0038
Neah
Klaus smiles at me as I settle into the car.
Raven introduces the two other women, but thankfully she doesn't mention the truth about me. I hoped she would keep it a secret, even if it was just for a little while. "You will be fine." Raven keeps her arm linked with mine when I begin to fidget. "We are all here."
"I've never...." I could feel the other women looking at me.
"I know, that's why I suggested it. You can't stay cooped up in the pack all the time. It's good to meet others, to learn that it is not just us out there."
"Though Black Shadow is the superior pack." Klaus winks at me
Raven pulls a small black card out of her pocket and hands it to me. "This is for you from Dane. He figured you wouldn't take it from him so he asked me to give it to you." "What is it?"
The other women giggle, amused by my lack of knowledge and Raven shoots them a glare with her dark eyes.
"It's a credit card."
"Right." I take the black card from her, turning it over in my fingers. I had never seen one up close. I had never needed access to money.
"I will show you how to use it when you buy something."
"I don't need his money."
Raven lets out a snort. "You should enjoy it, it's not like he is short on cash."
For a brief moment, I wondered how he made his money. It wasn't like he went to a workplace.
"Taxes." Klaus mutters as he opens up a book to read.
"Taxes?"
"From contracts." He confirms.
"Plus Dane owns a few of the businesses in the city." Raven adds. "He has deep pockets."
The other women in the car giggle again and I see Klaus roll his eyes.
By the time we got into the city, the scents were overwhelming. Traffic, Wolves, food, others that I couldn't place. I screw my nose up.
"Like I said, it will take you a while." Klaus climbs out the car and stands next to me and scans the area.
There were people everywhere. Some that seemed to be in a hurry while others had a much slower pace. "Welcome to the city." Raven mutters as she links her arm with mine.
I could already feel my body trembling. "Get it together." I whisper to myself, hoping the others are not listening.
Klaus stays a few steps behind us as Raven drags me from store to store, insisting that I pick out a few things and telling me that I can't go home empty handed.
She was enjoying it, but this really wasn't something I liked doing. I wanted to go back to the safety of the pack. I wanted to get away from all the noise and the smells and silently begged to go back to the car.
A hand latches around my wrist as I watch Raven root through another clothing rack. Looking up, I see Klaus.
He lets go immediately, "I know, personal space, but you are not enjoying this, are you?"
I shake my head at him.
"Come to the bookstore with me. It's generally quiet."
Nodding my head, he tells Raven who pouts for a minute but then makes Klaus swear to not let me out of his sight.
"I'm not stupid. Isn't this the whole reason I'm here?"
Raven gives him a location to meet at in one hour. "If you are not back...."
"You will call Dane." Klaus finishes her sentence for her. "I wouldn't expect any less."
Following Klaus out the store, he leads me through a couple of different streets and then down a side alley to a small bookshop. Hidden away from the hustle of the city.
He quickly works his way through the shelves, searching for something as I trail behind observing some of the pretty book covers. It made me wish that I could read, there were so many stories here and I could barely pronounce any of the words.
"What kind of book are you looking for?" I ask, thinking that if he gave me a description of the cover, I would be able to help him find it. There's no answer.
Turning around, I don't see him and my heart skips a beat.
"Klaus?"
Still nothing.
Racing between the shelves, I call out to him. There is still no answer, in fact there doesn't seem to be anyone else here,
"KLAUS?" I was desperate. My heart starts to race, my breathing quickened as I weakly called out his name again.
Turning up the final aisle, I freeze. Cassandra stood perfectly still. A smug smile on her face. Her arms folded just under her chest as she grins at me. "So the rat has found her voice."
Just behind her, I see a foot poking out. A large boot that looked like the ones Klaus wears. A thick iron scent was slowly filling the air around me. "Did....did you kill him?"
She turns and kicks him in the side and he doesn't make a sound.
"The Alpha let you out then." Her eyes settle on the mark on my neck.
"I'm not... I'm not alone." I splutter
"Oh I know, but they aren't here with you now, are they?! It's just us." She combs her fingers through her long blonde hair. "And where is the good old Alpha Dane? If you are his contract bride, I'm surprised he let you out with these idiots." "Where's.....where's Trey?"
"That is Alpha Trey to you!" She spits, "And it is none of your business."
"This is neutral territory..... You....they won't like you here." I glance at Klaus's foot which is moving a little. "They have their own rules."
"Do you think I care about that? You are the reason my brother is dead!"
"And you are the reason my parents are dead!" My abrupt response takes me by surprise.
Cassandra's eyes narrow at me and I see Klaus roll onto his back. I was so relieved to see that he was alive.
"Why...why are you here?" I demand, trying to find my confidence.
"Trey wants to see you."
"Why?"
She smirks at me. "He wants to remind you."
Klaus quietly stands up behind her, his hands clamp around her throat. "Remind her about what?"
Before she answers, Beta Eric charges in from nowhere. He grabs hold of me, pulling me behind him.
""Answer me!" Klaus demands.
Cassandra fights against him. Digging her perfectly manicured nails deep into his wrists, yet Klaus refuses to let go, even when his blood trickles down over his skin, dripping into small puddles by his feet. "Let her go, Klaus." Beta Eric orders
"She tried to kill me."
"Tried. Something tells me that is all she can do is try. She has most likely never killed anyone in her life. She sets others up to do her dirty work." He smiles.
"Dane is going to have a field day when I take you to our dungeons. I wonder what he will remove first. A finger, perhaps a toe. Maybe your tongue."
"As much as you want to kill her, Klaus." Beta Eric continues. "Dane would much rather see to it, after all she is targeting his mate."
"Bride." Cassandra spits.
She had seen my mark, did she not think it was genuine?
"Mate." Beta Eric mutters. "You have crossed over into a different territory. Cassandra. Not only have you played with fire, you have given yourself the death penalty."
"Trey will come for you!" Cassandra screeches and I cover my ears
"I don't doubt it. And I am very much looking forward to it." He looks up at Klaus. "My van is out the back, take her out to it and lock her in." "Fuck you, you stupid Wolves!"
Klaus scowls.
"Go on then, shift." Beta Eric muses. "I dare you."