We had a car full of things when we got back to the packhouse. After buying me clothes, Ruth took me to buy shoes and other necessary things that she said I would need.
Some of the pack members helped us move the things into my room. Stella was the one to see me first.
"Oh, my goddess!" She gasped when her eyes landed on me. "You look so gorgeous! I couldn't even recognize you!" She let out a laugh before she came to hug me. "Ruth, are you sure you brought the same person back?"
I shook my head. She exaggerates too much.
Ruth laughed at her joke before she turned to me. "It's the same person, Stella. I can guarantee,"
"What did you guys buy? I want to see it all," Stella looked at the bags we were carrying.
"We bought a lot of things. Come on, let me show you,"
*
*
*
I let out a heavy sigh as I fell onto the bed. Today was exhausting. We did a lot of things and it feels like I fought a war. But my hair and body smell so good from using the things we bought. And the pajamas Ruth selected feel so comfortable. It's so smooth.
I hugged the pillow close to me before closing my eyes. I needed a good night's sleep so badly but right when I was about to close my eyes the door to our room opened.
______
Cassian's POV
Right when I opened the door, I knew something was different. It smelled different. Something else mixed with the usual scent of rosewater and turmeric I got whenever I entered the room.
I didn't want to investigate much because I was craving a shower after the intense training today. I went straight to the bathroom and took a hot shower before coming out to get dressed.
I paused when I saw a lot of new clothes in the closet. Hmm…she must've bought them. I took my sweatpants and went to change.
When I came back, she was standing beside the bed, looking everywhere but at me. I was caught off guard when I saw what she was wearing. A set of silk pajamas that was a little bit more exposing than what she usually wore. I didn't know she liked wearing these types of clothes….
They suit her though…
Her hair looked different. Did she get a haircut? She doesn't look like the same person I saw today morning at all.
She looks nice.
Goddess, what the hell am I thinking?
"What is it?" I asked as I dried my hair.
"I…umm…I wanted to give you, your card back…" She extended the card to me.
I gave her a nod before taking it.
"Umm…than-thank you! For giving me your money!" She stuttered out and turned red from embarrassment.
I only nodded before putting the card away. "What did you do today?" The question rolled out of my tongue before I could even think about it.
Damn, what the fuck is wrong with me today?
"Umm…we went to a salon first…and they did my hair and…um stuff. Then we went to a spa and a mall where we bought clothes and other things…" It seemed like she was surprised by my sudden interrogation but still managed to answer.
I only hummed in reply before walking towards the bed. "Go to sleep," I told her. She snapped out of whatever she was thinking and mumbled something under her breath before she got back into bed. I sat on the opposite side of the bed and raked a hand through my hair.
I have to keep more distance from this kid. My wolf is sometimes hard to control. Even though I don't want to think of her in certain ways, some images flash through my mind before I could even control them.
God, I hate this mating bond.
I let out a heavy sigh before lying down on the bed. Maybe sleeping would help me clear my mind….
*
*
*
"Hold your weapons straight! How many times do I have to show you all how to properly use a fucking gun?!" I shouted as I examined all the warriors on the training ground. "You cannot always fight in your wolf form! So learn how to use weapons!"
"Cass," Ryder called me as he came to stand beside me. "Leave it to, Max. I have something to show you,"
"What is it?"
"Let's go to the arsenal,"
I hummed before I looked at Max. I nodded at him and he instantly got what I meant.
"Why are you so stiff today? Did something happen?"
"Stiff? What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine," I huffed.
"Nope," Ryder let out a scoff. "Is it your ma–"
"No," I frowned. "I have a thousand things to think about other than her,"
"You answered that a little too fast for me to believe you. You're obviously affected by her. Now the only thing to know is if it's in a positive or negative way but I'm not that nosy," Ryder laughed causing me to roll my eyes. "Anyways, I saw her a few minutes ago. She looks different…. prettier,"
"What?" My voice was so dark as the word came out of my mouth that it even surprised me. Ryder looked taken aback before his eyes narrowed.
"What?" He retorted.
"What did you just say?" I don't know why I felt so much anger in me suddenly.
"I said she's pretty. Are you deaf?"
"Shut up," I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself. What the hell is happening to me? "Don't talk about her in front of me,"
"Dude, what's wrong with you? I just complimented your mate. Do you hate her so much that you don't even want to hear people talking good about her?" He gave me a disgusted look. "You have to stop your senseless hate, Cass. You have to see her and look at her as your partner. All I said was that she's beautiful and you're already losing your cool." He scoffed. "Well, I'm not gonna stop complimenting her. The next time I see her I'm going to say it to her face that she's a beautiful omega and that any other wolf would've been happy to be mated to her—"
The next thing I know Ryder's body was plastered to the nearest tree with my hand around his neck, squeezing tight as I growled. "Don't you dare. She's mine." I glared at him, my wolf pushing to the surface to gain control. It felt angered that someone looked at my mate that way and even dared to suggest that someone else would make a better mate for her.
It took me a minute to snap out of whatever hysterical state I was in. When I got my senses back, Ryder was looking at me with a smirk that I knew all too damn well.
Ryder got out of my hold. "So you can get jealous, huh?"
"Fuck, Ryder, what's wrong with you?" I cursed before walking away from him.
"I just wanted to get a reaction out of you. You can't ignore your mate forever, you know?"
"I do whatever the fuck I want. I've already told you I love Avery and nobody else,"
"I know you love Avery, man, but you can't deny that you love Ivy too. She's your mate. No wolf can hate their mate,"
"How would you know? You don't even have one," It spilled out of my mouth before I could even process it. It felt like suddenly I was drenched with a bucket of cold water. The anger I had melted away in a split second. I heard Ryder's footsteps come to a halt.
Shit!
"Ouch…" He said in a sarcastic tone but sadness filled it to the brim. His eyes were cast down, shoulders slumped as he stood.
I felt so shitty.
God, I can't believe I said that to him. I'm a freak.
"Ry…" My voice was soft as I called him. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean it. I…I just–you know me…I was just angry…please don't take it to your heart. You know I won't ever hurt you like that intentionally…God damn, I'm so sorry man—"
"Hey, stop it, shithead. What do you think of me as? A child? It hurt a little but I know you didn't intentionally say that. If you wanted to hurt me, your wolf would've already done that because I've given you countless reasons to whoop my ass," He laughed.
"Ry…"
"Stop it, Cass. I'm being serious. But you know what? You're kind of right. I don't know anything about having a mate but I do know about not having one. That's why I'm telling you to treasure your mate. You're a blessed child of the Moon Goddess, Cass. I don't know what she sees in you but she really does favor you. Treat your mate right so you won't regret it later." Ryder gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you what I brought you here for,"
I let out a heavy sigh before following him into the arsenal. The guards greeted us as we entered. Ryder led me to the meeting room and pulled out a fresh map of our pack territory. He marked a few crosses on the north side of the territory.
"We don't know if they are rogues or hunters but we have found traces of them lurking here. A few of them even dared to cross the territory line," He spoke as he turned to look at me.
I clenched my fist. Haven't they had enough? How many deaths do they have to see of their own kind for them to stay the fuck out of my pack?
"We're patrolling tonight. Kill every single one who comes to our sight." I growled, my wolf pushing forward from anger.
Ryder raised a brow. "Do you think the elders would agree? They are against you killing them. Didn't you promis—"
"I promised that I would stop hunting them but if they're fucking with my pack, that means they're asking for it. We're slashing the necks of every fucker out there," I cracked my knuckles. "It's been a while since I had some fun. So much for playing the nice guy. Get the warriors to be ready for tonight," I smirked.
"Got it, alpha," Ryder gave me a wide smile.
I licked my canines as my wolf pushed forward from the excitement of wanting to tear those dogs down.
"It's time for a hunt…"