Chapter 74

Chapter 74
Cassidy had slept for all of five minutes after James left. She woke up, nauseous and in need of the bathroom. Max knocked and came in hearing Cassidy make a distressed sound and watched her run into the bathroom. He followed and waited outside of the door, knocking on the door frame lightly. “Cassidy?”

Cassidy lost her dinner in the toilet and when she was finished, she just sat there, willing herself not to get sick again. “I'm alright Max… Just… sick I think.”

“Ah. I learned that it is common. It's the baby messing with your hormones already. I can call down for some tea? The book I listened to said peppermint tea will help.” Max said quietly from the other side of the door.

“No… I just need some fresh air I think. I'll go and watch James train with the men for awhile.” She said as she got up from the floor and went to wash her face and brush her teeth.

Max felt some panic when Cassidy said she was going to go and watch James training. He stood quietly, his mind running in circles trying to think of a lie. Max was never any good at lies or concealing his facial expressions. He tried to lie a few times as a child and he always got caught, so since then, he had always been truthful. He wasn't about to lie to his Luna. He was just going to have to come up with a deflection. He was frowning by the time Cassidy opened the door “I don't think it is a good idea, Cassidy. You should go back to bed you could always get sick again.”

Cassidy had wrapped herself in a robe before she came out of the bathroom. She knew Max couldn't see, but still, this close to another man right now even one she trusted she felt safer with at least something covering her body. Cassidy walked past Max back towards the bed with a little smile. “You frown just like your brothers.” She teased him. “I will be fine Max. I've been in this bed too much and I need fresh air.” Cassidy went directly to her closet and put on pajama pants and one of James’ shirts and sandals before she returned to a nervous-looking Max. “Relax big brother. If James complains I will calm him down.” She promised him, patting him on the shoulder before she headed for the door with Max following closely behind her.

Max made up his mind as he followed after his Luna that he would just tell her the truth when they came to the arena and no one was there. She could get some fresh air and a little walking done, then he would take her right back to the Packhouse and make sure she was back in bed before James came home. It was a good plan in theory and James would come home and nothing would be wrong.

It took the two of them walking almost fifteen minutes to get to the training arena. They spoke of random topics and of her joining the pack the next night and Cassidy wasn't blind to the fact that the closer they came to where James was supposed to be training with the boys, the more nervous Max was becoming. She quickly figured out why. There were no sounds of men, the lights were off and not a soul was in the arena. She stood at the road, looking towards where James had told her where he would be. She said nothing, feeling her chest tighten in sadness and distress as she realized James had lied to her. Tears sprung into her eyes but they were quickly blinked away as she took in a deep breath as her temper rose. “Where. Is. My. Mate?”

The Luna’s tone was so very chilling and heated at the same time, the kind of tone that promised violence if she didn't get some answers. Max took a step away from Cassidy and shook his head quickly. “I don't know Cassidy! Maybe they went for a run instead? let us go back to the packhouse and wait for him. I'm sure he won't be gone that long.” He said, holding his hand out for her to take.

Cassidy stared at Max as he made excuses for James, she looking to the outstretched hand. “Is he with another female?” she asked in a bitter tone. The question came out of nowhere and she wasn't even sure why she suddenly worried there may be another she-wolf that caught his attention while she was gone.

“What?! Cassidy no, he has never looked at another female since you first came into the prison.” Max said in exasperation. “Let go back to the Packhouse. When James is done he will come back home.”

“Max…” she growled his name. “What is my mate doing that requires him to lie to me? Answer me right NOW!” she all but barked at him, the sound echoing in the street with the force of her voice.

Max paled a bit when Cassidy demanded him to answer her. He gripped his hands together tightly and let out a shaky breath. He was unable to fight her command and he bowed his head a little in submission to his Luna. “Nash. He went to go fight Nash.” He blurted out and then stepped back, covering his mouth. He looked horrified he told her and then that expression turned to concern when he heard his Luna growl and start undressing right in the street. “Cassidy he had no choice. When a challenge is issued to an alpha it must be met.”

“Oh, I'll give him a challenge alright.” She snapped as she kicked off her sandals and pulled her shirt from over her head. “Go back home, Max. Go to bed.” She commanded him and stepped out of her pajama pants. She didn't say another word as she shifted right there, her wolf just as angry as she was. Max was already leaving reluctantly, following her command he was powerless to fight. She shook her fur out as her wolf took control and she glared at Max’s back. She had trusted him, depended on him and he lied to her. Lied to her face to protect her mate who lied to her as well.

Cassidy took off in the direction of the prison, picking up the scents of James and the others. She felt when he began to fight, her wolf's bond so strong with James it was like a stone weighing heavily in her stomach. She arrived at the prison and when the guards tried to stop her from entering, she brought them to their knees in submission to her whether through threatening with growls or physically bringing them down. Every last wolf that was in her way remained down, unwilling and unable to rise in defiance of the alpha female.

Arriving on the lowest floor, she heard the shouting of the men before she even left the elevator. They were cheering, yelling for James to win. Her hackles rose along her back and shoulders, her head lowering before she slowly began to approach the group of men. The first to notice her was James’ father, Julian. Her eyes locked with his and she did not miss the look of distress from him when she bared her teeth.

“Shit!” Julian yelled and moved back, reaching and grabbing Hunter’s arm behind him. The men fell to silence one after another, standing their ground in the hallway, and stared at Cassidy wide-eyed as the angry she-wolf kept walking slowly towards them.

Alaric was the one to step forward to meet Cassidy head-on but Jett reached out and grabbed the first Beta by his arm, shaking his head at the male. “I will do this. She at least knows me.” He said to Alaric who didn't look too happy about being stopped. The beta’s stared at each other for a few seconds before Alaric nodded and let Jett pass.

“Cassidy…” he spoke her name in a respectful tone, going down to a knee. “Luna…” he bowed his head to her as he said her title before looking up to meet her eyes. “Alpha Black is almost finished. He is winning. Nash will be killed and you won't have to worry about the rogue anymore.” He said in a low voice, carefully watching Cassidy as her growl rose in volume.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. She needed to see the man die and she needed to be the one to do it. Her wolf was bloodthirsty to take revenge on Nash not only for her family rogues had massacred but for herself. Revenge for what he had done to her and for what he had done to any other female he touched. When Jett tried to talk her down and assured her that James was almost finished, she snarled loudly and looked to the door. Everyone in the hallway looked away from the Luna, feeling her anger with them radiating from the wolf. ► Open. The. Door.◄ her wolf growled at Jett, willing the Beta to obey her.

Jett flinched and understood exactly what Cassidy was wanting. It was more than a want, it was a need for her and he rose slowly from his knee and went to the door. Julian tried to interfere, stepping in front of the door to block Jett from allowing Cassidy to enter. “No! She is not permitted to enter. The challenge is for my son and my son alone!” He said aggressively to Jett.

Jett glared at Julian and glanced back at Cassi before he addressed the elder wolf. “She has lived in fear her entire life, running from the very rogues that killed her entire pack and her entire family. The rogues' death, is her right. Stand aside. I follow my Luna and Alpha, not you. I will remove you if you do not move old man.” He said in a cold tone.

Hunter came over quickly and grabbed his father's arm. “Father come. Now. She is alpha as much as James. If she wants in, we must let her in.” He said, giving a firm pull on his father to get him out of the way, the elder man reluctantly stepping aside. “James will deal with her. We can't interfere.”

With Julian pulled aside, Jett turned the lock and then opened the door, allowing Cassidy to go through. As soon as the she-wolf was through the door Jett closed it and put the lock back in place. “Oh, gods… What have I done…?! ” he said and stepped back away from the door when the command broke as soon as Cassidy was inside.

Cassidy had run inside of the room and came to a stop, glaring at the surprised-looking Alpha of Blackstone.