3. Cassie

Beta Cesar is shuffling his feet in the corner of the library.

“You’re huffing again,” he mutters. “It’s annoying.”

“You’re shuffling your feet. It’s equally annoying,” I reply archly, studying the parade of people below. The huge wooden drawbridge into our cliff packhouse is being decorated with orange banners and fire torches. 

An inferno just waiting to happen I think with a grimace.

With his black, ragged mop of curls and jade green eyes Beta Cesar isn’t my friend. Or even an ally. We just trade barbs and get through the day. He hates his role just as much as I despise knowing he gives Elle a daily report. Except with me banished from every mindlink in the pack, I am dependent upon him for information.

“How many are coming again?” I sigh, leaning against the locked wooden window frame. Elle has headed outside, standing on the drawbridge screaming at the servants who are trying to hang the twenty meter long banners down the length of the cliff face. 

“Think her banners are creased, shame,” I offer with a quiet smirk.

Cesar clicks the roof of his mouth at my disrespect. “Four. Alpha Ayr, Beta’s called Raphael, Lucas and…I forgot the other.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter, not like I’ll be meeting them,” I reply, failing to hide my bitterness.

“The main man, Alpha Ayr, he’s meant to be very promising. Handsome and well-bred.”

“He’ll have to be for Elle to consider him. She wants only the best,” I snap back. “If he proposes marriage to her…that’s the end of Kallio you know.”

“Careful Cassie,” Cesar tutted, joining me at the window for a look himself. I am tall and athletic, but I only come up to his shoulder as he looms over me, his honeyed scent a pleasant change from the dust of the library. 

 I continue my bitter whinge. “Word must have got out about her spending, running our reserves to the bottom. But if he marries her, Alpha Ayr gains safety from being on this side of the river. Kallio will just become part of his Volare territory.”

My wolf reminds me to be careful around Cesar. I can only depend on myself. That’s the rule of survival.

“Alpha Ayr comes with a good reputation. This marriage could be what the pack needs,” Cesar snaps at me in frustration, continuing to lean over and study the commotion. His thick arms bulge with muscle as he stretches.

I bite my tongue as Cesar tuts. I’ve said far too much already. The sound of cavalry makes us both jump. They’re here. 

Our so-called saviors are weaving on horseback in between the tall white cliff stacks that dot our landscape.

I watch with interest as Elle quickly switches into princess mode. As always she is beautiful. Utterly regal. Midnight blue gown with a glittering cape swirling on the breeze. Her long chestnut hair is styled high with a diamond tiara twinkling enough to make me wince from eight stories above. 

With her hands clasped in front of her, servants scattering out of sight, she makes the perfect picture. Ready to greet her prospective husband. I’m still praying for a misshapen eunuch-ogre to jump off that leading horse.

Except as the four men pull up and remove their armored helmets I am surprised. Intrigued, I lean forward in the window, hoping for a better look. Short, messy, dirty blonde hair, a sharp jaw and built like a warrior. 

Even from way up here, it’s impossible to argue he’s anything but attractive. Maybe even handsome. When I start wondering what his scent might be I start shaking my head back towards reality. I remind myself of the facts. 

He’s a man. With a pulse. Being presented with a very keen, large-chested Elle who has every intention of seducing him. 

A marriage proposal is all but guaranteed.

Studying him like a zoo exhibit I can’t help noticing his composure, considering the circumstances. Taking his time to hand over his horse to a manservant, petting and checking the beast, before politely walking over the wooden drawbridge to formally introduce himself with a polite, short bow. 

Elle is beaming like all her dreams have come true. Why wouldn’t she be, a blonde, chisel-jawed guardian angel has just dropped in to save her from self-made disaster.

Cesar murmured to himself. “Lucky bastard, he’s shaped like a damn Lycan. And his Beta's, they all look built too.”

“Stop fishing for me to compliment you Cesar,” giving him a nudge in the ribs. “You’re no skinny chicken.”

“Idiot, I know I’m good,” he snapped back with a sly grin. His jade green eyes are as fixated on the scene below as my own. As Alpha Ayr kisses Elle’s hand, I roll my eyes before quickly closing the curtains. 

“Better not risk watching any longer,” I sigh. Cesar nods in agreement.  Better to shut myself away before I am spotted by the crowd. If a single person spots me it tends to spark whole crowds into chanting “murderer” or “scum,” up at the packhouse for hours at a time. 

“He’s nothing but a vulture. Mark my words,” I warn before flopping into a chair and picking up a book. Trying to act like my curiosity wasn’t on fire. 

“Hmm,” was all Cesar offered, still trying to peep through the small gap I’d left. “Less of the shitty comments, you know I’ll have to report them.”

I was too far away to see if Alpha Ayr was shaved or had stubble. His eye color. 

It doesn’t matter yet it niggles away in my mind.

I just want to meet the man who is going to spell the end of everything my family has built up over generations. The thief himself, sneaking his way onto the throne with unkempt golden hair and a winning smile.

With Cesar distracted looking out of the window, I slink away. Quickly heading out of the library, I swiftly descend the stone staircase. Like a naughty child I’m reduced to listening on steps, edging as close as I dare to the conversations below. 

I sneak myself downwards until I’m only two floors above the group. The staircase is a huge, cut-out of the middle of the packhouse cliff that leads all the way up to a huge, domed, glass atrium above. The light from this stunning masterpiece is one of my favorite things about the packhouse.

“This certainly is very impressive,” a deep voice booms. A shudder runs up my spine. His voice is deep, more bass than even my father ever had. It hits the stone and just rumbles all the way up, from my toes to the tip of my head. “How tall is it, how many floors?”

I know it is over one hundred meters tall from the atrium. Eight floors in total. Elle knows nothing. Cares about nothing but herself.

“Oh I’m so glad you like it! The outside is being remodelled soon.”

“Remodelled?” Alpha Ayr enquired and I gritted my teeth about the foolishness of such a project.

I peek over, nudging my head through the stone balustrades and catch sight of the group, standing about in the huge foyer. Elle is still beaming like a cat, her clinging dark blue dress and ornate hair working overtime. “Those old-fashioned gothic points just aren’t what we need,” she suggests with a flippant tone.

“They were unsafe?” Alpha Ayr checks. He couldn’t hide the confusion in his voice. Maybe someone else was finally able to see my sister for the worthless leader she is.

“Oh no…I just didn’t…I mean yes, They needed updating anyway. Can I show you to your rooms? My mother, ex-Luna, Lady Sana will be joining us for dinner later.”

I couldn’t help a sniff of amusement escaping. This Alpha Ayr had at least one brain cell about him then. Already curious about vanity projects, leaving Elle flummoxed.

His deep voice seemed to bounce around the huge open space of the atrium. “Of course, there is just one question I had to ask. As part of our research about the Kallio pack.”

Elle paused, I could just imagine her smile getting wider and more desperate. “Oh, of course, ask away! I’m all yours!” adding a little giggling simper in for effect. If my jaw clenched any tighter I could lose a tooth.

“The rumors about your sister, they are true?”

My heart runs cold and I can’t help myself looking over the edge of the staircase. I stare down at the man curious about my so-called crimes.

Elle can’t hide her annoyance. “Sadly yes. It is a tragic tale.”

“But she walks around free? Are you safe from harm?”

“You are very kind to worry about my safety,” dropping her voice to a breathy flirtation. I didn’t need to risk being spotted to know she was fluttering her eyelashes with manic abandon. However from my vantage point, my gaze was constantly fixed on the visitor.

Alpha Ayr, just as Cesar pronounced, was sturdily built. Thick, solid horse-riding thighs clad in tight black jodhpurs. His broad chest is covered with a chainmail coated leather armor. A thickly belted sword hangs from his hip. 

He runs a hand through his hair, checking out the atrium above and I finally see how stunningly blue his eyes are. Oceans have had less depth than those irises.

My stomach flips. Then I have to stifle a growl at how pathetic I’m being. Attracted to the vampire that has come to suck the final life out of my ruined legacy. Even so, I can’t help edging a little closer, studying Elle’s reactions.

Clasping her hands she starts her usual sermon. “Poor Cassie was led astray. So easily swayed. I will always blame myself for not realizing her boyfriend Dominic was corrupting her thoughts. Filling her head with fantasies.”

“So she is guilty? She killed Alpha Kallio?” Ayr asks in that deep booming voice and my hackles rise. 

“Well it’s not known for definite who struck the blow, I was barely conscious, the cave was so dark,” Elle answers readily. The first time I heard her tell this tale I had to run and be sick. Now it washes over me. I’ve heard I’m vile so many times I sometimes have to remind myself I’m actually not. “But either Dominic or Cass slashed my wonderful, gentle fathers throat with a knife.”

“Why did you not imprison her? For association alone with such a crime,” and the growl in his voice only makes frustration tighten my chest.

“Because I am guilty too, I killed Beta Dominic. It was self-defense, a mad blur but somehow I kept my footing when he fell down the mine shaft. I suppose I fought to survive but it’s not something I’m proud of.”

“You cannot blame yourself for surviving, Luna Elle. Indeed you should be proud of yourself.” Answering with a severity that took me by surprise. 

His pack has known nothing but upheaval and war. To achieve ten years as their Alpha he is the definition of survival. He softens his deep bass to add, “Forgive me Luna but I suppose my pack has a very different way of treating traitors.”

“Perhaps I am guilty of being too kind,” she replied, returning to her breathy whisper. My fists clenched. “But Alpha Ayr, love…the bond between sisters is precious. Cassie is guilty. My father died due to her. But in many ways she is a victim too. So foolish, naive. Yet still willing to lie and manipulate situations. That is why we have had to be so careful around her.”

“Of course,” he murmured. “It sounds as though you have done everything you can.”

So he was an idiot after all. How disappointing for someone who looked so magnificent.

Elle was in full flow now, as she pretended to be my savior.

“I had to take on the mantle of Luna to protect Cassie. My poor mother insisted. It’s for the best but I pray one day, when enough time has passed perhaps the pack will forgive her error.”

“I do not know how long that would take my pack. Justice is often more…final than your sister has received,” he replies flatly. “So, I assume I won’t be meeting her as part of this visit?”

Now that took me by surprise, my head tilting so quickly at the idea I hit it against the stone pillar.

But who wouldn’t go to the circus and want to take a look at the freaks? My wolf surges forward in frustration whenever I beat myself up. It makes shivers run up my spine every time. It reminds me that I’m born to be more than this pathetic lurker.

It also makes my amber iris glimmer with silver fire.

Once more I peer through the stone railings and look down. The three Beta’s he has traveled with are leaning against the white columns, all admiring the stonework. Two dark haired, green eyed brutes, draped in dark, heavy armor and blades. 

“Oh I wouldn’t have thought so. Cassandra lives a very reclusive life now. Barely leaves her room, very shy,” Elle answers, trying to hide her frustration. “Besides I promise you I’m much more interesting,” and she laughed a bright, tinkling little giggle that floated up the atrium space.

Interesting is one word for it, pursing my lips with disgust. Ayr clears his throat and takes a step backwards, my eyes caught on those thick thighs once again.

“Then, may I check, who is the young woman watching me from the second floor staircase.”

My stomach drops through to the mines below. Every head in the foyer tilts upwards to try and spot me as I scuttle backwards and hit my head on another column.

Shit.

I breathe in and hope there is a tiny glimmer of luck left in my life.

“Sorry Alpha Ayr?” Elle checks, her voice a little stiffer. “You saw something?”

“A girl, woman, amber eyes like yourself, short brown hair. She’s been up there watching this entire conversation.”

There is zero fucking luck left in my life.

“Has she now,” my sister answered coolly. The same low voice she used to remind me I was worthless. “Well then we had better introduce you. Cassie, would you like to come down?”