Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Alpha’s meeting

CA SSANDRA

I tried to protest Marley’s proposal, but I knew it was a losing battle. I needed to get some rest so I could be strong enough to see Finnick. Even though he was with Alpha Gareth’s family, my poor boy was probably terrified and worried about me. And I was worried about him.

But I couldn’t deny that I needed rest.

So, I laid back in bed.

Marley told me she’d be downstairs and she’d check on me in a little while, and then she quietly left the room. Once she was gone, I took a long deep breath and tried to process everything she’d told me.

Asher Collins had saved my life.

I closed my eyes after a while and tried to get some rest. Luckily, the medicine Marley had given me was highly effective, and I drifted off quickly, but my sleep was anything but peaceful.

My dreams were plagued with images and nightmares of the inferno along with scenarios of losing my Finnick all because Asher had exposed my real identity. The dreams were strange and twisted, and when I awoke, I was drenched in sweat.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window. I’d been asleep for hours. I managed to carefully sit up without causing myself too much pain, and after I took a long, deep breath, I raised my arm to brush my hair from my forehead. The effort was painful, but it was a relief to get some cold air on my face.

“Marley?” I called out, and my throat strained a little at the effort. The door opened moments later, and Marley entered the room.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” my friend remarked, and she gave me a small smile.

“How are you feeling, Ca ss?”

“Warm,” I admitted, and then I gave her a tiny smile back. “But other than that, I guess I could be a lot worse.”

“That’s exactly what I wanna hear,” Marley replied as she walked over to the bed. Once she reached my side, she started checking my bandages. “It looks like your dressings stayed intact while you slept. That’s great.”

“Definitely,” I agreed, and then I took another deep breath. “Marley, could we go

to the Pack House?”

“In a while,” Marley said slowly, and she offered me an apologetic look. “Let’s get some food in you first, along with some water and another round of medicine, okay?”

I sighed. She was right.

“Okay,” I agreed.

Marley went downstairs for a while, and when she returned, she had a tray with a bowl of soup and some cra ckers, along with a cup of tea and a gla*s of water.

I tried to feed myself, but Marley wouldn’t let me. She insisted on helping me eat, and as embarra*sing as it was to need help with such a normal thing, I knew it was in my best interest to accept the help.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about it, Cas sandra,” Marley mused once I was done with my soup. “There has to be some way to reject the Alpha King’s request.”

“I don’t know about that, Marley,” I objected. “His word is law-”

“Yeah, but you’re the only fully qualified healer in this Pack,” she interrupted me with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, I’m no slouch, but I’m nowhere near as gifted as you, at least not yet. There’s no way Gareth or Sofia would let you go. I’m sure they’ll beg the Alpha King to let you stay. He’ll change his mind. I’m sure of it.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” I said, and I smiled at her. Even though she could be

grumpy sometimes, Marley managed to stay so optimistic even in times of hopelessness and I admired her greatly.

I only wished she was right.

About an hour later, Marley helped me get out of bed, and after I changed my clothes and got myself a little more presentable, we decided it was time to go to

the Pack House.

The walk there was unpleasant and slow, but Marley was there to help me the entire time, so it wasn’t nearly as awful as it would have been alone.

When we reached the Pack House, Marley knocked on the door, and we were greeted by Jasper, who seemed surprised to see us.

“Marley and Ca ssandra?” he said slowly, and his dark eyebrows creased together. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to get Finnick,” Marley explained and she peeked around him into the entryway of the house. “Where are the Alpha and Luna?”

“They’re in the middle of a meeting with their guest,” Jasper said cryptically. “Now isn’t a great time-”

I

“I just want to see my son,” I pleaded. “I’m sure he’s more than ready to go home after everything he’s been through.”

Jasper paused for a moment, and then his expression softened.

“I’ll need to report to the Alpha and Luna before you can take him,” he said, and then he waved us forward. “Come on in.”

Marley grumbled under her breath, but I smiled at Jasper as we followed him -inside. Once the doors were closed behind us, Jasper disappeared and left us in the

entryway.

“The Alpha King really has a way to bring out a weird side of people,” Marley remarked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jasper act so… formal. Especially with us.

And since has he had to report our arrival?”

“It’s probably just a formality,” I said quietly. “Everyone has to be on their best behavior in front of the king.

“I suppose,” she said, and then she rolled her eyes. “Leave it to Jasper to be a suck-up.”

We giggled together for a minute until we heard footsteps from down the hall.

“Shh,” I murmured, and we gathered our composure. Luckily, it was just Jasper.

“The Alpha and Luna wish to see you in the meeting room, Ca ssandra,” he

declared, and he waved me forward.

Marley and I exchanged a glance.

“I’ll come with you,” Marley said, but Jasper shook his head.

“They want to see her alone,” he replied, and Marley’s green eyes darkened.

Γ

“She’s injured!” she insisted, and her nostrils flared in frustration. “She needs help getting there-”

“You can escort her to the door, but you must wait outside,” Jasper sighed, and then he gestured toward the hallway. “Let’s go. We mustn’t keep them waiting.”

We followed Jasper to the meeting room and stopped just outside the door.

“I’ll be right out here for you,” Marley a*sured me, and after I nodded, I carefully knocked on the door. Moments later, Gareth’s voice called out to me.

“Come in.”

I gave Marley a nervous glance and then straightened my posture as much as my injured b*dy would allow and entered the room.

The Alpha’s meeting room was one of the most spa cious rooms in the entire

Pack House. The walls were painted a deep sapphire and the floors were a rich dark wood. Candles and lamps flickered around the room, and large, oversized couches. were arranged around a coffee table. It was a beautifully decorated room, and for a moment, I was distracted by all of the pretty things.

Gareth, Sofia, and Rayden were seated on the lengthiest couch while Asher Collins sat opposite them on an armchair. They all turned to stare at me as I entered, and Sofia jumped to her feet and raced over to me.

“Ca ssy!” she exclaimed, and her eyes widened as she stared at my bandages. “Thank the Goddess, are you alright?”

“I’m alright,” I a*sured her, but the Luna didn’t seem convinced.

“I’ve been so worried about you,” she said and she took my hands in hers. “When I heard you’d been attacked by a bear… I was so scared for you.”

“Thank you,” I replied, and I gave her a warm smile. “I’m doing much better now.”

“Is that so?” Asher called out, and a lump formed in my throat when he continued. “You were in pretty bad shape when I found you.”,

Even from across the room, I could see his eyes were colder than usual, and for a moment, I wanted to turn and run. But I couldn’t. I needed to play this out

correctly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I replied. “For saving me, I mean. I’m feeling much better now than I was last night, and it’s all thanks to you and Marley.”

Asher smirked, and then he tilted his head to the side.

“Tell me, Ca ssandra,” he said slowly. “Were you trying to run and get away my order for you to come to Anemond? I sure hope not, as it would make you a

deserter.”

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