Chapter 22

SOMA:

Cassie has frustrated me to the core. And there was no doubt about how it has already eaten me up that I have to give in to her demand about telling her what is supposedly going on between Luis and me.

I stand up to my feet just so I could avoid the stare that comes with her ‘I knew it’ attitude. She hasn’t done it yet, but I know she would eventually so it was better I avoid it now.

My back was already turned against her when she speaks: “So, he’s truly your mate and not one of your flings?”

The question has me turning to look at her in bewilderment. What does she make of me? A hoe?

“Why would you even say that?” Disgust is coiled around my tongue when the words get out of my mouth.

“Because I know you like the back of my palm,”

“Since you claim to know me well, have you seen me this serious about an issue concerning a man?”

“That’s why I need a confirmation, sis. I don’t want it to be one of your numerous escapades.”

“And I’m telling you it’s not,” I admit to her before going to sit back down. My hands were placed forward on the desk immediately and I lean towards her. “This is real, Cassie. Believe me.”

She still isn’t convinced and I can tell from the way she gives me a once-over. Perhaps I am not sounding way too convincing for her to believe what I say, but I know I have tried my best to make her see how honest I am.

After a long shared silence, she says, “Guaranteed, he’s your mate. Then why do you sound so skeptical about the whole thing?”

“You wouldn’t understand. It’s actually complicated,”

“What’s so complicated that I wouldn’t have an understanding of? I’m not dumb, remember?”

“I didn’t mean it that way—”

“Just say it!”

A deep breath... and I tell her, “The thing is, he’s not like the rest of us,”

“So what is he? Human? He clearly isn’t because I could perceive his unique scent when he was here,” she wastes no time in saying. She really came prepared to tackle me.

“He’s no human,” I shake my head, “but he’s far different from the regular breed of wolves. The complicated truth about him is that he has no spirit wolf.”

I got no weird reaction from her unlike when I told Mark the truth about Luis. Instead, she acts like it’s something not too important that I just told her, which I would say was unexpected. It’s when she speaks that I realize what she has in her mind.

“Despite the buildup and everything, he’s still underage. Surprising, I must say,”

“Underage? The dude is way over eighteen. That’s not the reason he has no spirit wolf.”

“He’s over eighteen and wolfless?” now she looks surprised from finding that out. She couldn’t even hide it from her reaction. “If his age isn’t the reason, then what is it?”

“He falls under a breed that is deemed as—”

“Wait, don’t say it!” she interrupts me before I could announce what I have to tell her. “Let me guess... he’s cursed right?”

I nod at her accuracy. The fact that she knows about the term means I’m the only one that did not read through something like that. I'm not even familiar with the term as I ought to be.

“Unfortunately, he is,” I admit, “and Mark totally disapproves of him. Says he’s not worthy of me.”

Cassie immediately frowns. “And since when did Mark start making personal decisions for you?” she asks.

“He wasn’t deciding for me. No, it was more like an opinion that didn’t sit well with me.”

“His opinion has got nothing to do with what is on ground. Whatever decision you make concerning this issue shouldn’t be a problem for him,”

“No, no, no,” I shake my head in disapproval, “his opinion matters just as yours does. That’s why he’s my best friend and you, my sister.”

“But it’s not worth him telling you not to be with him. Why? Because he’s wolfless? Does being wolfless make one undeserving of a mate? If that was the case, then I don’t think the moon goddess would have made it possible for you to even encounter each other. It’s always predestined, and Mark himself should know that,”

It was getting more complicated for me because my sister obviously disregards Mark's opinion just as much as I do. Would be worse if she hears the sum up of what he wants me to do about my newfound attachment.

“What other thing did he tell you?” Cassie suddenly says. Dammit, is she reading my mind? Just when I thought I would avoid a further discussion about Mark’s opinion with her, she then decides to ask about it. Insane, I must say.

“Do I really have to tell you?” skepticism filled my gaze as well as my tone when I ask her that.

“Yes... every damn thing!”

“Pfft, and since when did you start going vulgar?”

“Just today.”

“Okay,” I tell her and then add, “Mark told me to reject the bond.”

Instantly, she was up on her feet which was rather surprising to me because I have no idea what I said that would warrant her going up in such force. “I knew he would say such a thing,”

“What are you trying to do?” I have to lean back when I ask her because I still do not know what she has in mind.

“What do I want to do? I’m going out to look for that man and ask him why he has to be such a dumbass.”

“Wait, what?” how did the whole thing suddenly go through another path? “Are you being serious here, Cassie?”

“I’m more than serious. How could he tell you to reject the bond? How? What right does he have to say that?”

I raise my hands instantly, with my palms facing her. “I think you need to slow it down there a little bit, sis. It’s not much of a big deal,” I say in a bid to calm her down because she looks like she is going to burst.

Something probably clicks in her. Her reaction suddenly switches from the agitated act to a somewhat clueless one. “It’s not?” she mutters.

“Yeah, it’s not. You were just overreacting,”

A while later, she says, “Guess I was,” and then sits back down all calm.

I’ve never seen Cassie act that way before. What got into her head? Or does she have something against Mark that she does not want to tell me? I guess not. They’ve always been good friends since I’ve known them.

“Want to know the crazy thing about Luis?” I ignite a topic by asking that. It has been a while where we have both decided to stay silent and I sure needed to tell her more.

She looks up as she has had her head down since she sat. “What is it?”

“Even with him being without a spirit wolf and everything, he has the mass of strength equivalent to a regular wolfling. Nothing about him says he’s cursed. Nothing at all. I’m sure you wouldn’t believe me if I told you I got into a bout with him and it ended up a stalemate,”

“You stalemated a fight?” the seeming shock that exudes from her tone is enough to tell me how surprised she is.

“I did. The first in forever,”

Saying it even has me in disbelief that I truly did not get to win a bout against an opponent. If it had been another situation, I would have questioned my prowess. Even start to think I was getting weak. But, no, there was something special about the one I ended up stalemating. Something really special.

“It must have come as a shock to you, didn’t it?” Cassie’s voice gets to my hearing and I have to put my focus back on her. Can’t count the number of reactions she has showcased to me today, especially since the big reveal.

“It still is. But I’m taking it in good faith. Made me realize I can’t always be a winner in everything I do,”

“I see,” was her two-word response before she goes mute. That lasts for about thirty seconds because she then says, “At the end of the day, Soma, it’s your life. My opinion can count and so can Mark’s, but it's left for you to follow your heart and decide what’s best for you. Left to me I would say you should go for it. But my big advice for you is to prepare yourself mentally for what’s coming your way.”

“I will try. But I still have to talk with Mark first. There is something I need him to do for me,”

“You can meet with Mark however you want. But don’t let him convince you otherwise,” After I nod, she asks, “Is it bad that I feel so annoyed whenever I mention Mark’s name?”

Despite the question being the most uncomfortable to be asked, I realize something from it. There’s no issue between her and Mark. She is merely annoyed with him because of how uncool Mark had to be.

“It's not,” I tell her, trying not to smile.

“Good,” she nods, “because I’m so going to skin him when I find him.” Her countenance has changed again and I’m starting to get confused with her change of reaction from time to time. “So, what’s left now is to tell me where you first met Luis.”

Now, this was something I would want to talk about. “Wouldn’t you like to take a guess?” I challenge her, with a smirk perfectly fitted on my face.

“If I’m to guess, I would go for the Dark Moon pack. Is that where you first met him?”

“Nope, that’s the second. I first met him at the clubhouse. Although I would say it was more like seeing and not meeting. That was the last time I was at the club with you and Mark.”

“Tell me he’s not the one you were blabbering about that night...”

“You still remember, because he’s the one.”

“Wow, Soma. The club has never been the best experience but you got your first connection there. Guess it’s not that bad of a place after all,”