I knew that answer, she was angry. I would be too if I didn’t get a wolf. I had a parent who wasn’t a wolf, and I’d had Rain since birth. Her mom was a Warrior, from a Warrior bloodline. She should have awolf even IF her dad wasn’t who she thought it was. That was bullshit though. I could feel it. They were lying to her. But why? So she wouldn’t go home to Missouri?
Aiylee popped to me smiling. Max smiled, “I think that’s my cue to leave.” I smiled, “See you later Max.” He hugged me and whispered, “I’m happy for you, big sister. Cayden is a good guy.” I agreed, “He’s one of the best.” Max popped away.
Aiylee clapped, “Ok. I’m weirdly excited about the first part of your party. Which tells me I come to see you and Bea a lot. So, come on. Everything’s all set up. Tory was on another level of perfection today.” I grinned, “It’s the Beta blood.”
I snapped myself into a pair of jeans and boots, and a leather cape that fully covered me, lined with fur. I grabbed Aiylee’s hands and popped her to the stage. Cora was bound and waiting. I linked Tory, “Everything is just right.” She replied, “Of course it is.” She was the best Beta a woman could ask for.
Rain snarked, “Cora has seen better days.” Everyone had let her know that her behavior wasn’t acceptable while she’d been kept in the dungeons. My mind flashed to the moment I heard the truth of all her actions.
Flashback
Cassie stared at Cayden. I knew my eyes were blazing and Rain was furious. I asked, “I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Cayden rubbed the back of his head, “Cora admitted she worked with people to keep us apart. There was magic placed on me when I was child. It’s all a mess.” I stared at him for ten seconds before I bolted out the door. He yelled, “CASS!” I popped to the dungeons.
I screamed, “YOU BITCH!” I tackled her onto the ground. She screamed, “Stop! I’m sorry.” I shouted, “YOU’RE SORRY?! You were a bully and bitch to me, but you hurt him! I was already pissed at you for cheating on him. YOU LITERALLY USED MAGIC ON HIM! THAT’S TREASON!” I punched her in the face.
She cried, “I just wanted him to be mine.” I grabbed her, “Did you know Claudzilla?” My Uncle Histeck put a hand on me. She stammered, “I was just a kid.” I screamed, “DID YOU KNOW HER?” I hit her again. She said, “She was friends with my aunt…” I slammed her head into the ground.
I was ripped off her and screamed. My Uncle said, “Cass, you don’t want her to die here. I know your plan.” Rain’s voice mixed with mine, “SHE HURT MY MATE!” My dad’s voice rang out, “PUP.” I snapped my head to his. I saw the hurt on his face and knew it was because I was hurt.
He took me from my uncle’s arms and carried me outside. He linked, “Pop us somewhere.” I popped him to the pond by my house. He put me down. I growled, “She needs to pay!” He agreed, “Of course.” I snarled, “Then let me make her pay.”
He said, “You will. The way you want to and have planned. If I thought letting you kill her down there was something that would make you happy, I would’ve told your uncle to let you go. You’ve just never been that way. Impulsivity isn’t you. You plan and you’re methodical. Sometimes quite sneakily.” I chuckled.
I admitted, “I hate her and want her to die.” He nodded, “She will but she doesn’t deserve to go easily. She should suffer until you decide she’s done.” I winced, “She’s probably not even mine anymore.” My dad replied, “Cayden was adamant Cora was yours. So, your mom worked that out and it wasn’t hard. Anyone named Cambridge and Crawford are pissed off about what she did, but everyone agreed she is yours to do with as you see fit.”
I stared at him with tears in my eyes, “She hurt him.” He kissed the top of my head, “I know that, and I hate that it hurts you. You need to let Rain out. Let me help the Alpha side of you then Cayden can take over for the other sides.” I asked, “Is mom coming?” He answered, “Probably tomorrow after Cayden talks to you.” Cayden and I were so not talking. I was going to claim him.
Rain growled, “Claim him outside her cell.” I liked that idea a lot. I shifted with my dad, and we took off running. Thor let Rain take the lead and ran until she stopped and stared at her reflection in a different lake. Thor nuzzled Rain and shifted back to hold her. She let loose a whine.
He soothed, “I know, Rain. I know. You are an Alpha wolf and when your mate gets hurt it hits at the core of you. You did nothing wrong, and you’ll avenge what happened to him.” That did make me feel better. I shifted back and snapped myself clothes and crawled into his lap and cried.
I said, “I should’ve thought it was weird we didn’t meet.” He sighed, “It seemed like a weird string of events.” I asked, “Did you think it was something?” He admitted, “Yes, but I couldn’t find anything off about it. Missions have risks and nothing they went through showed any mistakes.” He held me tight. He promised, “Nothing like this will happen again. Ok?” I nodded.
He told me, “Now, pop us to Cayden.” I popped and realized that I didn’t even go that far. Aaron, Ashlyn, and Cayden were together. My dad said, “She needs you now.” Cayden grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.
He linked, “Pop us away.” I knew exactly where we were going to. I wondered if he did. Because we were going to be on a mattress outside that bitch’s cell until she cried and screamed herself hoarse.Then reeking of Cayden I was going to pummel that bitch near death. I might have to Alexander moderately heal her so she didn’t die, but I was going to beat her ass.
Flashback Ends
I came back to the present noting that Cora’s eyes were rimmed red. She looked at me, “Please, Cassie, have mercy. I’m sorry.” I snorted and looked into her eyes, “Are you actually sorry? Or do you just not want to die?” Rain growled, “Yes, make her admit to the truth to all those that are here.” I teased her, “That’s the plan.”
Cora immediately answered, “I don’t want to die, and I still hate you. You took Cayden from me. It was all planned out and you ruined it by popping in unscheduled.” Rain snarled in my head. I took my elbow to her cheek and heard the satisfying crunch of it breaking.Gia scoffed, “What a fucking bitch.” I snorted, “You got my southern Gamma out of her bless her heart saying. That’s truly evil.”
I lifted her head, forcing Cora’s to meet my eyes. I growled, “For the last time CAYDEN IS MINE! I didn’t take him from you. You used magic to get him then you fucked someone else. YOU CHEATED ON HIM! Even if you were together when I met him, I’M his MATE! He will ALWAYS pick me.” She just cried instead of replying.
I turned to face the crowd that was gathered. I spoke in Latin, “Haec mulier magnam in me personam deliquit. Adversus contubernalem, imperatorem nostrum. Prodidit populum nostrum, et adhuc non ostendit conscientiam actionis suae (This woman has committed a great offense against me personally. Against my mate, our Commander. She betrayed our people, and still shows no remorse for her actions).”
The crowd booed. I caught Cayden’s family’s eyes in the crowd then spotted my parents too. My mom was smirking, and I could feel her pride.Tory and Gia held up their drinks in a toast to me. Gia was already dancing by herself.
I continued my speech, “Hoc nunc audi. Cayden Crawford MEA EST. Quod meum est, non potes venire et vivere. fors fors dedit Corae. Plane eam verberavi in torneamento meo, et adhuc me prodere conabatur. Non opus est. NUMQUAM operari. Dicam illud CAYDEN MEUS est (Hear this now. Cayden Crawford IS MINE. You CANNOT come for what is mine and live. I gave Cora chance after chance. I beat her fairly in my tournament and she still tried to betray me. It didn't work. It will NEVER work. I will say it again CAYDEN IS MINE)!”
Most cheered. I turned to Cora and spoke, “Ego, Ducissa Cassie Conners mox esse sententiam Crawfordiae te necem pro coniugem meam auferre conaris. Conaris enim me in anulos habere. (I, Duchess Cassie Conners soon to be Crawford sentence you to death for trying to take my mate. For trying to have me put into the Ring).”
Cora started to plead, “Please have mercy. Please! I have suffered these last two years! It’s enough!” I laughed, “Enough? You wanted me enslaved, experimented on, and raped. You want what is MINE. You used magic against the Commander of the Army as a child. You committed treason!” She sobbed some more.
Rain groaned, “This is getting old.” I agreed. I told Cora, “Don’t worry though, I have plans for you to serve as a reminder to those that come after you. They will know exactly what happens when you stand against me. When people forget that Cayden is mine, a piece of you will remind them to disregard the idea to come at him.” Cora’s eyes widened in fright.
I let my hand partially shift into a claw, then slashed her chest open. She cried in anguish and the small piece of me that felt bad for her flickered. She could’ve had such a different life if she’d never tried to mess with fate, but that part faded when I remembered she took advantage of my mate.
