SEVEN

Cassa’s POV

I stepped out of the room but stopped in my tracks when I noticed the mayor standing outside the door. There was no warmth in his expression, no hint of joy at seeing me. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I studied his handsome face, a question lingering in my mind. Why was he here?

"My mother will be visiting you," he informed me.

“Why?” I asked softly, furrowing my brow as I tried to wrap my head around the mayor’s unexpected announcement. Or maybe I misheard him. Why would his mother want to see me? What could be the reason? He leaned against the doorframe, his presence looming over me. His white polo shirt stretched across his muscular frame, emphasizing his broad shoulders, while his neatly combed hair carried a faint scent of soap and aftershave.

"Act like I'm a benevolent Samaritan," he instructed, sidestepping my question.

A skeptical expression crossed my face. "You're not, and I won't pretend otherwise," I shot back, momentarily hardening his features before a mischievous smile tugged at his lips, unsettling me.

"If you don't, I'll make your life a living hell," he said calmly, his grin widening to reveal his perfectly white teeth. He tilted his head slightly and crossed his arms. “You don't want to cross me, Cassa.”

The way he said my name sent a strange flutter through my chest, a sensation I wasn’t used to and certainly didn’t appreciate. It was unsettling.

With a resigned sigh, I conceded, "Fine, Mister Montalvo." I didn’t want to find out what kind of trouble he had in store for me. The thought of doubling or tripling my workload was daunting, especially since I was already exhausted from cleaning the house and hadn’t even finished my tasks yet.

It was infuriating—the annoyance growing in my heart with each passing moment. It’s not fair! But I can’t voice my complaints, not to him or anyone else. My heart feels heavy with longing for the people I want to see and talk to. What can I do?

"Good, we're clear," he said cheerfully, tapping my head. "No wonder we get along." His action surprised me, and heat rushed to my face. Am I like a pet to be patted like that?

I brushed his hand off my head and glared at him. "Don’t do that! It’s annoying," I admitted, eliciting laughter from him.

"It’s not," he reasoned. "Since you're being good, I have a gift for you."

I watched him leave after handing me a phone. A gift? Seriously? I scoffed when I saw it was locked and password-protected.

"How am I supposed to use this?" I muttered, but when I glanced back at him, he was already gone.

I slumped onto my bed and set the phone on the nightstand. There’s no point in guessing the password; it might remain locked forever. If I weren’t in this situation, I wouldn’t hesitate to punch him in the face, Mayor or Werewolf. But I can’t afford reckless actions and their consequences.

I stayed in my room for an hour, calming the irritation simmering within me. Once I felt composed, I headed downstairs to tackle my chores.

"You can’t complain, Cassa, you can’t," I sang to myself as I entered the kitchen. His car was gone, and I wondered if he really left when I noticed the absence of the guards. They’re only gone when the Mayor is in the house.

Maybe he's in the library. Perhaps he was just joking about his mother coming. I hope he's enjoying teasing me because it’s certainly not amusing from my perspective. As I approached the kitchen table, I saw that food had been prepared. Looks like the man was indeed here. Just as I was about to head to the stove, my eyes landed on a note resting beneath a steaming cup of coffee with milk. I picked it up and read it.

'Your treat for being obedient. Enjoy your breakfast. Don’t forget to dust off the library's books.' - Town’s Mayor :D.

In an instant, I crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash can where it belonged. There was fried rice in a clear glass bowl, a fried egg on one plate, a peanut butter sandwich sliced in two, a hot dog, and a fresh fruit salad on another. And of course, hot steaming coffee.

At least I won't have to cook my own food anymore. I often don’t get the taste I want, and sometimes I even burn it. It’s hard when you’re used to eating out and relying on others for your meals.

Just as I finished eating and cleaned up the dishes, I heard a car engine approaching the house. I hadn’t noticed the mayor coming out of the library, and it had been so quiet earlier.

The absence of the guard unsettled me as I made my way to the living room window, clutching the fiber duster tightly. A red Maserati pulled up in front of the house, catching my attention. A woman in her thirties emerged from the driver’s side, wearing a knee-length maroon Queen Anne panel dress. Her short sandy brown hair curled at the edges, and her natural beauty shone through without a trace of makeup. Her tawny complexion perfectly complemented her dress, and a black handbag hung from her arm, adding to her elegance.

At first, I thought she had entered the wrong house, but as she approached the front door, I realized it was Hannah Montalvo, the mayor’s mother. Nerves churned in my stomach. He had mentioned his mother would be coming to see me. How was I supposed to talk to her? And what was the real reason for her visit? That was a question he hadn’t answered.

My hands turned cold, and my stomach twisted as I took a quick breath. Then the doorbell rang. I glanced at my hands and hurried into the kitchen, stashing the duster in the drawer under the counter with the cleaning supplies. I adjusted my beige shirt and paired it with a brown skirt that fell below the knee.

After quickly tying up my long hair, I rushed to the front door and opened it, forcing a smile onto my face.

"Good morning, Mrs. Montalvo," I greeted her as she scrutinized me from head to toe.

"Good morning, Ijha," she replied with a bright smile, her heart-shaped lips radiating warmth. "My, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman. The last time I saw you, you were just a five-year-old child with your mother."

But that was the first time I had spoken to her in person. 

"Come in," I offered politely, inhaling the sweet rosy perfume that reminded me of the rose garden I used to visit with Mama when I was ten.

"How are you finding it here?" Mrs. Montalvo inquired after seating herself on the divan. "My son told me everything; it was indeed unexpected."

"Yes, quite unexpected," I agreed, my breath coming quickly. "Would you like some refreshments?" I wasn't sure whether I should sit or remain standing.

"I'm fine without anything. Why don’t you join me?" she gestured to the seat across from her.

I felt even more jittery as she addressed me. She settled into her seat and smiled warmly.

"What's the reason for wanting to talk to me?" I asked, trying to steady my nerves.

“I just wanted to check on you. Did the other werewolf harm you in any way?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"I came close to being killed," I confessed.

Mrs. Montalvo gasped. “My son never mentioned this to me. What happened exactly?"

I recounted the harrowing details, noticing the pity in her eyes. "But are you truly okay?" she pressed, her smile faltering slightly.

I nodded, mustering a reassuring smile. "I’ve healed, Mrs. Montalvo.” My hands remained still on my lap, my posture rigid.

"I dread the thought of Daniel discovering what happened to you. I'm sorry you have to endure this, Ijha. We’re not as terrible as the legends portray us, and I understand if you feel uneasy around us now that you know the truth."

I nodded in understanding. "I shouldn't have been there that night, but I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Honestly, I thought I was imagining things. But it was all too real."

"That’s understandable. Did my son treat you well?” Mrs. Montalvo scrutinized me with questioning eyes.

I responded with a nod, even though the reality was quite the opposite.

"That's reassuring to hear. I know you miss your father and grandparents. But you really need to keep a low profile. I can’t risk my son’s safety because of you," Mrs. Montalvo said, her tone serious. "This town and its people mean a lot to him, and he’d protect them, even if it costs him his life."

"I understand," I replied, my smile strained. "I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble. If only I could undo the past. If only."

Mrs. Montalvo sighed. "Unfortunately, we can’t change what’s already happened. This house isn’t the safest place for you. I know somewhere better, where you won’t feel so trapped."

Her words sounded like music to my ears. I fought to hide my excitement. "What do you mean, Mrs. Montalvo?"

"If you’re interested, I can take you there now. I think you’ll like it."

"But shouldn’t we tell your son first?" I asked.

"Don’t worry about that. We can call him on the way," she assured me, rising from her seat and grabbing her handbag.

As Mrs. Montalvo came over and took my hand, I realized I was still in my casual clothes, wearing just slippers.

"I need to change first," I protested.

"We don’t have time, Ijha. You look fine as you are. Trust me," she insisted, gently nudging me forward. Taking a deep breath, I went along with her.

Stepping out the door and toward the car, I felt sharp eyes on me. I glanced around, but nothing seemed off. Mrs. Montalvo opened the front door, and I climbed in silently, my gaze wandering. My heart dropped when I spotted one of the guards, Carter, lying on the grass by the garden.

What was going on? Was that blood on his neck?

A chill ran through me as I looked at Mrs. Montalvo. Who could have done this? The Mayor's mother? I swallowed hard, my heart racing.

Had I made a mistake agreeing to go with her? What if it wasn’t the Mayor's mother at all? What if a shape-shifter was with her, planning to hurt me?

I quickly grabbed the seatbelt and glanced at Mrs. Montalvo as she started the engine. Her serious expression mirrored the Mayor's intensity.

"He's always causing trouble," Mrs. Montalvo muttered, sending a shiver down my spine.

Who was she talking about? Was Carter dead? And where was Alex? Had he been harmed too?

As the car began to move, I discreetly tried to open the door, but it was locked. We turned onto a dirt road, speeding away from the house. The speed made me uneasy.

Looking out the back window, I saw two wolves chasing the car. What on earth was happening?