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CASSIAN
So much had changed in such a short time. Emily had changed. She seemed more serious and determined. Our relationship had changed, and not just from the mating bond. It felt like we weren’t as close. I knew she was avoiding me. Every time I tried to bring up our relationship, she changed the subject. I didn’t push it because she had been through so much. But not knowing where we stood was driving me crazy, and seeing her and Griffin together… Griffin said he didn’t want the bond, that he wasn’t interested in Emily, but I could see the way he really felt. Whenever they bickered, I could see it, and my heart squeezed with jealousy.
Griffin suggested that Emily move into his apartment the night she woke up, after a few bourbons. Emily also wanted to put her studies on hold until after all of this drama with Samara—I supported her decision. It would have been too much to focus on studying with the threat of war and being kidnapped again looming. Without school though, she would lose her dorm, so Griffin offered his bedroom. It was safer, admittedly, but it meant that they would be together every day. I wanted to offer a space in my warehouse, but even on my command, the pack would be uncomfortable with a witch living there. Plus, if one of them turned feral and Emily was in the wrong place… I couldn’t finish the thought. So this was the best option for now.
I was annoyed at the thought of her traveling alone… being with Griffin alone. I hated being forced to trust him, but I had to handle business with my pack. I had to find a way to beat Samara and release all of the wolves from the pain and torture each night. Neighboring packs were losing members every day. The pain forced them to turn feral—a permanent bloodthirsty wolf form—and no one knew what to do. It felt like we were at a standstill.
Even though my mother, Grace, stood beside me at the head of the pack, she’d run out of leads too. The only option was to send one of my guys; either Sam, Tiny, or Gus to scout the Langston pack and follow Gray whenever he had a message to deliver. That was risky though, if they were caught, they would be killed. Tortured first, according to Griffin, and I could never allow that to happen to one of my own.
I made the suggestion to Grace. She stayed quiet for too long. “Say something, I don’t know what else to do.”
Grace looked at me with sadness in her eyes. “Your father never said anything about that pack, but if it’s true, then sending someone in would be dangerous. If they get caught…”
“I know. I don’t have any other options. She’s been in hiding for centuries. How else do we find her?”
“What if we approach the High Council? Surely they would know where to find her, they’re the ones who banished her in the first place. I don’t understand why they haven’t looked into the feral wolves either. It’s becoming a big problem, and it’s only a matter of time before they start attacking.” Grace sighed, her shoulders sagged and exhaustion weighed on her.
I stood from my seat and started pacing. “The High Council won’t help, they keep to themselves. What if I went instead? I could stay hidden, and they know there would be retaliation if they attacked me. ”
“No, we can’t afford to lose another alpha. And I’ve already lost my mate, I can’t lose my son too,” she said quietly.
“I’ll give it another day or two and then we’ll decide. We don’t have the luxury of time. If war is on our doorstep, and no one knows when it will happen, we need to do something,” I said and paused. “You won’t lose me, I’ll be careful.”
I hugged Grace and breathed in her familiar cookies and apple scent. I had to fix this for her, I had to take the weight off of her shoulders. “Take Griffin with you, he knows how to get around.”
“I’ll speak to him. I’ll be back later tonight.”
Griffin lived close enough to the warehouse that it only took me 15 minutes to get there. I’d spent days thinking about what he’d told us—about his pack and the reason for leaving. It was hard to accept, and even harder to realize that I’d judged him unfairly. At the same time, I couldn't believe that no one knew about it, that my father didn’t know about it. I should have been a better friend. We were both young, but I could have helped him if I’d just been a friend.
The smell of pizza drifted to my nose and made my stomach growl as I walked into the apartment. There were two empty boxes on the garbage and four full steaming boxes on the kitchen counter. Griffin lay on the couch and music filled the apartment from his bedroom where Emily now stayed. “Where’s Em?”
“Hello to you too. She’s in the bedroom listening to that crap, whatever it is,” Griffin grumbled over his laptop.
The music grew louder as I nudged the door open. Emily loved Celtic music. She said it made her feel grounded and calm, but she had a habit of blasting it on full volume when she got lost in drawing or painting.
“I haven’t seen you draw for ages,” I said while turning the volume down.
She looked up from the sketchpad on her knees and smiled warmly, my toes curled at the sight. “Hey! I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I don’t think anyone would with your music.”
She chuckled and tucked a stray hair behind her ear and patted the bed next to her. She closed the sketchbook and put it on the bedside table. “I haven’t felt motivated to draw in a while. I forgot how soothing it can be.”
“How are you coping? We haven’t really spoken since New Orleans,” I said quietly.
“It’s been overwhelming. I feel trapped most of the time. Worried about Kellan’s next move.” Emily sighed heavily. “It just feels like I’m constantly stressed and useless because I can’t help with the curse or anything else.”
“I feel the worry too, like things aren’t moving quick enough and doom is on our doorstep.” I thought about the conversation with Grace earlier. “We’re at a standstill. I have an idea to fix that, but you may not like it.”
Emily frowned, her attention fully on me. “What is it?”
“I need to speak to Griffin too.” I made to stand but paused. “Em, I know you’ve been avoiding me and I understand why. It can wait until you’re ready, I won’t push it. I just… know you’re my best friend and nothing will change that.”
I stared at my hands, unable to look at her, to see her pull away again. I jumped when her small hand covered mine gently.
“You’re my best friend too, Cass. I just haven’t had a chance to think it through, to actually feel much beyond worry and panic. But it doesn’t change anything between us.”
I nodded, stood, and held out a hand for her. “Come on then, I have another bomb to drop.”
