The Mate's Curse

Chapter 13

(Cassie's POV)

After I managed to escape the stage I went looking for my parents. I found them near the entrance about to leave the pack house “Mum, Dad” I called running to them. They turned just as I threw myself into my fathers arms hugging him, he hugged me back and laughed, and then I hugged my mum before letting both of them go but holding each of their hands “you’re leaving?” I asked. Mum looked sad and nodded “We have to honey” my dad said “we were granted permission to come and see you announced but as Omega’s we aren’t permitted for the rest of the event” I started to feel the familiar fury spike “I hate this!” I snapped, “maybe I should have rejected the offer after all” 

“No honey” my mum insisted “I want you to be exactly where you are, I know you are safe and cared for” I was about to start ranting further when my mum held up her hand silencing me.

“I don’t want to hear any more of it” she said decisively “but I do want to tell you how beautiful you look tonight” she said with a big smile “Quite right” my father said “and you did amazing up there” I could hear the pride in his voice, and I smiled despite it all “Thank you” I replied “I can come see you tomorrow after - “ I started but noticed my mum looking behind me and then looking at my father a worried look on her face. I turned and saw the Luna looking in our direction with a curious look on her face. She saw me looking and started heading towards us “Honey” my mum snapped my attention back to her “We are going to go, enjoy your party and we’ll speak to you tomorrow” she gave me a brief hug and my dad kissed me on the cheek before turning and hurrying out the door and down the stairs. I watched them confused at the quick exit when I felt a hand on my shoulder “was that you’re parents?” I turned and smiled at the Luna “Yes but they said they had to go” I was starting to feel emotional again “Oh that is a shame” she said sympathetically “I would have loved to have met them”.

“CASSIE” I heard an excited scream and looked over to see Amelia rushing over “I have been looking for you everywhere” she said when she got to me and handed me a glass of champagne. “Well that's my cue to leave” the Luna chuckled. Amelia looked horrified “Oh no! Luna I didn’t mean that at all” she babbled, “It’s quite alright, I will bid you ladies good night” and she nodded to the stairs where the Alpha was standing waiting for her, with a smile she turned and headed up the stairs where the Alpha held out his hand. We watched as she placed her own in and he bent his head to kiss it before they headed up the stairs “You know they still go at it every night” I turned shocked to see Lucy looking up the stairs “Lucy!” exclaimed Amelia, Lucy only laughed “come on ladies the DJ is getting the party started and I need to stake my claim on the dance floor” Lucy said, grabbing my free hand and pulling me back into the great hall. 

The lights had been dimmed and spot lights had started moving in time to the music that was now blaring through the speakers. A lot of people had cleared out, probably families, leaving us to party the night away.

I pretty much danced almost non stop most of the evening. The music was a mix of current and older dance hits with the occasional cheesy song thrown in. I was introduced to more people than I could remember. I was having fun, more than I had had in such a long time. 

It was about three hours into the party when I realised I was hungry, in fact I hadn’t eaten since the day before so I was famished. I had also been drinking since mid afternoon, and whilst werewolves take more to feel the effects of alcohol, an empty stomach probably sped up that process. I was feeling a little tipsy so I signalled to the girls that I was going in search of food. Amelia pointed through a door at the back of the room so I waved and headed in that direction.

The door took me into a massive kitchen, one side lined with what looked like high standard and expensive kitchen appliances but the side closest to the door held the holy grail I was looking for. Two long banquet tables lined up with more food than I could imagine on them. There were hot plates with a full range of various meats, some in gravy some not. Further down there were bread, burgers, and pizza’s. The other table held an assortment of party foods. I marvelled at all the choice when I heard a chuckle behind me. 

I turned and saw a man standing behind me, well I say man but this guy was seriously godlike even by werewolf standards. He has a mess of tousled sandy blond hair on his head, and the most piercing blue eyes I had ever seen. His features were boyish but not in a too young way, more in a mischievous carefree way. He grinned at me “I honestly get this excited over food too” he grinned. Looking him up and down, I couldn’t say for sure but the lean frame which was covered by tailored black trousers and a dark grey shirt and black tie, didn’t support his claim. 

“I erm….” I was suddenly shy and stuttered “I haven’t eaten all day” he gave me a mock horrified look before grabbing my hand in his own warm hand “well then doctors orders, food is needed, stat” he said pulling a plate and started to pile all sorts of food onto it. He then guided me over to another door which led out onto the patio and put the food on a table and pulled out a chair waiting for me to sit. I sat down and he rushed back into the kitchen returning with napkins and utensils before sitting in the seat next to me “tuck in princess” I laughed but started to eat because by this point my stomach was growling louder than most wolves did. 

He sat and watched me eating and I started to feel self conscious so between two bites asked “are you a doctor?” he looked confused for a moment, but then looked at the food and laughed. “No princess I am an Andrew” he said with a flirty look which I couldn’t help but return “or Drew to my friends” 

“Oh” I took another bite “I’m Cassandra, or Cassie to my friends” and he laughed again. 

“Well Cassie it’s very nice to -” he was cut off “Seriously Drew” I groaned, I recognised that voice even though I had only heard it once, I turned and saw Eden saunter over placing herself between Drew and me, I rolled my eyes and continued to eat “Drew baby” she purred forcing herself into his lap “I was looking for you” she started nibbling on his ear while placing his hand on her thigh. He snaked his hand round her back and nuzzled into her neck, she moaned and then looked at me with a smirk  before pushing his hand under her dress and moaning again. I rolled my eyes and stood up scraping the chair back as I did, I picked up the plate and started walking back towards the kitchen.

“Hey” I heard Drew shout “Cassie, where are you going?” I turned back to him to see he was standing up with Eden standing beside him scowling at me. I shrugged “I was enjoying the food, didn’t wanna risk throwing it back up” 

“Drew baby” Eden snuggled up to him “ignore her, let’s go dance” she cooed in his ear, he didn’t even look at her before disentangling from her and started to walk towards me “Yeah just a sec Eden” he came over and took the plate off me and placed it on another table then took hold of my hands “don’t go” he said earnestly his beautiful blue eyes freezing me in my place “I really wanted to get to know you” I bit my lip nervously and he placed his thumb on my lip gently pulling it from the bite, smiling sweetly.

“SERIOUSLY” Eden screamed from behind him, pulling Drew away from me “First you think you can steal my job and now you are here throwing yourself all over MY MAN” she screams in my face, “Whoa Eden, calm down” Drew looked shocked at her outburst. I glared at her “I’m not trying to steal anything you deranged psychopath” I growled at her, I could feel the anger rising in me again so I turned and walked away before I did something I regretted “WHAT DID YOU CALL ME YOU B*TCH!” she screamed and I felt her lunging barely a second before I felt her hit my back, her full strength sending me flying to the ground. I hit the ground hard and had time to turn to see her throw herself at me, I kicked my leg up catching her in her stomach sending her stumbling backwards. I jumped up just in time to side step as she lunged at me again. I breathed trying to calm myself down as I watched her as she got to her feet and turned and glared at me, her face twisted in anger “you pathetic omega piece of sh*t” she stalked towards me “I am going to rip you apart” I growled low in my throat, feeling the rush of fury course through my veins “bring it b*tch” I sneered and she lunged at me again seconds before I lunged at her. She got there first and knocked me to the ground again and started punching me in the face, I blocked what I could while reaching up to grab a handful of hair and yanked on it. I know it was dirty fighting tactics but I don’t fight fair, I fight to win. She yelped as I yanked her hair again and aimed her fist at my face.  I covered my face ready to block when she suddenly disappeared. I looked up and could see her struggling against Drew as he had his arm around her waist holding her back “Get off me” she screamed. I got back off the floor and realised we had gathered a small crowd. Lucy and Amelia ran over to me to help me up “Oh my god are you ok?” Amelia exclaimed “Eden you have gone too far this time” Lucy shouted. “Oh f**k off you b*tch” Eden snapped at her, Lucy turned and stared at Eden “what did you say?” she seethed slowly, Eden sneered at her “go running back to mummy and daddy you spoilt little brat” Lucy started to advance on Eden when we were suddenly swarmed by pack guards “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” one of them roared. 

Everyone froze at the power in his voice. I looked over to see a massive man, he towered over everyone, at least 6ft 7 if not more, and he dwarfed every one of the guards there in muscle mass too. His hair was shaved short and he had the stance of a warrior at heart. Without being told I knew he was the lead warrior. “Nash” he barked and Eden jumped “I expect better from a warrior of your rank” . I couldn’t hide my shock that this girl was one of the guard “Do I need to speak to your father?” she hung her head  in submission “No sir, sorry sir” she muttered, “and you” he turned his attention on me, I looked him in the eye and could feel him pushing for a submission but the hell was I gonna submit for being attacked, it was painful to fight it but I did it and after a brief look of something like respect crossed his blue eyes he let up “I expect to see you on the training grounds on Monday” he commanded, and I nodded my head  “let see if we can tidy up that technique, raw talent will only get you so far” I couldn’t help but grin, I was so ready to get some proper training. 

“Parker!” he called and out of the shadow stepped the Beta’s guard from this morning, wow was that just this morning. “Yes sir”

“you can escort Miss Waters home”. Parker grinned at me “my pleasure beautiful” and I blushed, “I can do it” Drew stepped forward and Parker scowled at him.

Eden looked hurt at Drew as he stepped away from her, and then she looked at me a twisted grin appearing on her face “Oh look, not even here one day and you have the boys fighting over you, tell me Cassie, were you the pack sl*t in your old pack too” I snarled as rage washed over me like a red sheet and lunged at her. I vaguely felt something round my waist and my feet didn’t touch the ground, I fought against whatever was holding me back, and in the back of my mind, non rage me could see that Eden was being held back by Drew. I heard a voice in my ear whispering to coax me back into my mind and slowly the tension drained from my body and I felt a warm breath at my ear and recognised it was Parker who had hold of me and was quieting my rage. I knew that some warriors could do this, it was a good skill on the battlefield, but I had never felt it before. Even after I calmed down Parker still kept a tight hold round my waist. 

“Nash!” The lead warrior commanded and Eden looked at him with big doe eyes “Yes Chief Slater?” she replied sweetly “Cells” he said and her grin dropped “what, no” she looked horrified “Please I’m sorry” Chief Slater looked at me, grimaced and turned back to her “Cells”  and nodded to two guards before turning and walking away “Wren, home now” I looked at tiny Wren in shock, this was her father! “Yes sir” she offered a wave to us before hurrying after him.

The guards started to guide Eden off “f**king Sl*t you’ll pay for this” she sneered at me and I tensed, growling “F**k sake guys get her out of here” Parker yelled and they both grabbed an arm each pulling her off I don’t know where.

Parker finally let go of me when they went out of sight and turned me around “Ok beautiful let’s get you back home and cleaned up” he smiled at me. “I mean it, I can take her” Drew went to take my arm and Parker pulled me away “Sorry no can do, orders are orders” he grinned. I looked around as he began to guide me away and said a quick silent bye to the others, I glanced at Drew who was glaring at Parker, before muttering under his breath and storming off.