Cassandra’s POVOn the way to my apartment, I am jumpy and hyper aware of my environment. I am turning at the slightest noise, ready to pounce if anyone shows up. Lydia keeps giving me weird looks. We get to the apartment just fine but I still hold my breath, I am still expecting something bad to happen. This is a bad idea, no, this is a terrible idea. We get to my door and I glance at Gerta’s door to check if it is still locked, my werewolf hearing cannot pick up any sound from her apartment. She really is gone.I unlock the door and walk through; Lydia follows immediately after and locks the door with all three bolts. She turns to me, “Is that better? We wouldn’t want anyone scaring you to death,” I really do not appreciate her sarcasm, I am the one on edge right now.I ignore her and head for my bathroom, as I predicted the necklace is on top of the sink where I left it last night while treating Ray’s wounds. I breathe a sigh of relief and grab it, clenching it in my fist I return
Ray’s POVI tighten my hold on Casaandra, if I had been even a second late, she would be a captive of the hunters. If I had been a second earlier, I would have saved her friend. I slowly drop her back on the couch.Guilt rolls over me in waves, I should have been faster, stronger, “This is my fault,” I say softly. I know Gray is standing at the door way.“That is a very heavy burden to bear Ray,” he says and I stand up before turning to him, he is leaning on the doorway.“How is the friend?”He sighs and stands straight, “She is in critical condition, internal bleeding. She might not make it.”My fist clenches, “Do whatever you can,” I snap at him.“She needs blood Ray, we can’t just waltz into the hospital and demand it,” Ray snaps back. I rub my face in frustration, “If she has just listened and gone with you, all this would have been avoided,” Gray tells me.“That’s enough,” I cut him off before he can say more, my fist clenches even tighter, “If we can’t get human blood then use m
Lydia’s POVI wake up with a patched mouth, groaning I reach for my bedside where I always keep a bottle of water handy. My hand comes up empty, but what forces my eyes open is that instead of the hard wood of my bedside my hands touch cloth. Specifically, clothed human flesh. I open my eyes and in front of me is an older man, he is handsome in that Goerge Clooney kind of way complete with the gray highlights in his hair indicating his age.“Who are you?” is the first thing I say, he smiles and looks down. I follow his gaze to see that my hand is on his thigh, more specifically clutching the thigh. He has very firm thighs. Embarrassed at being caught groping I remove my hand.“Easy,” the man says and helps me sit up, his voice is smooth and I swear if my world was not already spinning, I would have swooned. He helps me rest on the head board, “Better?” he asks me and I nod.I look around the room, “This isn’t my room, my place is nowhere as nice as this,” I say groggily then cough, “C
Cassandra’s POV“What happens to her now,” I ask the minute we step out of the room.“I offer her place among us, if the werewolf committee get hold of her they are going to lock her up and throw away the key,” he replies without looking at me.“Because it is illegal to turn humans to werewolves,” I snap at him, “You knew that and you still went ahead with it. You took her life away from her.”Ray sighs and collapses into the couch in the room we formerly were, “I can offer her a place amongst us.”“First you completely up turn her life, now you want to bring her into the worst possible existence a werewolf can have,” my tone is impatient and I rub my forehead in frustration, tears flood my eyes at the thought of what I have done to my friend. I should have let them take me that night.“Bold words for one who is also a rogue herself,” I turn at the voice, the man from before is leaning on the doorway again with the same bored expression.My eyes light up in recognition, “I saw you at
Cassandra’s POVWe return to the house with Lydia and Lia, the werewolf who was put in charge of Lia follows us and I get the feeling that she does not like me. She keeps throwing me scathing looks when she thinks I am not looking, she was surprised when Ray told her Lia would be coming with us and immediately voiced her refusal.We arrive at the house and Gray parks the car, the werewolf leaves immediately but not before throwing me one last scathing look. The rest of us walk to the house, Lia attached to my side and clutching my hand tightly.“What pack are we?” I ask immediately we step into the house.Ray glances at me, he transfers Lydia to the Ethan before replying me, “What makes you think we are in a pack?”I raise a brow, “I am not stupid Ray.”“Why don’t you go stay with your mom, Lia,” he turns to Lia still attached to me. She looks to me and I nod softly, slowly she detaches herself from me and follows Gray up the stairs. Gray glances back, looking between Ray and I but he
Cassandra’s POVThe council is not what I am expecting at all, it is made up of people of varying age completely unlike the old fuddy duddies I am used to. But one thing they all have in common is their scowl of disapproval. The minute I walk in, I can tell that they not want me or Lydia in their camp. Gray and Ethan are seated among them, Ethan is the only one with a smile on his face.“Wow, tough crowd,” Lydia mumbles before putting on the brightest smile I have ever seen on her, she waves cheerfully at them, “How are y’all doing?”She is met with awkward silence. Ray clears his throat behind me and steps forward to stand beside me, somehow it is comforting having him beside me like a sort of familiar comfort.“Alpha Ray,” a dark woman speaks up, “We have heard very disturbing news, care to explain?”“So, you are on trial too,” Lydia smiles at Ray.Ray does not reply her because he is focused on the men and women surrounding us. We are in a large tent with the men and women of varyi
Cassandra’s POV“We are having bon fire tonight to celebrate our new home,” Tessa tells us, “The council members will be more relaxed and easier to charm then.”She walks away after that and Lydia and I stare at her retreating back, “I like her already,” Lydia announces.Ray smiles and leads us to our tent, he stops in front of a somewhat big tent, “It would have to do for now till we get more supplies.”I bend down and looks inside, Lia is inside fast asleep on a sleeping bag, “What did the council members say about Lia,” I ask him.“They are not ruthless to kick a little girl out just because she is human.” Ray tells me, “There are some clothes inside, the outhouse is some distance away and so is the make shift bathroom. Make yourself at home.”He leaves us in front of the tent and I crawl in followed by Lydia, the tent is just big enough to fit Lydia and I. Lia is small enough to squeeze in. I look around the small space, this is going to be my life for a while.Lydia turns to me a
Gray’s POVThis woman is by far the most dramatic person I have ever met, “What the fuck kinda introduction is that?” I grumble to myself, but Tessa hears me and gives me an amused look. She is standing beside me as we both watch Lydia talk about herself.“I like her, even more I like how gutsy she is. Really put you in your place at the meeting earlier today,” she tells me.“You are enjoying this,” I scowl at her and she smiles charmingly. Tessa and I go way back, and she has been a necessary back bone to Ray and I.“Okay, Lydia. We get it, you are quite talented,” I step in when it looks like the woman would not stop talking about herself. She gives me a dirty look but returns to her seat, I turn to Cassandra but she avoids my eyes so I take that as my cue to end the bonding session.“It is amazing watching our family grow, it is more amazing knowing the opportunity for a better life we can now have,” I say and I am rewarded with applauses.After that, the party continues and everyo
Cassandra’s POV“Don’t do it,” I whisper standing beside Lydia.She turns to me with a fake look of surprise, “Do what?”I raise a brow at her, “It is his story, Lydia and you are not going to push him to tell it.”She groans, “Come on, you are just as curious as I am. The man used to work for the same people who are hunting us down like literal dogs.”“That man also has super human hearing, and you are both not making any attempt to be quiet,” Gray snaps and we both turn to him, our eyes wide at being caught.Lydia coughs loudly to allay the sudden tension and walks towards the men. We are still in the ware house, Ray, Harold, and Gray are trying to find the safest route out of the city because Lucas would have everywhere blocked and under heavy surveillance.“So, what’s the plan?” she asks them.Harold smirks at Lydia, “I like her, how did you guys meet again?” he turns to Gray.“Not you concern,” Gray snaps at him. The man is always snapping at someone.Harold smirks at him in repl
Cassandra’s POVThey attacked us from behind, I felt searing pain at the bac of my head before I passed out. When I come to, I see nothing but darkness. I try to move around and I rewarded by searing pain in my wrist.“Don’t move,” I hear Ray’s voice, “They have enchanted binds on us, the more your struggle the tighter it gets. And it is made of silver.”There is the sound of shuffling and something is pulled off my eyes, light hits me and my gaze focuses on Ray who is staring at me with worry, “Are you alright?” he asks.I notice the red bruises on his wrist and know his advice to me is probably from experience, “Your wrist,” I say.He sits back with a shrug, “I’d survive, I’m more worried about you. You took a pretty hard hit to the head.”We are in a van, our hands and feet are locked with the same enchanted bind. The van is too small for the both of us and Ray’s legs stretch out to me, “What are they going to with us? What about Gray and Lydia?” I ask in panic.“Easy,” Ray tries t
Lydia’s POVBen scowls at Gray, “Did you have to introduce me like that?”Gray makes a face, “How would you rather I do it?”Ben shrugs, “You could have introduced me as a friend or something, or a pal. Now she is going to be careful and extra nice around me, looking for my approval and shit.”“What are you going on about?” Gray asks him.Ben gestures at me, “She is your girlfriend, right?”Gray laughs loudly, “Lydia is a lot of things to me, girlfriend is definitely not one of them.”I have been staring between the two men during their conversation, at Gray’s words I scowl at him, “What is that supposed to mean?” I ask placing my hands on my waist.Gray gives me look before turning to Ben, “Great, now you’ve got her all riled up.”“Stop talking about me like I am not in the room,” I snap at him and he replies by reclining into the couch even more.“You going to sit down or keep making me uncomfortable,” Ben asks me and I suddenly remember myself. I take the couch farthest from Gray,
Lydia’s POV“How do you know they are Hunters?” I whisper back to Gray, he gives me an obvious look.“I’ve fought enough of those scum bags to be able to pick them out in a crowd,” he tells me, “And I recognize one of them from the day we rescued you and Cassandra.”I grab his hand in panic, “He could recognize you.”“I know,” he growls, his head and gaze focused on the table, “They are probably looking for Ray and Cassandra, I should warn them,” he brings out a small phone just as a hand clamp down on his shoulder.My spine goes tense and the hairs on the back of my neck stands on end as the huge man smiles at us, “Hello,” he says in an oddly soft voice, “Mind if I join you?”Gray growls but the man forces him back into his seat with his hand still on Gray’s shoulder, “You gave my men quite the run for their money, Grayson. If you weren’t a dirty rogue, I would have recruited you.”Gray scowls at him, “Lucas, you found me. what other luck you got going for you,” he spits at the man.
Cassandra’s POVThe club is packed, the perfect place to lose our current tail as Ray explained to Lydia and I. the bouncer at the door starts out difficult but lets us in when Gray flashes him some cash.“So, we are going to split up now,” Ray yells over the loud music, we all turn to him with incredulous looks, we were not told this part of the plan.“Gray go with Lydia, Cassandra and I will go the other way,” Ray tells us.“Really,” Gray says, raising a brow at him. He is about to say something then stops, think better of it and suddenly drags Lydia into the crowd with him. I move to go after them but Ray pulls me back with a shake of his head.“How do we contact them, anything could happen in here,” I tell Ray and he shrugs.He waves a burner phone in front of me, “I always have a contingency plan, come on before the guy sights us,” he pulls me with him into the crowd, shouldering through the dancing people so I do not have to deal with bumping into sweaty humans.Ray takes us to
Cassandra’s POVLydia and Gray glare at each other, both having no intention of backing down. Truthfully, when Lydia had announced she would be coming with me after I told her about Ray’s instructions to me, I had given her a dubious look. These two do not seem like the type to let anyone force them into something they never agreed to.“If I may,” Xavier speaks up and all heads turn to him. He had arrived at my tent to take me to Ray, I had felt like a primed sheep on its way to the slaughter especially since Tessa arrived with some clothes for me to change into a few minutes earlier.“Lydia going with you two doesn’t sound so bad, what are the odds that they have her scent too,” he tells us.“Stop talking Xavier,” Ray growls and Xavier goes quiet but he has a smirk on his face.“Yeah, what he said,” Lydia speaks up, “Whatever that means, he has a point.”Gray rolls his eyes before turning to Ray, “She is a wolf, they couldn’t possibly have her scent.”Ray has a faraway look, and he g
Cassandra’s POV“Again!” Xavier yells and the man charges at me, giving barely enough time to raise my arms for cover. He pushes me and I find myself flying across the field on my butt. This is humiliating.Groaning, I lie on my back. Xavier’s body blocks my view of the sun, I can just tell he has a frown on his face. At least his creepy smile is gone, “You hesitate, that is your problem.”I sit up and look back up at him, “Okay,” I say passively.“You don’t seem interested in this at all,” he says again.“What gave it away, the fact that you all strong armed me in the tent or was it my very vocal protest last night,” I say sarcastically.There is silence at first then he suddenly drops down beside me, “If it is worth anything, I don’t think you are a spy or whatever else the Council can imagine in their head,” I turn to him and he shrugs, “You just didn’t have the look, but they were going to throw you into combat without a second thought or the proper training. I just brought you so
Cassandra’s POVRay arrives at our tent the next morning, Lydia is waiting to rip him apart the minute he arrives.“You asshole!” I hear her scream at him from my position inside the tent.“Hello, Lydia,” he replies calmly.I step out of the tent and he turns to me, “Here to take me to the slaughter house?”Lydia places herself between me and Ray, “I’m going with her, I want to enlist too,” she folds her arms.“This has got to be the most ridiculous show of bravery I have ever seen,” we both turn to see Gray heading in our direction, he has his usual scowl on his face except this time it has a hint of distaste.Lydia immediately changes course, “Right, I forgot about the devil.”Gray cocks his head before turning to Ray, “This is the childish bullshit we have to deal with now?”“Call it what you want asshole, I am still going to join your stupid fight squad,” she tells him, meeting his glare with one of her own.“You can’t join, Lydia. Your wolf is still volatile, you should be busy l
Cassandra’s POV“Did you lose yur mate too?” I ask Trent.He looks away, but when he turns back to me he has his smile back on his face, “That is for me to know, and you to not judge,” he walks off before I can say anything else. I try to follow him but few steps in and I cannot find him anywhere.I groan in frustration, everyone seems to be trying to push me in this confusing direction I would rather not go, “What the hell!” I yell in frustration. I look around me, I should find my way back to my tent and get some rest.At that moment I spot Ray from afar, he has a heavy frown on his face as he walks into a tent. I hurry in his direction. Maybe, he will be able to help me find my way back to my tent. He is not the ideal option but he will make do.When I get closer, I pick up harsh whispers, I suddenly stop when I recognize the tent. It is where the Council had their meeting last time. Are they having one right now?I creep closer, so I can hear better what they are saying.“What do