Page 60 of The Gamma's Second Chance

“Did Maya show you Haven’s dress for the ball?” I ask, saying the first thing that comes to mind.

“She did,” Cassandra says, smiling. “It’s gorgeous. She’s very skilled.”

“She could make you one, too?”

Cassandra shakes her head. “She offered, but my mom had one custom designed for me. It will be delivered early next week. She told me about it when I spoke to her and my father yesterday.”

I nod. “They seemed happy to hear from you,” I say, remembering the ecstatic voices chattering away to her in Greek at the other end of the line.

“You could have spoken with them as well. Mama wants to meet you.”

“I didn’t want to intrude on your moment with your family.” I squeeze her leg, and she turns her head to peer out the window again. “Next time, I will. I promise.”

She continues to stare out the window, and I lick my lips, then return my hand to the steering wheel. I grip it tight, flexing my fingers against it and cracking my neck. The silence grates on me, as does Cassandra’s stiff posture and unsmiling face, and my wolf strains his neck in irritation, trying to push to the front of my mind to check on her.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, unable to endure it or pretend not to notice it any longer.

She shrugs. “I didn’t sleep well. I had a strange dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now.” She reaches over and covers my hand on the wheel. “I’m fine. I promise.”

I lace my fingers through hers and lift her hand to my lips to kiss, then settle our linked hands into her lap for the rest of our drive. She holds mine with both of hers, gripping it tighter than usual, her breaths deep and precise.

We arrive at the Amber Forest packhouse mere seconds after Wes and Haven, and the palatial mansion towers over us, shadowing the manicured front lawn and our vehicles. The addition of green hedges and colorful flowers has warmed the cold, white exterior up, but the massive, extravagant building still looks out of place amongst the sprawling pine forest of their pack lands. Cassandra gazes up at it as I let her out of the truck, her eyes scanning every inch and examining every detail of the facade.

“Shall we?” I ask, offering her my elbow.

She blinks at me, yanked from her silent inspection of the packhouse, then shakes herself out of her daze. “Yes, of course.”

She takes my hand instead of my elbow, and we follow Wes and Haven. Her fingers tremble in my grasp, and her steps are slow and hesitant, but she grits her teeth and keeps pace with me, even with the growing anxiety and uncertainty I sense within her.

“Oh, shit!” Haven halts her steps, an exasperated sigh leaving her mouth. “I left my purse on the seat.”

“I can grab it,” I say, making my way towards Wesley’s truck.

“No, it’s fine, I’ll get it,” she says, scooting around Cassandra and me with her hand on her bump. “You two head inside. We’ll be right there.”

Wesley hands Cassandra the folder in his hand and chuckles. “Pregnancy brain. I thought it was a joke, but it’s not.”

Cassandra’s lips twitch and I laugh as well. The folder in Cassandra’s hand shakes for a second, but she hugs it to her chest and strides forward with determination in her eyes as she mounts the massive ivory staircase at the front of Benjamin’s packhouse.

“Gamma Nolan.” Ben’s beta, Jordan, greets us at the front door. “Is everything all right with Alpha Wesley and Luna Haven?”

“She forgot her purse in the truck. They’ll be right in,” I say.

“Pregnancy brain,” Jordan says, echoing Wesley’s words and nodding knowingly. “My mate did the same thing almost every time we drove somewhere during her pregnancy.” He gestures down the hall. “You two can go ahead. I will wait for your alpha and luna.”

“Thank you.”

Cassandra follows me down the main hall and around the corner to the large double doors leading into Ben’s office. He has one propped open, so I rap on it with my knuckle, then push it open, standing aside for Cassandra to enter.

Ben sits at his massive oak desk, his head resting on his fingertips, his gray suit jacket draped over the back of his seat, and his sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up to his elbows. But as soon as we enter, he jumps from his fine leather chair, his blue eyes widening as they move from me to Cassandra. She freezes, her face growing paler by the second. My wolf whines, and my stomach twists into a heavy, weighted knot as they stare at each other with the world standing still for what seems an eternity.

Cassandra forces time to move again, spinning away from Ben and rushing towards the door, her eyes clamped shut and her head shaking.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

---