Ivy's POV
"I'm sorry…" I said to my mother as we both ate our food. She looked up and gave me a soft smile even though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Why are you apologizing, dear?" Her voice was soft just barely above a whisper.
"I brought you to this pack. I shouldn't have. Alpha Cassian is an asshole. I can't take his disrespect anymore. It would have been fine if it was only directed at me but he keeps involving you and dad…"
"Don't say that. He's still letting us stay here. He gave us food, clothes, and a place to stay. We should be grateful. He has the right to be cautious. We are rogues…" My mother trailed off.
I frowned. "But that doesn't—"
"Ivy," She softly gripped my shoulder. "Let's not make a fuss, dear. We have no right to do that. Let's wait till he makes a decision." She told me, making me silent.
I looked at the food in front of me for a moment. "What if he doesn't accept us?" I asked in a soft whisper.
"Then we will go back to the woods. We will live like how we always did…" She gave me a soft smile.
"Something is worrying you, isn't it?" I frowned, staring at my mother's tensed form.
"It's nothing…"
"Don't lie. What is it?" I pushed. Is she feeling sick? "Is your health okay? Have you been feeling any sickness lately?"
"No, Ivy. I'm alright. I'm just worried…" She sighed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm just worried that… when I'm gone—"
"Mom," I stopped her, my voice stern.
"Ivy, we both know it. I don't have much time. I'm scared thinking about your future. I don't want to leave you alone."
"You're not going anywhere. I'll find a way. I'm trying to. I'll talk to Alpha Cassian tomorrow."
"No, dear. Don't do that. He might get angry." She warned worriedly.
"I'm here to find out about it in the first place. Postponing it doesn't make sense. It's better if we find out before he decides to kick us out."
"Ivy, you still have a chance. Your mate might be in this pack, dear. Just be patient."
"I don't care, mom. I don't even know when my birthday is. I can't risk staying silent just so Alpha Cassian keeps us here. I'll lose you if I do that. I have to find answers."
My mother looked at me and gripped my hand, trying to calm me down. "Your birthday is very close, dear. Closer than you think. I can't tell you when exactly but I know it's close." She gave me a small smile. "Just be patient, okay?"
"But how do you know, mom?"
"It's a mother's instinct. I can tell. Besides, you're glowing. Your pheromones are seeping through and you've changed a lot. You look like a matured wolf." She patted my head.
"Really? Then why does that asshole alpha keeps calling me a kid? I'm not a kid." I huffed in annoyance, causing my mother to frown.
"Ivy, you're saying too many foul words lately. It's not good behaviour, young lady. You have to respect Alpha Cassian. Remember we are in his territory. And he's twenty eight years old so it's not a surprise he calls you that. You're always acting childish anyways." She scolded me.
Even though my mother was scolding me, I couldn't help but smile. This is the most she has talked and smiled since papa's death. It made me hope that maybe it's possible for her to live. I'll try my best to make her live.
____
I stood in front of Alpha Cassian's study and took a deep breath. I've been standing here for the past five minutes, building up the courage to knock.
I thought about it all night yesterday. I can't postpone it anymore. I need to know how he survived. I need to do something before anything fatal happens to my mom.
I was about to knock on the door when it suddenly flung open with a glaring alpha behind. "You've been standing here for so long. Were you trying to eavesdrop?" He asked, his hazel eyes boring into my very soul.
"What? No!" I answered immediately even though my heart almost leaped out of my body from being surprised like that.
Wait! How does he know I was standing here for so long?
Alpha Cassian stared at me with an annoyed expression, causing me to look down and clear my throat. "I wanted to talk to you…" I managed to say without stuttering.
He raised a brow. "About what?"
I took a deep breath. "About why we came here…" I said, causing his expression to change for a bit before it came back to its stoic state the next second.
"Say it," He ordered.
"Can I at least come in first? I don't want to say it in the hallway."
The predator muttered something under his breath before opening the door wider with an annoyed look on his face. I stepped into the room and I was immediately hit with his alpha pheromones that filled the room. I should be feeling scared or nervous but instead, I felt calm. It felt odd.
His pheromones smelled like wild herbs and deep forest after rain. I think it felt calming because it reminded me of my home back in the forest.
Chills went down my spine when Alpha Cassian rolled his shoulders and leaned his back on the table, crossing his legs with his hands in his pockets. Even though I hated him, he was heavenly beautiful. His presence alone was enough to bring everyone to their knees.
He was in casual clothes. A simple blue T-shirt that showed off every muscle in his body and grey sweatpants. I gulped and looked away. This man is making me think things I shouldn't be.
"Are you going to just stand there or say something?" His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Don't waste my time. I'm busy."
I cleared my throat again. "After the shadow pack rescued us from the hunters, we were given two choices…to join their pack or to go back to being rogues. We decided to join their pack because my mother was getting sick. We won't be able to survive in the forest with her sickness…" I sighed. "But then they said because of some issues they won't be able to take us in and we will be shifted to another pack. We wanted to go back to the forest because we didn't want to join an unknown pack but then I heard it's your pack so…. so I convinced my mother to join." I gulped, peeking at Alpha Cassian to see him frowning at me.
"Why?" I flinched at his deep voice.
"Because I want to save my mother…" I replied in a small voice.
"We can't save your mother. She's a gone case," He suddenly said, causing my head to snap towards him.
"She isn't! She can be saved!"
"How?"
"You know how."
"Kid, what are you talking about?" Alpha Cassian clicked his tongue.
"You survived. How are you living even after your mate died? Y-You did something right? Please tell me so I can save my mother too." I stuttered out, looking the predator in the eyes.
I saw a murderous aura take over his features. His eyes turned darker and my body tensed when his pheromones turned overpowering. It took my breath away.
He stalked closer to me and I took a few steps back until my back hit the door.
My whole body was screaming at me to submit or to run out of the room and find somewhere safe. But I couldn't. Not now. I need to know.
Alpha Cassian towered over me, glaring down at me with gritted teeth. He looked beyond scary. I wanted to go on my knees and beg for mercy but I clutched my clothes and stayed put.
"Get out," He breathed out, his voice sending chills down my spine. I bit my lips. His voice was deep and commanding and It felt like he was holding back from throwing me out of the room.
I took a deep breath before looking into his eyes.
"No."