Page 20 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 2

Cassandra addressed me as Bjourn’s jaw tightened. She held out her hand, “BA, it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things. I’m not sure how we got off on the wrong foot, but I’d like to fix that.” I looked at her hand but didn’t shake it. After a moment she withdrew it. I addressed her, “Cassandra, I didn’t say you call me BA. In fact, you can't. It's the Black Arrow as far as you're concerned. I must say I have also heard SO much about you. I didn’t care for one single word though.”

Gunner grinned broadly at me. Dylan pulled out popcorn from somewhere. Harper interjected, “BA, you don’t understand.” I said, “But I do. It’s you who doesn’t understand. When you remember how your people feel about disrespect feel free to join the conversation. Until then the womenfolk are talking.”

Dylan yelled, “DAYUMMMM! LUCAS! She snapped. Oh, she snapped at a Hackura Prince. So hard. I AM LIVING PEOPLE!” Eric growled, “Dylan!” Dylan said, “He’s right. That was actually physically painful to say. GAP was right. Oh gosh, I have to stop. GAP is right, ow, I’m being rude. Do continue BA. You were telling the Hackura Princes they were being passive. Go on.” He whispered, “By the way you are also a goddess and I worship you.” I smiled at him.

Cassandra cleared her throat, “I know you are friends with my daughter in law. She and I had our tiff recently but...” I cut her off, “That you still haven’t apologized for, and it’s not a tiff. Is it, Bjourn?” Bjourn stared at me, “Evidently not.”

Cassandra scoffed, “She’s just extra sensitive. It’s the fairy’s fault she’s that way.” I warned her, “Watch it, lady. Haley’s fine the way she is.” Dylan whispered, “Please don’t, Cassandra. For me.” Lucas warned, “Dylan.” Emmaline locked eyes with me, silently encouraging me to keep going. She didn’t need to do that. I had every intention of putting this woman right in her place, just where she belonged.

Cassandra huffed, “Am I not allowed to worry about where she is? That’s all I said.” I snorted, “Is that what you were doing? It sounded more like you were trying to manipulate your son into being worried about his mate. You implied she abandoned you all at a fairy party. That she’d just run off in the place she was so horribly abused in. As if she’d do that without a reason, but you knew that. You just don’t care because you’re a manipulative bitch.”

Cassandra’s jaw dropped, “I don’t manipulate my children.” I laughed, “That’s not what I hear. Or was it not you who cut Haley out and kept a secret as a family forgetting she’s part of your family? I distinctly recall her saying it was you, and Haley can’t lie. You can though, and I think you do a lot.”

Cassandra huffed, “It was what was best. I know it hurt her, but it was for the best.” Eric gritted his teeth, “Mom, we have been over this. It wasn’t and we messed up.” Cassandra pursed her lips. I said, “I’m curious. Who was it the best for? And according to who exactly? Who decides what’s best in the Conners household, Cassandra?”

I paused, letting everyone digest my words. I sighed when Cassandra remained dead silent. I said, “I guess I have to tell you because evidently no one else will.” I glared at Haley’s Hackura brothers. I noticed every single fairy was leaning forward watching us. Exsis lifted a glass in my direction and took a big pull.

I continued, “It’s you. It’s always about you, isn’t it? Tell me how often you decide a Luna problem the packs of your daughters in law?” Cassandra huffed, “I help them all the time. They make the decisions though.” I questioned, “Do they? Again, that’s not what I hear, and no I’m not talking about Haley saying that. See, I hear that you have their ears on all the decisions. You just love it. Everyone knows they are your decisions because they are outdated. But you don’t have Haley’s ear, do you?”

Cassandra’s eyes tightened. I taunted, “You don’t have to answer. I know you don’t. See, I know people like you Cassandra. I study people often, and I'm quite adept at it. I can peg someone’s characteristics from a mile away. You masquerade around emitting this aura of a woman who has this perfect picture of a family. You are the kind, caring matriarch at the helm.” She smiled at her family.

I added, “Until something doesn’t fit your mold. Then you show your vindictive, manipulative side. You are shutting Haley out because she went against the cookie cutter mold of your perfect family. You’re trying to make her bend, so your little world goes back to the perfect family picture because people are starting to suspect you’re full of shit.” All of Haley’s brother’s jaws dropped.

Cassandra scoffed, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I argued, “But I do. When you came over here, the first words I heard out of your mouth were a condescending rebuke. You told Haley to use google because she didn’t understand Dylan’s reference to buying a vowel. You wanted her to know the reference.”

I glanced over at Emmaline. I asked, “Emmaline, when Cassandra came over here and chastised your cousin, was she or was she not annoyed and embarrassed?” Emmaline tried to hide her smile. She answered, “You’re right. She was mostly annoyed but a little embarrassed. Which is silly, not many fairies would have understood Dylan’s reference.” I agreed, “Exactly. Thank you, Emmaline.

I turned my attention back to the bitch, “See, Cassandra? They didn’t know, but you felt that way because your perfect daughter in law understands sayings, doesn’t she? All of your other daughters in law do. It annoyed you. How Haley speaks annoys you too. Doesn't it?” Cassandra’s eyes narrowed but she said nothing.

I laughed and questioned again, “Emmaline?” Miley cut in, “Emmaline doesn’t need to answer. I can tell you it does bother her. She tells Haley ALL the time not to cuss.” Eric looked like he was eating something sour. Good.

I winked, “She ignores you though, doesn't she? You think it’s some reflection on you, but it’s not. Haley spent YEARS being controlled and told she couldn’t say or do things. She finds them freeing now. It has NOTHING to do with you, you self-centered bitch.” Cassandra frowned, “I don’t know why you are attacking me right now.”

I scoffed, “Answer my question, Cassandra. Haley ignores you and that bothers you, doesn’t it?” Dylan’s eyes were growing wider by the second. Alpha Lucas was staring at Eric and his brothers. Cassandra growled, “Look, Haley’s mad at me right now, but we are family. She will get over it and move on.” Avoidance was her tactic of choice. A telltale sign someone was being confronted with the truth and deciding to deflect. I shot Haley’s brothers a knowing look.

Cassandra pointed her finger in my face, “Now, you answer my questions. Did Haley put you up to this? To embarrass me like this?” I snorted, “Going in order of your questions. Why am I attacking you? Well, because no one else has the stones to put you in your place. Haley is like a little sister to me, and I’m tired of people giving you a pass for treating her like shit. You have the most amazing person in your midst, and you blew it by continuously hurting her. I find that unacceptable.”

I held up two fingers and continued, “Did Haley put me up to this? No, of course not but you knew that too. I don’t know why you seem to think your tactics will work in this realm like they do in your pack. These are not wolves, and if she had put me up to it the fairies would die of joy and happiness. They know she’s not the selfish one here though, which is ironic. You’ve insulted her fairy blood several times, yet you are selfish just like you tout they are.” A few people cheered.

I told her, “Haley has no fucking idea I’d planned to confront you. She wants everything to remain as it is in your pack, and home, for Eric’s sake. I don’t have the same inclination because I don’t think your son needs to have rose colored glasses on anymore. I personally have been counting down the minutes until I could meet you and put you in your damn place. No one treats my little sister like you have and gets away with it.”

I put up a third finger, “Did I do this to embarrass you? No, I did it so you would know you’re on notice. If I wanted to embarrass you, I’d have waited until there were more wolves around with better hearing. It wouldn’t have mattered the situation, I planned to confront you the second I met you. I see you for who you are. Shape up and be a better person and stop treating Haley like she’s trash. She’s a Princess, and by BIRTH is higher ranked thank you. TWICE OVER. Deal with it.”

Cassandra gasped, “So we aren’t seeing eye to eye on one thing! It’s not that big of a deal. I’m not treating her like trash! I love her!” I countered, “You want to manipulate her! You want her to be the scared little girl these fucking assholes made her into as a child. The difference is you condemned them for it and are still trying to do it while they stopped. I won’t let that stand.”

I got in her face, “Miley, me, and the rest of her family chipped away at the ice she had around her heart. You WON’T put her back to that place where she cowers and hides from her damn feelings. AND DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE say you don’t want her to hide her feelings. You do. You’re punishing her for not glossing over the pain that YOU caused her. That’s something I can’t stand for. I worked for YEARS to get her to not push her pain down, for her to talk through her pain and let people in, and you want to bring that back. Because you are a selfish cunt.”

Several growls erupted but I didn’t care. I was on a roll, “We still work on it, but you want us to go backwards and undo all the progress we’ve made at getting her to share. Haley thinks you want someone else for your son, and she’s right. Isn’t she?” Cassandra shouted, “No!” She was lying.

I asked, “Emmaline?” Emmaline frowned, “She’s only partially lying. I can’t figure it out exactly. It’s like she wants Haley around but not really.” Eric growled, “WHAT?” Dylan was hitting Alpha Lucas repeatedly with his hands. Lucas pushed Emmaline behind him.

Emmaline said, “I think she wants Haley with Eric, she just….” I said, “I don’t. She just wants Haley to behave how Cassandra here wants her too. The perfect little daughter in law for her picture perfect family. Or she has other ideas for the family without Haley.”

Emmaline had a few tears streaking down her face, “Yeah, I think that’s it, BA.” Dylan threw candy at Emmaline, “Don’t cry. Don’t turn to water. See? Candy! Dylan has Candy for the pretty pregnant Luna. So much candy. I have pockets of candy for you. Water fairies! I need more candy conjured STAT!”

Cassandra was red faced angry with me. She said, “You have no right to say those things to me.” I disagreed, “I have every right. I told you Haley is my family. I challenge you to a fight, Cassandra Conners.” Dylan yelled, “Oh no…. no…. flag on the play… Cassandra…” Cassandra hissed, “I accept.” Dylan said, “NOOOOOOO!!!! Mommy Queenie Meanie, this is no good! GAP! No. Emotions are high right now. This is a bad, BAD idea.”

Eric growled, “Mother….” Cassandra pointed a finger in his face, “Don’t you mother me. She challenged me.” I glowered, “How disrespectful to your son and Alpha to point a finger in his face in such a challenging way. It would be a shame if that got back to the packs around the area. From what my brother told me it’s shameful to point your finger in an Alpha’s face like that. If I know that, I’ll bet pack members do.” I winked at Exsis who snickered. The fairies would make sure people knew.

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