I admitted, “I was still asking her even if you said no. I just respect that she was raised in this realm where a man asks for a father’s blessing.” Eric snorted, “It’s permission that’s asked for.” I shrugged, “I know that, but I was going for your blessing. Permission is silly since I have Cassie’s. Her opinion is whose matters most to me.” Eric laughed, “I noticed the difference. I still appreciate you coming as it is not a custom with the Hackura.” I nodded quickly and left, not wanting Cass to realize I was gone.
The next week passed by quickly as all my plans came together. Aiylee and Beagan were even helping. Both were beyond excited I’d asked them. Everything had lined up perfectly until we had someone get sick. That meant Cassie was going on a mission today to meet with a source, but when she came back, I was proposing. It was a slight alteration to the plan, but it was happening today. I had a meeting with Micah later, but after that I was in proposal planning mode.
My dad was going to bring the ring by my office after I came back over here since I was about to head out and see Cassie. She came to me instead. After she left, I did a few more pieces of paperwork to distract myself because my mate was out in the field.
Micah came in and sat down. I greeted, “Hey…” Before I could continue my office door burst back open. Jed, looking disheveled and pale, charged in. He was sick so I had no idea what he was doing here. I greeted, “Jed?” He closed the door, “I don’t…” He trailed off, “I think…” He paused again, “Aesir, forgive me. I don’t know what to think anymore but I….” He stalled again.
I raised an eyebrow, “Jed, spit it out.” Jed questioned, “Where’s Cassie? I went by your house, but I couldn't find her.” Micah jumped in, “Do you live under a rock? She’s meeting with a source today. Everyone knows that because Cayden’s been grumpy about it.” I argued, “I have not!” Micah simply shot me a look. Maybe I had, but I wanted to propose.
Jed’s eyes widened, “What source?” Micah linked, “Damn. He might need to see a doctor if he’s so sick he doesn’t remember it’s his source.” I agreed with that assessment, but we rarely got sick. He’d gotten food poisoning which was still rare but it happened.
I gently replied, “Yours, Jed. You emailed that you didn’t feel good and couldn’t make it. I can see why, since you clearly aren’t sleeping even though your email said you had food poisoning. I think we need to send you to the hospital for evaluation.”
Jed paled insisting, “I didn’t email you, Cayden. I think…” Micah’s phone rang interrupting him. He smiled and flipped it around so I could see it. It was Ashley. I ordered, “Jed, give us a second. We can discuss an evaluation later. Just so you know Cass feels fine in our connection.” Jed frowned, “Ok, but I still didn’t email you.” I responded, “It clearly came from your email address, and you signed the email.” He walked outside.
Micah answered the call, “Hello, little source of mine.” I heard wheezing. I was standing in a split second. I knew she was hurt and the need to get to her was high. Micah asked, “Ashley, are you hurt?” She gasped for breath, “Not… important… Cassie… trap….” My heart felt like it was tightening in my chest. She continued, “Cora…. Ring…. save… her….” It somehow felt like I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and like my heart had stopped at the same time. We heard, “HEY! Where did you get a phone?!” The line went dead. I sent a warning through all my bonds.
Micah looked at me stunned. I ordered, “Call Max NOW!” Micah said, “We have to get to Ashley too.” I agreed, “Call your dad and have him track her phone and see if he can get to her. You can go to him once the Conners are aware of this situation with Cass. I’d come but I have to go save my mate.” I literally ripped the door open off my office by the hinges.
My dad had just walked into the gym and stalled. He must have been coming because of my feelings. Everyone stared at me in shock as I threw my door away. I spotted Cora and ran over to her and slammed her into the wall. No one said a word.
I shouted, “DID YOU SELL CASSIE OUT TO THE FUCKING RING?!” She looked to her left looking for someone to defend her. When they didn’t, she grasped at my hand trying to loosen it. That wouldn’t happen.
She stammered, “NO! I didn’t do anything wrong.” I slammed her down onto the ground knowing she was lying. I put a finger in her face, “I know when you are lying. I’ll kill you for this. If she’s not ok you will…” I trailed off shaking with rage. I shouted, “She HAS to be ok.” I left it unsaid what I was going to do to Cora. Cassie had to be ok.
Micah ran out of my office saying, “The Conners know now. I’m tracking Cassie’s phone as we speak.” I realized, “I don’t need it. I know where she is.” I opened a portal and ordered, “EVERYONE ON ME!” I glanced at my dad, “DAD, GET THAT PIECE OF SHIT TO THE GODDAMN DUNGEONS!”
Cassie pulled me to her with everything she had in our connection. My dad already had Cora. He urged, “Go get my daughter in law, Cayden.” I ran through the portal and saw Cassie fighting with her swords. She was seriously outnumbered but holding her own.
I’d never been more relieved to hear pops sounding all around me. Haley, Eric, Alexander, EJ, Elise, Wesley, and Max were here. Multiple shots rang out around us. Some from a distance but several up close.
When pain hit the bond, I looked across the field in horror knowing Cassie had been shot. I could see her blood. I nearly threw up. A sniper shot the man who’d shot Cassie, right in the heart. I told Hendrix, “If he doesn't die, you get him back to our realm for me!” Hendrix nodded.
Haley popped to Cassie. Cassie’s eyes and our bond told me she desperately wanted me. Her eyes closed and my heart broke when I realized she was trying to pop. She couldn’t, which meant must have taken on iron.
Haley gently touched Cassie’s back and popped her into my arms. No one loved my mother in law more than I did at this exact moment. She could’ve taken her to multiple realms for safety but she brought her to me instead. Haley popped us to the Hackura realm.
Cassie started to cry, which opened up my own floodgates. I told her, “Your mom’s going to fix you, Cass. Just hang on.” Alexander popped in, then he and Haley healed her. I couldn’t relax while they did it. I just waited for her to open her beautiful eyes.
Haley and Alexander stepped back, but her eyes were still closed. I panicked, “Why isn’t she awake?” Alexander said, “It will take her a second. She was probably delirious after being poisoned with both silver and iron. They were prepared for her.” Haley was petting Cassie’s hair.
I took her hand in mine, staring at her, waiting for her beautiful eyes to open. Alexander asked me, “How did you get snipers there so fast?” I looked at him in surprise. “I didn't. I thought you guys did.” Alexander cursed, “Motherfucker! The circle group came.” He got out his phone to call his brothers.
I focused back on Cassie and was rewarded when her eyes fluttered open. I held her tight, “Cass.” She whispered, “I knew you’d come get me.” I assured her, “I’ll always come for you.” She rubbed her face, “What happened? The source said something then he began to seize. I think someone poisoned him.”
My jaw tightened, “Cora sold you out. Which she’s going to pay for.” Cassie argued, “She’s mine to make pay. You all can do your thing, but I WILL kill her ass.” Haley beamed, boasting, “That’s my girl.” Alexander hung up the phone and announced, “The sniper left a blue circle with a line through it on atree.” I knew that wasn’t the proof I wanted on Ashley, but it was circumstantial evidence that she was a part of the circle group. I texted Micah.
Me:Anything on Ashley?
Micah:I’m meeting her in an hour.
Well, that was something. The doctor came in and the Cambridge’s filtered inside. Cassie asked, “Can’t I leave? I was healed.” Her doctor scanned her with our tools. She hummed, “I’m running some bloodwork. Then you can go. You do appear to be fine now though.” Everyone in the room knew why her doctor didn’t release her now. She knew if anything was wrong with her and she didn’t catch it, then she’d be in a world of pain.
Micah appeared in the doorway and motioned me outside. I kissed Cassie’s hand, “I’ll be right back.” She nodded. I walked out and we walked into an office that was soundproofed. I asked, “Well?” Micah frowned, “She got in a serious fight and was hurt pretty bad. She told me I should see the other guy.” I waited, knowing he had more.
He told me, “I checked local hospitals, human and supernatural. I’m pretty sure I found the other guy in a supernatural hospital. He’s in a coma. I asked around, but most wouldn’t say much. They did say he did get in a fight with someone. He was twice her size and had a little Alpha blood. Not a lot but I didn’t find a pack that has him registered as a member. He’s no rogue no.”
I frowned thinking over everything. None of it made sense. I asked, “How did she know about Cora selling out Cassie from a Werewolf fight?” Micah explained, “She said she overheard it after the fight. I have people watching the guy, but I don’t think he’s going to wake up.”
