Chapter 2

Watching Riker wrap his arm around the small of Darcia’s back, I feel my heart begin to break. Riker has never been this kind or caring towards me. Has never had such a gentle expression unless it was in the middle of the night as he made love to me or when we were alone in a passing moment.

Yet here he stands before me, smiling brilliantly with Darcia in his arms as he leads her towards his office.

“Oh, Cassandra. Bring us some coffee and snacks to my office.” Riker calls out, his piercing gaze turning cold as he stares at me. My throat feels dry as I try to make my brain work. Riker grows annoyed by my increasing silence and so, with some difficulty, I mutter out a yes sir before scurrying down the hall towards the staff lunch room.

Thankfully, the room is empty and I quickly start the coffee machine so that I can bring a fresh pot of coffee to Riker’s office. With the machine going, take this moment to compose myself and try to process what I just saw.

Everything must be a misunderstanding. I know how strongly my mark reacts when I am in Riker’s arms. Can feel the way my soul calls for him. Is it possible my mark also glows gold when I am with him?

“What the hell is taking so long?!” I jump at the sound of Serena’s voice, turning to find the blond staring at me with anger.

“Riker and Darcia are waiting for their coffee and yet I find you daydreaming instead of working. What a useless whore you are.” She shouts. With wide eyes, I look at the coffee machine to see it still running. The timer on the machine states I have five minutes until the coffee is properly brewed and resentment towards Serena bubbles to the surface.

“I am making fresh coffee for the two.” I retort back, turning to glare at the blonde.

“If you think I am not doing my job right as Riker’s secretary and Theta, then how about you do the work!” Serena takes a step back, shocked that for once in my seven years of having both roles I finally stood up to her. I know Serena won’t do this task though. She finds it too demeaning for a she-wolf with Alpha blood to do something normally assigned to an Omega.

“Riker told you to do it, Cassandra, so hurry up and finish it.” Is all she says before scurrying away with a look of indignation. A feeling of unease settles inside me and I wonder if she is going to complain to Riker. With a sigh, I begin bustling about the room, setting cookies, cream, sugar, and mugs onto a tray while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.

My thoughts return to the fact that Darcia’s wolf mark lit up and I find myself having to stop the pain of heartbreak from setting in. Maybe it is a one-sided mate bond like mine. Maybe Riker’s mark didn’t light up. I mean, he was turned away and I couldn’t see his mark at all from where I stood at my desk. Darcia could just be really close to him as the two did grow up together. But deep down even I know I have a hard time convincing myself that.

The timer on the coffee machine beeps and I am quick to take the freshly brewed pot of coffee and set it on the tray. Making sure that everything is ready, I put on the brightest smile I can muster and take the tray down the corridor.

“Is it true Mr. Riker’s mate came?” I hear the whispered question coming from the offices to my left. My smile falters and I hesitate to move forward.

“It is. Maybe that pathetic Cassandra will stop fawning all over him now.” Someone replies. Scratch that, I need to ignore the office gossip and keep moving. I scurry away as fast as I can, reaching Riker’s office in no time. To my surprise, the door is left open and the sounds of laughter float towards me.

“Riker, dear, you have built such an incredible business.” I hear Darcia say coyly. I slow my steps, wanting to see if my worries are for nothing, and approach the open door. Taking a sharp breath, my eyes widen at the scene before me.

Darcia is sitting closely to Riker, the she-wolf’s arms around his right bicep. Riker’s attention is solely on her as he smiles so brightly that I find myself wondering why he had never smiled like that at me before. Now I can see why the office staff is gossiping about Darcia being Riker’s mate.

“Riker.” I call out, plastering a bright smile onto my face once more and stepping through the threshold.

“I brought the coffee and snacks you asked for.” His gaze turns cold as his head whips in my direction. It takes everything in me not to step back in fear as the anger he sends my way nearly suffocates me.

“Can’t you complete a task silently?” He demands, making my smile fall. I say nothing, not understanding what I did wrong as I set the tray on the coffee table before the two. Without another word, I leave Riker’s office and rush towards the lady's washroom. I can feel the tears prickling in my eyes and need to find a place to cry quietly.

A she-wolf exits the washroom as I enter it, nodding politely to me as we pass. I nod to her, praying she doesn’t see the tears in my eyes before entering the small room. Thankfully the three stalls are empty and knowing that I am alone, I let the tears slip down one by one. For three years I have been by his side and yet I have never been shown the warmth Riker is showing Darcia so openly.

The door to the washroom slams open and Serena walks in, but she isn’t alone. Darcia trails behind her, a smirk replacing the innocent smile she gave Riker earlier.

“So this is the whore sleeping with my mate?” Darica asks Serena, the latter nodding to confirm it.

“This is Cassandra, she is Riker’s Secretary and Theta of Solar Wraith.” Serena answers with a scoff.

“Yes, I am the Theta.” I state, not knowing where this courage is coming from.

“Which means I outrank you Serena.” I add, watching Darcia and Serena frown.

“She is Riker’s sister; you should be showing her some respect!” Darcia snaps back, making me flinch.

“But clearly a gold-digging whore doesn’t understand her place in life.” Without warning, Darcia steps towards me, grabbing hold of a chunk of my hair. Fear takes hold as I watch her smirk down at me, her eyes shifting colors as she releases her werewolf power.

“If you know what’s good for you, Cassandra, you will stay away from Riker.” She warns with a growl, her face inches from mine. A knock on the door causes her to release me and I stumble back, my back hitting the wall behind me. The door opens just a crack and the familiar deep voice of Riker comes through.

“Darcia, are you okay?” He asks, his concern for the she-wolf becoming another stabbing pain in my heart.

“Yes, I will be out in a moment, I was just talking to Serena and Cassandra!” She calls back in a sickly-sweet voice. Gone is the vicious woman who just threatened me. With Riker waiting for them, Serena and Darcia throw me one last glare before leaving the washroom.

Now alone, I am left wondering what my place by Riker’s side is now.