Chapter 4
With the word from the sorcerer, Alpha Lino had taken to purchasing slaves, Omegas, and mating with them to produce an heir but none of them had given him a child. None of them could. He was starting to think the sorcerer had lied to him.
He sighed and the woman stirred at the sound of it.Her eyes snapped open and her red-rimmed eyes darted about until they focused on him and widened.
The fear in her eyes was a punch to his gut and he immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry," he said.
The woman blinked and her cerulean blue gaze narrowed, feeling him out. The fear disappeared and it was replaced with curiosity.
Alpha Lino found it strange but he only extended the shirt to her. "I'm sorry," he said again, hoping it was enough for everything he'd put her through.
Surprisingly, she nodded slightly and stretched to take the shirt from him. She paused and her cheeks burned when she realized she was naked.
"You could use the bath and change into this. I would like to speak to you after that," Alpha Lino said and the woman nodded. He watched her fumble as she tried to remove the duvet from the bed. Her cheeks turned even redder when she successfully wrapped it around herself and she took the shirt from him without sparing him a second glance and hurriedly disappeared into the bathroom.
"What is your name?" He called out after her and her muffled reply came out a moment later.
"Cassy."
An hour later, Cassy sat together with Alpha Lino and listened attentively as he explained everything to her.
After he was done, she sighed.
She had been angry with him earlier but now, she felt sorry for him. Having to mate with people without one's free will must take a toll on him. If the fatigue in his eyes was any indication.
"Why do you want a child badly?" She found herself asking.
"Well," Alpha Lino paused.
Alpha Lino felt comfortable around Cassy but it wasn't enough to make him blurt out everything.
So, he said, "It's because I'm an Alpha,"
Though Cassy didn't believe him, she decided not to push the issue any further.
Alpha Lino frowned, suddenly realizing how quiet his wolf had been. His wolf usually didn't like it much when he touched other women. Wolves were free creatures but when they mated or bonded, it was for life. Hades was usually in the habit of yelling in his head whenever he touched another female, howbeit, the wolf had been rather taciturn since last night.
"Hades, do you like her?" Alpha Lino asked his wolf, puzzled.
"I will throttle you!" Hades said, wiggling his tail and Alpha Lino chuckled.
"Why are you laughing?" Cassy asked and Alpha lino waved in dismissal.
Alpha Lino's lips parted as if to say something but the door swung open so suddenly, Cassy's heart lurched.
Eleanor walked in, rich brown eyes searching about the room. "Lino? I was just--" She went still when she saw them seated by the bed together and her face drained of all light. She bared her teeth at them and snarled. "What are you doing with my mate?!"Cassy jumped, heart racing, but Alpha Zino stood in front of her, shielding her from Eleanor's blazing anger. She stepped on her toe and peeked at the angry woman over Zane's shoulder.
Eleanor snarled again and Cassy hid behind Alpha Zino.
"Eleanor, stop it." Alpha Lino said and Eleanor growled her response. "Get out, right now!"
"Eleanor!" Alpha Lino bellowed and even Cassy had the sense to cower and draw back from him.
Eleanor blinked and angled her head. He had never yelled at her that way before, much less in front of a stranger. "I'm sorry, but she should have left by now, it's morning already. You never let them stay this long.""Cassy will remain here until I say otherwise." Alpha Lino said and Eleanor's eyes widened.
"You know her name?"
Alpha Lino paused and tucked the thought away for later. He'd never asked the rest for their names. Hadn't cared enough to ask. Cassy was a fluke, and Lino knew it. He didn't want to know what it meant and refused to even think about it.
"El, I will see you later," Alpha Lino said softly.
Eleanor's look of surprise was nothing pleasant. "You're dismissing me?"
"I'm your Alpha. You will do as I tell you to."
"Like hell, I will! You can't do this to me, Lino! I'm your mate!" Eleanor yelled.
"I will not condone this behavior. I will see you later, El" Alpha Lino said but Eleanor didn't budge.
"You're sending me away because of her?" She cried, pointing at where Cassy stood silently behind Alpha Lino, avoiding Eleanor's gaze.
Alpha Lino let out an exasperated sigh. "You know why I'm doing this. I need a child," Alpha Lino said.
"If you want a child this much, we could adopt. You don't have to do this."
"It goes way beyond that. You do not understand, El."
"Then help me understand. I'm your mate! You can tell me everything." She said.
Hades whined within Lino and his heart ached, but everything was way out of his control. There was little he could do to stop or ease Eleanor's ache. His ache.
"There is little I have to offer you, El. You will understand soon. Why all of this is necessary? Do not heighten your expectations and presume to understand who I am," He inclined his head towards the door. "You may leave now."
Cassy watched the exchange between Eleanor and Alpha Lino and she couldn't help but feel sad on both their behalves. The Alpha who had to mate with other females that weren't his mate in search of an heir, and on the other hand was the mate who had to bear all of it.
Cassy's gaze met Eleanor's and she flinched when she saw the hatred in Eleanor's brown orbs before she left.
Chapter 5 Two months later, Cassy's father brought her before Alpha Lino. She had taken in. Alpha Lino had taken Cassy into his arms and spun her around, howling in delight. Cassy, despite herself and her waring hormones, she laughed. Alpha Lino had realized what he was doing and he'd dropped her, murmuring an apology, with his face beet-red. And Goddess help her, Cassy found the Alpha oddly handsome when he was flustered. Cassy's pregnancy had been a surprise to everyone. Most had believed that the Alpha couldn't have a child. Or rather, couldn't father a child. However, she had proved them wrong. If her constant morning sickness and dizzy spells in the castle were any indication. Eleanor watched Cassy from afar. Watched how the woman grew closer to her mate with each passing day. Watched how Alpha Lino doted on the woman and visited her chambers frequently. She couldn't remember the last time her mate had graced her chambers since the news came. Every eye that tu
Chapter 6 Alpha Lino shot her a knowing smile and placed a hand on the small of her back, urging her forward. "Come." Cassy scowled, even as she walked with him. "Remind me again why I must be in attendance?" "It is important you be there, Cass." Cass. He called her that every time she became annoyingly inquisitive, and every time he was being cryptic. Though they had only known each other for a couple of months, it felt like she knew him like she knew her name. "Tell me something, Lino. Anything." Lino. She was the only one who he allowed to call him that. He preferred to be just himself around her, he'd said. "You'll find out soon, Cass. No more questions!" He chided as they took the left turn to the Grand Hall. Cassy nibbled on her lower lip nervously as the voices of the pack leaders escaped the Hall and teased her ears. Nervous. She was nervous. She'd never been to any such gathering in her life. Over the past months, Lino had taken to introducing h
As Cassy followed Eleanor through the forest, she stole glances at the woman. Her posture was stiff and she didn't so much as spare Cassy a glance. "You don't like me much, do you?" Eleanor smiled. "I'm sure we can set aside our differences for the better of the pack. For the Alpha's child in your womb." Cassy's shoulders caved. "I'm really sorry, about all of this. I really didn't want any of it." Cassy meant it. She felt for Eleanor and she was going to give Lino a piece of her mind when they returned. "It's alright. I understand," Eleanor answered and flashed her another bright smile before inclining her head to a different path. "This way. People rarely come here. Only Lunas can walk here. " Cassy nodded, following her deeper into the forest. The walk was refreshing and the chirping of birds filled the air. She felt the slight change in the aura when they stepped foot into it. The serenity of it. The strength in the air. The way time seemed to sti
The rain poured down relentlessly, beating down on the wolves who tried and failed to pick up on Cassy's scent. "Cassy!" Alpha Lino bellowed and a roar of outrage followed. He'd never been so scared in his entire left. So helpless. He would've picked up on her trail, had the rain not washed it away by the time he noticed she was gone. He had searched everywhere he thought she would be, her hiding spots every time she didn't want to be found gobbling down more food. To keep the baby happy, she'd said. He'd searched the gardens, and her chambers, he'd torn apart the castle in search of her. He'd found nothing. All of her things were accounted for. He'd made sure to ask the maids, just to be sure she hadn't run-- though he'd seen no reason why she would. Yes. He should've spoken to her about naming her Luna before announcing it to the whole world. She had been furious and he would never forget the anger that shone in her eyes when he had made the announcement. But th
The moon goddess watched the woman on the floor, angling her head with the grace only an immortal could attain. The woman was already dead, and the baby in her belly dead long before she did. The goddess would have struck the woman who had dared to spill innocent blood on her sacred grounds without mercy dead but it the woman's life was not hers to claim anymore. Eleanor Badminton's life was Cassy Benson's to claim. The Moon Goddess frowned as she mulled over a thought. The dead woman's last moments surfaced. Blue eyes filled with pain had looked to the skies and to her and the woman had pleaded. For once chance. To live again. To make it right. To avenge the life of the child she had loved so much. The Moon Goddess wasn't prone to violence. She detested it. However, she could see the lines of the future falling into place. She had blessed Cassy with the child, therefore blessing her favored Alpha, Lino. What had occurred was a fluke that needed to be corrected and th
Cassy threaded the halls in her plain white robe. The sentries at the gate had taken one look at her face, her garments, and the ice in her eyes and they let her in, gaping at her in awe. The castle seemed the same. Smelled the same. The maids loitered about, gossiping about things that piqued their interest, the sentries and wolves trained on the grounds, and overly dressed females wandered the halls, hoping to catch the eyes of the unmated males of the pack. It was just like it had been a month before. Before she died. It was the same, but Cassy was not. And they noticed it. The moment they noticed Cassy, a hush fell over them. Then they started to whisper and point at her. She recognized her handmaidens amongst them. They stared at her with surprise but she didn't spare them a second glance as she walked past, that stoic expression glued to her face. "Lady Cassy?" Cassy paused and tilted her head slightly. She noted the maid, Jessica. Jessica
Cassy ignored the Alpha's roar of fury and crossed the hall, gown trailing the ground before her as she neared the council. Someone blocked her path, deeming her a threat to the Alpha and her eyes narrowed at the Beta as he fell into a defensive pose in front of her. His eyes widened with glaring intensity and his nostrils flared as he realized the same thing she'd noted for months. That she no longer bore the scent of a lowly Omega. She had the scent of a Luna. An Alpha in her own right. "Impossible," Beta Kayden breathed, tossing furtive glances toward Eleanor's standing form. "The power didn't shift to her. It chose you." Cassy didn't bother to rid him of his ridiculous theory. Her being alive, the change in her body and her soul, it was all the Moon Goddess's gift. One she planned to use to her advantage and take her revenge on those who brought her pain. She had a life to claim. And she would make Eleanor suffer before she made her claim. She would
Cassy was dreaming. She knew it was a dream but she couldn't escape the claws that slashed at her chest over and over again. She couldn't run from the woman clawing her child out of her womb. She begged, pleaded, for someone, anyone to wake her from the nightmare, but no one came. She was dying again, like she did every night. The vile woman was killing her again and no one came for her. Pain exploded in her chest as the claws dug further in, diving past her ribcage, and further until they circled around her beating heart. And when she looked up, she saw her own face, peering down at her. Cold and merciless. "Do not forget," Her cold counterpart seemed to say. Right before she yanked her heart out of her chest. ******** Cassy lurched out of her bed and ran for the bathroom, emptying the contents of her stomach into the chamberpot. Tears ran down her cheeks as she vomited over and over again until all she could do was gag. She'd