Chapter 33: Thirty Three

Cassidy looked up at James when he said they needed to talk. Those were never good words to hear and she steeled herself against what was possibly going to be said from him. James stepped up closer to her and she looked upwards at him with a questioning, almost wary look on her face. “About what? If it is about what happened back outside my bedroom… I already told you it is okay.” She told him in a patient tone.

“No. This isn't about that. Or Jennifer. She was a fool to think she could set her sights on me. I told her straight out I wanted nothing more from her than company when she and I…” he stopped talking and frowned a little as he shook his head and took his hand from her arm. He had rehearsed over and over in his head what he would say to her once he found her. He had prepared himself to have to hunt her down and didn't expect her to have just fallen asleep so close to home. James rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the dusky sky for a moment as he got control of himself. “Its… About me. Also about you.” He said and looked back down at her, nodding his head towards the pack house before he started to walk, making sure Cassidy was coming with him before he continued. “My wolf has been driving me absolutely insane since I first met you in the prison. I was stubborn… well, I am stubborn. I don't see that changing any time soon. I didn't listen to my intuition or my wolf and I royally fucked things up with you.” He said and glanced over at her, judging her expression for a moment.

Cassidy was walking beside of him, arms behind her back and hands clasped together. She was quiet and looking up at James with her full attention. “You don't say…” she said sarcastically but offered him a teasing smile that earned her a little smirk from him. “Go on..”

James’ smirk faded a little when she asked him to continue and he looked forward with a sigh. “I… Really don't want you to leave Cassidy.” He said and stopped when she stopped next to him. James turned to face her, reaching up and cupping her face with his hands. “It was a mistake to reject you Cassidy. I'm sorry and I hope you will forgive my impulsive decisions. I don't want you to think you are rejected… I-”

Cassidy reached up and gripped the alpha’s wrists, pulling his hands away slowly from her face. There was a blush on her cheeks, her wolf howling in joy that James truly did want her and if she was being honest with herself, it excited her and gave her a sense of relief. “James.” She said in a soft but firm tone as she lifted her eyes up to his. “You already told me you are sorry. I accept that you no longer want to reject me and have come to your senses, but it is like you said this morning in the hospital room. A new start. A new beginning. Right?” she said and let go of his wrists, stepping back from him, her expressive eyes turning guarded. “You hurt me. Tortured me. Denied me. Starved me… you have a hell of a lot to make up for before you can get your hopes up.” She said quietly.

For a moment, James thought that Cassidy was going to tell him to fuck off but as she spoke he had a shine of hope in his eye and he grinned suddenly. “So you are saying I still have a chance?” he asked and when Cass nodded, he smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around Cassidy, hugging her tight as he lifted and spun her in a circle despite Cass’s shout of dismay. “You wont regret it Cassidy. I promise. I don't know how to make it up to you just yet… but I will do everything I can to make you happy and feel like you are wanted and belong.” He said in an excited tone as he set her back on her feet. He felt like a pup, so happy he could howl with it.

Taken back a little by the sudden outburst of excitement from the alpha, she had cried out in shock when he lifted and spun her around. She had gripped his upper arms tightly incase he dropped her and once she was back on her feet Cassidy was reluctant to remove her hands from his warm body. James’ smile was infectious and she smiled up at him before chuckling. “Alright Alpha BlackStone. You have your goal. The thing that will make me most happy right now is getting some dinner. I'm starving.” She said as she did step away from him and start walking back in the direction of the pack town.

James was ecstatic. He couldn't remember the last time he had been filled with so much hope for anything. He had thought all was lost when it came to Cassidy, and here they were compromising and teasing each other, sharing smiles and not a harsh word between them. He watch her as she headed back to the town and quickly followed behind her. “So what brought you all the way out here to the spring?” James asked once he was caught up beside of her again.

Cassidy glanced over at James before she gave a little shrug. “Ive been in a bright four walled room with no windows for who knows how long.”

“Three months… two weeks. One day. Three days in the hospital. Four in rehabilitation.” James said in a guilty tone.

“Right.” She said, giving him a sidelong glance. “That long in the prison… I needed some fresh air. Ive never been allowed to run off into the woods or even spend time in the woods or nature. Even back with my pack when I was a child the woods were off limits unless I had a full escort with me. I came out into the woods here and just started to run. It felt so… natural? Kind of like I was home and at peace. I found the little creek and followed it to the spring. It is such a beautiful place I laid out on the rock in the sun and dozed off.” She explained and then a sad smile crossed her features. “My grandfather always used to say the forest was a balm for the broken souls. I didn't understand back then but I think I do now.”

James nodded a little. “The elders teach that we are from nature, the sun and the moon. We have pack runs once a month through the territory to keep that bond with the earth. Our next run is in two weeks, I would be honored if you would join us”

“We will see. I don't exactly know how to shift back and forth yet. I was going to ask Jett to help teach me how.” She said with a small shrug of her shoulder.

“Why don't I help you? Ive had my wolf for ten years. Jett is busy working to secure a place in the pack’s guards and will probably be busy for several weeks until he passes. So I can take the time every day and teach you. Its not easy at first but after a few days you will be able to shift on your own.” James said and when she didn't really respond more than another shrug of her shoulder, he sighed and accepted it. “Just think on it. I will help you if you ask.”

They walked for awhile in silence before James cleared his throat, speaking up on some thoughts that were worrying him. “Cassidy… I want you to have as much freedom here as you can handle… but with the rogues giving us so many problems I would feel better if you didn't run around out here by yourself. Promise me you will take one of the warriors with you. I would prefer it if you took one of my brothers or my beta. No one else runs alone right now... Its just too dangerous.”

Cassidy stopped and turned to Jame when he asked her not to go out alone. She wanted to argue and tell him right where he could shove his suggestion of taking anyone with her, but he was right. If the rogues were causing enough problems he didn't want anyone going alone, she didn't want to get caught up by them either. “I will do my best to bring someone with me. I-” she went still as James suddenly became alert, moving closer to her in a protective manner as he looked around and scanned the tall trees and darkness. “What is it?” she asked, looking around as well.

“Rogues… The guards spotted signs of them close to the western borders. Come… Lets get you back to the Packhouse.”