Chapter Two
“Thank you so much, father.” Cassy thanked Alec, chewing on the roast chicken he got for her at the market.
“It’s nothing, princess.” He touched her hair and she smiled.
Cassy contemplated whether to tell Alec about her mate but she shook off the idea.
Cassy couldn’t help but sigh as they reached home. He noticed and gave her a reassuring smile.
They got inside to meet Tabitha sitting in the living room waiting for them.
“Where did you go?” Tabitha asked immediately she saw her.
“We went to the palace together.” Alec uttered behind them.
Tabitha’s eyes went wide. “And you didn’t even let me know!?” she yelled.
“There is no use letting you know. I mean, you’ve never taken care of my daughter like a mother should,” Unexpectedly, he was calm and collected. “I married you for a reason, Tabitha.”
“I can’t believe you’re talking to me with such tone just because of…” she trailed off and glared at Cassy who was hiding behind Alec, before letting out an emotionless chuckle.
“Finish your statement, woman.” Alec’s voice raised a pitch higher.
At that point, Cassy knew she should step in. Her father was loosing it.
“Father, please it’s alright.” she pleaded, her eyebrows pulled together.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
“Go to your room, princess.” He told her, not sparing her a glance.
“But–”
“Say no more princess, I need to have a word with her.” He pressed his lips on her forehead.
Cassy knew her father had already told her what to do and he was not going to go back on his words.
She sighed and nodded before sauntering to her room. As she stood in front of the bronze door to her room, she could hear Alec arguing with Tabitha.
She walked into her room and plopped on her fourposter bed, stretching her limbs. She was tired.
“Sister,” Audrey stuck her head into the room, she smiled when she saw Cassy. “Cassy!” she hopped on the bed, startling Cassy who was lost in thoughts.
Before Cassy could say anything, Audrey spoke. “I heard mother and father quarrelling and father said you went to the palace. Did you set your eyes on the Alpha-to-be?”
Cassy rose up and sat down facing her sister. “Unfortunately. But somehow I actually forgot about him, if not I should have looked for him.”
“Why didn’t you look for him? I heard he would be crowned after the ball. I must attend the ball, no one knows if I would be his mate!” she chirped.
Cassy looked at her sister and shook her head, she could see she was getting obsessed with the new Alpha, Kai.
A lot of maidens in the pack including Cassy and Audrey admired him but for different reasons. Most of them had feelings for him but the sisters admired him because of his strength and the authority he exuded although they’ve only met him once. But with Audrey’s behavior, Cassy was beginning to think her sister had affections for him.
“Have you heard that the ball is in two days time? I just have a day to prepare!” Audrey soliloquise, getting down from the bed. “Good night sis!”
Cassy waved at her before collapsing on the bed again. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Everyone including Cassy sat in the room as they had their meal quietly.
After the argument last night and the strange occurrences this morning, she knew that this was not going to end well.
Alec cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “I’m sure you have heard that the ball is tomorrow, you have only a day to prepare.”
“You would go madam Victoria to choose your dress of choice for I would hand her the money on my way to the palace now.”
Audrey couldn’t help but let out a squeal and Cassy smiled at her.
Cassy felt a rush of happiness in her. He was getting them a dress and that means she was definitely going! She thought she was going to bananas with happiness until Tabitha spoke.
“I’m sorry, Cassy but I already made some purchases in the next town and you need to go and retrieve them. Who knows if you come back early you might make it to the ball?” Tabitha was calm as she spoke with an evil smile on her face.
Cassy lowered her head, trying to hold her wolf from coming out. The she-devil was at it again for the third time, her wolf was upset that she was holding them back from meeting their mate.
“I do not know what kind of tricks you’re pulling for I know that my daughter is attending and that’s permanent!” Alec yelled, eyes ablazed with anger.
Everyone had stopped eating but no one dared to leave the table.
“I do not understand what you mean my dear husband,” she was as calm as ever. “I never said she shouldn’t attend, she just have one errand to-”
“An errand servants can run, Tabitha!” Alec voice was loud. “You have no right to oppose my words, woman!”
Tabitha couldn’t help but flinch she had never seen him like this. When did he become so caring?
In the past, Alec had never followed if Cassy went to the ball or not which had always given Tabitha the chance to restrict her.
“Now the both of you, follow me.” Alec pointed at his two daughters who stood up and went with him like puppets.
Tabitha groaned and sat back on her seat, thinking of ways to stop Cassy but deep down she knew she was not going to have any chance this time. Still, she had to do something, she can’t allow her get her mate, she was her slave.
‡
Cassy and Audrey giggled as they got down from the carriage with boxes in their hands. Alec had deposited enough money for them to get whatever they want from the clothing shop and also gave them extra.
“Mother, we are back!” Audrey announced, walking into the mansion but got no response.
“Madam has left for the market to get dress for the ball.” Tabitha’s hand maid, Lia informed them and they nodded.
“I’ll be in my room. I need to try out these dresses.” Cassy told Audrey who nodded.
The atmosphere was filled with happiness, stores were filled with lads and maidens who wanted to look good for the ball. The palace was not left out as servants busied themselves with making it beautiful. Everyone was excited for the first mating ball since the Alpha died.
In the beta’s manor in one of the rooms, servants flocked around Audrey, dressing her up as Tabitha ordered them what and what not to do. Tabitha looked at her daughter’s reflection on the mirror and smiled. She was proud of her.
In the other room, Cassy sat in front of the mirror with her maid, Jasmine brushing her hair while she tried to apply make up on her face.
Every noble in the house had a hand-maid but Tabitha always made sure to use Cassy as anything she liked and refusing Jasmine from attending to her.
“My lady, I would get your dress now.” Jasmine told her and she nodded.
Tabitha looked at Cassy with spite as they entered their carriages. She felt like ripping off the dress she was wearing.
Although she tried to tell herself that her daughter looked better, she knew was lying to herself and she was annoyed.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace and Jasmine helped Cassy get down from the carriage.
They handed the pass to the guard at the gate before a servant led them to the hall the ball was held.
Everyone’s eyes were on them as they entered the hall. Cassy could hear whispers and she couldn’t help but feel insecure. She could tell that most people in the hall could tell that she was an Omega which made her recoil more.
“We’ve smelt our mate. I’m sure we are going to find him here so heads up.” Natalia encouraged her.
There was something different about her wolf today. Cassy felt confident that she was going to find her mate.
Cassy found a spot to sit while she watched her sister dance with a lord. No one was willing to dance with her.
A man rushed past her and at the same time a girl pushed through the crowd. Their gazes locked and she felt the tension in the air. She knew they were mates.
She smiled watching as the man kissed her forehead and she smiled softly.
How lucky. Her smile turned rueful, a dull ache of longing clenched her heart. She has been waiting for this day but her mate decided not to show up even after she had smelt him.
She took her eyes away from them and made to leave when she tripped and fell on jars of wine which she never knew had been there.
“Goddess!” Tabitha exclaimed, running over to meet Cassy. In the process, she poured the content on her hair.
Cassy gasped as the red liquid dripped down her hair onto her dress.
She immediately knew who it was. What did she expect? Tabitha would never let her off easily.
People gathered around her like ants drawn to honey. Tabitha was pleased, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Omegas! They always show their ugly heads.”
“Why would she be here if she just wants to ruin a perfect ball.”
“What a disgraceful maiden!”
Cassy swallowed nothing, hearing their comments. She was ashamed.
From the corner of her eyes, she could see Audrey dancing away with a handsome lad, oblivious of her situation.
Tabitha tried to stop herself from smiling. Her plan was working out perfectly.
She hurried to Cassy’s side. “Oh my dear! What happened?” she faked concern, pretending to clean the drenched maiden’s face who moved away as soon as her hands came closer to her face.
Cassy tried to ignore the glares and whispers she heard as she pushed Tabitha away. She gathered up her gown in her hands and moved swiftly out of the hall.
She didn’t want anyone to see her tears. She knew they already knows she was omega, a very weak one but she didn’t want to take anymore chances.
Stopping in front of a lake beside the palace, she let the tears in her eyes out, her shoulders trembling as hiccups escape from her mouth.
She wanted to stop crying but the tears wouldn’t stop coming out.
She was going to let out a sob when her heart started beating and her senses heightened. This feelings was familiar.
The smell of gardenia flowers and rain mixed with earth swirls over her and she felt her nerves calming down.
She had smelt this before.
She swivelled around to find where the scent was coming from but she couldn’t find it.
“Mate!” Natalia leaped inside of her, clawing her head to get out but Cassy shoved her back. Mate?
She felt a presence behind her and she whipped around to face it.
There she saw him in his full glory. Emerald green eyes staring at her with his muscled arms hidden in his tunic but still visible.
She knew he could feel what she felt but he was not moving. He didn’t look good. He looked like he….
No. He was not going to reject her.
Kai huffed and looked upwards running his hand through his face like he was communicating with something. Her sent was intoxicating but–
“Moon. I can’t believe the moon goddess would give me such…” He trailed off, his eyes meeting hers.
His heart clenched seeing the pain in her eyes but how could he have a weak mate? An omega?
Cassy’s heart twisted in pain. She couldn’t believe her mate was, Alpha Kai. She had always prayed for someone who was strong, someone to get her out of that hell hole but–
He was going to reject her. Who would want a weakling as a Luna?
“Cassy!”
“Cassandra !”
“Kay!” She could heard her family calling her, their steps drawing near.
No. No. This was not going to happen. He was not going to reject her in front of them.
She bit her lip and trembled trying to think of a way out.
“I’m aware of your intentions,” she swallowed before opening her mouth.
Kai wanted to smile. At least she was not stupid.
“But–please don’t reject me–for now” she blurted out.
“And in return?”
Think, Cassy. Think.