Cassy suddenly recalled why she hated horses so much when they began the journey back to their home. The horse under her would not stop growling and tossing her off it. It just wouldn’t let her stay upon it. Lino was of the mind that she was scared of it and didn’t trust it, thus the reaction. He mentioned that horses could feel the fear of their riders. Cassy tucked the information away for later, trying her best to stay calm and climb it, but when it would not stop throwing her off, Lino had dragged her over to his horse and pulled her atop it with him, forcing her to ride with him. She kept a scowl on her face, even if she enjoyed the ride. She leaned back into him and his arms went around her waist to grip the reins of the horse. She could feel his steady breaths on her ear and somehow it felt soothing. Calming. They said nothing to each other and remained that way. Cassy dozed off at some point and when she woke up to Lino murmuring in her ear, night had fallen and they
“The Goddess saw this and she sought to rectify the mistake that had been made. Immortality should never have been bestowed upon them.” Cassy dove fingers into her hair and massaged her scalp. “Can she not take it back? The abilities and the immortality?” “Creation is not a simple thing. It cannot simply be changed by a decision. Do not presume to understand these things. Your mortal minds were not built to comprehend them.” When Cassy said no more, Selene continued. “She sought to create a balance between both humans and sorcerers. Beings that were powerful enough to be the force that kept the sorcerers at bay. Beings that were fair at heart and felt as much as the humans did. Slowly aging, but not immortal. Powerful, yet limited. So she did, and of all three races, only the werewolves placed their faith in her and loved her as much as she loved them. Her children.” “Why were we never told this?” “It was agreed upon by your ancestors when the sorcerers laid sieg
Cassy arched a brow, “Scared of what?” “That you would leave me, Cass. You are the brightest and kindest woman I have ever met. I couldn’t imagine telling you the truth. It would hurt you so much and you would hate me for it. And perhaps, it wasn’t the best thing to do but I assure you that all I thought about was you before I made that decision.” Cassy swallowed, hard. “And if I had given birth, you would have taken him from me without telling me?” To that, Lino said nothing, and Cassy had her answer. She didn’t know what to feel. Anger or sadness. Maybe both. But it wasn’t directed at Lino. It was directed at the one who placed him in such a situation. Having to give his own child away without even naming him. Having to choose between his life and that of his child’s. And because of his sense of duty and oath to place the back first, he would always choose himself. She began to turn away from him, but he held her arm, stopping her. “I am sorry, Cass. I really am. If ther
“Here,” Lino said, extending his hand toward Cassy and she blushed at the number of people watching them. Did he have to? She could get off her horse herself. Still his eyes urged her snd she placed her smaller hand in his, letting him lift her off the horse. “Alpha Lino. Luna Cassy.” Cassy turned at the sound of Kayden’s voice and even if they had only been gone for four days, she missed the strange lilt to his voice that made it seem like he was no comfortable with speaking in the slightest. “Kayden,” Lino said, slapping his free hand on Kayden’s shoulder, but he didn’t let her hand go. CAssy peered down t the ground when she felt another blush coming on. When did she become so ridiculously hot? Why wouldn’t she stop smiling like some idiot? He’d not even begun to court her yet and she was already giving her heart to him. She slipped her hand from his grasp and he gave her a swift side glance, which she ignored, before turning to Kayden once again. “Where are they?
Cassy surged forward, sobbing, and trying to explain to talk to her parents but they didn’t seem to want to see her, let alone hear what she had to say. As if sensing her sudden agitation, Lino burst through the door, an unstoppable force. A broken sound escaped Cassy when his gaze found hers and his nostrils flared at the sight of her tears. “I demand to know what you have done to my daughter this very minute!” Her father bellowed and Cassy flinched, stepping away from him, retreating to a different corner of the chambers. “Mr. Benson,” Lino began, taking three quick strides to settle himself beside Cassy. He placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him, squeezing tightly but not painfully on Cassy’s shoulder. A gesture of reassurance that he would handle it. He said as much into her head and she relaxed against him, feeling safe in his warmth. She couldn’t be more grateful that she wasn’t handling her father’s wrath alone. Or at all. She was a coward. She cou
But Cassy didn’t react to his jabs like she normally would. He could feel her sadness through the bond. It was the same wavy of darkness that had had him sprinting down the hall to check on her. And he had seen her crying. He caressed her walls again but she said nothing still. He knew if he strained his ears to listen far enough to her chambers, he would find her crying. He sighed. He had much to do. So much. His consolation, however, was that he wasn’t alone anymore. ************ Cassy stepped on light toes as she neared the Great Hall. She could feel and hear Lino’s frustration from miles away. He’d sent her parents away an hour ago, and while everything that happened had hurt her and she still wanted to talk to them, she felt it was for the best that they weren’t at the castle anymore. She was curious as to what he’d told them that had softened her father’s gaze when she’d gone to say goodbye to them, but it didn’t make him pull her into hi
Lino suddenly reached behind him, pulling Cassy forward to stand beside him. Before Eleanor’s mother. In her corner of her eyes, she spied Cain limping on his twisted ankle. He had cuts and bruises all over and the wall Lino had thrown him into was in rubbles. She made a note to herself never to get on Lino’s bad side. Not that she could. She was yet to meet a person who angered her like the man could. “Cassy will be Luna, and you will respect her as such. She will rule by my side, and should she see it fit that you be punished for your behavior, I will not hesitate to oversee it.” Cassy shifted uncomfortably, unsure what to do with herself as Lino spoke about her to the fuming woman. A few weeks back, she had barged into this castle, ready to take the position of Alpha from Lino, just to avenge her losses, but now, even the thought of being Luna made her feel like she was in over her head for a responsibility so great, the weight of it shook her. The woman’s brown gaze
Cassy shot a grateful look in Lino’s direction, even if she knew he wasn’t looking her way. She didn’t want to have to be pushed to do something she wasn’t fully on board with, even if she understood how dire it seemed to be. But Kayden said, “There is no time for her to adjust to it, and you know this. Time is of the essence. You must pick a date that is most suitable for the ceremony.” Lino rubbed his face with his palm and Cassy could feel his weariness. She caught her hand rising to touch his shoulder and she dropped it before he would notice. “I don’t remember you to be this pushy. Kayden It would seem Ayla is rubbing off on you.” Kayden’s ears turned red and he turned away abruptly to hide them. Cassy found herself chuckling at the display. It wasn’t every time you caught the uptight Beta blushing. “Dire times require dire actions,” Kayden started and paused, throwing an annoyed look over his shoulder at a grinning Lino. “And I am not pushy.” Cassy laug
Eleanor dashed through the woods, panting and cursing under her breath. It wasn't supposed to go this way, she thought. She was sure she had not been followed. But now, the guards were after her, hot on her tail and she could not seem to outrun them. Her parents would be disgust if they saw her now. What had become of her. Cassy and Lino would probably laugh their heads off if they saw her. She was a thief. She had been living from and to mouth for years, taking shelter in empty barns or cottages, stealing food from moving carriages or from travellers. She had walked and moved and tried to make something of herself for the past few years, but all anyone wanted from her was to bed her or turn her into a whore, and while she knew she was a despicable person, there were things she could not allow. From the ears of one of the travellers, she had heard of a castle in the North, with plenty or riches that were untouched by the Alpha who seemed to have no intere
Two years later... "No. Not that one. Do not put that in your mouth, Fenris," Cassy said, lifting her son off the ground and throwing the sand stained pebble he had been about to put in his mouth. "Where is your brother?" She questioned, and he smiled at her, pulling her hair instead and giggling. "Asher?" She called out, looking around the playground Lino had built just for his twin sons. She heard Asher's answering giggle emerge from the other end, and a smile graced her lips when she saw Lino holding him and tickling him. He loved them. There was no surprise there. Over the last two years, she had gotten to see sides to Lino that she had never thought she would again, after she'd lost their first child. He was kind, loving and stern when he needed to be. Maybe scratch the last part out. When it came to the boys, there was not a single stern bone in Lino's body. All they had to do was smile at him and he would lift them up and tickle them. Cassy
Cassy and Lino sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly together, awaiting Gerald as he gathered he shrugged out of his gloves. She began to fidget and Lino rubbed her knee to soothe her, even if he was also fidgeting. Cassy felt her stomach twist and tighten with nerves as she thought about it. She pressed her free hand against her stomach, trying to feel for something, anything at all that said that it was there. She hadn't felt funny in the past few days. Other than the need to sleep. Her last pregnancy had been somewhat hectic and she had been a horrible mess before she even found out she was pregnant. She supposed it should be the same. The nausea. The morning sickness. The cranky mood. The obtuse emotions. It was the only reason why she didn't think she was. That too and the fact that she looked absolutely normal. She hadn't gained extra weight or anything. She'd lost some. She stole a glance at Lino. His expression was calm but she could tell from
Cassy peered around, in the familiar darkness and she immediately knew where she was. It had been a while since she had been summoned by Selene and she had quite a lot of words to say to the wolf when she graced her with her presence. "Selene?" Cassy called out, turning in a spin, searching for the familiar figure, but she couldn't find the wolf. "I see all is finally in order," a voice that sounded both ancient and young said, and Cassy turned to find the big wolf approaching her. "Yes. No thanks to you. You left me with nothing but scattered clues here and there. I didn't understand a single thing." "But you have come out victorious," the wolf said drily. Cassy scowled. "Again, with no thanks to you. Julian's the only reason why we won. You picked me up and then abandoned me--" "And who do you think sent the sorcerer your way?" Cassy's lips pursed and she kept quiet, listening to Selene and her 'explanation'. "The Goddess's interfere
Lino sat in his throne, head leaning against his fist. The day had only just begun and he was already exhausted. He always hated the aftermaths of squabbles and war. Deaths and meetings and hard decisions had to be taken. It didn't make it any better that Cassy was not with him today. His mate had slept the entire day away yesterday and she was today as well. He understood that she needed the rest, especially after the ordeals they had gone through. It was absolutely normal for females to fall into deep sleep after a weight like war had been lifted off their shoulders. He had been telling himself that the entire day, just so he could get his mind off the possibility of Cassy being pregnant. He was excited and extremely anxious as well. He had known the joy of expecting a child once before, but this was different. Perhaps, it was because she was his mate and he was in love now. He couldn't stop fidgeting and thinking about it. Truth be told, he wanted nothing m
Julian strode over to where Sasha laid on the ground, head severed from her body. He had not thought it would be so easy to end her life. He had not wanted it to be easy. He had wanted her to suffer for it. Every day. For everything she had done to him. For every atrocity she had committed. For all the wrong she had caused him. He had wanted her to suffer. But he had killed her too quickly. And...saved the day. His unusual eyes overlooked the battle field and what little of the sorcerers that were left and we're still being killed. His eyes wandered over to the Luna and Alpha seated off to the side, holding each other and crying. His eyes then wandered back to Sasha's unseeing eyes. He let it truly sink in that she was dead and gone. Slowly, it sank in, like a stone would in the middle of an ocean. It settled within him. Standing in the middle of a battle field with his armour coated in blood and his fingers wrapped around the sheath of his sword, J
Cassy panted, peering down at the blade and the minute distance it was away from her heart. No no. The woman was not bluffing. The back of her head hurt terribly, no thanks to Sasha's blow, and the tiniest movement had her wincing in pain. It was nothing though, compared to the obvious panic in Lino's eyes. A burden in her chest lightened a little. He was fine. He was covered in blood and gore, but he was fine. Taller, hairier and scary. He was in between this wolf form and the other. His red hair made him look all the more stunning. She gave him a sharp look that all but said, "You should not have left me inside." Lino ignored her, baring his teeth instead at Sasha. "Touch her, I'll end you." The woman had the audacity to chuckle and Cassy marvelled at her boldness and lack of fear. "Before you move, she'd already be dead. You're at my mercy, Alpha," Sasha said, piercing Cassy's skin with the dagger for effect. Not the other way around. I suggest you w
"Think we might make it back?" Lino asked asked Kayden as he jammed the rock into the sharp edge of the sword. Kayden shrugged, staring up at the sky. "I have no choice. Ayla will throttle me out of the afterlife if I do not." Lino smiled. He could think of a couple of things Cassy would also do to him for leaving without her. He had better make it back home. He had no other option. Night had fallen and they had chosen to make camp. It was more like...laying in wait and resting while the enemies rode toward them. Lino wasn't the type of Alpha to move things in a rush. He would wait for her. Sasha. And by the spies he had dispatched a few moments back, he knew that they weren't far off any more. And leading them his way was the hybrid, Julian. Whether or not he would fight on their side when it mattered, Lino couldn't tell, but he had seen the hybrid and looked in his eye. He had seen the hatred for Sasha and even if he trusted nothing else, he trusted in those
Cassy placed outside the yard, trailing the line of defense the guards had formed, laying in wait for their enemies. Just in case. She had no doubt that it was Lino's instruction too. The man always thought and prepared ahead for the worst case scenario. There were more than a hundred scattered about in various defense formations and Cassy marvelled on how they blocked every entrance into the castle. But... wasn't a hundred too many to guide the amount of women inside? Perhaps it was because of her or it could be the fact that they were the weaker and more vulnerable sex. A sudden shout came from the front, by the towering gates of the castle and Cassy believed it to be, "Close the gates!" The shouts increased and Cassy ran up to the gates where the guards were frantically trying to lock them. There were still people trying to get through. Late arrivals from the houses around the castle. If the gates were suddenly locked, they would have no where else to