A Place To Stay

I waited, praying that Nathaniel was not going to judge me. I waited, hoping that he was not going to change his mind about me. 

I finally had someone in my corner now, someone who believed in me. As much as I was already used to rejection and bad things happening to me at this point, a part of me wanted him to stay by my side. Plus, I did not want to be left out here tonight. 

I had seen just how this pack hated me by just being out here for a few hours after Leon had kicked me out for the night. I still could not believe that he had done that. It was like the brother that I once knew and loved, and that knew and loved me, was now dead and gone. 

The Leon that I knew now was a stranger. 

Nathaniel was now looking straight at me. “Do you have somewhere to spend the night?” He asked, proceeding to stand on his feet. “There is no way that I am going to let you stay out here tonight. It’s cold as hell, and you’re not safe out here alone.” 

“Are you sure?” I asked him as I stood up, but I was silently begging that he was. 

He nodded, flashing me a small smile. “I am, Cassie,” He replied. “Come on, let’s go.” He led the way and we walked down a block before reaching a car. It was the same one his colleague had driven me in a few hours ago, when I had been brought from the cabin and back to the Pack House. 

We got into the car, and he drove. Seatbelts on and some music playing, before I knew it, I fell asleep. 

Nate’s POV

I was sitting behind the steering wheel, driving us to the cabin. I glanced at the girl, and she was fast asleep. I did not blame her; she must have been tired. It had been a long night. Imagine almost being killed by a stranger all because they believed that you were a traitor. 

Cassie was not safe in her own pack, and this made me worried. I was learning a lot about her, but at the same time, I still had my concerns and questions. I had learned, and she had confirmed that she was indeed the one who had released the sensitive battle plans that caused so many to lose their lives and caused the pack a loss when it came to respect and territory. 

All because of one person. So yeah, I mean, I get it. I understand the hate. But gosh, it was so bad. People wanting to kill her in the streets was crazy. 

The thing here was that I felt like there was something that she was not telling me. I felt like she was holding back on something important, something that would help me see her for who she really was. I was trying hard, but I still could not wrap my head around the fact that someone like her would have done what was said that she had done. 

Beta Zane had told me from his investigation that Cassie had done it on purpose because she was jealous and angry that Sage had come back into her life and stolen everything from her. She had told me tonight that it was a mistake. 

I did not know which one to believe, but at the same time, I had doubts about both of those. The Cassie that I was getting to know did not seem like someone who would do any of that. Or maybe I was just blinded by the fact that I had finally found my mate and wanted her to be mine. 

Nevertheless, I was going to make sure to find out the truth, and the whole thing. No matter what. 

We finally arrived at the cabin, and I brought the car to a stop, killing the engine before removing my seatbelt. I then got down and went to her side of the car, opening it and removing her seatbelt. I gently got her out and into my arms. 

Her skin touching mine as I carried her inside ignited something in me, and I could sense my wolf going crazy. It wanted her. And it wanted her so bad. I was howling for me to mark her as mine, but I could not. 

At least not yet. 

I took her inside and down the hallway. Entering the bedroom, I placed her on the bed and tucked her in. Before leaving, I lingered by her side. I had not had a mate before, and looking at this emotionally wounded girl that the Moon goddess had chosen as mine, I felt a strong animalistic urge to keep her safe and protected. 

I was not going to let anything happen to her. I was going to make sure to find out what she was hiding, no matter how good she was at hiding it. And after it all, she was going to be my Queen. She would help me lead the people, and my rule as Alpha King would be one of the greatest!

I reached close to her face and gently brushed some of her hair away before pulling away. Then I left. I could not remain in that room; my wolf was yearning for her too badly. So I went outside and lay down on the sofa. 

I replayed everything that had happened tonight, and I could not help but smile. I had enjoyed my time with the girl. And also, almost everything that I had told her was true. My parents did die in a tragic train crash. And the only family I had left was my uncle, who was just as strict and cold as my father used to be. 

The only lie that I had told her tonight was that I was a warrior when I was really the Alpha King. But I did believe that this was for the best. Not lying to her, but letting our connection grow without influences like my powerful title. 

As soon as I closed my eyes, my phone startled me by ringing. I sat up and pulled it from my pocket, looking at the screen. I groaned when I saw who was calling. It was my uncle. I was tempted to ignore the call, but I knew that I would not hear the end of it. 

So I answered, “Yes, uncle?” 

“Nate, how long will this little plan of yours go on for?” He sounded annoyed. 

“I have found her already, uncle. But there is still so much that I need to learn about her.” 

“Or you could just listen to me and marry the Sage girl from the Alpha family. She’s reputable and very beautiful. You guys will make beautiful children.” 

I sighed. “Cassie is from the Alpha family of this pack too.” 

“Not particularly. She’s illegitimate,” He began. “She does not have royal blood, and worst of all, she’s labeled as a traitor of her pack. She has a very bad reputation, Nate. You can not mark her. Stop being so stubborn. You’re risking an entire kingdom over a feeling!” 

“And stop telling me what to do,” I replied without missing a beat, my voice hard. 

It went quiet for a few seconds before he spoke, “What if your wolf is wrong? What if she’s not your true mate?” 

I was not in the mood for this. “Goodbye, uncle.” With that, I peeled the phone from my ear and ended the call. He had just ruined my night. 

I knew that he had good points, but he needed to see mine too. I was tentative about this whole Cassie being my mate thing, but my wolf had never been wrong before. 

I placed my phone back in my pocket and lay down on the sofa again. I closed my eyes, hoping for sleep to steal me away soon. It took a few minutes, but I did fall asleep. 

When morning came, I was woken up by someone tapping me on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and frowned. My vision soon cleared, and I saw that it was my beta. “What do you want, Zane?” 

“I got a lead,” He said, excitement in his eyes. “I got us a meeting with one of the councilmen of this pack.” 

My frown got tighter. “Why? You do know that no one is supposed to know who we really are, right?” 

He nodded. “Yes, sir. I booked the meeting as warriors of the pack. No one knows our true identities.” 

I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. “So what is the purpose of this meeting, Zane?”

“The councilman is going to tell us more about what happened the day the battle plans were leaked,” The guy explained. “We might be able to find out the truth about Cassie, sir.”