Connor“I’m waiting, Stacy. How did it happen? My parents are eager to hear it as well.” I poured another drink without offering them any. Leaning back in my chair, I watched Stacy’s expression for signs that she was lying. She had to be. I swore I never touched her again after she cheated on me. The pup wasn’t mine.“You don’t have to be so crude, Connor.” Mom took Stacy to the couch by the fireplace and the two of them sat together. She patted Stacy’s shoulder to comfort her and it irritated me.Dad stared at me; his arms folded across his chest. “You don’t have to say anything, Stacy. We only want to know where the boy is. He needs to be with his pack.”She looked at him with grateful tears. “Yes, of course. I will take you to him. But I will tell you, Alpha Troy, because Connor seems to have forgotten how it happened.” The little tremble in her voice did nothing for me. Oh, she was good, good enough to fool my parents. But not me. She lost my heart a long time ago.“Yes, indeed. E
CassandraA baby. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. He had a baby with Stacy. Or maybe she was lying. I would like to think so. But what if she’s not? What did that mean for us? Wouldn’t he rather be with the mother of his child?Ever since we came back from the pack house, I locked myself in the bedroom in Joel’s house and screamed and cried into my pillow. Why this, after all we’ve been through? Did God hate me for being what I was – a werewolf? I never asked for this. Why couldn’t I just be happy for once in my fucking life?Goddammit! I knew it was too good to last. Shouldn’t have opened myself up to him. Damn fool, telling him how I loved him. And I did. I do. Too much. I was just begging to be hurt, tempting fate to come and kick me in the ass.“Cassie? Can I come in?” Agnes called on the other side of the door.I couldn’t face anyone ever again. Not after Connor shut me up right there in front of the entire pack. I was so humiliated. That bitch Stacy enjoyed every second. She
“Bullshit!” Cassie exploded. “You can’t possibly believe this? She’s manipulating you. Again!”“Cassie, please be quiet.” I said, harsher than I intended. Her mouth snapped shut, and she glared at me with so many emotions swirling in her eyes. “Look, just go home with your parents and let me sort this out.” I added, “please.”Dismissing the rest of the pack, I ordered the guard to take Stacy to my office. The pack members were grumbling and mumbling amongst themselves, clearly disappointed at being excluded. Their love for drama and gossip was boundless, and they would speculate about this for days, but this was one conversation I needed to have in private.Joel wore thunder on his face when he came to take Cassie’s arm. “Come, Cassie.” He pulled her away, but not before spearing me with a scathing look. “Let the alpha deal with his mess.”I felt her eyes boring holes in my back as Joel took her away.‘You’ve done it again, Connor,’ Miles whined in my head, as if I needed to be remind
ConnorDinner at our table was a stiff affair where no one spoke except to ask to pass the salt or some such menial things. My father ate his meal with relish, as if he hadn’t sold me out to Marcus and like he wasn’t at death’s door. My mother pecked at her food like it offended her. Joel and Agnes sat close together on the farther end and Cassie hardly ate. The rest of the pack ate in the mess hall and snippets of their conversation and laughter carried back to us, contrasting with the tense silence that hung over us.The light was fading behind the tall trees, casting a scarlet glow over the pack house when we went out. A blazing fire greeted us, providing some warmth from the chilly evening. Fall was coming fast; you could smell it and see the leaves changing. It was a welcome change from the sweltering heat.Most of the pack, pups included, were present sitting on the ground or wherever they found a place. Eric had placed chairs for the elders, my parents, and all the other ranked
CassandraAs soon as Connor left, I got up as well. “What the hell is wrong with you people?” Glaring at them with my hands on my hips, I felt like shaking Alpha Troy. “You can’t just drop a bomb on him like that and expect him to be okay. Can’t you see he is upset?”“Young lady, you obviously are ignorant about how pack matters work. I suggest you learn fast.” Alpha Troy stood, and the others followed his lead. “Beta Joel, I expect you to instruct your daughter in the proper behavior around alpha wolves and her elders. Seeing as she regards herself to be the next luna.” His scathing tone made the blood rush to my face. I didn’t know what to feel – embarrassment or anger.“Yes, Alpha Troy.” Joel bowed his head, and the elders did the same as Connor’s parents walked out.Ugh, I didn’t understand all this neck baring nonsense, but I guessed it was expected of me to do the same. So, I did, but with reluctance.As the elders passed me, Elder Marcus gave me a side-stare filled with resentm
ConnorWhat the hell was my father thinking, telling Marcus to go to the council? Well, fuck that. If that’s the way he wanted to play it, let’s get it all into the open and Marcus can have all the ammunition he needed to get me executed. Problem solved.‘No, Connor, wait…’ Miles groaned, but I wasn’t listening.“By all means, Elder Marcus. But let me fill you in on all the laws I’ve broken in the last few weeks. Starting with why I went to Miami.” I had the floor and everyone’s attention.“Connor…” Joel shook his head, warning me to keep quiet. I held up my hand to silence him.“Lyon sent me there to kill a man called Rossi. Yes, a human. But you know what, Elder Marcus?” I grinned at the old wolf. “Lyon had sold me to that man, and they were expecting me.”“Connor, you don’t have to do this.” My father stood to intervene.“No, Dad. The elders want to know what happened. It is their right, isn’t it?” I felt reckless.“But why not end Lyon right there where you were, Alpha Connor? How