Confrontations

"Cassia," Torin gave a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair.

Good, the frustration was mutual.

"I don't want it, remove it!" I reiterated, my tone hard and unyielding despite the shaking in my hands.

"Good night, Cassia," he snapped. He turned his back on me and walked out, the heavy door clicking shut, not giving me a single chance to pull him back to myself. Not that I would have.

I was all alone once more. The silence of the clinic room pressed against my ears. I no longer had the appetite to eat the food left on the tray. I curled into a tight ball on the stiff mattress and cried myself to sleep.

It was bright the next morning, the sun trying its best to blind me through the window blinds.

"Damn," I said to myself, raising a hand to block out the harsh light.

The pack doctors came in shortly after to check my pulse and officially discharge me.

"I hope we don't see you here anymore," the older female doctor said with a tight, professional smile.

I nodded, swinging my legs over the bed. I was just grateful to get out of there. The sterile white walls and pitying glances were starting to get to me mentally and emotionally.

Once outside, I bypassed the main paths. I went straight to the pond. It was hidden deep in the woods, acting like an abandoned sanctuary in the pack territory. No one ever went there, except my friends and I.

Sitting by the edge of the water, the memories assaulted me.

*Flashback*

The water was warm. We were all in the pool, but Torin and I had drifted apart from the rest of our friends.

"I love how you look all wet for me," Torin growled softly, biting my lower lip.

"Torin," I smacked his chest playfully, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. "Stop that, people are here." I was basically blushing.

"Well, it's going to be fun then," he said, pulling me closer against his hard chest. "They get to see me ravage you, to know that you're off limits." He growled the words directly into my ear, goosebumps appearing all over my wet arms.

"Torin?" I breathed out, barely containing a moan. "We aren't supposed to do this," I protested weakly.

But his hands slid beneath the surface of the water, trailing up my ribcage and slipping under my breasts, his thumbs stroking the sensitive wet skin playfully.

"I know, love," his hands went a tad bit higher, testing my limits. "I am just checking out the waters."

I looked up at him, catching the wicked smirk on his face at his own pun.

"Torin!" I threw my head back with a loud laugh.

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Brina, Silas, and Gareth—his gamma—watching us from the shallow end. I immediately buried my face into the crook of Torin's neck.

"This is embarrassing," my voice came out muffled against his wet skin.

"I love to see them watch, baby. It means you're mine."

I cringed a bit at his possessive words, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "You're stupid," I laughed.

"Only for you, love."

A lone tear fell from my eyes as the memory faded into the present. He didn't want me anymore. He was with his new mate.

The thought of it left a sour, bitter taste in my mouth. He was with her. Another woman. Another body for him to claim.

*It's just for a while, Cas. He said it's just for a while,* I told myself over and over, a desperate mantra to keep myself from breaking. I aggressively wiped the tears that had gathered on my cheeks.

I was going to be unbothered by it today. It wasn't going to move me. I would make sure of it. Nostalgic heartbreak hardened into a fierce, burning defiance. I wouldn't let his political games and his new alliance destroy me. Chin up, I walked away from the pond and headed straight for the pack house.

"Good morning," I greeted the first warrior I saw on the path.

I didn't miss the way his eyes showed pity as he looked at me, responding to my greeting with a stiff nod. I bit back the emotion, not giving the humiliation time to settle in or for my brain to process it. I pushed through the heavy wooden doors of the pack house and made a beeline for the kitchens.

"Ma'am Corinne! Good morning," I called out, walking in and wrapping my arms around her waist for a hug.

She was one of the head kitchen staff. But to me, she was my mother. It might be because she never had a pup of her own, or because I was always hovering around her when I wasn't with Torin, but either way, she treated me like her own child.

"Cassia!" She dropped what she was doing, turning to hold me tightly. "How are you? I heard what happened. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," I whispered in her ear.

She pulled back, shaking her head. "If I had just let the Luna let another ranking family take you in, maybe you would have been seen as a worthy enough mate." She spoke rapidly, shaking her head again. "It's all my fault." Her voice broke. It sounded like she was about to start crying. She was always the soft, nurturing type.

"You don't say that!" I snapped, my tone sharp with protective instinct.

She was used to my temper by now, so she didn't even flinch.

"You are the best mother anyone could ever ask for, and I'm glad you chose me," I said, softening my voice.

She seemed reassured by my words. She wiped her hands on her apron and nodded, telling me to take a seat at the island so she could give me breakfast. I didn't complain. I hadn't eaten a proper meal in about three days.

She placed a massive stack of pancakes in front of me. As I ate, she filled me in on what had happened around the territory during the mating season. I pretended to listen, nodding my head here and there while chewing. She seemed to notice my glazed expression because she eventually kept quiet, just asking if I was okay from time to time, to which I just smiled.

"Thank you," I said, looking at the empty plate in front of me.

"Ma," I paused, watching her look over her shoulder to show she was listening before she continued cooking for the rest of the pack. "Why did you never get a second chance mate?"

I saw her freeze a bit at the stove.

"I couldn't do it," she said softly. "Hugh was my everything, and honestly, Cassia, I am more than happy with the way things turned out."

Ma'am Corinne was mated to an omega in the pack. I remembered him faintly. I had just turned four when he died. We weren't that close, so my memories of him had faded over the years.

I could see the distant yet happy look in her eyes as she turned back to me. "Do you believe it? That he isn't my mate?"

She sighed, stepping closer to the counter. "I know you wouldn't lie. But you know we can't say anything out loud. It would be direct opposition against the Alpha."

I bit my tongue. That didn't sit right with me. The injustice of it all burned in my chest.

"So that is it? We just take whatever they give us? I just..."

I shut up real quick. I felt a commanding presence step up behind me. For a brief moment, the heavy energy felt like Torin.

"Luna," Ma said, immediately bowing her head in submission.

I turned around on the stool. I felt pissed. If I was the Luna, Ma would never have to bow down. She would be standing right by my side through all of it.

Valerie didn't even look at me. She kept her chin tipped up, looking down her nose at the woman who raised me.

"Corina, I need a plate of custard and—"

"Ma'am Corinne," I corrected sharply, cutting her off.

"Sorry?" Valerie looked at me, as if just realizing a peasant was breathing her air.

"Put some respect on her name," I demanded, narrowing my eyes.

"Cassia!" Ma'am Corinne gasped, a look of horror washing over her face.

"And it's pancakes for breakfast today. Be a darling and don't stress her out," I sneered, holding Valerie's gaze without an ounce of submission.

She blinked, looking at me with feigned confusion.

"And you are?"

I bit the inside of my cheeks in frustration. She knew my damn name. She had just heard Ma call it right this moment. I scoffed, rolling my eyes, not even bothering to answer her pathetic power play.

"Listen here," Valerie's voice sounded like acid, ready to burn right through me. "You will respect my authority in this pack, or else."

I watched her perfectly manicured fingers twitch, her sharp claws extending fully as she took a threatening step closer to me. Protective rage flared inside me. I stood up, ready to fight her right here in the kitchen. She wasn't touching my mother figure.

"Please!" Ma shouted, stepping between us, so much raw fear embedded in her voice. "I've spoiled her, Luna. She is used to having her way. I swear I'll make sure to caution her."

I wanted to snap at Ma for begging this outsider, but I figured pushing a newly appointed Luna into a physical fight was a bad idea.

Valerie glared at me for one more second before looking at Ma dismissively. "Take care of your pup. And get me that custard!" She spun around and strutted out of the kitchen, the heavy doors swinging behind her.

"Why did you do that?" I snapped once I was sure she was out of hearing range. "She literally was talking down to you!"

"I didn't mind it," Ma scolded, gripping the counter. "What I do mind is your attitude. Look." She took a deep, shuddering breath, letting out the fear that had built in her chest. "I know you and Alpha Torin used to have something in the past. But that's it. It's in the past. Any little thing you do now can be used as treason in these situations. Don't be stupid."

She gave me a hard, piercing stare. The ultimate 'do you hear me' look.

"Fine," I muttered.

I grabbed my plate from the counter, putting it in the sink since I was done, and grabbed a sponge to help her wash the morning dishes. I needed something to burn off the adrenaline in my veins.

"I mean it, Cassia," she pressed, coming to stand beside me.

"I've heard you, Mum."

I could see the subtle, tender smile that danced across her face at the title.

"You know I love you, right?" I asked, turning my head to look at her.

"Yes," she smiled, rolling her eyes playfully, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. "You make it obvious every single day." She laughed.

"Well, you don't make it obvious," I teased back, giving her a soft smile.

But inside, my chest felt hollow. I felt terrible for her, constantly living in fear of stepping out of line. I wiped my hands on a towel, a heavy, resigned determination settling over me. The pack house was suffocating. Every corner held a memory of Torin, and every hallway held the threat of Valerie. The agonizing reality of Torin mating with another woman, claiming her, touching her—it was unbearable. I couldn't stay here and watch it happen, even if he swore it was just for a short while to secure an alliance.

I made my decision. I had to run away.

"Ma," I started, keeping my voice low and steady. "If I were to go... you know, leave the pack for a while..."

I didn't get to finish my sentence. I watched her lower lip tremble. She quickly pressed her lips together, trying to stop her mouth from shaking and holding back a fresh wave of tears.

"You know I'll never stop you, right?" she whispered fiercely. She stepped up behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders in a tight embrace. "Do what you need to do to survive, my sweet girl."

I closed my eyes, leaning back against her. Guilt gnawed at my stomach. A part of me had wanted to slip away in the dead of night without saying goodbye, just to spare her this pain. But now the reality of leaving was out in the open. I was going to escape this pack. I just needed to pack a bag and disappear before sunset.

Suddenly, the heavy kitchen doors swung open, hitting the walls with a loud thud. The temperature in the room plummeted.

"Cassia, we need to talk," he said, his voice booming through the kitchen.