Page 8 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

As if saved by the bell, the mortuary door clicks open, and the morgue assistant, Daniel, sticks his head out.

“Cassandra? Is that you?” he asks, prompting her to turn to him. “I've been expecting you.”

“Hi, Daniel,” she greets as she steps through the parted door when he moves aside. Without throwing back a single glance at me, Cassandra disappears inside.

“Hello, Alpha,” Daniel greets me with a curt nod, reminding me that I'm the benevolent leader of this pack.

All I can do is nod back at him, frozen on the spot, as realization dawns on me.

Somehow, Cassandra has become brave enough to stand up to me. What have these nine years done to her?

This feels like an unspoken challenge, and I have to accept it.

I won't accept defeat, that's for sure. I might not have the heart to dispel her from the town now that she has to take care ofher mother's funeral. But I'm not a pushover, and I won't let her speak to me any way she wants to.

If she thinks she can get away with the nine years that have passed, she's sorely mistaken. As my fists curl at my sides, I feel a strange sense of eagerness to make Cassandra Chikara's life a living misery while she's back in town.

It's the only suitable price to pay for how she abandoned her own pack.

Chapter 3 - Cassandra

The warm arms that hold me provide enough comfort to shed the tears I'd been holding back when Mama's body was rolled into the graveyard in the casket.

“You can do this, Cassie,” the soft, lilting voice of an old friend in the Moon Shine Pack encourages me, hands gripping my shoulders when I step out of her hug.

I nod at Dakota, a Moon Shine she-wolf who'd been my friend growing up. Reuniting with her when I arrived a few days ago, it felt as if nine years did nothing to sever the ties of our past friendship. She's the only one who's offered her unwavering support while I've been handling Mama's funeral, and I've felt less alone because of her.

Smiling with gratitude, I turn toward the small gathering of Moon Shine werewolves huddled around the six-foot-deep hole as my mother's casket is ready for the descent into eternity.

The Moon Shine wolves who attend the funeral are only a handful—the old Luna, Phoebe, and the Beta under Cyrus's command, Jarrod, along with a few patrol wolves who make up the army of soldiers and their mates.

I nod my acknowledgment of their attendance just as Daniel lowers Mama's casket into the ground. Stifling the sob lodged in my throat I watch, teary-eyed, as her body is given to eternal rest.

Crouching with Dakota offering support and holding my hand, I grab a fistful of soil and throw it over the casket. The pain and anguish in my chest are too much to bear, making it almost impossible to get to my feet. So, I remain crouched on the ground, watching the polished casket disappear as the Moon Shine men ladle shovelfuls of soil into the hole.

Dakota squeezes my shoulder, giving silent support as she stands by my side without pressuring me to get to my feet. All I can do is sob quietly, tears streaming down my face as Mama is put to rest.

When another, larger hand is placed on my empty shoulder, I'm forced to look to the side, a frown growing. With pristine polished shoes on the ground beside me, I rake my eyes up over perfectly tailored black slacks, gasping when I realize that the tall man who has suddenly appeared beside me is none other than Cyrus.

My right shoulder curls in from his touch, and I quickly get to my feet, my brows winding with surprise. The feeling of deep grief is replaced with momentary shock.

I didn't think he'd attend my mother's funeral, especially after the brief encounter with him the other day. Setting me off like that in front of the morgue, it didn't come as a surprise when Jarrod, the Beta of Moon Shine, apologized on the Alpha's behalf that he wasn't able to attend.

Citing a meeting he couldn't get out of, I was relieved to know that I wouldn't have to face him again.

So what is he doing here now?

“My condolences on Agatha's passing,” Cyrus whispers as he turns to face me. “She was a kind woman and an esteemed member of the Moon Shine Pack.”

Just what is he playing at? Who does he think he's fooling, acting as if he cares?

His blunt words the other day were a clear indication that he doesn't have an ounce of compassion in his bones. If there was ever any hope that he'd change his ways in nine years, he proved me wrong.

He's much, much worse now that he's the Alpha.

This can only be for the sake of appearances in front of the members of his pack. That's all he'd ever been determined to do—save his face in front of his friends whenever he was near me.

Some things don't change.

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