The Blood Pack (book one)

Chapter four

~Cassy~

House arrest sucks. After ditching the tweedles yesterday, I was ordered not to leave the pack house. My father specified the pack house after he said territory and I headed for the door to Sanna's. I knew I was being petulant but I did not want this. Today the selected alphas were coming to bid on me like I was a prized cow at a dairy factory. There was a light tap at the door. "Come in Sanna." I hmphed.

She came in with a big smile holding a bag. "I love how you always know it is me." she said taking a seat next to me on the bed. "Alpha asked me to come and help you get ready. At least you showered." she said taking in my wet hair and baggy pants and t shirt.

"I am not whoring myself for some purvey alphas." I gritted out. Sanna sighed already brushing my hair.

"You are not doing it for them. Or the alpha. You are doing this for the pack." I rolled my eyes. My father had obviously given her a pep talk before sending her up.

"What if I hate them? What if they hate me? What if no one wants me and my father is stuck with a defective alpha she - wolf who pushes him to an early grave?" Sanna brushed my hair into a smooth high ponytail with small pieces loose at the front to frame my face. She then turned me to her, taking makeup out of her bag.

" None of that will happen. Everyone loves you… Eventually. Maybe just try not to be a complete b***h all the time and I'm sure you will get along with anyone." I laughed. Only Sanna could say that to me and I knew it came from a place of love. She layered make up on my face ordering me to sit still as she did my eyes and lips and then spayed this disgusting tasting stuff to make it set, which made me choke and her laugh.

She then went to my wardrobe and picked one of the few dresses I had. My short black one, no surprise, and a pair of knee length boots. I quickly changed and sat back on the bed. I didn't want to look on the mirror. I didn't want to know how I looked. I didn't want to do this. I rolled over on my bed and screamed into my pillow. Just then my bedroom door opened and Liam walked in. I shot him a disgusted look. "Get out perv!" I shouted.

"Practicing screaming into a pillow for tonight when you are face down taking it from some old alpha, while he claims your f*****g pussy." I had, had enough. My wolf was pissed at what was going on and he had set her off. I went at him kicking and punching. Liam backed up dodging the first few blows, but then I delivered a great one to the center of his chest and he went tumbling over the balcony, almost landing on someone I didn't recognize. My father came storming into the down stairs landing. "What is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, looking up at me.

"Your precious son is being a f*****g perv!" I shouted, pointed at his mangled body at the bottom of the landing. I saw the area fill with male faces I didn't know. Well s**t, seemed the alphas were here.

"Well I think you showed him." My father said through gritted teeth, trying to act like the happy family. "I think it's time you came down." Sanna came up behind me squeezing my shoulder encouragingly. I sighed and walked down the stairs. As I neared the bottom the alphas started to puff there chests and even the men accompanying them did as well. I stood next to my father greeting each as they came in, well greeting the alphas anyway. I was right. Most were old, given that it was only recently the genders balanced out, a lot of the old alphas were now looking for a mate of their own. Even though as wolves they still looked young my wolf could tell that they were old on the inside. That meant set in there ways and wanting an obedient alpha female. That was not me.

As the line went on and I didn't recall anyone's name I started to just stare off. I didn't want to be here. Anywhere but here. Suddenly, Sanna elbowed me in the ribs. I turned to her with a questioning look and her head pointed to the line of alphas. I looked up to see coffee guy standing right in front of me, bar guy behind him and another wolf I didn't know. They were all young though, even put together they were younger than anyone else in the room except me, Sanna and Liam who was sulking against the far wall after his short trip. "Coffee guy." I greeted. My father looked unamused by my lack of respect to any of the visiting alphas and even more so now.

"Coffee girl." he responded. That same deep voice doing s**t between my thighs I did not think acceptable in present company.

I looked around him. "And club guy. You were right, you're not the alpha." that made club guy frown but coffee guy chuckled and offered me his hand "Cassy." I introduced myself.

"Alpha Ashley Blood. But for you it's just Ash." he said with a wink. Our hands were still shaking when my father cleared his throat, snapping us back to the room. I looked around at nine other angry alphas and shrugged. Walking past them all with Sanna to the table, purposefully taking one on the seats at the head sitting Sanna next to me. Grumbles went out and my father took the other seat next to me at the head.

"Where do I sit then?" Liam said standing next to me like a petulant child.

"As this has nothing to do with you, I don't give a shit." I said without even looking at him.

He scoffed. "Who my only sister mates to is my business! I am the future alpha of this pack and you will show your respect."

Oh he did not want to play this game. Sanna went to move but I pulled her back to her seat. "You are only next in line because you have a c**k. Doesn't mean you have to act like one. Now take a seat at the other end where there is lots of free space and don't even think of touching Sanna or the fact you have a p***s will not be an issue anymore." I smirked as Liam walked away, grumbling about how he would like to punish my disrespect. Liam didn't know how to handle someone like me, and he hated when it showed, especially in front of all these alphas.

I looked around the table as the alphas, enforcers whispered in theirs ears. I could hear most of the conversations. I was surprised most were positive, about my show of strength and protection of Sanna, who they all must sense was a submissive wolf. I sighed. "I don't get why you are all bothering to whisper when we all know we can hear each other perfectly well even in hushed tones."

"Indeed." my father agreed. "we should be open with each other about our standing. Does anyone wish to back out at this point?" my father offered. I looked around the table at puffed out chests and hard faces. No one moved. My eyes lingered on Ash, who looked sterner than others making me smile slightly." Very well. My offer is that my daughter, Cassy, will mate with the alpha that offers the best alliance to my pack. She is twenty one, a fertile age for producing pups and leading a pack." I shuddered at that. Well s**t, I was going to end up barefoot and pregnant.

Sanna squeezed my hand under the table offering her reassurance. The alphas took turned describing their packs and alliances and what protection they could offer. Some of these packs were too far away to be of any good. If we needed help defending our territory, they needed to be able to get here before we were all dead. Well my father would, I wouldn't be here. I shook my head. I will not show weakness.

My father seemed to be thinking the same as me with his line of questioning and the defeated look on his face, that a better offer wasn't on the table. I felt a little sorry for him, as he had been dreaming of making this alliance for a long time and although these packs were strong they were not ideal.

It came time for alpha Ash to speak. I knew he was close but I did not know what sort of alliance he could offer my father. "How big is your pack?" my father asked.

"I have nine members." he said confidently, causing the other alphas to chuckle and me to hang my head. Okay so the only alpha I had at all liked, led a boy band not a pack. "But my men are worth at least ten of any other pack." he added with confidence.

"Every alpha thinks that." scoffed Liam.

Alpha Ash just smiled. "In my case it is true. We have a very solid alliance with the Moonblood pack."

"Everyone claims to have an alliance with the Moonblood pack." Liam scoffed back. The way he was attacking alpha Ash was pissing me off. I felt a growl come up my throat but my father's stern look made it stop.

"Do you have proof of this, alliance?" my father asked with a raised brow.

"Well, as I am alpha Eric's second son, I can assure you it exists." everyone froze. We had all heard the stories of alpha Eric's second son leaving home to create his pack. Was this him? "my full name is Alpha Ashley Moonblood, but to avoid confusion I shortened in to Blood." s**t.

"Thomas!" my father shouted. Our tech guy popped his head round the corner. "Look into alpha Ashley Moonblood."

"Yes sir. On it alpha." he said disappearing.

"You do not trust my word?" alpha Ash asked with a raised brow.

"I do not know your word. I need to make sure that the man I give my daughter to can protect her."

"To him." Liam jumped from his seat. "I would make a better mate for her than this pompous…"

"Hold your tongue boy before I cut it off." my father threatened, his dominance slipping into his threat. Liam was stupid, if this guy was alpha Eric's son, my father would form the alliance and he could easily kill Liam for his choice of words. If not, then the alliance was not going to happens and that made his words pointless.

Sanna squeezed my hand, she was beaming like the Cheshire cat. I however was still not happy with the situation. I am still a bargaining chip, it just seems the pot is bigger than my father first thought. Thomas came back quickly thrusting a tablet in front of my father. I looked over his shoulder and saw a picture of alpha Ash, his arm around a young woman who I assume is his mother, as shifters don't age that much, with another eight males and an even younger female. The caption named the left to right and there it was, in black and white. Ashley moonblood. Well s**t.

I sunk in my chair whilst my father puffed up his chest like a f*****g cockatoo who had just seen a prize chick walk by. "I apologize alpha. It seems your story does pan out." the room gasped but I didn't. I sunk further into my chair. Please no. Not this way. Alpha Ash was nice and all, but to be traded to the head alphas younger son in exchange for an alliance with a small pack. Dear God this was embarrassing." sit up. "my father snarled." What is wrong with you?"

" I don't want to do this. "I gritted out." It is not worth it for him. The alliance will not be fruitful. " my father's face turned a shade of red.

" I think I can judge what a good alliance is. "he gritted out. I just rolled my eyes.

" I will make the alliance in exchange for your daughter, but I will not make the alliance to take her as my mate. " alpha Ash said. How embarrassing. My head landed on the table with a dramatic groan. I told him. And now we both looked like fools.

"What do you mean? She will make a perfect mate." my father argued.

"I'm sure she would, but I am not in need of a mate. I am in need of an alliance and more females in my pack. That is my offer, take it or leave it." I just kept my head on the table, this was not good.

"You come here and disrespect my daughter in such a manner. How dare you!" I started to bang my head on the table. "Will you stop that!"

My face snapped up to him. "well it is more productive than this conversation. You have your offer father. Take it or leave it. Me and Sanna will be upstairs." I grabbed Sanna's hand and lead her from the room. Liam got up to follow and I whirled on him. "Don't even think about it!" I snapped and he fell back in his seat. Satisfied, I left with Sanna and went to my room.

When I closed the door I started to pace. "Are you okay?" Sanna's small voice came out as little more than a whisper. I sighed and looked at my friend. I was freaking her out and I needed to calm down.

"Sorry Sanna." I sat down next to the spot that she had taken on the bed." I saw it coming as soon as I saw the photo. The lead alphas son, even his second born, can have pretty much any female he wants. This was just embarrassing. My father thinking he could mate me into semi royalty. His need for advancement and his over inflated ego are leading him to make a fool of this pack in front of all those alphas. He should just agree or reject the proposal, we have no standing point to barter. Any good alpha should see it. " I did not realize that I had got to my feet again and was pacing.

Sanna blocked my path and pulled me into a hug. I stiffened, still recalling, before relaxing into my friends hug. I don't know how long we stood there, hugging but soon I heard Liam shouting downstairs. "You can't take her. I won't let you. You don't even want her."

Followed swiftly by my father's. "Enough!" I pulled away from Sanna and we both grabbed cases and started to pack. When my father burst into the room and saw us shoveling my belongings into two bags his expression softened. "I accept alpha Blood's offer. You will be joining his pack."

"Yes father." I said as I stuffed my clothes into the bag.

"You know I love you Cassandra." I stopped when him hand fell on my shoulder. I turned and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I do father. You just love power more." His face fell like I had just punched him in the stomach. He was not angry, but sad and a little proud. He knew I got him when no one else did. Liam did not understand the need for power, he just liked having people below him, manipulating them." Liam will make a s**t alpha." I said as I packed the last of my clothes. Sanna had packed the stuff from my drawers and shoes.

"He is young, he will learn." my father had more faith than I did. I took the case from Sanna and lined it up with mine.

"When do I go?" I asked looking to Sanna who was tying her fingers in knots.

"Now." my father said patting my back.

"Now!" Sanna echoed. I looked to her, her eyes filling up with tears. I looped my arm around her.

"It is not far Sanna. I will still see you. It is not like I am being kept prisoner. I am sure I will still be able to meet you for coffee and go out and stuff." the flood gates were open and she was wailing. My father took my bags and left. I held Sanna closer. I rubbed her shoulder as I slowly walked her down the stairs and out to the front of the pack house. There was a jeep waiting and I could see club guy and alpha Ash, as well as male number three sitting inside. Finally, Sanna pulled herself from me, shaking still and gave me a shaky goodbye.