Chapter 9: The She-wolf Returned

SERA

I couldn't stay inside.

I knew Kade had told me to wait, to stay safe, but the need to see what was happening pulled at me like a physical force. I moved to the window, pressing my face close to the glass.

The compound gates were opening.

A figure walked through, and even from this distance, I could tell she was beautiful, tall, with long dark hair that fell in waves down her back. She moved with the kind of confidence I'd never had, like she owned every inch of the ground she stepped on.

Rogues parted for her, some nodding in recognition, others watching with wary eyes.

She was looking for someone. Her gaze swept the compound until it landed on Kade, who stood near the training grounds with Marcus beside him.

Even from here, I saw Kade's body go rigid.

The woman, Cassandra smiled. Not a warm smile, something sharper.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I didn't need to. The way she moved closer to him, the way her hand reached out to touch his arm, the familiar way she tilted her head when she spoke, it all told a story I didn't want to read.

Jealousy hit me hard and fast, burning in my chest like acid.

I had no right to feel this way. Kade and I weren't... we hadn't...

But the thought of her touching him made me want to break something.

Before I could stop myself, I was moving. Out the door, down the steps, across the compound yard. My feet carried me toward them like my body had made the decision without asking my brain.

As I got closer, I heard her voice. Smooth, confident, with an edge of amusement.

"can't believe you're still here, playing king of the rejects," she was saying. "I thought surely you'd have gotten yourself killed by now."

"Cassandra," Kade's voice was cold. "You have thirty seconds to explain why you're on my territory before I have you escorted out."

She laughed, a sound that was probably meant to be charming but made my skin crawl. "Our territory, you mean. Or have you forgotten I helped you build this place?"

"You left," Marcus said, his voice hard, "You don't get to claim it anymore."

"I left because someone was being stubborn and stupid," Cassandra shot back. "Doesn't mean I stopped caring about what happens here."

That's when she noticed me approaching. Her eyes, sharp green, locked onto me, she looked me up and down slowly, and I felt stripped bare under her gaze.

"Well," she said, her smile widening. "You must be the famous Sera. The Omega everyone's talking about."

The way she said 'Omega' made it sound like an insult.

"Sera, go back inside," Kade said, not looking at me.

"No, no, let her stay," Cassandra said, taking a step toward me. "I want to meet the girl who's got everyone so worked up." She circled me slowly, like a predator examining a prey. "You're smaller than I expected, younger too and that rejection…" She clicked her tongue. "That must have been so embarrassing, having your mate reject you in front of everyone."

Heat flooded my face, "Who are you?"

"I'm Cassandra," she said. "I used to run this compound with Kade before I left to do more important things, now I'm back to help deal with the Council situation."

"We don't need your help," Kade said flatly.

"Really?" Cassandra turned back to him, eyebrow raised. "Because from what I hear, you've got Aldric the Butcher hunting on your borders, the Council is planning something big, and your secret weapon is an untrained Omega who can barely control her power." She glanced at me again. "No offense."

"Then why are you here?" I asked, finding my voice even though it shook slightly.

Cassandra's smile turned cold. "Because despite everything, I care about what happens to this place and I'm not going to let Kade's latest project get everyone killed."

"She's not a project," Kade said, his voice dropping to something dangerous.

"Isn't she?" Cassandra challenged. "You're training her to fight the Council, you're using her power to build your army. That sounds like a project to me."

The words hit harder than they should have. Was that all I was? A weapon Kade was sharpening?

"You need to leave," Marcus said, stepping forward. "Now."

"I'm not leaving," Cassandra said firmly. "The Council is coming, whether you like it or not and when they do, you'll need every fighter you can get. I'm one of the best you've ever had, and you know it."

Kade was silent for a long moment. The tension was so thick I could barely breathe.

"Fine," he finally said. "You can stay temporarily but you follow my rules, Cassandra. This isn't your compound anymore."

Something flickered in her eyes. Hurt? Anger? It was gone too fast to tell.

"Of course," she said smoothly. "Your compound Your rules." Her gaze moved to me. "Your Omega."

The possessive way she said it made my wolf bristle.

"Marcus, get her set up in the east barracks," Kade said. "Away from the main house."

"I used to stay in the main house," Cassandra protested.

"Things changed," Kade said coldly. "You made sure of that when you left."

For the first time, Cassandra's confident mask slipped. Just for a second, I saw something raw underneath then it was gone, replaced by that sharp smile.

"Fine, the barracks it is." She turned to leave, then paused, looking back at me. "Welcome to the rogue territory, Sera. I hope you survive it. Most Omegas don't last long here."

She walked away, her hips swaying, her head held high. Several rogues watched her go, their expressions mixed, some appreciative, some wary, some openly hostile.

Marcus let out a long breath. "This is going to be a problem."

"I know," Kade said quietly.

"Why did you let her stay?" I asked, unable to keep the accusation out of my voice.

Kade finally looked at me, and his expression was unreadable. "Because as much as I hate to admit it, she's right. When the Council attacks, we'll need every fighter we have and Cassandra is one of the best."

"She hates me," I said.

"She hates everyone," Marcus muttered. "Don't take it personally."

But it felt personal. The way she'd looked at me, spoken to me, dismissed me, it all felt very, very personal.

"Get back inside," Kade said to me. "I need to make sure she's actually settled in the barracks and not causing trouble."

"Kade.."

"Not now, Sera."

He walked away, following the path Cassandra had taken. Marcus gave me an apologetic look before following.

I stood alone in the middle of the compound, feeling more out of place than I had since I'd arrived.

The afternoon sun was starting to sink, casting long shadows across the ground. Rogues were returning to their posts, their conversations quiet and tense. Everything felt different now, like Cassandra's arrival had shifted something fundamental.

I turned to head back to the house when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Sera, right?"

I turned around. Cassandra stood there, having somehow circled back without me noticing. Up close, she was even more beautiful and more dangerous looking.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just wanted to give you some friendly advice. Omega to Omega."

"You're not an Omega."

"No, but I was weak once before I learned how things really work here." She took a step closer, and I fought the urge to back up. "Kade is using you. He's good at that, finding broken things and making them useful but when you're no longer useful, or when you become a liability..." She shrugged. "Well, accidents happen during training. Rogues get hurt, sometimes they don't make it."

My heart was pounding. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning," she said softly. "This isn't a fairy tale, little Omega. You're not going to find your happily ever after here. You're going to get yourself killed, and probably take good wolves down with you."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If you're smart, you'll leave before that happens. Go back to your pack, beg that Alpha of yours to take you back because staying here?" She pulled back, her smile sharp as a blade. "That's suicide."

She walked away before I could respond, leaving me standing there with my hands shaking and my wolf growling in my chest.

I'd faced down Kade's training, awakened power I didn't know I had, survived rejection and kidnapping and the threat of Council killers.

But somehow, Cassandra felt like a different kind of danger.

One that was much, much closer.