted her a new mate? What if Connie harmed her or the pups out of spite?

In my desperation, I considered the one option I had sworn I'd never take. Closing my eyes, I whispered,

"Astaroth."

The air around me thickened, growing hot and oppressive. The faint scent of sulphur filled my nostrils, and a distant chorus of anguished cries echoed in my ears. Opening my eyes, I found myself standing in a hellscape straight out of a nightmare.

Chains hung from a blood-red sky, swaying above a barren landscape littered with jagged rocks and pools of molten lava. Tortured souls writhed in agony, their screams piercing the heavy air. The heat was suffocating, each breath searing my lungs.