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CASSIAN
Anticipation filled me as we pulled into the driveway of the warehouse. I couldn’t wait to see Emily. We’d been apart for two days, and my wolf was clawing at me to kiss her. Now that we’d kissed, I couldn’t get enough of it, and I wanted her in my arms, stat.
When we pulled up, she ran outside to the SUV. Griffin jumped out, ready to meet her halfway, but I ran forward. It may sound childish, but I wanted the first kiss now that we were back.
I wrapped my arms around Emily and swung her around, swept up in my own enthusiasm. She let out a light squeal of surprise, but it only drew me in closer.
Her eyes looked past my shoulder at the other guys shuffling out of the vehicle, and her cheeks flushed. I chuckled and set her down, brushing the hair from her face before pulling her in for a kiss.
I knew she still wasn’t comfortable with the PDA. Maybe she wouldn’t mind so much if we were an ordinary couple. But she was a witch with two wolf mates, one who happened to be the pack’s leader. For her, the attention was too much. She preferred to blend in with the background. But little did she know, even from the corner of the room, she illuminated and glowed more than anyone else. In my eyes, she could never blend in.
I was grateful that Griffin allowed me a moment alone with her, waiting patiently with the other guys. As much as he teased me with Emily, I figured he’d be pushing himself between us just to get on my nerves. But he didn’t. Maybe I’d have Emily toss his wolf a bone later as a reward.
The guys carried Morgan inside. She was still subdued, and since none of us wanted to hold her on the ride back, she was in the back trunk area. Of course, it was open to the rest of the vehicle so that she wouldn’t suffocate or anything. I was determined she arrived here healthy enough to tell me what the hell she and Samara were planning.
I didn’t care how I had to get the answers, but I would get them.
“Where are they taking her?” Emily asked.
“We figured it’d be safest to lock her up in one of the cages for now,” Griffin answered, finally joining us. He shot me a look, though I couldn’t quite figure it out. He’d been quiet on the ride home. I think he was still coming to terms with the true Morgan. Hearing it is one thing but seeing it firsthand must’ve been eye-opening.
“Actually, Em, this would be a great use of your magic. You could create a barrier around the cage so she can’t get out,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as we walked back to the warehouse.
“Sure. Though, I don’t know if it’ll be much help. Morgan’s the one who showed me how to create a barrier, so she could probably take it down if she really wanted.”
“Good luck getting past the bars.” I huffed a laugh. “So, what’s been going on here the past few days? Any trouble?”
Emily sucked in a breath, and I prepared myself for whatever news she had. “The Ash Hounds called to speak with you but… Well, I hung up on them.”
I stopped in my tracks and stared at her. “You what? Why the hell did you do that?”
“Now, don’t freak out, Cass. It’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad? I left you in charge as luna, and you hung up on another alpha. That could ruin any chance of an alliance with that pack before we have it. If you’re going to take on the role of luna, you need to act accordingly.”
Emily pushed my arm away and stared at me with a mix of hurt and disgust. “Excuse me? I’ve tried to be the best luna I can be, and it hasn’t been easy. Besides, if you really trusted me to be the luna of your pack, then why did you call Sam about Morgan and not me?”
“What!” I’d said that a bit louder than I’d intended, but the accusation was so dumb, I couldn’t help my reaction. “That’s the thinnest argument I’ve ever heard. Don’t try to turn this around on me. I’m not the one who hung up on an alpha.”
“Well, excuse me! I didn’t realize that alphas were like gods to you people. Should I bow down before you, oh great alpha?”
“Alright, you two, knock it off!” Sam stepped between us, his arms crossed, shooting us both a glare. Emily looked away in humiliation, but I stared at Sam as he continued. “Cassian, you need to keep in mind that this is new to Emily. She was thrown into the position, much like you were. Only, she had no preparations. Let’s not forget how you reacted when you became alpha, but Grace never met you with criticism. She guided you, and now you need to guide Emily. If she makes a mistake, don’t chastise her. Tell her where she went wrong and how to fix it.”
I squinted my eyes, skeptical at first. Before the words sunk in, I questioned why he was defending her. I’m the alpha, so shouldn’t he side with me? But then I realized, he was right. I shouldn’t be angry with her but should hear her out. Get her side of the story before getting worked up. The last time I overreacted—when Sam and Griffin fought while I was in a coma—I responded before I listened. But not this time.
“I’m sorry, Emily. Sam is right. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. My pack is everything to me, so I get a little overprotective sometimes and act like an ass. So, tell me what happened. Hanging up on an Alpha isn’t exactly the image we want to portray for the Knox pack.”
Emily smiled and pulled me into a hug—the warmth and familiarity was a cozy blanket I nestled into. “I realize that,” she said. “Which is why I called them back.”
I pulled away and looked at her, realizing how stupid I was to overreact when she had resolved the problem on her own already.
“Of course you did, my luna.”
“We’re visiting them tomorrow evening. Alpha Radolph said he has information you might like to hear.”
Intriguing. What did this information pertain to? Samara? Emily’s father? With so much going on at once, it was difficult to determine where I should focus my attention.
“Alright, sounds good. First, let’s take care of this Morgan situation, and see what we can find out.”
We headed to the cage where Morgan was sitting on the cot in the corner. I glanced at Tiny, who said, in his deep voice, “She came to when we were carrying her. Managed to scratch Gus pretty good.” Gus held out his arm to reveal a bleeding line down his arm. “But we got her in the cage.”
“Alright, thanks, man. I’ll take it from here. Everyone, clear out except Sam, Gus, Emily, Griffin, and Ember. Oh, and Tiny? Could you tell Adina to come here, please? Thank you.”
The only people I wanted here were the four of us, my beta, and a few people to handle security. Gus stood at attention, waiting for me to give him an order. Ember took a seat in the back corner of the room, while Emily and Griffin stood only a few feet away from the cage.
“Gus, I’d like you to patrol by the door. Make sure no one but Adina comes in. Sam, you take the other door.” They nodded and stepped out of the room, waiting on the other side of the doors. I turned to Emily. “Go ahead and make the barrier.”
Just as she finished, a cackle came from behind the bars. Morgan’s maniacal laughter grew. “She’s coming, and you will all be sorry.”
Morgan pointed behind us, and we all turned in sync to see a weird object sitting on the table.
