THE BULLY'S HATED MATE

CHAPTER 5: BEST FRIENDS

CASSIA'S POV:

I don't know how long I stayed here. I didn't know what the time was, but what I did know was that my mum must have gone bonkers by now.

I kept thinking of all the ways my mum would have cried when I didn't return, and when the hell were they going to let me out?

The sound of a gate being opened in the darkness frightened me a bit.

Soon after, the squeaky sounds of boots were heard descending some sort of steps and walking randomly towards my direction.

Even though I was weak and I was seperated from them by the only surviving light in the cave-like structure, I could smell them so much it nearly hurt.

At first, I felt it had to be Lucius but the absence of his peculiar smell and the way Myla howled in excitement whenever she perceived him made it obvious that it wasn't him.

These set of people had anger and tiredness as their scent's ambassador. It was disgusting. I covered my nose.

"Wake up!" One of the men stepped into the light of my cell.

I could see he had broken teeth and while some were broken, others were brown and sickly. I wonder what it was that his mother must have fed him while growing up.

I wish I could cover my eyes.

"I'm awake, assholes." I replied, feeling a tiny bit hopeful and still disgusted.

"Here's a bucket of water, wash up!" The second guard said, stepping into the light as well and passing the rather short bucket underneath the bars with a lump of soap and a washcloth.

I looked up at them in confusion as to why they would give me a washcloth and a bucket.

"You're being released. Now, hurry up! You peasant." He sneers in disgust.

Happiness swelled my chest so much at the fact that I was going to be released. It was about time. The men turned around and left, giving me privacy.

***

I don't think the air smelled the same immediately I stepped out of the castle. Somehow, I had emerged by the side of the castle.

I was blindfolded in, and I was blindfolded out, so I wouldn't know the way and frankly, as I snatched my arms from the two hefty men, I was relieved not to ever know the way.

I had absolutely nothing to do with that kind of information. Right now, all that mattered was that I had to go home.

I was weak but I still had enough strength to summon Myla.

As my body cracked and shifted and enlarged, my vision became clearer, my breathing became deeper and more open, and she was extremely hungry too.

She was going to hunt and go home at the same time. And just like that, we took off into the wind.

****

I started to change back immediately I got a few distance home.

I didn't want my mum knowing that I had been arrested for a crime I clearly had no idea I broke.

I didn't want to break her heart. Better safe than sorry, I told myself.

I started to walk gently, careful not to break a twig or touch a leaf. Nothing to create an ounce of noice.

My mother was gifted at hearing those...

I was just moving past the cave where Marcus and I usually meet to transform and go to school, when I heard something.

I stopped moving and tried to listen.

"Cassia." I heard my name whispered softly.

I turned around and found Marcus. He was laid back, his back touching the wall of the cave.

He had a hand nestled on his stomach and the other hand nestled on his shoulder. With the way his face was scrunched up, I could tell that he was in pain.

Forgetting that I was on a mission to be quiet, I rushed towards him and supported him with my body.

"What the hell? What happened, Marcus?" My voice quavered as the moonlight hit his face to reveal scratches and bruises.

He had been in a fight, it seemed. But I still needed to ask for clarity sake.

"I defended you." He said, his voice got a bit raspy. "I just had to…"

I put a finger to his lips, silencing him. He needed towels and a good washcloth, and a hot meal and a good sleep.

"You don't look so good. Defended me, how? What happened?" I asked again softly when his breathing had steadied, feeling more concern than I already displayed.

He sighed a bit, and sat up. He touched my fingers and looked at my eyes with this calmness, it was almost frightening

"I showed Nero who was the boss. He got worst wounds all over, trust me. I'm fine though. How about you? I heard they dragged you out. I'm so sorry. What happened?" He asked me, moving closer this time, our thighs touching.

I couldn't tell him that I hid in the royal boy's bathroom, and that I saw the Alpha's son, Lucius the world-class asshole, and then ended up becoming said asshole's mate, and then being threatened with my life not to say a word to anybody.

I couldn't tell him that. Hell, I couldn't even tell myself that.

"Well, you're right. I crossed over to the royal section, and they found me immediately. Kicked me out, more like dragged me out, and kept me in their disgusting cell while promising an even better punishment." I said in a breath.

Marcus laughed a bit, an innocently contagious sound. And I laughed too. It was funny now that I had gone through that, but he didn't need to know the real details about it.

"You don't look like you were dragged though. You look…clean." He said, still with the light in his eyes as he closely assessed my features.

He stretched his hand towards my face, taking a piece of hair and locking it behind my ears.

I found that gesture...sweet, and for that innocent moment, it rocked my world a bit, sending a flutter to my belly.

I shrugged lightly, letting out a small laugh. "That's the perk of being made to wash up in dirty prison water."

Marcus roared in laughter, and just like before, I joined in, feeling my previous bad mood disappear just by sharing this light-hearted moment with my best friend.

Our laughter died away softly, and we seemed to have grown out of things to say. The silence was thick with something else in the air, and my heart raced in my chest from the way Marcus rested his intense gaze on me.

I blinked away.

"Cassia… There's…there's something I have been meaning to tell you" He began.

I slowly raised my head from the position it had been earlier. I was eager to hear what it was he had to say. What on Earth could it be?

My heart gave a few irregular beats, and Myla was so esctatic and nervous even though we both haven't heard what he was planning on saying.

"You do?" I asked.

"Yes, I do. It's been so long, and when you didn't come back, I thought… I thought something bad happened to you. I got scared, Cassia. So scared that I'd lost you… It kind of got me thinking, and I just have to let things out..."

He didn't get to finish what he was saying when my mother walked into the cave, with a face I knew too well.

"Cassia! Oh my goddess!" She screamed.

I was frightened with her entrance, but I was more than relieved to see her. I stood up immediately, and held her for a longer time than usual.

I had been kept and punished in that dungeon, but I had been more worried about her than anything else, even myself.

I took the opportunity to take a greedy whiff of her scent to fill my nostrils.

She pulled apart and held me at a far distance with my shoulders. She turned me from side to side, examining every inch and every corner like she was looking for me.

"Where have you been? Tell me! I was worried sick, and your friend, Marcus here, told me that you two were playing a game of hide the rabbit. I was beyond worried, Cassia! You shouldn't do that again and leave your friend outside all alone. Is that clear!" She asked.

I was too stunned with her brillance and her familiar and welcoming scent to think of anything to say. I simply nodded with a nervous smile as she unhanded me.

"You two should eat. Lucky for you, I made just the thing. Why don't you both come in and I'll dish it out? Then, you can tell me all about the game you two played. Okay?" She asked.

"Oh no, ma'am. I'll be okay. I should properly be going home soon. I just wanted to make sure that Cassie lost the game properly." Marcus replied, still seated on the floor of the cave.

She smiled down at him, and winked at me in a knowing fashion.

What?

"Alright. Cassie, come in when you're done. Okay?" My mum said and kissed me on the cheek before leaving.

I turned around and found Marcus already standing up to leave. I held a frown on my face.

"You're really leaving?" I asked, and he nodded without even looking up at me.

"What did you wanted to say to me?" I asked and touched his arm gently.

"Oh, no worries about that. There's always time and plus, we have school tomorrow. I don't know if you'll be able to come. The school council gave a general open meeting where you were placed on community service. Your task includes waiting tables at the coming event."

I groaned loudly.

"Typical of them. Having a general open meeting while I wasn't even present. Giving me a punishment when I'm not there, and dropping the community service on me impromptu as well. It makes so much sense." I said sarcastically.

"What event anyway?" I said as I rolled my eyes.

"The royal banquet." He said.

My eyes went wide with shock.

It couldn't be.