162
Julian
She said she believed me, she said she felt better but she was lying. The thing I wasn’t sure on was whether she knew she was lying.
There were shadows dancing in my wife’s eyes. Demons that threatened to overtake her and take her away from me. I would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen. Even if that meant I conducted all my business right here in the kitchen. Where I could keep an eye on Cassie curled up on the sofa reading a book in the living room. She knew I was watching her and not paying attention to matters of state. But she didn’t lift her head from the book on her lap.
She didn’t move her eyes either so she wasn’t reading it. She was just staring blankly at the page and no doubt listening in.
“Is she?” Scarlett whispered to my left. It didn’t matter how quiet she said it though. Cassie had sharp hearing she would have heard. Not that she made any sign that she had.
“She’s fine.” I snapped back , maybe a little too loudly. Sighing heavily, I straightened my shoulders. “She’s just not sleeping.”
Ian grumbled something under his breath and I turned to him angrily. “Do you have something to say?”
“Yes.” He retorted. It was crazy how direct and blunt he was these days. He had never been a yes man but now he seemed to be just argumentative. Especially when it came to her.
It would have made me jealous because there was a really close friendship there but I knew Cassie belonged to me. She always had, ever since we were children and she had saved my life.
As her mate and her alpha it was my job to protect her and yet she was the one who always seemed to protect me. Even now, I felt helpless. I didn’t know how to help her snap out of this.
“She needs to be away from this.” Ian hissed. “She needs to rest properly. You need to send her to her mother.”
I glowered. “She can rest here where I can keep her safe. If-“ I lowered my voice. My eyes on her. “She needs help that I can’t give her then I will find a facility for her.”
“You have decided to-“ Scarlett began to say and I snapped my eyes to her. The words on her lips faltered. Her eyes darted downward.
“My wife isn’t crazy.” I growled.
At my side Scarlett bristled. “No one said she was. Cassie is my friend. She has been my friend since the moment we met. That was before you decided you liked her.” She reminded me with a scowl. “When you were treating her like a second class citizen.”
There was a sharp intake of breath.
“Scarlett.” Ian warned and I shook my head. It wasn’t like she didn’t have a point. I had done that. And Cassie had loved me anyway.
There were no excuse for how I had acted. I had been blinded by prejudice. And a beautiful face. If I was honest with myself. Megan’s overtly sexual nature had turned my head. It hadn’t helped that I had thought she was the one in the hospital to save me.
But no, that had been Cassie. Saving me again. Just like she always did.
“I know.” I said softly. “I know what a brute I was. And I’ll try every day for the rest of my life to make it up to her. I need to start trusting in her more don’t I?”
The moment I said the words I realised how true they were.
“Cassie?” I called out.
“What are you doing?” Ian hissed. “Let her mind rest.”
“I know what I’m doing.” I shook the hand he had placed on my arm off ,with a snarl.
“Cassie my love.” I called out again when she didn’t move. “Can you join us?”
Slowly she placed the book down and came gliding towards us. She moved like someone who wasn’t really there. Half ghost and half zombie.
“How are you feeling?” Ian and Scarlett asked together the moment she slipped silently onto one of the stools.
Their faces were mirror images of each other.
“I’m fine.” Cassie seemed to shake herself as she stared at me. Slowly she blinked and the life seemed to rush back into her eyes. “I was wondering how long it would take you.” She aimed her question straight at me.
“I knew you would have thought of it.” I smiled proudly. “I bet you were sat there wondering why I hadn’t realised it sooner , weren’t you?”
“Does someone want to let the rest of us in on your little secret?” Scarlett asked.
Ian didn’t say anything but he stared at my wife and I could see the realisation flicker into his eyes. “Oh.” He said softly. “Ohhh damn.” He said louder with a shake of his head.
“Anyone was to fill me in?” Scarlett asked again.
“The people who went missing.” I said quickly. “There’s no trace of them. No signs they were taken by force.” I met my mates eyes. “Cassie is the only one who has come back. And she says she heard our children crying for her. Last night.” I searched her face to make sure I was ok saying this and she nodded her head. “She heard me calling for her, even though I was right in front of her.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened. “You think they are being led away?”
“That would be some serious magic.” Ian added. “Some really serious spell work because no one even sees them leave. They just disappear, almost like they were never here to begin with.” He sighed and his eyebrows knitted together. “But in a way it makes sense.”
“We need to check in with other packs. And find out what is happening in the palace as well.” I said.
“And with the cats.” Cassie said softly. She turned her attention to Ian. “Maybe you can ask Yanna?”
The line between Ian’s dark brows deepened. “Who the hell is Yanna?”
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