turned, if you had something he wanted…he’s in the perfect position to kill you.”
“I suppose so.” What a dark way to look at the world. “He’s been in that position for years, even during the upheaval in Delta Crescent. If he didn’t kill me then, I see no reason for him to want to do so now.”
“Why didn’t he kill you then?” Of course he laser focused on the prior opportunity. “It was during the battles for ascension, yes?”
“Yes. When Poppa passed away.” Serafina’s father had been a good man and a great Alpha. The story was common knowledge, and Cassius had been in attendance when the ascension rounds began. Her gaze tracked the scar bisecting his chest. Though he was tattooed with some unfamiliar symbols across his shoulders and pecs, the black lines seemed to frame the scar traveling from his sternum to his gut. “We all mourned him, and his Hounds set aside the time and the place for the ascension. Some elected to stay out of it entirely, some chose to fight.”
Mirroring her posture, Cassius leaned against the glass. The relaxed stance didn’t suit him. He was too primitive, too ready for a response. Even the sunlight outside seemed a little darker in his presence. She suspected he’d been sleeping when she knocked, yet he hadn’t commented. His short blond hair stood on end, even after he’d raked his hand through it earlier.
“Did your Hound choose to fight?”
“You were there. Did you see Faust in the arenas?” Whatever issue existed between Faust and Cassius, she wouldn’t interfere—unless they invited her or it became a problem.
“I wasn’t there for the first rounds. I arrived during the second. He could have been eliminated by then.”
“True.”
“But you’re not going to confirm or deny.”
“No, because it really doesn’t concern our discussion. That was well over ten years ago. You’ve been Alpha for a long time. How many challenges have you faced in that time?”
“Plenty.” Not really an answer. “Are we going to continue to play dodge and ditch in this discussion?”
“I don’t know. Are we? You asked for me. I’m here. Why am I here, Cassius?” When he said nothing, she took the bull by the horns. “Trust has to start somewhere.”
“You are not what I expected.” At least he didn’t sound disappointed. If anything, his scent intensified, hot sun and honest sweat which recalled the wild land outside the window.
“Good. I don’t like to be predictable and too many assumptions are made about Omegas, if people bother to make them at all.”
Surprise rippled across his visage. “If they bother to make them at all?”
“Last night at the rest stop, all the wolves knew was they didn’t want me here. They were afraid. Most of the time, when Omegas begin to come into their abilities, they don’t even recognize it. I didn’t. It causes fear. Fear…well, not to sound corny like an old movie, but fear leads to hate and hate leads to destruction.”
“Yet you thrive.”
“I was lucky, I had a wise Alpha, one who recognized what I was…and sought to protect me. Once more, we’re diverging from the reason I’m here.”
“No,” he said slowly. “I don’t think we are.” Turning away from her, he paced the length of the room. That he’d given her his back seemed important, but she filed the information away for the moment. One part of her wanted to follow him, but the rest of her urged caution. Her wolf had been relatively silent since she’d awoken. Exhaustion wore at them both, yet she was also curiously charged.
She opened her mouth, but then closed it. He’d paced away, and letting him work out how he wanted to pursue their discussion was the more prudent choice. The tattoos on extended along his shoulder blades and rippled with his every movement. The lines were elegant, yet jagged at the same time. They reminded her of a weapon.
Of course, Cassius reminded her of a weapon as well.
“I need your help,” he said
“I suppose so.” What a dark way to look at the world. “He’s been in that position for years, even during the upheaval in Delta Crescent. If he didn’t kill me then, I see no reason for him to want to do so now.”
“Why didn’t he kill you then?” Of course he laser focused on the prior opportunity. “It was during the battles for ascension, yes?”
“Yes. When Poppa passed away.” Serafina’s father had been a good man and a great Alpha. The story was common knowledge, and Cassius had been in attendance when the ascension rounds began. Her gaze tracked the scar bisecting his chest. Though he was tattooed with some unfamiliar symbols across his shoulders and pecs, the black lines seemed to frame the scar traveling from his sternum to his gut. “We all mourned him, and his Hounds set aside the time and the place for the ascension. Some elected to stay out of it entirely, some chose to fight.”
Mirroring her posture, Cassius leaned against the glass. The relaxed stance didn’t suit him. He was too primitive, too ready for a response. Even the sunlight outside seemed a little darker in his presence. She suspected he’d been sleeping when she knocked, yet he hadn’t commented. His short blond hair stood on end, even after he’d raked his hand through it earlier.
“Did your Hound choose to fight?”
“You were there. Did you see Faust in the arenas?” Whatever issue existed between Faust and Cassius, she wouldn’t interfere—unless they invited her or it became a problem.
“I wasn’t there for the first rounds. I arrived during the second. He could have been eliminated by then.”
“True.”
“But you’re not going to confirm or deny.”
“No, because it really doesn’t concern our discussion. That was well over ten years ago. You’ve been Alpha for a long time. How many challenges have you faced in that time?”
“Plenty.” Not really an answer. “Are we going to continue to play dodge and ditch in this discussion?”
“I don’t know. Are we? You asked for me. I’m here. Why am I here, Cassius?” When he said nothing, she took the bull by the horns. “Trust has to start somewhere.”
“You are not what I expected.” At least he didn’t sound disappointed. If anything, his scent intensified, hot sun and honest sweat which recalled the wild land outside the window.
“Good. I don’t like to be predictable and too many assumptions are made about Omegas, if people bother to make them at all.”
Surprise rippled across his visage. “If they bother to make them at all?”
“Last night at the rest stop, all the wolves knew was they didn’t want me here. They were afraid. Most of the time, when Omegas begin to come into their abilities, they don’t even recognize it. I didn’t. It causes fear. Fear…well, not to sound corny like an old movie, but fear leads to hate and hate leads to destruction.”
“Yet you thrive.”
“I was lucky, I had a wise Alpha, one who recognized what I was…and sought to protect me. Once more, we’re diverging from the reason I’m here.”
“No,” he said slowly. “I don’t think we are.” Turning away from her, he paced the length of the room. That he’d given her his back seemed important, but she filed the information away for the moment. One part of her wanted to follow him, but the rest of her urged caution. Her wolf had been relatively silent since she’d awoken. Exhaustion wore at them both, yet she was also curiously charged.
She opened her mouth, but then closed it. He’d paced away, and letting him work out how he wanted to pursue their discussion was the more prudent choice. The tattoos on extended along his shoulder blades and rippled with his every movement. The lines were elegant, yet jagged at the same time. They reminded her of a weapon.
Of course, Cassius reminded her of a weapon as well.
“I need your help,” he said
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