Cassie answered, “No. You were in pain before you popped anywhere so this isn’t your fault. Dad, could the wolf have died?” Eric frowned, “It’s not likely. No wolf besides someone from this pack should be able to link Oden unless they’d met. Which means Oden would’ve recognized the voice. New wolf or not, there’s just no one else who could do that. I’ll reach out around the pack, but we don’t have a pup with a birthday tonight. I’ll figure this out.”
Cassie held onto Alexander tightly and he hugged her back. Eric and Uncle Bjourn were clearly having a conversation over link. Eric’s phone rang and he stepped away. When he walked back over to the group, he was beyond pissed.
I asked, “What’s wrong?” Eric sighed, “My guy only followed Melanie to the airport. That was all I had him doing today. I just wanted him to make sure she got to the goddamn airport. He’s going to get eyes on her as soon as he can, but he hasn’t seen her wolf yet. He doesn’t know who she is and for some reason he’s not allowed on their pack lands. I have him set up with a different pack because they were acting weird about him checking in with theirs. He’ll call tomorrow with news. He went down too and was trying to check on her.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Alexander said she called Drake.” Eric nodded, “I am aware. I want eyes on her anyway.” He was looking at Alexander when he said it, so I nodded. That meant Eric also believed Melanie was Alexander’s. I didn’t officially know that, but this was making it obvious. Cassie had never told me, but I’d picked up subtle things from conversations here and there. Eric had to believe that too.
Uncle Bjourn warned, “Haley is unsettled by this.” Eric snorted, “She’s going to be for a while, and I will too. All of our pups went down. We were all in the gym except EJ and Cassie. Alexander….” His voice cut out and his eyes filled with tears.
He wiped his eyes and continued, “Alexander went down in a heap. Haley was screaming that there was nothing wrong with him. She was cursing Witch Bitches and Warlock Warts. She demanded someone find out how a goddamn Witch or Warlock got in here without the super noses noticing. She wanted the Witch brought to her because she had plans. Then we all went down.”
He winced, “Haley’s panic and terror was so strong at that moment, I felt it stronger than the pain. Our other pups popped to their friends in the packhouse. Then Alexander popped away. She’s reeling and I don’t blame her. She saw it all happen, and she could do nothing to help us.”Alexander said, “Fuck. As a healer, that’s rough. Poor mom. I’m going to go see her.” He popped away.
I grabbed Cassie before she could too. I linked her, “I can’t let you out of my sight right now. I just can’t. I know you want to pop with him, but you will have to take me with you.” Her scream was still ringing in my ears. She frowned but nodded.
Out loud I said, “We can spend the night here if you want to be closer to your family.” Eric shot me a grateful look. Cassie kissed me lightly and whispered, “Thank you, Cayden.” It was literally the least I could do.Tory and Gia came over to her with wide fearful eyes with their families hovering behind them.
Jed was following her around with golden blazing eyes. I raised an eyebrow at him, but he didn’t notice because he only had eyes for Gia. Were they mates? I linked my Uncle Bjourn, “The fuck is up with him?” He snorted, “He’s besotted. It’s not on my list of problems right now.” Fair enough.
In the end, most of Cassie’s uncles ended up staying. Even Titus stayed. Uncle Bjourn had to go back, but he had a long talk with Alexander first. I couldn’t hear them, but Alexander’s frustration was palpable.
Everyone managed to crack a smile when we realized someone had told Haley what a slumber party was. Eric’s brothers, their mates, their children, and all of Cassie’s siblings were on mattresses in the living room.
Uncle Bjourn tried to tell her that we should be in sleeping bags. She went on and on about how bad that would be for everyone’s back. She was appalled humans did that since their bone structure wasn’t as strong as ours.
In the end, the main room was cleared of furniture, and we all had mattresses. I pulled Cassie as close to me as I could. Her scream of pain was still ringing in my ears.I didn’t know what would make it stop, but I was tired of seeing my mate in pain. I vowed to make sure it stopped happening.
End of Flashback
I shook the memories off from that day and pulled her closer to me in bed. That wasn’t today. It had never happened again, whatever it was. When I woke up, I could feel Cassie’s eyes on me and her brain going. It was too early, and I’d come to bed too late for her to be thinking so much right now. We teased each other to start our day. I didn’t know how I got so lucky. I had the most beautiful, powerful, precious mate around.
She’d been secretive about her bachelorette party. She was being evasive. Something that ALL the women in the realm had been about this party. It was oddly unsettling. I’m certain it ended with sexy fun times because my mother in law was involved. If I knew one thing about Haley Conners, it was that her parties ended with passionate sex.
We lost ourselves in each other. I lost time when I was with Cassie this way. I was completely consumed by her and us being together. I was not done having my mate to myself when someone banged on my door.
Whoever it was, they’d better be dying. I gently pulled out of Cassie and walked to our front door. I yanked it open, already yelling. Banging on my door when you could full well hear EXACTLY what’s happening inside was a bold move.
I raised an eyebrow at the young man on the doorstep. He wasn’t from this part of the realm. What the fuck was he doing here? He looked nervous so I slammed the door in his face. I could see that he was perfectly fine.
Honestly, Hendrix would’ve been the one at the door if it was actually important. No one else wanted to interrupt Cassie and me at this moment. An angry Commander was not good for anyone. I quickly followed my mate into the shower and continued doing exactly what I’d intended before, giving Cassie more pleasure. |
Once we were both satisfied, we got out of the shower. Cassie snapped us breakfast and I grabbed us some orange juice. To my surprise, she joined me after we ate. We walked over to the gym together. The second we walked in my dad walked up to us smirking.
Cassie excused herself and my dad walked into my office. He smiled teasing, “So, you slammed the door in a young man’s face today, did you?” I raised an eyebrow, “And he went crying to you? As the Earthly realm would say, ‘that’s two strikes. One more and he’s outta here.’ He didn’t even say why he was there.”
My dad laughed, “He didn’t come running to me. He just came back because he had already been at our house.” I frowned, “Why?” My dad explained, “He was sent to get you to bring you back to our house.” I questioned, “Is everything ok?” My dad nodded, “Yes, it is. Aubrielle found her mate.” Her feelings in the bond, now that I checked, were quite blissful.
I sighed, “You’re going to tell me it’s the guy I slammed the door on.” My dad laughed, “No, it’s his brother.” I nodded, “Ok. Why did Aubrielle’s mate bring his brother to his mate’s house?” My dad answered, “Aubrielle portaled to a spot her friends told her about. Both her mate and his brother were there. Aubrielle insisted they both come back to meet everyone.”
I shrugged, “He should’ve sent Aubrielle or Tenley then. Who decided to send a man I’d never met? I mean I do know him, but I’ve never met him.” My dad laughed, “I said something similar. Your sister wants you to come say hi to her mate.” I agreed, “Sure.”
I was going to grab Cass, but she was already gone. Hendrix called over to me, “She and Alexander popped out.” I nodded and walked out with my dad. I walked into my parents’ home with him. The nervous man from the door avoided my gaze.
Aubrielle squealed, “CAYDEN, I met my mate! This is Wren.” I nodded because I knew him. He was the oldest son of a Lord of the realm. I shook his hand, “Make my sister happy.” Aubrielle rolled her eyes. Wren smiled, “I plan to.”
Aubrielle asked, “Where’s Cassie?” The bond told me she wanted her to diffuse the tension. I answered, “She’s talking to Alexander. You can tell her at her bachelor party.” I felt my sister’s guilt in the bond. I realized, “You’re not going to her bachelorette party anymore, are you?”
Aubrielle’s smile fell, “Will she be mad? Wren and I want to spend some alone time together before your wedding this week.” I assured her, “She won’t be mad. Cass will be happy for you. Besides, you can introduce her to him at the reception.”
