Chapter 94 - The Nightingale in the Cage

Chapter 94 - The Nightingale in the Cage
When knocks sounded on the door, calling them to eat, Cassie tried to ignore the chill in her body; she was frozen with terror.

The idea of Kallias leaving, abandoning his home and his family because of her, hurt her deeply. She didn’t want that; she didn’t even want to imagine it.

Then, she understood why Hendrick was so disturbed and resistant to telling her. He knew what decision the white wolf would make.

Kallias had always shown himself to be so... sacrificial. He was willing to subjugate his own desires just to fit in there.

She blinked to brush away the tears and went down the stairs, praying silently that there would be no heat, that being human would make it impossible.

She reached the dining room and found the ten men seated with their plates before them, waiting for them to arrive to eat. Cassie and Hendrick took their seats, and the meal began with the usual joy.

The White twins were commenting on some random thing they saw on a trip, while Amos was scheduling a general maintenance of the village's electrical and hydraulic grid.

Bart seemed a bit better, though silent, sitting next to Matt, who was laughing at Taylor's complaints about Amos's demands.

Yohan offered to help and even volunteered his own brother, who made a face at the thought of spending the next few days on top of simple utility poles to inspect cables or inside water and sewage pipes.

Uriel confirmed that all the new parts the Lamarts had requested for the replacements were ready.

"This sounds like a huge event," Cassie murmured, noticing how everyone was involved in some way.

"Of course it is; we do preventive maintenance from time to time. We replace all materials that might have worn out. Besides, I always take the opportunity to modernize the design. And this year, we’re going to replace the poles; this model is old," Amos explained. The end of his sentence sounded more like an order, which drew groans from the Whites.

"Who’s going to prepare the concrete, who’s going to carry heavy sacks... the twins."

Cassie laughed, because she knew it was a joke. Everyone would help; they always worked as a team. She saw the mobilization to clear snow, cook, repair houses, patrol... they were a family.

Hendrick squeezed her hand over the table and looked at her as if he were about to say something important.

"Little one, we talked before about you," he called for attention, and the brunette looked at him, surprised by the topic and the use of the sweet nickname in public. "You’ve adapted well here and made us happy as we haven't felt in a long time. But you also miss your life before, singing and being on stage."

She swallowed hard, because it was true, even though she tried to hide it. The lights, the band, the applause... it made her feel alive.

"I’m happy here," she defended herself.

Hendrick smiled, and everyone looked at her kindly.

"I’m very happy about that, truly. But we want to see you radiant, like when you talk about your dreams. So we decided that you should go back."

Tears blurred her vision and the brunette sobbed, her face looking sad and betrayed.

"You want me to leave? If this is because of..." Her broken voice was interrupted by the alpha, who pulled her into his arms in front of everyone.

She rested her head on his strong, comfortable chest, sighing as he stroked her hair.

"No, little one, we aren't sending you away. I couldn't live without you; we are one now." He smiled. "What I’m saying is that you should go back to the stage, to Los Angeles, to your club. Yohan can accompany you on the trips," he explained.

Cassie cried even more, this time moved and happy. She lifted her face, in disbelief.

"Really?"

Everyone agreed, looking at her with affection.

"You aren't a prisoner here, beautiful," Matt said.

"We want your happiness, princess," Nick added.

The rest of the dinner followed with plans for Cassie’s return to the city of fame. She didn't know where to start; she had left everything behind.

Her apartment, her things, she had left Chay in a lurch. But Peter had seen her being taken. Did the police have her listed as missing?

There were so many questions, but Cassie was in no hurry; she felt relaxed and content in her refuge.

She packed a few items of clothing into a backpack and opted for something light since they would be walking through the forest.

Yohan and Mason were in their wolf forms, waiting for her in the center of the village just like months ago; it was nostalgic. The same ones who had taken her were now leading her back.

Mounting the shifters was becoming a skill, especially after the twins found some joy in taking her on morning runs.

Without any trouble, she mounted Yohan's back and let the backpack stay fastened to Mason. The others came by to wish her good luck and say their goodbyes.

Cassie waved and turned, facing the path ahead. The wolves' paws pushed off the ground with force, making the green of the trees the only thing she could see due to the speed.

It was a faster journey than she had imagined, and the brunette closed her eyes, thanking the Moon Lady for blessing the trip.

The light of Los Angeles seemed aggressive after months surrounded by green and silence. The glow of the signs, the smell of hot asphalt, the constant sound of engines and mixed voices hit Cassie like a wave.

She adjusted her backpack on her shoulder, took a deep breath, and faced the familiar facade of the club. The neon still pulsed at the same rhythm, the black doors still held secrets, sweat, music, and freedom. The Burlesque Club hadn't stopped for her. And yet, a part of her had never really left.

Mason and Yohan remained a step behind, too alert for two men trying to appear as mere companions. Peter was the first to see her from his spot at the bar.

His face went pale for a second, then contorted into relief and, immediately after, concern.

"Cassie…" He ran across the lobby, leaving behind the glasses he was drying. He stopped in front of her as if he needed to confirm she wasn't an imagination. "Where were you? You vanished. You just... disappeared."

She gave a small smile, having expected that. That night seemed to have happened centuries ago; she couldn't deny it was terrifying, and Peter surely had it engraved in his mind too.

"I know. I should have called. Or written. Or... anything better than disappearing."

The barman ran a hand through his hair, nervous, his eyes darting from Cassie to Mason and Yohan, alert, too large, too silent.

"You didn't answer, you didn't reply, the club is sinking in debt, Chay is out of her mind, and you show up... like this?" He lowered his voice. "With them?"

Mason held his gaze without blinking. Yohan crossed his arms, his posture relaxed but clearly protective.

"They..." Cassie said firmly before the tension could escalate. "I’m fine. I’ve never been better."

Peter sighed, defeated by his own concern. He had taken a beating on the day the brunette was kidnapped; he remembered well how horrified she had looked.

He had even gone to the police, but after a while, they gave up the search, and she joined the thousands of missing faces who never came home.

Now, her captors were standing before him, and the girl was saying she was fine?

"You vanished, Cass. I thought you had been kidnapped. Or worse." He pulled her into a quick, tight hug. "Never do that to me again."

She closed her eyes for a moment.

"I promise."

Mason narrowed his eyes and growled low at the approach. Yohan gave him a silent reprimand and took a step forward, enough for Cassie to understand and pull away from Peter with an awkward smile.

Chay was watching from a distance, arms crossed, her expression guarded. Cassie lifted her head and saw the woman on the mezzanine with a glass of whiskey in her hand, the same as ever with her long black hair and seriousness.

The muffled music vibrated in the walls as Cassie approached, feeling the weight of that gaze before even hearing a word.

"So you decided to remember this place exists?" Chay shot out, bluntly. "Months away. No explanation. No message. Do you have any idea what it was like holding this place together alone?"

Cassie didn't back down.

"I do. And it was wrong of me."

Chay arched an eyebrow, surprised by the direct response.

"Wrong? Just that?"

"Wrong, selfish, and cowardly," Cassie added. "A lot happened, I’m sorry."

The older woman let out an ironic laugh, left her glass on the mezzanine railing, and looked at her seriously.

"A lot happened? There’s a real estate shark circling us, we’re sinking in debt, and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to protect this place."

The silence between them was heavy. Cassie looked away, taking a deep breath.

"You drop off the map, show up out of nowhere, and expect what? That I’ll smile and say 'welcome back'? I have bigger problems than an indecisive country girl."

Cassie took a step forward.

"No. I expect you to scream at me. To tell me how overwhelmed you were. To hate me for a few minutes, if you need to. But I’m here now. And I want to come back. If you’ll have me back."

The older woman's eyes flashed with anger... and something more dangerous: longing. Cassie had called so much to get there, she had pestered the owner to get her opportunity, and though Chay loathed to admit it, she admired that.

"You were always passionate, Cassie." Her voice came out lower. "And you left as if that meant nothing."

"It meant everything." Cassie swallowed hard. "That’s why it hurt so much to leave. I want to help you; let’s fight together to keep this place, our dream, open."

The silence stretched for a few seconds until Chay huffed, turning her face away.

"Damn it..." she murmured. "I should send you away."

She turned back to face Cassie.

"But I won't. Because the club was never the same without you."

Cassie smiled, her eyes welling up, and the two embraced tightly, like someone sewing up an old wound.

"Thank you," Cassie whispered. "I promise not to disappear again."

"Promises don't pay bills," Chay replied dryly. "But you dancing does. So, try to squeeze your fat ass into a costume and get on stage."

Cassie laughed, relieved.