Chapter 56

Cassidy had spent the first hour after James had gone to the hospital in the pack house where he had left her with Jett. She had calmed down with her guardian’s help. They were both alive and in one piece for the most part. They had an army of men out looking for Jennifer. She was safe. James was safe. He had put her mind at ease enough she was able to eat some lunch and after two hours had passed, she started to become anxious.

It was difficult for Cassidy to use their mated bond still, even more so when they were not near each other. Connecting to his mind in such a way to express her worry for him was just not feasible. So with Jett in tow she had gone to the hospital and quickly found out James had never gone there. Anxiety quickly ramped up as all kinds of fears started to plague her mind over James and what exactly he was doing. If Jennifer had come back and tried to finish what she had failed to do the first time.

Jett managed to get Cassidy back to the pack house and he was thankful that Macy was there to help calm Cassi down to a level that was manageable.

Macy had been through this before many times with her own mate and despite their differences this morning with the standoff in the kitchen, Cassidy and Macy came to find out they were very much alike in more ways than one. She had checked in with her sons through the pack bond for Cassidy and assured her that Jaxson and Hunter were both with him and he was out hunting for the woman and as soon as she was alerted that he and Alaric had gone to the clinic she told Cassidy.

When she heard the news that James was back and had not come to any more harm while out looking for the wolf that shot him, relief flooded Cassidy. She stopped her pacing and sat down on a chair as her legs felt weak. “Thank the gods.” She whispered and sat forward with her head in her hands for a moment as she tried to compose herself.

Relief quickly gave way to anger and she growled before looking up at Macy. “Who does he think he is?!” she asked as she stood, beginning to pace around the room again, but this time fueled by her temper.

“He is the Alpha.” Macy reminded Cassidy, keeping a straight face.

“He is Alpha…” Cassidy repeated and clenched her fists. “Just because he is Alpha doesn't mean he can tell me one thing and do another. They make phones for a reason. He could have called! I'm sure one of those mutts out there had a phone on them!”

Jett and Macy glanced at eat other from where they sat in the living room. Jett looked worried for the young she-wolf but Macy seemed to be enjoying her daughter in law becoming so upset over what James had done. It was the sign of a strong Luna, one that wouldn't roll belly up and take an Alpha’s mistreatment just because they were alpha. Cassidy was exactly what this pack was going to need from a Luna.

“I'm sure his brothers had their phones on them. He should have called. It isn't right to keep you in the dark for all of these hours.” Macy added in, getting a growl out of Cassidy.

Cassidy turned to Macy and put her hands on her hips. “Right?! I'm not going to allow it. Relationships are supposed to be an equal thing… not some prehistoric ‘lets throw the woman in the house where she will be safe’ bullshit. I wont be kept in the dark. Were you kept in the dark?” she asked James’ mother.

Macy had never been forward with Julian. She was from the day and age when she-wolves obeyed and didn't argue if they were put somewhere to be safe no matter their rank or who they were. Cassidy’s words however struck a chord within her and she felt her own temper rise a little. “Yes. I was always kept in the dark. I am a proven fighter and hunter and could handle myself out in the field with the best of the pack but I was always kept here while Julian went to fight alone… even on business trips.” She said as if the words she spoke left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“See? I cant do that Macy. Jett and I have always been a team. I want to be a team with James but I cant do that if he treats me like I'm fine china. I'm not made of glass and I'm not going to break and he has another thing coming if he thinks he can walk out of here and tell me he is going directly to the hospital and lie to my face about it.” Cassidy said and started for the front door of the pack house.

The entire way to the hospital, both women ranted to each other over the men doing things for their protection and by the time they got to the clinic and had been pointed where to go, James and Alaric were coming out of the exam room grinning like fools. She crossed her arms and impatiently waited to get their attention and when she had it, she growled lowly before shouting. “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!”

Cassidy’s barely concealed temper had everyone stop for a few seconds as they looked from her to the Alpha and back again.

When James didn't answer and just stared at her, he and Alaric both taking a step back like guilty children, Cassidy clenched her teeth. “I see.”

“Luna let me explain, James-” Alaric started to speak and quickly shut his mouth when Macy all but barked at him.

“My son can answer for himself Beta.” Macy said in a cold voice that was followed by silence as James quickly figured out how to handle his own mate.

“We can talk about this at home.” James said firmly. “You are over reacting and need to calm down.”

Cassidy’s back stiffened and she narrowed her eyes at James. “Sure. Ill calm down. When you stop lying to me.” She snapped at James, her tone making him flinch. She turned on heel and left them, needing room to breathe and calm down. Her wolf had sent the very creative image through her mind of attacking James for the insult she felt from him.

As soon as Cassidy left the hospital, her anger quickly started to fade. She didn't go back to the pack house at all, instead making a detour to the little park not far from the clinic. She felt… Disappointed. Depressed even that James had lied and she didn't understand why it effected her so strongly. She sat down on a swing and put it into motion as she tried to reason with herself. She had been so used to freedom before they came here. Freedom as she perceived it anyways. Then they were held in that prison for months where every right they had had been stripped from them.

We are not like everyone else. He cannot treat us like them. We are his equal… or better. the voice of her wolf whispered into her mind.

Cassidy rubbed her cheek against the smooth metal of the chain links, focusing on the ground in front of her as she thought on her wolfs thoughts. It was true… She had commanded him before. Was she his equal? Was she an alpha as well?

“Cassi…”

James’ voice brought her out of her thoughts and she gave him a cool stare as he held his hands up in surrender before coming to sit on the swing next to her. “I'm an ass.” He grumbled.

“Yes you are.”

“And I shouldn't have lied. I could throw twenty excuses out for it, but there really is no excuse. I'm sorry.” He said quietly.

Cassidy looked over at James when he apologized. “Ill accept it this time… But James? You cant do that to me. I'm not that kind of woman. I don't expect you to tell me every last move you make or anything, but when its important like you were shot with a damn silver coated bullet and were not healing? You cant keep that from me. I thought you went to the hospital and when you didn't come back after a few hours I started to freak out.” She shook her head. “I don't have the pack bond with you yet until next week. I was thinking the worst…”

“I get it. It wont happen again…” James said and reached over, taking Cassidy's’ hand in his, giving it a loving squeeze as they both swung in sync on the swings. “And I know you aren't like other women. I'm still learning just like you are. We make mistakes and learn from them.”

His words brought a smile to Cassidy’s face and she looked over at him. “Agreed.” She said and looked up at the sky that was turning dusky in the late evening light and sighed. “I suppose we should go get ready for that dinner. I could use a good hot meal and something strong to drink.”

James chuckled and stood up, pulling Cassidy up to her feet with him. “She-wolves shouldn't drink after a heat, but hell, we are breaking all the other traditions anyways. I don't see why not.” He said in a teasing voice before the two of them began heading back to the pack house, unaware of the threat looming just on the edge of their territory.