Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cassidy had made herself a sandwich with the pulled barbecue that James suggested. It was the best pulled pork she had ever had and enjoyed every last bite of it, washing it down with a glass of water before she left the pack house. It was already late afternoon and she wanted to get a good layout of the little town that seemed to be created along the road that passed by the front of the Packhouse. To the left is where she had come from. The rehabilitation house, the hospital she assumed and a school with a large playground across the road. She had seen office buildings and then odds and ends little shops. So far, the little town had a village charm with its small community that took care of the land with care. Since she had come from the left, Cassidy decided to turn right and explore the larger looking section of the town.

She was very aware of the people she passed and the stares they were giving her. The whispers behind her back of who she was, what she might be and how she killed the rogues. The older she-wolves looked to her with a wary curiosity and most of the women who her age had sneered and passed along the rumors Jennifer had started. There were a few however that had come forward and introduced themselves and welcomed Cassidy to the pack with open arms. Cassidy was not a very social person herself and she would find one excuse or another to end the conversations by the she-wolves who proved to be fairy talkative.

The right side of the Pack’s town was filled with homes. Several streets branched off into apartments two or three stories high and then single homes that were more out into the woods. There was a small grocery store and a gym another playground for children and a daycare. Everything was clean and very well taken care of and the pack generally seemed happy as they were coming home from school and work and just living normal lives.

“It is a little different than what you probably remember from home, isn't it?” Jett said from behind her, startling Cassidy.

Cassidy turned around quickly at the sound of Jett's voice, a happy smile on her face to see him but that quickly turned into a scowl and a huff before she turned back and started to walk off away from him rather quickly. “Go to hell Jett. I don't want to talk to you or even look at you!” she snapped and kept walking until Jett jogged around her to stop her from running off from him.

Jett looked around, making sure there was no James Black in the area. He was told to stay away from Cassidy, but as her guardian for so many years and her unofficial beta, he had an obligation to her to at least try and explain himself. “Cass, please listen to me? I have done everything in my power to protect you all these years…” he said and moved in front of her to block her path when she tried to step around him. “I'm sorry Cassidy. I lied to you… I know. But I needed to get them to accept me. It was the only way I could think of to try and get you free. It was the last option. I couldn't let you know, they had cameras everywhere. Please understand Cassidy, I didn't abandon you.” He said, finally stopping when she had stopped and glared up at him. She was trying to look angry, but Jett could see the hurt in her eyes and that did nothing but just push the guilt he felt even further.

Cassidy wanted to be angry with Jett. She wanted to hate him. Seeing him earlier in the day had set her temper off when he had said he joined the BlackStone pack, but after she had a few hours to calm down and really think about everything she truly could not blame him for the choices he had made. She was sure if they were doing to her what they had been doing to Jett, she would have finally given in and taken the offer to join the pack too. The feeling of abandonment however, still hurt. Cassidy felt like she had lost any trust she had in him. With a low growl, she pushed past him, but not in the aggressive confrontational way she had been before. “It is different…” she said and glanced back at him, waiting for him to catch up with her so they could walk together, putting aside the anger and hurt for now. She wasn't ready to forgive him, but she would acknowledge that he was sorry for what he had done.

Jett was prepared for Cassidy to attack him again and when she didn't, his shoulders relaxed and he let out a sigh of relief. He caught up with her and walked next to her as they moved down the street, accepting the compromise she was offering. “This pack is nearly three times as big as Wildwoods ever was. Maybe a fourth of the wolves live here close to the pack house. Most live in that little town we stopped at so they can commute to their work easier. It is quite impressive really. The alpha provides for everyone. Hell, even me.” He said and pointed over to a little three story apartment complex off the main road. “Ive got my own place. I'm in training to be one of the guards since the beta position is already taken.” He joked with a little grin before looking down at Cassidy who seemed deep in thought, giving her a little nudge with his elbow. “You okay Cassi?”

“Hm?” Cassidy looked up at Jett when he asked if she was okay and blinked, her brows coming together. “Yes, I'm fine. Sorry… It is a lot to take in really. I mean, we had a plan you and I. Seattle and all that. We have been running together for years and suddenly, you are in another pack now and seem just fine and happy about it. I don't think I will be able to stay here Jett… It feels like… I am being disloyal to grandfather and mom and dad.” She admitted quietly to him, crossing her arms to hug herself for comfort. “Dont you feel it?”

Jett frowned a little and sighed, reaching for Cassidy’s arm and pulling her to a stop. “If I am being honest with you Cassidy… No. I don't feel guilt or disloyalty at all. Even to you. You are like a daughter to me and I want the best for you but I cant feel loyalty for something that doesn't exist anymore. Your grandfather tried to keep the pack together out of duty, but even he knew it was a lost cause. You cannot be disloyal to a memory Cassidy. I learned long ago when my mate died, that you have to move on at some point.” He said and looked up from Cassidy when there was a soft clearing of a throat from behind him, he turning to move out of the way.

Cassidy was listening to Jett, taking his words in and his advice. She just wasn't sure that she could move on like he had. She had clung to the idea that they were their own little pack for so long, she wasn't sure she could accept anything else. When Jett moved out of the middle of the side walk, Cassidy was brought face to face with three of the pack members and she lost her words for a moment, her jaw dropping. A few yards away was a tall and proud woman. Aged elegantly for her years with pale blonde hair streaked with silver that fell in waves to her shoulders. Kind dark green eyes looked Cassidy over as the younger she-wolf looked on in shock at not the woman, but the two men accompanying her, one on each side.

Both the men were almost near exact copies of James. Not quite as tall and not quite as muscled, but they were exact copies none the less. One was grinning like a Cheshire cat and the other was stone faced like he was trying to figure out what was going on.

There was silence between all of them for a few seconds before Jett chuckled, realizing why Cassidy looked in shock. “Cassidy Roan, This is the Alpha’s Mother Mrs. Black, and The alpha’s younger brothers. Max…” he motioned to the one that had shown little emotion on his face. “And you have already met Hunter.” He said, nodding to the grinning triplet but stepped away when the alphas mother came forward in a rush.

Macy Black had been starting to worry for her son. She had heard all the rumors about the ‘wild rogue’ female that was her oldest child’s supposed mate. Alaric had filled Jame’s father in on the details but the man shared only bullet points with Macy when it came to things like that. To see this new face, not wild at all and looking more like a child that was in need of an ally, brought a wave of relief to the older wolf. “Call me Macy. I insist! That goes for you too Jett!” she softly scolded Jett as she came forward and took both of Cassidy’s hands. “Let me have a look at the She-wolf everyone says is going to ruin my son…” she teased in a happy tone, stepping back and doing a quick glance over of Cassidy before she quickly wrapped the girl up in a hug. “You are perfect! My boy needs his life shaken up a little.” She said before letting go of Cassidy but hooked her arm with the girl instead. She gave the three men a little motherly glare. “Dont you boys have practice to get to?” she asked in a cool tone.

“Yes mother.” Both Hunter and Max said at the same time with a bit of a groan, Jett confirming as well.

“I will talk to you later.” Jett said before he quickly caught up to the two brothers, the three heading towards the forest where the training was held.

Cassidy felt a little bit of a panic when Jett left her with the alpha’s mother like that. Macy Black seemed very welcoming and nice, but she was an intense personality. “Its Nice to meet you Macy… But I have no plans on ruining anyone while I'm here.” She said defensively and the elder woman laughed brightly, giving Cassidy’s arm a little squeeze.

“Well if you aren't here to ruin James, tell me, How many grand babies can I expect?” Macy asked with a not so innocent grin.

Cassidy stopped in her tracks with a shocked look on her face.

“W-what?!”