LOGINShare
34. Cassie
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
AlleJust wanted to say thanks so much for reading so far!! X
Related chapters
His Unlovable Mate 35. Cassie
We flew out of Volare and back into the lush green of Kallio. Heading north, we skirted the river as closely as possible until we hit forests. Talking for hours about anything and everything. Staying out of sight.Not just to avoid discovery, but because Kallio is starting to unravel. The newsletters are fanning resentment into outrage. Every outlying, tall cliff stack has black scorch marks. Things are finally happening.Resting the horses in the middle of the thick trees, I could have wept to realise Mrs Berrybrow had stuffed out backpacks full of baked treats. “She’s a good woman,” Robyn announces, biting into a wedge of pastry. Rooting through the bag, I notice the gold, twisted-vine necklace has been put back, too. Why would she do that? “Everything okay?” Robyn asked. I hesitated.“Just wondering how we’ll find your brother. Do you have any ideas?” “Keep going north? I wonder if they are behind this mayhem?” pointing to a burnt out granary. I try to eat, but the mate bond
His Unlovable Mate 36. Cassie
It's Dominic. No doubt about it. His voice is thin as paper now, but it’s still him. The last time I saw him was inside the mine. My brain has steadily reduced that whirling terror to a few key images. My father's face, the bloody dagger at my feet. Dominics face, veins pulsing. When he realised, same as myself, that we'd been set up. He knows I am innocent. Dominic had been my training partner. Hours sparring on the heavy foam mats. Sweating, arms in agony from our swords clashing. One day, his expression switched. Steady to fierce before he roughly pressed his lips to mine. Looking back, it was a scandalous move. Seducing the daughter of his Alpha, knowing we weren't mates. At nineteen, I thought he was the bravest, most romantic man on earth. I’d spend blissful hours trailing my hands over his strong torso, admiring his olive-skinned ridges and ripples. His dark eyes sparkled with interest. Four years of blame later, I’m not naive anymore. I trust nobody. However, time appear
His Unlovable Mate 37. Ayr
Under the darkest of night skies, I forced Elle to stare at a pile of bodies. The Elle who simpered and fluttered her eyelashes in the carriage with me on that first visit would have shrieked and had a fit at the sight of a man's guts spilling out down onto the head of another. This Elle was cool, serious. Her simple gold jewellery shimmered under the cool moonlight. This woman was in no need of an Alpha to help her lead as she had so desperately declared. Studying the corpses closely, her amber eyes were constantly flushing with her wolf's golden hue. Studying her silently, I wondered how I ever found her to be identical to her sister. Everything about her features, by mere millimetres, is distorted, forced. At least when Cass waves her arms and calls me a callous bastard it’s genuine emotion. Elle continues staring down at the pile even after men like Beta Cesar look away. That jade-eyed Beta looks edgy, forever glancing over at my men like he expects an attack. Lucas isn't inti
His Unlovable Mate 38. Cassie
Apart from the more than justified robbing of the dead Elder Gunner, I don't think I've ever committed a real crime before. Now I’m following a group of fifty men into a heist against the throne. My father trained me for battles, not robberies. Thankfully, the same rules seem to apply. Clear communication, observation posts, and escape routes apply to both situations. I decided to wear my rich dark blue gown. A dramatic train will flare out behind Pepper as we ride. It's not vanity, I just don’t want to be in disguise anymore. I want them to see my face and realise exactly who I am. A Luna. The rightful Luna. The exiles are not a pack, so we don’t have a mindlink. This means Corbin, his deputies, and I have been running through every scenario on the ground with sticks and stones. What if the guards overpower us if the grain carts can not be moved. There are so many ways this can go wrong, and yet I’m clinging to an idea. A desperate hope. That to stop this grain sale to a brutal
His Unlovable Mate 39. Ayr
Beta Cesar followed us down to the stables with two surly brown-haired deputies. His dark hair and sideburns made his jade eyes pop with colour. He was quiet, methodically prepping the horse's bridles and saddles, placing his heavy armour on his torso. I tried to imagine Cass existing with someone so comfortable with silence. Impossible.The three of us were dressed in black, Lucas and I wearing our heavy metal chainmail on top. The stable crackled with unspoken tension. It feels everyone has a different agenda to the one declared to Luna Elle.I snapped at the group, “Can we get moving?”“Of course, Alpha,” Cesar answered steadily, but without a trace of respect. Both of us are pretending Cass isn’t at the heart of this chase. He knows she is still alive. He was part of the group hunting her at Pemberton. Four years of guarding my mate, did he never look and realise the wonder of her? She struck me, and not just literally, since the instant we met. Has he really remained loyal to
His Unlovable Mate 40. Cassie
Everything felt too easy. The six lumbering carts took forever to get moving. No guards came charging. Multiple tons of grain, a huge unavoidable convoy diverting away from the standard road towards the river bridge, during the afternoon and nothing? “You’re paranoid,” Robyn hissed as I stood up in my stirrups and surveyed the land around us. “There’s nobody there! Corbin wouldn’t get it wrong. He trusts these men. Do you think he’d lead us into danger? His sister?” “No, no, I don’t. I like Corbin. He seems like a good guy,” I whisper back. He listened to my idea to shift, too. There was no arrogance to his leadership.Those who shifted too often in a pack were often scorned. I thought it was mysterious, a chance to look at the world in a different way. Elle, of course, found it barbaric, but then you can’t stick a corset and hoist up a cleavage on a canine. Watching the attack today, I made a quiet little promise to myself. When I find myself alone, with some safe space, my wolf s
His Unlovable Mate 41. Ayr
Exhaustion seeps through to my core. With no sleep and almost constant horse riding it’s left every limb crying out for a mattress and a “get the hell away” sign for the door. But there is no time. Not when Elle has walked me into some kind of stand-off. Her mother’s dark brown eyes, round and wide like a doe look up at Lucas and I, pleading for help. Her fat cheeks are shining with silent tears. /Alpha…I think, maybe…shit/ Lucas starts, but I’ve got nothing, I’m as clueless as him right now. Thankfully, Elle appears in a talkative mood. She picks up the blade but allows its end to trail along the wooden table, ignoring the scratch marks left on the glossy veneer. “So, the exiles got away? A huge fire just before we pounced! Now, what are the odds of that?” Elle’s eyes were wide, innocent. “And falling off your horse Ayr, chasing shadows, how unfortunate.” “I see there is no need to give you a report, Luna Elle,” I reply stiffly. I’m so done with this shit. Thinking I could poss
His Unlovable Mate 42. Cassie
My gamble paid off. Every guard and soldier worth employing must be trying to round up Corbin’s men. WIth guilt squeezing at my chest I hoped they got away. This whole heist was driven by me, and I’ve run away. Because I’m finally choosing happiness. The life I want. It’s going to be me and Ayr. I’m already imagining being back in his packhouse. That huge bed, drowning in cushions and caresses. Or the cliff packhouse, once I’ve had everything of Elle’s burned and thrown out.. I just need Ayr. The rough, primal conquering of my body bound me to him. But it was his tender, understanding patience, which brought me to my knees. Holding my hand against his chest, gently bathing me and holding me while I slept. His fingers trailing over my skin. Treasuring me. But to get to that blissful state again, I need to move an awkward, crooked-nosed obstacle. My sister. The plotting, snakelike creature who killed her own father for a shot at the throne. I tethered Pepper back where I first fou
Latest chapter
His Unlovable Mate Epilogue 2: Cassie
Corbin is the first to arrive, urgency in his steely eyes. He and Ayr now share the dubious honour of matching neck scars. I imagine his lower chest is even more grisly after the attack on him “Is everything okay? It’s so fantastic to see you,” enjoying the sweep of his huge, iron-like hug. The sweet scent of warm baking is the only soft feature about this hardened leader. “When they set up a room for me to recover in, they found this. I thought you should have it,” withdrawing a thick envelope from his jacket. “It’s written by your mother.” I stare at the aged paper and wonder just what I will gain from reading her drunken rantings. “What made you bring this? She must have hundreds of letters, I know she kept a diary too.”“She addressed it to you. It’s the only one with your name on it. No diaries found.” "Go on, I’ll greet everyone else. It will only irritate you if you don’t read it now, " Ayr suggested "Corbin and I need to talk bridges," as the pair grinned. I took the letter
His Unlovable Mate Epilogue: Cassie
Life is very different in Volare these days. Leo is almost two. Wonderful in every way, his pouty lips and blue eyes making it almost impossible to tell him no. I flit between wondering what my mother would think of my own material efforts. Praying I make better choices than her. I still don’t know what the hell was on her mind when she died. Was it out of love for me or hatred of Elle? Staring at Leo, I will never understand how she stood by all those years in silence. It has taken some serious organising but tonight, finally everyone is going to be reunited. A celebration of friendship. Raphael and Robyn have been sorely missed. Almost eighteen months without any visits between us. Corbin had requested all bridges go up for our own safety for a period. He was attacked in an uprising in the centre of Pemberton. Touring a pack and hit in the chest with a cannonball. Quite how the fuck a group of rebels got hold of a cannon is something Raphael is furiously investigating. The nigh
His Unlovable Mate 104. Marcus
She’s dreamed of me? Even as my head spins in a frenzy of pure desire, I need to delve into that conversation more. Women are clearly my blind spot. No pun intended. She’s guiding me along the wooden wall, “I‘m staying in the packhouse, come on,” she breathes, and I’m so close to just being swept along. But this is serious. Flashes of Imelda cross my mind. “Jessica, Jessica, come on, what do you mean dreaming? What colour are your eyes?” as she drags me into the packhouse. Where I once snuck in order to shave in Ayr’s fancy bathroom. Her hand feels so tiny in mine. In fact, everything about her is petite. I’m almost stumbling, and I secretly love the way she doesn’t give a shit I can’t see. She’s taking me to her room regardless. “How about you just trust me?” she whispers before placing a kiss on my open chest. Shit that must be how tall she is. When she first kissed me, she must have been on her tiptoes. What the hell is this? “If you know who I am, I don’t…I’m not going to b
His Unlovable Mate 103. Cassie
Jessica never appeared at dinner. It was a shame, I totally thought her and Marcus might hit it off, but there will be more opportunity. She’s got that daring confidence that I thought might spark his interest. When the lightning flashed and rain descended, everyone jumped in the packhouse. Ayr ran out to find Marcus. Check he hadn’t got caught in the storm and lost his bearings, but he was nowhere to be seen. His blue gauze was trodden into the mud by the packhouse door, though. “He’s not answering his link?” Ayr said, rubbing his chin. “If he wants us, he will,” Matthew answered steadily. “There’s a line of how much he’ll ask for.” Ayr reluctantly agreed, and the evening continued as planned. Drinks consumed, food eaten, I sat in our bed and watched Ayr as he stripped down. I know how long he stays awake at night reading to me. I also know how the instant he thinks I’m asleep he switches from pirate adventures to love sonnets. My dreams are warm, full of summer sun and happiness
His Unlovable Mate 102. Marcus
The day I stop opening my eyes and searching for a flicker of dawn will be when my wolf stops trying too. Not once did I stop believing. Now, finally, after almost five years, something has happened. Since Ayr told me their silver wolf has vanished from the heavens, the constant blackness has started to part. There are shadows and hints of grey and white in my peripheral vision. I can’t see shapes, but there is lightness where once only pitch black existed. My first instinct was to call out to Berrybrow. But then I shut my lips and breathe sharply. This is for me to know. My secret. For if it turns out, all I can see are the shadows at the edges. What has been gained? But maybe, just maybe my purgatory is finally ending? I already know my irises have turned to jade. Mrs Berrybrow was sweet to sell it kindly, maybe as proof that my wolf is still trying to heal me. Ayr has since said he doesn’t give a fuck, that I was exactly the same man to him. Except hearing how the others hav
His Unlovable Mate 101. Ayr
I secretly bought a set of jangling bells, but thankfully, they weren’t necessary. I did once tie them to her and woke up to a barrage of jangling cushions to the face. Then she pinned my wrists to the mattress as best as she could before wrapping her mouth around my semi-hard early morning dick. Confusing, briefly terrifying me and making me want to explode all in the space of five seconds. Perfection. Now, such spontaneity has been briefly retired. Instead, she has to choose from a pile of leatherbound books instead of leaping onto my groin. Holding out a selection of hardbacks, I mock-grumpily bark. “Pick one then,” before helping to place the covers over my hugely pregnant, half-glowing, half-irritated mate. We’re in the final stages of this miracle of a pregnancy, and somehow, my plan worked. “You always know which one I’ll choose,” she smiles back softly, her stunningly soft figure draped in an emerald green silk nightgown before choosing the same one she’s had for the pas
His Unlovable Mate 100. Cassie
It’s not possible. “It can’t be…I mean…” only to turn and see the look on Ayr’s face. The one I’ve always wanted to see. It’s joyous. The sweetest, kindest expression. A god melted into a beaming man. But it is a look he shouldn’t be giving me. Anyway, it’s just one old lady’s opinion. I said I felt sick, but that surely happens to everyone who’s having the minor trauma of almost killing their mate in their sleep. Accepting the golden-eyed wolf could be hunting Ayr and I down for the rest of our lives out of spite is enough to turn anyone’s stomach. Or, as Mrs Berrybrow suggested, the golden-wolf attaches itself to a newborn. Then what? The instant some child turns eighteen and can connect with their spirit, will their soul be corrupted. Try to harm us? “Cass?” Ayr whispers, before reaching out for my hand. I have no idea how long I’ve been silent for whilst I felt the idyllic protection of my Volare life crumble around me. It's not safe. It will never be safe. I still can’t move
His Unlovable Mate 99. Ayr
It’s been almost three months, and with Cass at my side, anything feels possible. Apart from conception, obviously, but we’ve both agreed that doesn’t matter in the slightest right now. I don’t know how it works, but even the Volare population seemed brighter. The packhouse has never seen so many bawdy nights, bands playing, people talking late into the night. Annoyingly, now I’m officially not a kidnapping, raping, deviant scumbag, the other packs are scrambling to purchase even more of our goods. Something to be remembered every time I am forced to attend a Council with the two-faced pricks. Apart from Locksley. He had absolutely zero scruples in buying fancy items from a despised Alpha. Or trying to seduce Cass via pastel suits and bouquets of flowers but thank fuck that game is over. At Cass’s request I have even led a couple of Volare full moon runs. Pretty sure she just wanted to get me naked in the Kallio side of the woods though. Unfamiliar territory to her meant I had th
His Unlovable Mate 98. Cassie
Robyn had arrived in Volare with a few of my favourite gowns and essentials. Like she already knew I would never be coming back if they found me in Volare. “Cass what the hell happened here!” she gasped, taking in the dishevelled room. “Take a guess, Robyn!” I reply, towel wrapped around my body. “AH you're marked. I knew it!” she squealed.Hugging tightly, I quickly dressed, and we headed down to the main packhouse. I couldn’t resist my hunger any longer. Taking a long, empty bench in the far corner, my hair still damp from the shower with Ayr, I told her everything. Yet just last week, when we played with Lucy’s dolls house, I assured her I was fine. Snapped it at her if I recall properly. Now she knows the full extent of the agreement, the silver wolf waiting to be born. How we had decided, after making amends with everyone, that we had a clean slate. No guilt, no blame. Just forwards. “That’s exactly how it should be,” Robyn smiled. “I can not believe how much you’ve changed
