Cassy's face bloomed with the shock I'd anticipated, her mouth falling open in a silent gasp. Then, a trembling finger pointed at me. "Your… Your…" She struggled, the words catching in her throat, as if the reality was too much to comprehend.
"Derick Silvermoon," I confirmed, my voice a low rumble. "Crown Prince of the Werewolves." The tendrils of the bond flared with her sudden anxiety, a sharp spike that made me rush forward. A desperate need to soothe her, to anchor her, surged through me. I drew her into my arms, settling her onto my lap as my hand found its way to her back, a steady rhythm of reassurance.
After what felt like a suspended moment, her breathing finally evened out, a slow, reluctant release of tension. Then, her voice, small and uncertain, broke the silence. "What were you doing at my pack's ceremony?" Her tone held a genuine curiosity, but it was laced with an undercurrent that gnawed at me. "I mean… surely you could have anyone you wanted," she murmured, the words tinged with a palpable dejection. "Someone… better than me." Through the bond, a wave of profound sadness washed over me, the raw ache of her self-doubt, the conviction that she simply wasn't enough.
The fury simmered, a hot, molten in my chest. Anger at anyone who had ever dared to make her feel anything less than magnificent, anger at her for letting those whispers of doubt take root, and a stinging, self-recriminating anger at myself for not showering her with enough reassurance. But I couldn't afford to wallow in it. I pushed the tempest down, forcing myself to turn Cassy to face me. Her eyes, pools of anxiety and crippling self-doubt, met mine. A desperate ache to absorb all her pain, to shield her from it, clawed at me.
"Cassy," I began, my voice deliberately softening, my gaze locked with hers, willing her to see the absolute truth etched onto my face. "You are more than enough." I poured every ounce of conviction, every shred of certainty I possessed into those words. Yet, the shadow of her inadequacy clung to her features, an unwelcome guest that my words, however heartfelt, couldn't dislodge. Years of being made to feel less than, of internalizing the corrosive whispers of not being good enough, wouldn't vanish with a simple declaration. So, I resolved to offer her a different kind of truth, a truth that ran deeper than mere reassurance – the undeniable, unshakeable truth that she was my fated mate, the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for me, the one I had been waiting for.
"Cassy, what I'm about to tell you is a secret I've kept locked away, just for myself," I began, my voice low. Her gaze, sharp with curiosity, met mine, and I knew I had her full attention once more.
"You are my true mate," I confessed, and her brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
"Your *true mate*?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow. The question hung in the air, laced with an obvious suspicion – was I playing some elaborate game?
I nodded, a small, reassuring smile touching my lips. "I know you felt it too," I added, gently cupping her hands in mine, my grip firm and steady. "At the ceremony." Her eyes widened, as if a hidden truth had just been unearthed, but a residual layer of doubt still clouded her usually bright green irises.
"Why did you sit with me?" I prompted softly. "Why did you turn to me?"
She looked away, a million thoughts clearly racing through her mind. Then, her breath hitched, a sudden realization dawning. She turned back to me, her eyes alight with a dawning understanding.
"My wolf," she stammered, as if struggling to articulate something profound. "I… no, wait." She paused, searching for the right words. I remained silent, giving her the space to find them. "My wolf… she *smelled* you," she blurted out, her cheeks flushing a vivid crimson as if she'd just revealed a deeply guarded confidence.
But the honesty in her confession only deepened my certainty that there was more. "What else?" I urged gently.
"This is going to sound absolutely unbelievable," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. I chuckled, a soft sound designed to disarm her.
"Try me," I said, my voice a low, reassuring murmur, and she blushed again, a hint of a smile finally gracing her lips.
"My wolf… she *called* you mate," she admitted, her gaze dropping, expecting me to dismiss her words. Instead, I simply smiled.
"And my wolf also identified *you* as his mate," I said, the words settling with a quiet certainty in my own voice. Cassy's head snapped up, her eyes practically bugging out with a surprise that was almost comical. A torrent of questions spilled out of her, a stark departure from her usual composure. "I have *so* many questions! How did you even know you had a mate? Why did you wait this long? Did you *plan* for me to be there?" As Cassy fired off question after question, I found myself unexpectedly taken aback by this sudden, vulnerable side of her. It was clear she was grappling with the sheer impossibility of it all, and a wave of reassurance washed over me. "Don't worry," I murmured, a soft smile touching my lips. "We'll get through this, one question at a time."
The softest knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Cassy, who had been lost in her own world, startled and turned, her eyes wide with a familiar worry. I felt her heartbeat quicken, a frantic flutter against my own awareness. A quick, reassuring smile was all I offered before rising. "Just Matt, my Beta," I announced, my voice a low rumble designed to calm her. "I figured you might be hungry, so I had him bring some provisions." I moved to the door, pulling it open with a deliberate slowness.
Matt stood there, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a tight frown, his arms laden with a colorful assortment of fast-food bags. He brushed past me without a word, his focus immediately drawn to Cassy on the couch. He set the food down on the kitchen counter, then turned, his gaze finding her. A tentative wave, a flicker of her smile in return. It was then, at that simple exchange, that something primal stirred within me. My wolf, let out a low, guttural growl, and I found myself sending Matt a glare that could curdle milk.
His eyes widened in surprise, hands thrusting up in defense. "Woah there, big guy. You know I'm already mated," he said, a swift submission of his neck to me following. The immediate détente cooled the heat within me, and I chastised myself. What was this? I knew Matt was bonded, no threat, but a fierce, unfamiliar possessiveness over Cassy had taken root. My wolf snarled at any other male's proximity to *my* mate.
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair, the new possessiveness a strange thrum beneath my skin. Then, Cassy's hand found my arm, a calming, familiar touch. As she moved closer, that possessiveness flared, not just annoyance, but a deep, unyielding claim. "Sorry, man," I mumbled, turning towards her, the apology feeling like a confession. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Hey, no harm done," Matt said, his voice a gentle assurance. I swiveled back to face him. "I'll just get out of your hair." He moved towards the door, then paused at the threshold. "What time did you want me to pick you up for the ball?" he inquired. A weary sigh escaped me.
The ball was tonight, and missing it felt like a social transgression I couldn't afford, even though my heart ached to simply remain with Cassy. I turned to her. A flicker of understanding crossed her face, and her eyes fell to her dress. It wasn't beyond repair, but the ends were stained with dirt and the material hopelessly creased, rendering it utterly unsuitable for the evening's festivities. She'd left with nothing but the clothes on her back, and remembering her sharp aversion to her stepbrother, Josh, I had a strong suspicion she wouldn't be returning to her old home anytime soon.
"I can wash it," Cassy offered, her voice a little shaky. Both Matt and I looked at her, and she quickly added, "Or not," lowering her head in a wave of what I recognized as embarrassment. She was already feeling self-conscious, and the thought of needing a new dress was clearly making it worse.
I felt the hesitation in her voice, a flutter of anxiety I was determined to soothe. Without a word, I scooped her up, holding her close as I walked to the table. I pulled out a chair and sat down, settling her comfortably on my lap. Burying my head into the warm curve of her neck, I let out a contented sigh. This was exactly where I wanted to be.
Matt, ever perceptive, seemed to pick up on Cassy's unspoken discomfort. "What's your dress and shoe size?" he asked, his voice gentle. Cassy stiffened in my arms, a knot of unease tightening in her. "Size 8 dress and 7 in shoes," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
I quickly mind-linked Matt, adding, "And don't forget makeup and accessories." I felt his quiet sigh through our bond, a subtle acknowledgment of the task ahead. "Yes, Alpha," he replied mentally, and then, aloud, "I'll be back at 5 pm. Will an hour be enough time for you to get ready?"
"Yes," Cassy whispered, her fingers nervously pleating the fabric of my shirt. "That will be fine." Matt simply nodded, a small, reassuring smile touching his lips as he walked out, closing the door softly behind him.