Chapter Twenty-Two
Cassian
I liked Darius, no matter what kind of feelings Jeremy once had for him.
I did not, however, like Milo. It wasn’t as though Milo came around anyway, but Darius did.
He’d helped me paint the bathroom tiles yesterday, and now he was helping Jeremy and I put together some basic furniture for when Silas moved in.
“I’m telling you,” I continued. “Dark green will definitely be Silas’ style.”
“Nah, I’m not seeing it,” Jeremy argued, pointing at the throw pillows I’d bought earlier today. “Those are too pretty and soft looking.”
“And that’s a bad thing? Having something pretty and soft?” I fluttered my lashes a bit.
“Not again,” Darius whined. “Take pity on the single guy in the room, please.”
I actually felt sorry for him, but I still wasn’t about to stop my teasing.
I’d found that it was my love language. Either teasing Jeremy with my words, or my tickling.
I simply couldn’t stop. I had all of this love inside of me that begged to be let out, and I couldn’t very well just kneel and take his dick into my mouth whenever the urge to love him got too big, now, could I?
“Sorry, man,” Jeremy grimaced. “You still haven’t talked to Milo?”
“Define talk?”
I smacked Darius’ arm. “You fucked him and didn’t tell us?!”
“What?” he spluttered. “Of course not!”
“Then why are you questioning if you’ve talked or not?!”
Those two men, I swore they’d be the death of me.
“I just meant it wasn’t very conversational, more like…” he sighed. “He’s just such a brat.”
“Then spank him,” I suggested, making Jeremy choke on air. “What?” I demanded, eyeing Jeremy with confusion. “Maybe it’ll help?”
Greg chose that perfect moment to call, reminding me we had a cooking date tonight. He offered to help me prep for our ceremony food, and I’d accepted happily.
“I’m off,” I announced, pecking a kiss to Jeremy’s lips before bouncing down the stairs. I was just so damn excited about seeing Greg, and the ceremony tomorrow, of course.
Jeremy and I had done a few things to tide us over this week. Most nights, though, I slept with Red, making sure we both wouldn’t be tempted. I’d also told him that if this ceremony got pushed, I would jump him, no questions asked, formalities be damned.
Jeremy had agreed to my demand with no issue, of course.
We stood outside with the pack surrounding us.
It was finally time to do the claiming ceremony.
I was dressed in dark jeans and a mint green sweater.
Jeremy was looking way too edible in light denim jeans and a tight fitting white T-shirt.
His brown hair had been cut by Mary’s daughter, Dahlia, making him look even better.
And to think he was mine.
Jeremy hadn’t been the only one to get a haircut.
My own normal brown hair, unlike Jeremy’s that held that copper shine, was cut so it wasn’t getting into my eyes anymore.
I felt good. Jeremy seemed to like it too, mentioning how it made my blue eyes pop more.
I would need to see Dahlia more often, it seemed.
“Ready?” Jeremy asked, looking so damn happy as we stood there, about to be acknowledged as real mates in front of everyone. Greg, Silas, and Rowan were there too, which only made me even more giddy with happiness.
“Yes!” I exclaimed, making several of our pack mates chuckle.
The ceremony was very straightforward. Jeremy would welcome me into the pack officially, and then he would claim me as the Alpha’s Mate. After, we would drive home and fuck for hours. If not days. I was looking forward to the latter.
“Groove Vale Pack!” Jeremy began. “I hereby welcome Cass Balone into our pack.”
People cheered and it felt good being welcomed. We’d feared more would show hostility towards me, but so far only—
“Alpha Jeremy,” Fillian said, standing tall. “I challenge you for the title of Alpha.”
People gasped, me included. Jeremy had told me how rare this was. It was a fight to the death, unless one of them submitted, making them a lone wolf without a pack.
Ohmyfuckinggod!
My poor Jeremy had to fight to the death! And on our ceremony day!
“And I will be his second,” Fillian’s father, Marcus, announced, slithering closer to Fillian’s side.
“Fucking fantastic,” Jeremy muttered, then pecked a kiss on my lips. “Stay with my dad while I fight, okay?”
“You can’t just tell Fillian to fuck off?” I suggested hopefully.
He shook his head sadly. “As Alpha, I have to fight those that challenge me.”
I hated that so much, but I still went to stand by Paul, hoping Jeremy would beat the shit out of Fillian.
Milo was as shocked as the rest of the pack, but he surprised me by walking up and standing next to Jeremy. “I’ll be Jeremy’s second.”
Leaning in to whisper, I asked Paul, “What does being a second mean?”
Paul swallowed, his eyes not leaving his sons. “Because Marcus declared he was second, it means that if Fillian fails, and dies, Marcus will then fight Jeremy as Alpha. Since it wouldn’t be fair for Jeremy to fight two battles right after each other, that’s where Milo comes in.”
“Hang on,” I said, getting my brain wired up. “You’re telling me, that when Jeremy rightfully beats the ever-living crap out of Fillian, Milo then has to fight Marcus, and if he loses that fight, then Marcus becomes Alpha?”
“No, then Marcus will fight Jeremy right after, making it a fair fight since they’ve both then fought twice and won.”
My stomach felt ill, like the pretty cupcakes Greg and I had made wanted to escape.
“It’ll be fine,” Darius calm voice spoke from behind me. “Jeremy will handle it.”
I turned to meet his gaze, remembering his own fated mate stood to fight, too. “They both will,” I declared, hoping my conviction was enough to settle us both.
Jeremy moved into the middle, the pack forming a circle around him.
“I accept your challenge for the Alpha title,” Jeremy said, his voice neutral, like he wasn’t just about to fight for his life. Damn that cupcake really wasn’t doing well in there…
Marcus looked at me and smiled wickedly. “When my son wins there won’t be any humans allowed here. We’re wolves, not pets.”
Did he truly think I saw them as pets?
Ignoring him, I focused all my attention on Jeremy. I both wanted to watch, and to escape home and pet Daisy until Jeremy came home and it was all over.
Please win.
They started to strip, but I was glad Jeremy hurried with his and shifted immediately. Even when he had to fight for his life, he still remembered how much I wanted his body for myself. He truly was the perfect mate.
Fillian’s wolf was just as big as Red. I’d stupidly thought Red would be bigger since he was the Alpha. I now knew that wasn’t true. Red was still much prettier than Fillian’s wolf.
They circled each other, maybe it was a formal way of starting the fight? I didn’t care enough to ask, my eyes glued to my Red as I watched them close in on one another.
Fillian was the first to spring forward, his jaw wide open and ready to tear into Red’s throat. I held my breath as Red escaped it, dashing to the side and taking Fillian by surprise.
A quick breath escaped me, and I held in the next one.
This went on for far too long, both wolves growing tired.
But then it happened, Fillian dodged Red’s attack, but instead of focusing back on Red, his eyes found mine.
I wasn’t expecting I’d need to move. I’d been too busy focusing on their fight to notice when Fillian sprang forward to attack me. I wasn’t ready for it.
I just managed to see Marcus shift in the background, then attack Red, who was distracted watching me. Red went down, and so did I.