Fact or Fiction

CASSANDRA

After what happened last night, I’m not sure that I’m sane. Maybe I’ve had some mental break after I hit Frank. It’s quite possible. I’ve read about such things. Temporary insanity. In reality, I might be strapped to a bed in some psych ward, and this was all some hallucination. Because I cannot be a werewolf. It’s ludicrous. Werewolves are fiction. What was this? Was I trapped in the Twilight Saga?

But what about the voices in my head? I heard the hot guy’s voice as plain as day in my head. Nope, definitely something horribly wrong with me. Unless…

Now we’re on our way to the head honcho of this place-pack, whatever. The Alpha. I snickered to myself. I should just go with this insanity and see where it leads. So long as they don’t cut me into little pieces and offer me to the moon goddess or some shit. Yeah, moon goddess. Red Beard or Joel, my supposed father, tried to explain things to me. My head was still reeling. Didn’t understand a word. I’m not speaking to Agnes. Period.

“Please behave, Cassie,” Agnes cautioned in a hushed tone as Joel led us up the stairs of the biggest house in the area. The three-story house was a log cabin, like all the others, but bigger. It reminded me of a hotel in some horror movie I saw. Well, maybe not as creepy. It had a pretty garden in the front with lots of flowers and there was no dead woman staring down at us from the top window.

“Don’t disrespect him and watch your language.” Agnes carried on.

I ignored her. Still can’t get over her lying to me.

“Connor isn’t like his father, Agnes.” Joel remarked. “He’s not an unreasonable man. I’m sure he will accept Cassie into the pack.”

“And if I don’t want to be accepted? I want to get the fuck out of here and go back to civilization.” I snapped, defiantly stomping my foot as I came to a screeching halt in the middle of the passage.

“Why wouldn’t you want to be accepted?” a husky voice behind me asked.

I turned around so fast that I bumped into his chest. Solid, hot chest. Hands on my shoulders kept me from bouncing back. Damn, he smelled good. He must have some expensive cologne. Slowly, I let my gaze drift up to his handsome face. The smile he beamed at me would put movie stars to shame. It left me tongue-tied and deflated.

“Come, I’ve had breakfast prepared for us.” He took my hand and pulled me behind him, inclining his head for Agnes and Joel to follow. I followed him meekly, but intensely aware of our linked hands and silently hoped mine wouldn’t become clammy.

He guided us into a spacious, sun-drenched room, bathed in the warm glow filtering through the windows perched along the slanted ceiling. The lounge looked so welcoming, with its pastel blue couches and chairs huddling together. It looked homely.

One side of the room showcased a wall unit with a grand television and a bookshelf brimming with a vast assortment of books. So, our alpha was a reader. Who’d have thought?

And a collector of model cars as well, I noticed. Everything looked so normal. Except for Joel insisting that our handsome host can turn into a black wolf.

We made our way to the dining area, which was equally cozy, and there was a table set with delicate plates, all waiting to be filled. My stomach growled impatiently in anticipation. I couldn’t eat the dinner Joel had prepared last night because I was too upset.

“Thank you so much for inviting us, Alpha Connor,” Agnes said as he pulled out a chair for her to sit.

Before I could sit, he did the same for me, with one exception. His hand stayed on my shoulder while standing behind my chair. Then he took the seat next to mine and Joel took his next to my mother.

“Joel told me something of your history with him, Agnes. May I call you Agnes?” His voice was smooth like velvet and Agnes blushed like a girl. Trust Agnes to fall for a pretty face and sweet words. I will never make that mistake. Ever.

“Yes, yes, of course, Alpha.” she smiled prettily, and I thought how different she was now we were free of Frank. At that moment, I felt guilty for being angry with her. She deserved happiness. I got it. But for heaven’s sake…

“Connor. There’s no need to be formal.” He looked at me when he said, “Let’s eat first, then we can discuss everything.” Probably heard my complaining stomach.

Two girls about my age came to serve us. They openly fawned over Connor, and it made me sick to my stomach to watch them. For goodness’s sake! He was freakishly handsome, but really… Get a grip.

The food was awesome. I ate like a starving girl while the three of them made small talk. Too busy stuffing my face to pay attention. But when Connor put his hand on my thigh, I choked on a piece of toast so badly it flew out of my mouth and onto Agnes’ plate. That got my attention.

Connor yanked me out of my chair and started patting my back. Violent coughs racked through me, and tears streaked down my cheeks.

“Jesus, Cassie! Smaller bites!” Agnes berated me, shaking her head disapprovingly.

“Are you alright?” Connor asked, bending over me.

I put up my hand, unable to form a coherent sentence. He handed me a glass of water. When I finally found my breath, I said, “Dude, next time if you want to cop a feel, just give me a heads-up, okay?”

“Cassandra Browne!” Agnes gasped.

Joel uttered a sound of dismay sounding like a deflating tire. Connor chuckled, but a reddish tint spread from his neck to his cheeks.

“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to cop a feel, like you so delicately put it. I asked you a question, but you were miles away.”

“Oh, so you just put your hand on my thigh to get my attention?” I said, hands on my hips, challenging him. “I guess it worked. What did you want to know?”

We stood facing each other while Joel and Agnes watched with tense anticipation.

“I asked if you completed your studies.”

“No, I was busy with mid-terms when…” I almost killed my stepfather, I wanted to add. But…

“We had to leave before she could finish,” Agnes interrupted. So, she doesn’t want Connor to know about Frank? Noted. Joel probably doesn’t know either. Agnes was good at keeping secrets, apparently.

“I’m sure we can work something out.” Connor turned to me, the smile still fixed on his face. “You can always finish online.” He took my arm and steered me to the living room area. “Make yourself comfortable, Cassie. I need to speak to your parents for a bit. In private.”

Both Joel and Agnes got up from the table and followed him out, leaving me alone. I had an uneasy feeling I was in trouble.