Chapter 11 - Hot Springs

Cassy groaned as she lowered herself into the hot springs. Every inch of her body hummed as the water rose around it, wrapping her in a deep warmth that made her muscles feel like jelly. Steam rose in lustrous waves from the water, filling the cave in a misty haze that lulled her to relax into the carved ledge seat, and enjoy the peace settling over her. It was far from the unease she had felt when she was first allowed to visit the baths. The natural cave was carved deep in the mountain’s belly, dark without torches and only reachable through a series of tunnels beneath the packhouse. The place was almost silent, with only the trickle of the streams to keep her company.

She enjoyed the silence with time. It was a small area of complete peace where she didn’t have to worry about being recognised or being an outsider. She could bathe in the beauty of the cave and just be her.

Cassy smiled looking at the veins of quartz spreading through the obsidian walls. Both were crystals mined and exported by Ash Mount but also used amongst the wolves. One of those veins would’ve been mined to form the hilt of the dagger Alex got her for her birthday. It was a sign of the pack, and the first one Cassy had ever owned. 

She sunk deeper into the waters, letting her head roll back onto the bath’s edge to keep her hair dry, mellowing in the pink hue of the cave.

“What are you doing in here?”

Cassy scrambled at the sudden voice, jerking herself forward and away from the danger, but almost slipping beneath the water in the process. When she gained steady footing, she spun and readied herself, eyed wide and alert. They fell on Alpha Jason, the wolf looking almost as startled by her reaction as she was by his presence. 

“You jerk.” Cassy splashed some water at him as an embarrassed glow filled her cheeks. “I was relaxing. You didn’t have to go all ninja warrior on me.”

Silence. 

A heartbeat passed. Two. Her words echoing down the thin tunnels that carried the streams to the baths. Then, she realised she had just splashed the Ash Mount Alpha and called him a jerk. 

“I’m so sor...”

“I apologise, Cassandra. I shouldn’t have—” a smile curved the edge of his lips, “—gone all ninja warrior on you.” If it was possible, her blush deepened. “I didn't realise you'd be here, but I should’ve expected it.”

“Why?”

“Of everyone in the pack, you deserve the hot springs today.”

“Because it’s my birthday?”

Alpha Jason cocked his head. “It’s your birthday?”

Internally, Cassy screamed. Why did she expect that was what he meant? She had just been thinking about Alex’s gift and the question rolled from her tongue without a second thought. Of course, the pack’s Alpha wouldn’t know when her birthday was. 

She spluttered a confirmation and an apology and began on an excuse when the Alpha cut her off. 

“I meant that you deserve to relax after what you did for Emily today.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “I didn’t do much. She wouldn’t have died without my help.”

“No, but she would’ve been scared and in pain for far longer without it. You saved a pack mate.”

“So did you.” Cassy squirmed under the Alpha Jason’s attention. It was intense, a pressure on her skin that bought a pleasant tingle to the surface. Or maybe that was the warm water. “And you actually saved me. I could've died.”

He laughed. “Well, I also thought I deserved a dip, but I didn’t realise the hot springs were already claimed.”

For the first time, she noticed the towel folded over his arm and realised he hadn’t come to the baths to tell her off for being there, but he had come for the same peace she was basking in.  

Well, that’s three for three. I’m officially an embarrassment. Cassy thought as she bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. I’ll get going, I was just about to leave anyway.”

“No. Stay.” She looked up and was surprised when he couldn’t meet her eye. “There’s plenty of room for two. Besides, you have wounds to heal. The waters will help.” Still, he didn’t meet her eye. “If you don’t mind the company, of course.”

Cassy was stunned to silence. The man before her was the same man who stood upon a stage earlier that day and commanded a room full of wolves with merely a few words. The same man who was mocked for being a stone Alpha. None of that was reflected in him now. He still stood as proud and strong, but the timid lace to his words made her smile.

“Of course, Alpha.” She said.

With a nod to accept, Alpha Jason began undressing, slipping his t-shirt over his head to reveal an expanse of muscles built into a strong, broad frame through years of self-discipline and training. They were impressive. He was impressive. Her mum hadn’t been lying when she called the Alpha handsome, yet nobody seemed to want to claim the title of his mate. In that moment, Cassy couldn’t quite fathom why.

A small clearing of his throat, made her realise she had been staring. She jerked her eyes away, finding a particularly interesting rock formation to stare at instead, though she was sure he had seen her and was even more sure his little cough was to cover a laugh. Still, she kept her eyes glued to the rocks until she was certain the Alpha was settled in the waters and fully submerged.

The man stifled a groan, the sound sending a pulse of warmth through her body. Cassy clamped up, trying to recognise the unfamiliar sensation until the feeling ebbed away with the waters. Sure, Alpha Jason was handsome, but he had always been handsome. That hadn’t made her fumble words before, or feel all tingly at the deep, low rumble of his voice.

“You okay over there? You look like you’re in pain. Is it your hands?”

“I’m fine, Alpha.” She gritted out, keeping her bare hands hidden under the water. Every ounce of tension that had begun to unwind came back with each passing second until she was hunched with still, unmoving muscles.

“It’s just us here, you can call me Jace.” He chuckled. “You used to call me that when we were pups.”

“And you berated me for it.” Cassy pointed out.

His expression faltered a little, but then he shrugged. “Things change.”

For some reason, that let her ease a little. She sat back against the stone bath walls, letting the water work its magic again. “Okay, Jace,” it felt almost naughty to say, bringing back the memories of her thanking him as pups, when he got her and Alex out of trouble. “Then call me Cass.”

“I prefer Cassandra.” 

Dark eyes locked to her as he said it, and there it was again. That heat. It pulsed deep inside her, a sizzling flame that licked through her core and fanned out through her extremities until even her fingers tingled with it. Cassy hoped the pink hue of the cave hid her flush but, just like on the mountain side, she couldn’t look away from Jace’s gaze. It pulled her in, trapping her focus. If it wasn’t for the steam slowly rising around them, she would’ve thought her bloodline ability had activated again. 

“Who was it?” Jace’s voice stayed deep, his gaze unwavering.

“What?” She was breathless.

“Who pushed you? By the time I checked where you were standing, everyone had moved. It was one of the other women, wasn’t it?” Cassy stilled and didn’t answer. “They deserve to be disqualified. Being rough during the race was one thing but attacking a pack member unprovoked is grounds for exile.”

She looked away and kept her lips sealed. She understood why he was asking, for the safety of the pack and the Trials, but to snitch on Katie would only get her in more trouble. If Katie was disqualified, or worse exiled, a lot of wolves would be out to get Cassy. Then, she’d have a lot more to worry about than being recognised. 

“Cassandra, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.” A twist of annoyance entered his words.

“I’m not a pup anymore, Jace, I don’t need your help.” 

“And if I order you to accept it?”

“Then, it wouldn’t be help.”

Tension wound within her, reminding her that the peace of the hot springs was always short lived. There was still a pack out there that barely accepted her presence and a hidden identity to protect from the Kingdom beyond. Warm butterflies for a handsome Alpha, who didn’t care to listen to her, weren’t what was going to keep her safe. She needed to stick to her plan; a steady chosen mate that she earned through her own grit. A triumph no Ash Mount wolf could take from her.

“I’ve got to get ready for tonight. Enjoy the baths, Alpha Jason.”  She clipped, but she hesitated to stand. “Aren’t you going to look away?”

The Alpha took his time leaning back against the walls of the baths, stretching his arms over them as he relaxed. His attention locked to her, dark and full of challenge, as if his gaze would force her to stay and answer his question.

Clearly, her name was all he knew about her.

Resolve strengthened, Cassy stood. The waters rested at her waist baring her breasts to him. She pulled her shoulders back and lifted a stubborn chin in defiance of his silent order, embodying a confidence she didn’t often feel around other wolves, showing a side to herself that she tried to keep small and unseen. A simmering anger at the man’s persistence tossed that caution to the wind as she embraced the deep strength of her bloodline to stare down the Alpha wolf.

Cassy smirked when Jace’s composure cracked, letting his dark eyes roam her. She didn’t give him the satisfaction to take his time. She turned and stepped from the baths, grabbing her towel as she left — though she didn’t wrap it around her until she was deep in the tunnels, the last tingling sensation of the Alpha’s gaze finally gone.