Chapter 8 Casey
Casey
It’s funny how easily five days can pass when the wolves turn into their four-legged shape and stay that way.
Tripping over a grumbling hairball is much less intimidating than tripping over a wall of muscles.
Still, the shut out is cold, and though the days pass quickly, I’m more aware of how isolated I am than ever.
The couch, which has been a source of tension, stayed filthy. But I’ve just walked in from checking my property to find it immaculate. Miracles above.
A hand lands on my waist, guiding me forward. Khaos appears, and I’m ridiculously happy to see the man-shaped version. He points at the couch.
“Sit, please.”
I sit where Khaos indicates and give him my full attention.
“We’ve spent the last few days watching you. Seeing how you act and behave. Watching what you need. And we think we know.”
I lean back. “This should be entertaining, by all means, hit me with it.”
“You need a mate.”
The silence is a roar. I sit forward slowly and stare at Khaos. “I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say, mate.”
“I did. You need a family. Someone to come home to. Someone to help you and spend time with you.”
Of all the ridiculous notions.
“You are mistaken,” I say in curt tones.
“I don’t think so. You have everything else. But you’re alone, and you don’t really want to be alone. Riot has been sleeping at your bedroom door…we all hear you scream.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. “That’s got nothing to do with this.”
“You live too far out, you need help with the chores and jobs. You need a pack.”
I hiss at the verbal blow he doesn’t know he just dealt.
“You’re wrong,” I snarl.
“I’m not,” Khaos says firmly. “We’re going to help you.”
“This is fucking crazy, Khaos. I don’t want to date, and I certainly don’t want a mate.”
He rakes his hand through his copper and gold hair, and I notice absently that his gold eyes have flecks of green. They are pretty.
“You said you’d help us; are you going back on your word?” Riot asks from the kitchen doorway.
I hesitate and close my eyes. “Can I think about this for a minute?”
Wrath smiles widely as he walks in with my tablet in his hands. How he found the password is beyond me.
“Sure. But we already made you a profile, and we’re sifting through the results.”
He sits down and cants his head towards me with a wide, shit-eating smile. I’m not going to hit him. I swear, I’m not.
I can’t move. My hands are sweating, and my head feels strange. I don’t think Wrath realises the danger he’s in.
I launch myself at him and grab my tablet out of his hand, looking at the photo he’s put up. I look drunk.
“No, no, no, no, no. Why did you do this? What even is this photo? Where did you get it?”
I scroll through the information and let out a savage growl of my own when Khaos moves towards me. My disbelief grows as I read the crap they’ve put in there.
“What do you mean, I like long walks on the beach? I’ve never been to a beach! And I like cooking, cleaning, and other woman stuff?” I screech. I’ve never screeched before, but I’m doing it now.
I read further and want to throw up.
“Looking for someone who can put up with me long enough to find happiness. I have a great ass?”
I groan and then look at the name of the dating site. I’m going to kill them. Five fur-covered rugs to keep me warm next winter. Wait!
“This is the local one!” I bellow. I start hyperventilating. “The packs are going to show up.”
Ice coats my skeleton and seizes my insides, twisting painfully. The pack wants me to take a mate. If they find out about this, I’m doomed.
“What was that?” Wrath snaps, the humour leaving his face in the blink of an eye.
I shake my head. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
They laugh, like, all of them. Except Angel, I have no idea where he is. He’s my favourite right now.
“It will be fine,” Wrath says with an evil grin.
A message pops up, and I open it, staring at the familiar face. He looks happy, smiling. The message is simple. Hey there, princess, looking for some pre-mated fun? Be careful, it’s a dog eat dog world out there. It’s a warning. A message and a warning.
I delete it so fast no one could stop me even if they wanted to. Of course, the pack knew. They don’t miss anything.
Jonas’ taunt turns my stomach, reminding me of what’s coming. A storm can make you forget things you shouldn’t, but when the sun comes out, you have to face reality, and my reality is terrifying.
I stand up and walk away from them. The tablet falls from my numb fingers. I walk outside and slide down the wall, hugging my knees.
A huge male crouches next to me, and I know it's Riot, though I have no idea how.
“Talk to me.”
The arrogant command shifts me out of my fear and into temper. I snarl at him, low and aggressively, but he just bumps me with his shoulder.
“That was a message. I’m not allowed to date. Orders of the pack. Just so you know.” My voice is dead. “So, you’re going to have to find a way around that.”
“We aren’t afraid of your pack.”
“They aren’t mine,” I snarl. I curl even tighter around myself. “You want me to do this, but, when you leave, I’ll be left to their mercy, and there won’t be any.”
Riot sighs. “There’s always a price.”
“Always,” I whisper. I close my eyes. “I’ll think about it. But do you think we could leave what I said between the two of us for now?”
“Okay, and, Casey,” I look at him. “Thank you. I know this isn’t easy or what you want. I can’t imagine what I would do in your position.”
“Probably hit them.”
He smirks. “Probably.”
He drops his arm around me and pulls me into his chest. I stiffen and try to pull free, but he keeps me there.
I gradually relax into the dark scent of him; it's spicy and sweet. The scent curls into me, soothing me in a way nothing else ever has. I can’t identify the exact incense, but I’m learning to love it.
It’s like the universe created one perfect alpha and one perfect scent and was like, there, I’m done.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a rainbow shimmer, but when I look again, it’s gone.
“How long have you been out here?”
“Out here?” I look around. “Oh, you mean, like, living on the mountain?”
Riot dips his chin, pitch black hair falling over his face. I have this urge to reach out and brush it aside. I have to curl my fingers to make sure I don’t.
“Um, I was eighteen when I moved in with Freida. She died when I was twenty-two, so I guess I’ve been here alone for six years.”
“You’ve been alone that long?”
I’m not sure if I like the surprise in his voice or not.
“Yeah, I guess. Alone is safer.”
We fall silent, just the two of us listening to the wind howl.
The door opens. “Hey, there you are, we can’t find- Oh.”
I snort and push away from Riot. “Thanks.” I get to my feet, pass Khaos, and slip into the house.
I curl up on the couch.
Dating. Could I start dating? It would mean doing the one thing I don’t want to do. Getting to know people and drawing the eye of the pack. But we are all stuck unless I find a way out of this.
I feel something inside and close my eyes. Perhaps I’m having a heart-related issue, and I’m about to die, but it doesn’t feel like that. More like stretching. It’s weird, and I rub at my sternum.
When I open my eyes again, I spot Angel in the corner of the room. He’s staring at me with an intensity that makes my stomach quiver.
“How long have you been there?” I ask, suddenly terrified, but I can’t say why.
“Long enough.”
I tilt my head to the side and watch as he comes and sits down near me. He doesn’t take his eyes off me at all.
“Show me again.”
The demand, the call, the pure dominance of it, slams against me. I let out a moan of agony as I feel like I’m being torn apart.
“Angel, stop, please,” I sob and try to hold myself upright, but I writhe until I slip off the couch, landing hard on the floor. I manage to wrangle myself into a sit as Angel blinks slowly at me. He’s quick to get on his knees, crawling over me and inhaling.
His pupils widen. “I know what you are.”
“And you’ll keep your mouth shut, won’t you?” I ask back sweetly.
“Is that a command?” His low, dark promise of pain sends shivers up my spine.
I look away tiredly. “No, Angel. Of course, it’s not. I just would prefer no one knows. It’s a secret I’ve kept all my life.”
“Omega,” he whispers.
The word is horrifying.
“Shh, don’t say that word in here!”
He studies me. “You really are just like us. Trapped. Someone else holds your leash. How can you free us if you can’t free yourself?”
His words are vicious cuts that scrape at my heart. He’s right. I’ve never been free.
“Do you even try to escape anymore, or have you given up?”
I wince. “Can you just…go away. It’s been a really bad morning, and I don’t want to take anymore verbal lashings from an alpha who has decided the whole world is his enemy.”
To my surprise, he flinches.
My phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket, answering it quickly.
“Hey, Liz.”
Angel stiffens, his colour draining from his already pale face. He backs off, up onto the couch.
“Hey, Casey. I was wondering, if you’re ready, I’ll come and get my dogs now.”
My brows snap down. She wants them back? For what?
“I thought they were ruining your life?”
“Oh, I was just having a bad day. I can come get them tonight. You don’t want to keep them; besides, they might get hurt up there in the wild.”
Angel has gripped my custom couch so hard he’s put holes in it. I stare at his hands as my suspicions grow darker and darker.
“I don’t think so,” I almost whisper.
“What?” Liz barks. “But they’re mine.”
I need to get off the phone and stop this before it gets out of hand.
“Liz, if you try to take them from me, I will kill you,” I snarl viciously and hang up. “Angel?” I say his name gently.
He stares at me for three long tension-filled seconds.