Chapter Three Cassius

CASSIUS

To say I feel like a God right now as I drive on the interstate headed towards home would be an understatement. I’ve just secured a substantial amount of money by winning first place in bronc and bull riding.

Not only that, but Xeraphina’s training has also yielded results - she emerged victorious in the cattle roping competition, claiming first place. The instant she won, her excitement became contagious, as she leaped into my arms and planted a kiss on my cheek. The intensity of our one-sided mate bond caused my heart to race, and every fiber of my being felt as if it were on the verge of eruption.

As I drive for two hundred miles, I find myself with ample time to contemplate both my life and the words spoken by Xeraphina yesterday morning. After contemplating the matter for a while, I’ve decided to transfer my winnings into a separate account, rather than depositing them into the joint account that Charity and I share.

Once I arrive home, I plan to request a divorce and reveal the truth to Charity - that Xeraphina is my fated mate. It’s time to put an end to this charade that has been going on for two years. The moment has arrived for me to show my unwavering loyalty to my fated mate, even though Xeraphina remains unaware of our connection. However, there are only two weeks remaining before Xeraphina discovers everything, and I cannot bear the thought of her rejecting me. I refuse to let that happen, no matter what. I have got a lot of work ahead to gain Xeraphina’s trust and I plan to do everything possible to earn her love. She’ll accept me.

Charity is going to be pissed when I ask for a divorce, so I’m afraid of how she is going to react. She’s a fucking snake when she gets pissed off. But she’s treated me like shit the last couple of years. So it’s time for me to take a stand and get rid of her for good. Asking for a divorce is the best option since we don’t live as husband and wife, anyway. We sleep in separate bedrooms and lead separate lives. She spends my money, and that’s the only connection we have.

***

Driving up the dirt road to our two-story mansion I built for Charity and me before getting married, I see that there are boxes stacked and scattered all over our massive lawn.

If I’m fortunate enough, Charity has decided to end this charade and move out. It’s possible that things will be smoother than I expected. If Charity moves out, it will simplify matters.

‘What’s going on?’ I asked my wolf Talon through our shared consciousness.

‘Hell if I know, Cassius. I told you many times not to marry that bitch of a woman. She’s not our fated mate, for one. Two, I’ve always hated that bitch. I have never once had a good feeling about her. She’s a spoiled ass devious bitch from hell, Cassius. And you’ve always been so blind to her ways. I hope she’s getting the hell out of dodge. That would make our lives a lot more peaceful,’ Talon states and growls, baring his teeth in anger.

Talon’s words resonate with the truth. Since we connected when I turned eighteen and discovered that Xeraphina is our mate, he has given me a lot of criticism. However, Xeraphina was only eleven years old, making it impossible for us to accept her as our mate. I had been in a relationship with Charity for over three years by then, and since her mate had not appeared, Charity and I stayed together. That was the biggest mistake I have ever made. I knew who my true mate was and should have waited for Xeraphina to come of age so that we could accept each other as mates. Marrying Charity was an enormous blunder that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

‘Maybe you are right, Talon.’

Talon growls and wags his tail. Happy that Charity may be out of our hair for good. ‘Of course I am, human.’

Ascending the steps with my suitcases in tow, I grip the handle and twist it, eager to enter. However, much to my annoyance, Charity had locked the damn door. Irritated, I roll my eyes and set my bags on the ground, rummaging through my pockets in search of my keys.

“What the fuck’s going on here?!” I yell, then sigh in relief once my fingers have grasped the keyring and pulled them from my pocket. “I called her when I was fifteen minutes out. So Charity knew I was about to arrive,” I said to myself as I inserted the key into the lock. Frustration washed over me when it failed to unlock the door. “What the fuck?! I’m certain this is the correct key.” After attempting every key on my keyring, I realized she must have changed the locks. At that moment, I echoed the same question I had been pondering since I arrived: “What the fuck’s going on?!”

‘The lights are on inside, so I know she must be in there.’ I think to myself, then put my ear to the door to see if I can hear anything. Then I hear the unmistaken sounds of two people screaming in pleasure, fucking inside my house. The damn house I built with my two hands! Hell no!

So, without thinking twice, I pounded on the door, shouting at the top of my lungs. “You better get your ass down here and unlock this damn door within the next minute, Charity! Otherwise, I’m breaking into my damn house! I’ll break this damn door down if I need to!”

My relentless yelling and door banging continue, but the noises from inside show no signs of ceasing. “That’s it! I’m coming in!” With a burst of force, I slam my body against the door three times, causing it to collapse inward onto the ground. I can’t believe that damn bitch is stupid enough to bring an outsider onto our land!

I huff and puff as I sprint up the stairs, bust down her bedroom door and pull the creep who’s deep inside Charity off of her. He flies against the wall, creating an enormous gaping hole. Charity screams, pulls some covers over her and cowers against her headboard.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I yell as I move towards her. “I don’t give a crap what you do when you go out of town. But you know you’re not supposed to do that shit here! Why the hell couldn’t I get into my house?! The home I built with my own two hands!”

“H… H… He…”

“Spit it out, for fuck’s sakes!”

“He’s my fated mate!” she screams and tries to hide her head in a pillow.

“Well, I hope that shit outside in the boxes is all your crap! Get the rest of your shit packed up and get the hell out of here! This works out well for me, because I was going to tell you I wanted a divorce, anyway! You better look into getting a job, because I’m no longer funding your spending habits! From this day onwards, that’s your mate’s duty!”

She chuckles and shakes her head. Then climbs down from the bed to check on her mate. “Cassius, all that shit outside is yours. This house is mine. You built it for me. Remember. You can fight me. But the Alpha and Luna will be on my side, since I have found my fated mate.”

“I built this house for us!” I yell and punch the wall above them, creating another vast hole in the wall. Catching my bearings, I pinch my nose and glare up at the ceiling. “You know what, Charity,” I say, grinning down at her. “You aren’t worth the headache anymore, anyway.” I say, chuckling. “You’ve been nothing but a bitch to me since we decided not to mark each other. All you do is complain, whine, and spend my hard-earned money. I’m a beta wolf and you are a mere omega.” Sniffing the air, I chuckle upon realizing her fated mate is also an omega from a neighboring pack from the next town over. “And your fated mate is an omega as well,” I say, shaking my head as I walk towards the door. “Keep the house. I’ve found my fated mate as well, and I will build a much bigger house for us and the many pups we will have. Good luck with paying the bills. Because you aren’t getting a single penny from me from now on. The lifestyle you love so much is over, Charity.”

‘Can you believe the nerve of that…’ shaking my head in disbelief as I make my way to my room. ‘Woman!’ I ask Talon as I open my bedroom door and flick on the light.

‘You mean bitch, right? Good riddance to her. Now we can concentrate on our true fated mate,’ Talon says back, disappearing into my mind.

As I search my room, I notice it’s bare, except for my bed and furniture. Charity has packed all of my clothes and belongings into boxes. It occurs to me she may have only stayed with me and married me for my money. ‘Good luck with everything, Charity,’ I thought to myself.

‘I guess we’ll be moving back into the pack house, Talon,’ I say within our shared consciousness.

‘That’ll put us closer to our mate. We never should have moved out to begin with.’

After conversing with Talon a while, I separated our link and mind link Alpha Joseph.