Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Five

Cassidy wasn't going to have it. “How am I supposed to believe that?! You left me… you betrayed me and joined… HIM!” she snarled her words, anger building and rising so fast, her wolf so angry and hurt by Jett. “You could have gotten free and ran away… you could have just straight up abandoned me, BUT NO! You joined that bastard!”

“Cass.. Its.. It isn't what you think. I didn't have a choice!” Jett said in a hushed voice, but it was the wrong thing to say. Cassidy came at him full on with a scream full of anger, he ducking his head to try and protect himself. Jett had orders, he could talk, but he was not allowed to touch her. He could not help her. They were direct orders from the alpha and he agreed to them to be able to see Cassidy at all. He was expecting an angry she-wolf colliding with him, but he heard the scream cut off with an ‘ooof’ of a sound.

The wolf inside of Cassidy was battling the human side of the mind, taking over and ramping up the aggression with each word Cassidy spoke. She backed Jett into the corner and had planned on reminding him just who his alpha was when a solid arm snaked around her from behind and she found herself easily tossed up against the wall, a warm, hard and large body pressing up against her back and pinning her. The scent that surrounded her was all alpha. Now that Cassidy had her wolf, her nose could detect the slightest signatures in the smell. Fresh, clean with a hint of pine and cloves. She took a deep breath an felt her knees weaken as the Alpha nuzzled into her chestnut hair and growled lowly against her ear. “This is no way to treat the man who saved your life.”

When Cassidy seemed to calm down a little, James lifted his head and glared at Jett, the expression on his face enough to get the other male up and scrambling to get out of the room, shutting the door and leaving the two of them alone. “Now, Miss Roan, If you can behave yourself and calm down, I would like to have a civil conversation with you and at the end of it all, you will have a choice to stay or you will be free to leave. No tricks… No fighting.” James said quietly to her and when there was no response from her after a few seconds, he lowered his head again against her ear. “Or… you and I can go back to the prison and I can try to get some answers from you again…” he suggested in a gruff tone.

Cassidy’s mouth went dry when James spoke, his chest rumbling against her back. She didn't have nearly as much anger towards him as she had before the fight. She was aware she submitted when she gave up, and she would let him have that win for now until she was strong enough to truly challenge him on fair grounds, not running for her life after fighting her way through hell. But the promise of being able to leave? That had her attention. She was weighing her options in her mind when he crowded against her again and his breath teased her hair, reminding her what he had done to her in the lowest floor of the prison. “No!” she said quickly, earning a chuckle from the alpha before he moved off of her.

James moved away and Cassidy didn't move from the wall at first, willing the heat in her face to cool down before she faced the man. She heard him pick up something from the floor and turned her head to look at him and almost regretted it because the sight of the Alpha took her breath away. He was standing next to the door in a well tailored charcoal Grey business suit. The tie was missing and his black shirt had been unbuttoned from his neck. She could only imagine him as he was the few times she had seen him before, but this was a pleasant surprise. He looked almost civilized. In his hand, the item he had thrown to the floor when he had come in after hearing her gearing up to attack Jett, was a small bundle of wildflower tied with a ribbon. When James noticed she looking at the flower, he cleared his throat a little and motioned to the bed. “The children wanted you to have these. Sit.” He said rather gruffly, waiting for her to move before he followed and took a seat in the chair once she was settled back in the bed.

Cassidy looked a little wary of James, but there was no aggression from him or animosity. If anything, his threats had been playful and he was gentle with her when he pinned her against the wall. She went around the bed and slipped back on top of it. She had been dressed in soft shorts and a teeshirt at some point by who she didn't know, but she pulled the blankets up over her lap as she sat cross legged and faced him. Once she was sitting, the alpha set the flowers on the bed in front of her before he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

“Listen… Miss Roan…” he started and then looked up at her with a small frown on his face and a guilty look in his eyes. “We started out on the wrong foot. I want to apologize for the behavior of my men and my own behavior. We were wrong in what we had done from the very beginning. We had been under almost nightly hits by rogues when you came in to town and stopped at Rosie's we jumped to conclusions and I didn't want to admit that I had been wrong. I was wrong. I let my anger and hatred towards rogues blind me to innocent lives… blind me from seeing who was really in front of me.” James said and ran a hand through his black hair as he sat back up and leaned back in the chair. “I'm not looking for your forgiveness. I don't deserve that, but I would like to make it up to you if you would let me. You have the option to leave. The pack doctor gave you clearance… But I would like you to stay. At least for awhile to regain your strength. I owe you at least that much. What do you say?”

Cassidy had sat and listened carefully to James as he gave her a true, heartfelt apology. One she wasn't sure she would have gotten anywhere but in this private recovery room. Her wolf that was a part of her every thought in her mind now, was excited and happy and jumping for joy that James had apologized to her, that he was sorry, that he was wanting her to stay. It took a lot of control to keep that joy and excitement under a tight lid. She chewed her lower lip for a moment, looking over the man that looked like he was ready to jump out of his seat for an answer from her. “I want a few days to think about it.” She said quietly.

Jame’s expression fell a little. He and his wolf had been hoping she would have said yes. Said she forgave him for being stupid. But it wasn't a no, so there was still hope! “That is fair. You do have a lot to think over. If you are willing, as my guest, would you accept a room at the pack house for the time being?” he asked and let out a little breath of relief when Cassidy nodded. “Perfect.” James said and smiled bright and wide, a dimple forming in his right cheek. He stood up, unable to sit still any longer with excitement rushing through him at her giving him a chance. “I will send someone to bring you to the pack house in about an hour. Anything you want or need, just ask for it and it is yours.” He said and headed towards the door, pausing when Cassidy called out to him.

“Alpha Black?” she called softly from the bed and when he looked back at her, she bowed her head just a little. “I know it was within your right to kill me. I am grateful you didn't.” She said and looked back up at him. “But I wont tolerate what you did to me to be done again. If you trust anything of what Jett has said enough to accept him into your tribe, Then you know who and what I am. If I decide to leave, I will go free or I will tear everything in this forest apart. I will not go back into those chains or that kennel. Am I clear Alpha Black?” she said boldly, holding eye contact with James as she said her peace.

“Crystal clear Alpha Roan. Fresh start, remember?” he reminded her with a smile that he suddenly dropped as he opened the door. “Just don't make me regret putting my trust in you and Jett.” He stated before he walked out without another word.