Leaving the Pack

Cassandra walked inside the pack house and headed straight towards her room. Exhaustion tugged at her bones, but her resolution after meeting with Alpha Callisto strengthened.

She saw hope that things would be alright in the long run.

As she ascended the stairs, passing by the other pack members, she heard them whispering.

For a moment, she thought they must be whispering about Caleb's betrayal or probably Alpha Thomas’s death, which had dealt her a heavy blow. However, to her surprise, they were different.

This time, the whispers were about her husband's ‘preparations’ to arrange a room for his mistress beside their room.

Oh, she couldn't call Harmony his mistress. She was his mate, rightful lover, and deserving Luna of the pack.

And who was she? A wife who had no identity anymore, just a Gamma warrior.

Bile rose in her throat at the memories of that slap that Caleb made not to her face but to her ego.

Cassandra gulped, refusing to let them see her bleed or cry anymore. They didn't deserve that after how they betrayed her trust.

When Cassandra reached her room, she saw Caleb standing at the entrance. His arms were crossed against his chest, and his brows knitted as he ordered men to arrange things according to Harmony's liking.

“Cassandra, I know it might put you at ease, but I have arranged for Harmony to live beside us. As the rightful Luna, she deserves the respect,” Caleb said sternly.

Cassandra looked at the man before her, contemplating whether this was the same man she had been hopelessly in love with.

The same sense of betrayal made her heart clench, but she maintained the serene smile on her face.

“Of course, it's logical,” She said smoothly.

Seeing her calm expression, Caleb's stern expression faltered a little. He had expected her to throw a tantrum, cry, make a scene, care for or hate him, just like she did at the field when he took Harmony's side.

Cassandra's calm expression threw him off guard.

“Cassandra, you—” Caleb started, but before he could continue, he smelled her presence before hearing her soft footsteps.

Harmony walked to them, dressed in an ivory silk dress. The fabric clung to her chest like a second skin as she blinked at them with innocent eyes.

Cassandra looked at the girl, the dress making her want to scoff in their face. But she stopped herself in time.

“Alpha Caleb —” She stopped, her voice delicate as she looked at Cassandra as if threatening her existence.

Seeing the fake, pretentious acting, Cassandra felt a little irritated.

“I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you if you would like to eat anything specific that I can cook for you,” Harmony said, a triumphant glint crossing her eyes as she leaned close to Caleb, her chest pressing on the man's biceps.

This time, Cassandra's lips twitched in amusement that she barely hid. The little actress was truly something.

Without indulging in their useless display of affection, Cassandra turned her attention to Caleb.

“Actually, I came to tell you something,” she said.

Caleb dragged his mesmerized eyes from Harmony's cleavage reluctantly before furrowing his brows.

“What?”

The helplessness was evident in his voice before he cleared his throat.

“I have decided to take up Alpha Callisto's offer. He wants me to train his Gamma females. I declined before because I thought I would take over Luna's duties after winning, but clearly…” Cassandra trailed off, noticing how Caleb stiffened.

“Well, I have free time now,” She added.

“You are leaving?” Caleb asked, not liking the sound.

Cassandra scoffed inwardly. She would've believed his expressions if not for the betrayal and humiliation from earlier.

“I am not leaving,” Cassandra smiled and looked at Harmony provocatively before adding, “I am just sharpening my skills and trying to expand our network.”

Caleb clenched his fists.

“You can't divorce me,” He said.

Cassandra smiled softly.

“Oh, Caleb, you wound me. I wouldn't think of a divorce even in my dreams. I promised my dad and Alpha Thames that I would always think about the pack’s welfare, and that's what I am doing,” Cassandra said.

The lies tasted bitter on her tongue, and she wasn't used to this kind of act, but she was ready to do it for her people and her father.

Caleb panicked a little. Cassandra was the kind of asset to the pack that he couldn't afford to lose, no matter what.

He wanted to object, but Harmony looped her arms around his biceps and blinked at him.

“You would need this time to make your wolf healthier and stronger. And honestly, I need a rest too. I have been training for too long. I'll travel a little,” Cassandra said.

Seeing Harmony pressing herself against Caleb, Cassandra felt a detached amusement in her body before she looked at Caleb's wavering resolution.

After a sigh, he finally spoke, “Okay, fine. You can go. But you need to keep me updated. You are still my wife.”

Caleb's words made Cassandra want to chuckle.

“Of course, Alpha,” She said with suppressed mockery before nodding with a fake smile and closing the room.

That night, Cassandra packed her stuff lightly. Other than Betty, she didn't tell anyone about her destination. And about her plan of colluding with Alpha Callisto, even Betty didn't know.

“Must you leave?” Betty asked anxiously, not liking Cassandra's departure.

“I'll be back. Don't worry,” Cassandra squeezed her friend's hand.

“Watch out for our loved ones, Betty. I’ll contact you to stay updated with pack’s whereabouts. We can't trust anyone anymore,” Cassandra said, hinting at a deeper conspiracy in the pack.

And why not? She never had imagined Caleb would betray her, but he did.

“Be careful, Miss Cassandra,” Betty said, and Cassandra nodded at her.

~~~~~~

The journey to the Divine Bloodlust pack was long and grueling, mostly because her mind was full of memories of betrayal and humiliation that didn't seem to leave her head.

The forests blurred past her, and the wind bit her cheeks as she rolled down the window to feel the cold air and stop her mind from thinking useless, self-deprecating things.

When Cassandra reached the Bloodlust pack, dawn had already broken, and she stopped at the pack borders with a stern expression.

The guards walked to her car.

“Yes?”

“Cassandra Eleanor. Your alpha has invited me,” Cassandra said.

The guards looked at each other before they probably got the green signal from the leading security force, and they opened the large gates of the fencing.

Cassandra drove her car inside the Pack, visibly impressed by its magnanimous beauty.

Everything was so beautiful, clean, and well-arranged that it made the pack look like a dreamland. It was nothing like what she expected from the most dangerous pack in the world.

As she reached the pack house, she couldn't help but feel her breath getting caught in her throat.

There before her stood Alpha Callisto.

Stripped to nothing but black khaki pants, his body glistening with sweat and muscles rippling with every movement that screamed danger.

He stood before another man and seemed to be talking about something important. She stopped the car at the entrance of the pack house, and the man turned to look at her as soon as she got out.

His brown hair looked damp while his hazel amber eyes burned with focus.

Cassandra froze in her place when his lips stretched into that familiar smirk, her heart fastening at the sight.

He looked dangerous.

He walked to her, long and slow strides, asserting his dominance. Standing before her, invading her personal space, he looked down at her.

“You are here,” He said before he leaned and placed his face in the crook of her neck, their chests almost touching.

“In our pack, you smell like us, or nothing at all,” The man said before he licked her neck, making her gasp.

In that moment, one thing became clear. The chilling realization dawned on Cassandra. This would be no easy alliance, no comfortable partnership, and if she lost, she might be losing more than just that pack.

She looked into his eyes before taking a deep breath.

“Hello, Alpha Callisto,”

“Hello to you, too, Miss Cassandra. Let's test your ability,” He smirked.